CHAPTER XXXIV.

Condition of the Greeks at Old Navarino-Battle-Ibrahim's offers-Conduct of Beysadè-Gallant conduct of MiaouliIbrahim's offers to the Greeks-At length accepted.

WHILE the Turkish fleet and the castle of Modon were celebrating, with incessant discharges of artillery, their late victory over the giaours, the greatest consternation spread itself among the soldiers of the garrison. They now began to reflect on what had been so often repeated to them, that their own safety was linked to the preservation of the island; and the sight of their imminent danger inspired them with as much pusillanimity, as they had formerly displayed contemptuous security.

The Greeks at Old Navarino were in a predicament still more alarming; the departure of Tsamado's ship having left them entirely bereft of provisions and ammunitions. No alternative remained now for them, between surrendering and forcing their way across the enemy's ranks. They adopted the last resolution, and on the night of the 8th, they sought to execute their design; but found all the passes so well occupied by the Egyptians, and so heavy a fire opened upon them from all sides, that, with the exception of a few, they all returned to their former position. Chagi Cristo, the bishop of Modon, and several others, were then taken prisoners. The next day, Ibrahim sent a flag of truce to the Greeks, who had now intrenched themselves within the walls of the castle, that stands on the summit of the rock, in order to inform them, that he knew exactly from

the relation of his prisoners, the destitute nature of their position, and which must render all further resistance useless. It was in his power, he said, to allow them to die of hunger. To prove to them, however, that he had been sent by his father, not to destroy the rayas, but to induce them quietly to submit to his power, by convincing them of the temerity of attempting to withstand a force so much superior to theirs, he was willing to permit them to return to their homes after giving up their arms and baggage. Under the influence of the satisfaction with which his success inspired him, and the utter contempt he had imbibed of Greek courage, he disdainfully added, that, if they chose, they might again prepare to fight, since it would afford him sport for another day. He compared himself to those animals of prey, which, glutted with carnage, play with their victim before they kill it. The Greeks were happy to accept the pasha's proposals; and he, true to his word, allowed them to depart, unmolested, after receiving their arms and money.

On the 10th, about fifty of the largest Turkish men-of-war entered the port; and, placing themselves before the fortress, opened against it a heavy fire. No nation can fire with more rapidity than the Turks; and had their artillery been but tolerably directed, the fortifications of the town might, in a few hours, have been entirely destroyed. Yet though their cannon balls, united to those of the land batteries, all of which were directed against us, might actually be said to obscure the air, and several, out of so many thousands, fell into the citadel; the besieged received, comparatively speaking, but little injury. The greater part of them were so much overshot, that, falling into the Turkish intrenchments around the citadel, they killed several soldiers, and might

have destroyed still more, had not Ibrahim, informed of this, despatched orders to the ships immediately to desist firing.

The deafening roar, produced by the discharge of so many cannon, actually stupified the Greeks. The efforts and counsels of Collegno were in vain. Every one vociferated and commanded; but nobody obeyed. Collegno, however, continued fulfilling his duty as private cannoneer; till he was disabled by a strong contusion, he received on the shoulder, from a stone, against which a cannon-ball had struck. The miserable fire of the Greeks was soon over. The powder magazine of the lower battery having, through the imprudence of a soldier, who entered it with a lighted match, blown up, fifteen of the men who served the pieces were killed; and this circumstance so completely discouraged the rest, that every one had abandoned his post to seek shelter, wherever he thought most advisable. Recourse was then had to public prayers; and the three Papas, we had in the garrison, mustered all the images of male and female saints in the place; and began carrying them in procession around the ramparts. So deaf were all the saints of Paradise to the nasal litany of these orthodox ministers, that Papa Sarella himself, although he bore in his hands the finest image of the Virgin, was seriously wounded in the head, by the explosion of a shell; which fell among and dispersed the devotees. The smart made him so much forget the respect, due to the Panagia, that he threw her down, saying in his rage; "Perdition upon thee; since thou couldst not save even thy worshipper from this evil hour!" with other impious expressions.

The Turks soon after imitated our example, in compliance with Ibrahim's order, who now employed, the more to dishearten the garrison, a stratagem per

haps more effectual than the last. Chagi Cristo and the bishop of Modon (the principal author of the cruelties practised by the Greeks on the Turkish garrison of Neocastro) were sent by him before the wall of the citadel, to speak with the different capitani of the garrison. On these answering their call, they related to them the manner, in which they had been taken; and how "misery had joined them in equal ruin." They besought them to profit by their example, and to reflect, that certain ruin awaited them, should they persist in opposing, or rather uselessly provoking, a force so gigantically superior to their dwarfy endeavours.

Beysade Torjachi, indignant to hear such propositions, ordered his men to fire on those impostors; who, by assuming false names, he said, hoped to weaken the courage of the soldiers. But the blow, Ibrahim had meditated, was already given. How changed and downcast soever their looks, they had been known by too many to allow the garrison to doubt the fact. The venom, thus introduced, had already began to circulate, and to sap the yet remaining stamina of their courage. During the whole night, the enemy continued to throw bombs incessantly; and next morning (11th) we perceived a new battery above the Varoushi, or Greek suburbs of Neocastro; and the men busy in drawing towards it twelve large guns, which had been disembarked from the ships. Three large men-of-war had, also, placed themselves in the same direction. These preparations augmented our fears the more, as we knew that the northern wall of the town, against which this new attack was di rected, could be overthrown in a few hours.

Towards noon, a Greek prisoner, sent by Ibrahim, was drawn by means of a rope into the fortress; and on being presented before the assembled capitani, he

told them, that Ibrahim had desired him to inform them, that, as they might easily convince themselves by looking around them, he had taken every measure to prevent the garrison from receiving the slightest assistance by sea or by land; or making its escape. He had defeated their army at Fourgi, and forced it to retreat. He had disarmed or destroyed the other corps; and the Greek fleet, seeing him master of the port and island, had returned to Hydra. Could they therefore hope to escape, when upwards of twenty thousand men occupied all the surrounding positions? Would it not be madness in them to attempt resisting, when upwards of a thousand cannon, and, if necessary, as many more, stood ready, at the first signal, to carry death and destruction? Influenced by different motives, than those which governed other Mussulmen, he disdained to destroy so weak an opponent; and wishing, if possible, not to injure further a fortress which, of right, belonged to the sultan; his generosity and compassion had led him to propose to them to surrender in time; and they might rely on his word, that he would allow them to depart as safely as the Greeks, who had lately capitulated at Old Navarino.

These propositions produced a deep sensation on the hearers. For they could not conceal from themselves, how applicable the words of Ibrahim were to their condition. They knew, that their supply of water and biscuit could, at most, last them but a month; and that forty barrels of gunpowder only remained in the fortress. Repeated experience had convinced them of their incapacity, and they felt besides, even under the most favourable circumstances, they never could withstand so formidable an enemy. As to assistance from without, they could expect These and other reasons prompted them to

none.