The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-05 00:00:00

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WILD BOAR HUNTING IN TILESSAL

Voik, Feb. 18.—At an early hour on the 10th
inst.. (February) we started for Armiro, on the
western shore of the gulf, and distant from Volo
six hours, about 24 miles. Our party numbered
about 30 horsemen, and included Aziz Pasha, Go-
vernor of Thessaly ; Sadik Pasha, General Com-
manding all the Turkish Cossacks in Epirus; four
officers of his staff, anti an escort of half-a-dozen
Cossacks. The remainder consisted of the personal
attendants of Aziz Pasha, as heterogeneous in ap-
pearance as in functions, but all indispensable to the
dignity and, perhaps, the comfort of a high person-
age in Turkey. Nor must I omit the name of .
Ahmed Agha, a Turkish gentleman of this neigh-
bourhood, who to the higher qualities of integrity
and honour adds a keen relish for all the sports of
the field. We had in leash several couples of grey-
hounds of the pure Arabian breed—as beautiful .4311-
mals as you could lay eyes upon ; inferior to En
lish greyhounds in size and strength, but equal to'
them in courage and fineness of shape. The essen-
, tial difference, however, lies in their having both. •
the tail and ears feathered, while the skin is as
smooth as satin. I assure you we formed a most
picturesque party, and, as you may well believe,
the whole world of Volo turned out to gaze as we
rode by. The cavaliers responded to this flattering
curiosity by fretting their nags into their showiest
paces, so that our way through the town was worked
up into a pretty little pageant, saucy horsemen
curbing their impatient steeds that seemed to scorn
the ordinary movements of their kind. After skirt-
ing the coast for a while we struck across the site
of ancient Pagasm, passed between the mouldering
piers of its aqueduct, and then traversed a moun-
tain spur, where every defile still shows the traces
of ancient fortifications of colossal strength. Clear-
ing these, we debouched on the plain of Armiro,
and, after a ride of four hours, halted at the
solitary ruins which are all that remain of the
once flourishing town of Yenikhuy. This town
fell under the sword of Ali Pasha, of Yanina,
who always acted as if desolation and ruin
were the necessary attendants of military suc-
cess. Here some show of preparation was made
to receive us. A company of Albanian Militia,,
collected from the neighbouring posts, was drawn
up in line, and saluted after their fashion; and all
the principal proprietors of the district were assem.
bled in holiday gear to do honour to the represen-
tative of the Sultan. Carpets were, spread for us
in the open a‘ir, and a fallen column of white marble
served as a seat to those who could not accomino-
date themselves to the Turkish posture of repose..
The variety of gay costumes, the neighing and
fighting of the horses, the groups of wild Albanians,
quick and light in their movements as an opera
dancer, all contrasting with the stillness of the
ruined city and the fine scenery of mountain, plain,
and sea, combined to produce a most picturesque
effect, the interest of which would have been much
augmented if one had time to trace back the his-
toric associations of the places and people in ques-
tion. One, and only one, habitation remains in.
Yenikhuy. From this house, after the ceremonies
of salutation had been performed, came forth a feast
such as the Albanian sets before those whom he
delights to honour—a sheep roasted ! I con-
fess to you was not much tempted with the dish,
for the animal bore a wonderful resemblance to the
human form. However' it was no time for squeam-
ishness, as we had had only a cup of coffee before
starting, and a long ride and mountain air stimu-
late the appetite in Thessaly as in other countries.
There are no knives and forks, and I could not but
envy the dexterity with which my friends detached
with their fingers the most delicate morsels, and
transferred them in long strips to their mouths.
Practice makes perfect, and in an inconceivably
short time one learns how to eat with the imple-.
ments provided by nature. As it would never do
to hunt on a full stomach we ate but sparingly, and
having lit our cigarettes and got into our saddles,
off we started. The cover was near at hand, lying
between Yenikhuy and the sea. It is an extensire
flat marsh in wet weather, covered with tall reeds
and rank grass, with here and there a.stunted tree.
All the necessary dispositions and arrangements
proceeded from Sulieman Agha, who was by una-
nimous consent voted master of the chase. He is
a gentleman of some property, residing in the
neighbourhood, and is well known in those parts for
his courage and address in hunting large game. By
his orders we were posted along the edge of the
cover on the land side, at intervals of about 50
yards. The Cossacks and our grooms were about
150 yards in rear ; ready to cut of all escape to-
wards the mountains ; about 50 men of the Alba-
than Militia, who acted as beaters, entered the
cover at the other side, and with most unearthly
shrieks and yells, with the sound of drum and pipe,
drove the game before them towards us. Before
many minutes a sharp fusillade, about 400 yards
from where I wasposted, announced that something
was up, and immediately after a commotion among
the horsemen and then a general rush showed that
my gentleman was making for the mountains. It
was a boar of great size and pluck, with several
balls already in him ; he severely tested the speed
of the Cossack horses. But. the odds were too inuok
against him. Another bullet from a Cossack cite.
bine diminished his speed, but increased his fury.
He doubled back in great wrath, attacked Azns
Pasha's huntsman, ripped up a gallