from political slavery, will also emancipate it from its moral effects.
On his arrival in the Archipelago, Captain Beaufort found that a regularly organized system of absolute and general piracy existed in the district of Maina, the southern province of the Morea. The number of their vessels, or armed rowboats, fluctuated between 20 and 30; they lurked behind the different head-lands and innumerable rocks of the Archipelago. All flags were equally their prey, and the life or death of the captured crew was merely a question of convenience. A Turkish prize was the only exception to this rule; for, as they expected no mercy if taken by the Turks, they rarely gave them quarter. The following instance of their barbarity is related by Captain Beaufort:
“We found one of these pirates concealed in a small creek of Hermonissi, a barren island to the westward of Stampalis: as our boats approached, they fired into them from the cliffs, and rolled down large stones which wounded two of our men. We destroyed the vessel, and compelled most of the crew to submit: the rest retreated to the craggy heights, and we made sail in quest of their comrade, who we learned was skulking among the neighbouring islands; but the darkness of the night, and the warning fires from the top of the islaud, enabled him to escape. On returning to Hermonissi, we found that a couple of nights’ starvation had rendered the remaining rogues more tractable, for they eagerly came down to the boat and surrendered themselves. Nothing could be more contemptible than the appearance of this vessel; yet she rowed fast, possessed a swivel and twenty muskets, and with the forty ferocious looking villains who manned her, might have carried the largest merchant ship in the Mediterranean. Nay, two of these vessels had lately secured themselves under a rock, and had actively frustrated the repeated attacks of a Turkish frigate. Having occasion to anchor at Stampalia, the Primati, or magistrates, came off to express their gratitude for our having delivered them from one at least of that fraternity which had so often laid their island under contribution; and they pointed out a rock near the ship, where, three days before, two Mainot pirates had adjourned to divide the plunder of a Turkish boat; whose crew, consisting of five men, they had massacred there, sparing only one passenger; and him they had deprived of an ear. The truth of this story was confirmed by the poor fellow himself, who afterwards came on board to have his wound dressed; and an officer, who was despatched to the rock, reported that the five bodies were still lying there, a prey to innumerable birds[1].”
- ↑ Karamania, p. 228.
