The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-22 00:00:00

'll; StILIOTES.
...—.....
At this moment, when the Greeks arc upholding their
independence with an heroic devotion worthy of the most
illustrious of their anueetors,• the following account of the
noble and successful stand made by the Sulieges in 1792,
In defence of their country against Ali Pasha, the tyrant of
'Epirus, will be read with great interest. It is extracted
from a journal given to. 'Mr. Eton by a dragoman at that
.time in the British service, and published by that gentle-
man in his "Stitvey of the Turkish Empire'':—
" In 1792, hein,,,, in the French service as interpreter, I
was lent from glonica by the French Consul, Mr. Cose-
pity, on some husiiiees regarding the consulship, to Ali
Pasha, at Yanina, the capital of Epirus. I arrived there
the Ist of May, and found the Pasha Making great preps-
tions for war.' I found also there the French Consul of
,Prevesa, Mr: de la. Sala (a descendant of the Sales, who
,betrayed the Morea to the Turks, when iu the possession
of the Venetians), and acting as Commissary, not only to
provide timber at Epirus for the French navy, but also for
rgrolutionizing that country.
• " He communicated to me his commission, insinuating,
4lisi if 1 would assist him, I might expect great rewards.
.One day, when we were with• Ali Pasha, our conversation
tattled upon the French revolution, which was always in-
troduced with. a view to excite him to throw off all
obedience tothe Porte. The Pasha said to us—' You will ,
Awe .That Ali Pasha, the successor of Fires Vyrrhus) will
sarpasshim ill every kind of enterprisi."
" 'The Pasha continued to assemble the troops without
taking known his intentions. In July, his army consisted
it, 20,000 good 'L'urkisk soldiers, who were the more for-
addable as they were all Albanians. He then declared
tsar his design was to attack the Mahomedan town of Ar-
Ilrocastro, claimed twelve leagues distant from Yanina,.
' vthieh would 'not be governed by a person he sent for that
purpose, nor anywise submit to him. With this excuse
he wrote to Captain Bogie and 'Captain Giavella, • two of
the most considerable of the chiefs of the Greek inhabit-
ants of the mountain of Sulli, praying them to meet him
with all their soldiers qr companions, to assist in this expe-
dition. his letter *as in modern Greek, of which the
following is a verbal translation:-
4 My friends Captain Bogie and Captain Giavella, I,
Ali Pasha, salute you, and kiss your eyes, because I well
know your courage and herqic minds. It appears to me
that I have great need of you, therefore I entreat of you
immediately, when you receive my letter, to assemble all
your heroes, and come to meet me, that I may go to fight
my en mica. This is the hour and the time that I have
need you. I expect to see your friendship, and the love
' -- double''

They speak Greek, Ind know no other language; they
look on the Turks and other Albanians as effeminate, and
hold them in them-final cOntenlpt. They have no regular
Government ; each family or relationship (clan) administers
justice among themselves. The largest clans have the most
influence in the country in all public or general matters.
They are careful not to kill people of another kindred, as
the relations revenge his death ;'
and when once bloodshed
has thus begun, it goes on till one of the clans is extinct.
They always carry their, guns with them, whenever they
go out of their houses, and never quit them ; even at lionsel
they are not without their pistols in their girdles ; at night'
they put them under their pillows, and lay their guns by I
them beside. The same precgutions are observed in aIF
these parts, except the town of Yanina. There are
amongst the Paratnathians, however, a considerable num-
ber of Greek Christians, who live all in the same manner.
Those who are Maliomedans know little of their religion,
or pay little regard to it. Their women are not veiled;
they drink wine, and intermarry with the Christians. It
is true, indeed, that they will not eat pork ; but if the hus-
band and wife are of different religions, they make no
scruple of boiling in the tame pot a piece of pork and a
piece of mutton.
" All strangers, Tusks; Europeans, Greeks, or °theft,'
who happened to pass on their territory, or are caught byl
them, are carried to their public market,- and there sold.
" Being one Clay at Yanina, at the -Greek Archbishop's
house, I saw a Piedmontese priest, who, travelling in these
parts, had been seized by the Paramathians, and sold: his
story, as related to me by the prelate, is as follows : Soli-
man Ciapar being at his house one day on a visit, told him,
that he had bought a Frank for four piasters, but that he
was good for nothing, and though he beat him daily, he
'ftuld not make him do so much work as his bread was,
worth ; be would therefore, he said, when he got home,
kill him as a useless beast. The Archbishop offered to'
buy him for the four piasters he had cost, and to pay the
money immediately, if Ciapar would give security (for
here no one trusts another). The bargain being settled,,
the Frank was sent: he proved to be a man of learning,
and the'Archbishop established a school under his direction
at Yanina, tbr Greek children. When I was there, he
gained fifty and sixty piasters a month, and was so pleased
with his situation and the kindness of the Archbishop,
that he resolved to remain in that country, and marry.
" A stranger might travel into these mountains, and
would be treated hospitably by the inhabitants, if, while he
was in a neighbouring country, lie put himself under the
protection of a Paramathian, who would give security for
his being brought back safe.
" But to return to the Pasha's expedition. The second

_ of
you have for me. Your pay shall be u,.._ .. that which
I give to the Albanians, because I know that your courage
is greater than theirs ; therefore I will not go to fight
before you come, and I expect you will come soon. This
only, and I salute you.'
" I was present when the Pasha's Greek secretary wrote
this letter, and I took a copy of it, it not appearing to him
or to me as a matter of secrecy.
" Ali Pasha is an Albanian of Tepe-dellen; be is a son
of Veli Pasha, who gOverned a part of Albania; though a
afahornedan he understands very little Turkish, and speaks
only Greek and the Albanian language, which is a mixture
of Selavonian, Turkish. Greek, and a few old French words,
but perfectly unintelligible to those who understand all
those languages.
" On receiving this flattering letter, the chiefs held a
council with their men. Captain Bogia, and the majority
of the soldiers, thought the Pasha's proposal was only a
stratagem to get them into his power, and make himself
master of their mountain. Captain Bogia, in consequence,
wrote to the Pasha, that he received his letter with great
respect and submission, and was himself ready to obey his
orders ; but as he could not persuade his people to follow
him, it was unnecessary for him to go alone. Captain
Giavella, either through avarice or ambition, was induced
to comply with the Pasha's request, and went to his army,
though only with seventeen men. Ile was received with
great marks of friendship. The Pasha and his army
marched four leagues on the road towards Argirocastro,
and encamped ; but he sent an advanced post, consisting
of 400 men, under a Buluk-Bashee, as far as the town,
and the people snaking a sortie, a skirmish ensued. Gia-
vella and his men were now perfectly convinced of the Pa-
sha's design, and laid aside all suspicion ; but six days af-
terwards they were all seised unawares, as• they were dis-
persed in the Turkish camp, aml put in heavy irons, ex-
cept three, who, getting their arms, defended themselves
till they were slam. The men were sent to Yanina, and
imprisoned in the small island which is in the Acherusian
lake, on the banks of which Yanina stands; but Giavella
was kept in the camp. The Pasha immediately turned his
march towards 6tilli, and arrived before the mountain the
next day. The Suliotes, who are always on their guard,
had notice of the Pasha's approach, and of the fate of their
countrymen, six hours before he arrived. They assem-
bled, and gave the commatul in chief to Captain Bogie,
whose abilities they knew.
" The mountain of Sulli, or Caco-sulli, so called on ac-
count of the ill the Turks have experienced from them, is 1
situated eight leagues from Santa-maura (or Letter's), in
the lonian Sea, having Prevesa (Nicopolisto the south-
west, distant ten leagues ; Yanina tote east, twelve
leagues ; and south-east, Arta, distant eight leagues.
" To the south, this mountair joins the Chimera moun-
tains, which are inhabited also by independent Greek
Christians, allies of the Snliotes. On the east, at the foot
of the mountain, is a fine plain of about six square leagues,
which is very fertile ; in it they have built four villages,
for the purpose of cultivating the land ; but in time of
danger the inhabitants fly to the mountain. There being
no water in the plain, they have sunk cisterns or reservoirs
to collect the rain.

day after the army had encamped in the plains of Sulli,
the Pasha caused Captain Giavella to be brought before
him,. and told him that if he would inform him how he
could get possession of the mountain, he would not only
spare his life, but make him Beluk-Baabee of the province.
Giavella answered, that if he would set him at liberty he
would go to the mountain and engage his party, and at
least half the inhabitants, to submit to him, and take up
arms against Bogio : that by these means he coil(' intro-
duce the Pasha 'a troops into the Trips, when the other
party would also be glad to make peace without fighting.
The Pasha asked him what security he would give for his
donning his promises. Giavella answered, he would,
give him as an hostage his only son, a boy of twelve
years of age, who was dearer to him than his own life, that
if he deceived him he might put his son to death. Giavella
lie
imbrdingly called his son down from the mountain ; but u
soon as lie got to the mountain himself, he wrote to the
Pasha as follows:
" ' Ali Pasha, I am glad I have deceived a traitor; I'
am here to defend my country against a thief. My son
will be put to death, but I Will desperately revenge him
before I fall myself. Some men, like you 1 urks, will say
I am a cruel father to sacrifice my son for my own safety.
I answer, if you take the mountain, my son would have
been killed, with all the rest of my family and my country-
men; then I could not have revenged his death. If we
are victorious, I may have other children, my wife is
young. If my son, young as he is, is not willing to be sa-
crificed for his country, he is not worthy to live, or to be
owned by mess my son. Advance, traitor, lam impatient
to be revenged. I am your sworn enemy, Captain Gia-
yells.
" The Pasha did not think proper in his rage to put the
hostage immediately to death, but sent him to l'anina, to
his son Velim-hey, who governed in his absence. I was
present when the boy was brought before him ; he answer-
ed the questions put to him With a courage and audacious.
ness that astonished every one. Velim-bey told him be
only waited the Pasha's orders to roast him alive. I don't
fear you, the boy answered ; my father will do the same'
to your father, or your brother, if lie takes them. Ile was
put in a dark prison, and fed on bread and water.
" The Pasha attacked the village of Kapha, and was re-
lsed three different times with great loss; but Captain
E:310
'a considering the disparity of numbers, as the Suliotes
h only 900 men in the Tripa, resolved to abandon this
post, which the Albanese took possession of the next time
they attacked it, though with considerable loes, the Suliotes
firing at them from among the rocks in safety.
" The Pasha's troops, suffering very much through
want of water, which was brought to them six leagues on
horses, as all those who attempted to fetch water from the
brook under the Sulli mountain were killed by stones the
women rolled down on them, or shot by the men, began
to mutiny ; the I'asha therefore determined to storm the
Tripa the next day, and having assembled the principal
officers, and chosen 800 Albanians, he exposed all his trea-
sure in his tent, which consisted of Venetian ducats, and
told them, it should all be distributed among them if they
took Tripa ; and that, besides, they should have all the
immense riches which it was known were there. The next

" The mountain is a natural strong fortress. Three
sides are perpendicular precipices to the bottom. The top
of the mountain they call Trips, which signifies a cavity.
There is only one narrow steep passage to ascend to it, awl
it is defended by three towers, nearly a mile distant from
each other, situated on eminences, where the road is most
difficult. The ascent is about three miles long. In the
first mile there is a village called Kapha, which signifies
top or summit.
" On the side towards Chimera there is a small brook.

(lay the 800 Albanians, having at their head Mehmetem-
ber, and in the main body two sons of Soliman Ciapar,
and in the rear Captain Brogno, marched to the assault,
and drawing their sabres, declared they would not sheathe
them till they were victorious.
" Captain Bogia left 400 men to garrison Tripa, and
sent four hundred to lie in ambuscade in the forest on each
site of the road, with orders not to attack till the signal
agreed on was made from the second tower, in which he
shut himself ith sixt- - and ft whence, by

unimiera there is a st. _--. up win. men, .. from ..
formed by the melting of the snow of those mountains, means of signals, he commanded the movements. Gia-
from which, in case of need, the inhabitants of Sulli get vella went with the troops into the forest like a common
water, by letting down sponges, as the sides are not even soldier, the better to take his meditated revenge. The
enough to let down any kind of bucket or other vessel ; ambuscade was commanded by Demetrius, Bogie's son.
Land this water cannot be cut of by the Turks, as it is de- " The head of the Albanian column advanced without
[fended by the heights of the mountains. molestation as far as the second tower, which they snr-
" Captain. Bogis ordered corn to be carried from the rounded, and summoned Bogie to surrender. Ile replied,
villages to the Tripe, for six months' provisions, as it is he could not trust himself to them, but would submit to
always keps.in readiness to be transported ; then the four Captain Brogno when he arrived ; they therefore marched
villages were evacuated: half of the inhabitants went to further up towards Tripe, leaving him, as they thought, a
Kappa, and the others to Tripe, their last asylum, which prisoner. The Pasha's army, seeing the Albanese had ad-
4301.tiaill ten thousand men; then, having more time, vanced without resistance to the top of the mountain, and
he threw into the cisterns hogs and lime, and other nasti- fearing to be dePrived.of a share of the plunder of Tripe;
ness, to prevent the Turks using the water. left their tents, and ran up the mountain with shouts of
" The Pasha encamped in the villages, and surrounded victory. When Bogie saw that the enemy, in number
the mountain at a distance, to prevent their receiving as- about 4,0W0, bad advanced to the third tower, which was
sistance of troops from the Chinneriotes, or amunition near the Trips, he rang a bell, the signal for a general at-
from St. Maura or Prevesa, whence they .are always sup- tack, which was a general slaughter; the ambuscade pre-
plied. The main body of the Turkish army in the villages venting any returning. They were in every part exposed
was commanded in person by the Pasha ; the corps towards to the tire of the Suliotes, who were covered by the rocks
Chimaera by his son Mokhtar, Pasha of Arta (of two tails) or the trees, and from the second tower Bogie made great
and Captain "Pro.mio, who was a chief of the Paramathian havoc. The women from the heighti rolled down great
Albanese ; the side' towards Prevesa was commanded by stones, which for that purpose are always piled up. The
Mameit Bey and Osman Bey his brother; that on the enemy defended themselves, when the Suliotes came out to
side of Arta, by Soloman Ciapar, another chief of the same meet them, with great obstinacy ; they were, however, all
Albanian town of Parainathia, a roan of eighty-five years killed, except 140, who surrendered themselves prisoners.
of age, tall, anal of a fine gigantic stature, having no ap- Among them was a son of Soliman Ciapar, and many offi-
-IPraranee of age but the snowy whiteness of his beard ; he cers. The Suliotes had fifty-seven killed and twenty-seven
hid with him eleven sons, from thirty to sixty years of age, wounded. Giavella was among the slain. After shootim,
all tall and strong like their father: their bodily strength from the ambuscade a great number of the enemy, he sal-
and personal courage caused them to be looked on as lied out with some of his friends, to avenge the supposed
I heroes, and gave them a remarkable superiority among death of his son, and to fight till all the enemy were killed,
their countrymen : they went together, that if one fell the or he himself fell. After making a great havock among the
others might revenge his death ; for among these it people enemy, into the thickest of whose ranks he had ran for-
it is the custom, that relations go to war together to revenge ward with desperate valour, he fell, covered with wounds,
each other's death. Those whe have the greatest number and surrounded by heaps of slain.
of relations are the most powerful families, and the fathers " The bodies being thrown down from the rocks into
of the principal families are their chiefs. the Turkish camp, struck the remainder of the army with
" I will speak a little on the subject of those Parama- such a panic that they fled with great precipitation towards
thian Albanese. Their tows is situated twelve leagues YBlllll3, and abandoned the Pasha. Bogie profited of their
distant from. Yanina; they possess a territory of twelve disorder to tend 200 men, who, falling on the rear, cut off
leagues in circumference, and can bring into the field great numbers. The Pasha himself escaped with diffi-
-20,000 men. Their country is so mountainous and mac- culty, and killed two horses before he got back to Yanina..
cessible that they have never been conquered by the Turks. All the baggage, ammunition, arms, provisions and the
How they became Mahomedans they do not themselves Pasha's treasure, fell into the hands of the Suliotes, be-
exactly know ; some of them say, that when the Turks first aides for large cannon, which they drew up to the Tripa,t
- n invaded these countries they made peace, on condition of and which was a great acquisition to them.
leeoming Mshornedems, and pro Curing their.indepeudenec. " The other corps, towards Proem, Arts, and Chimers,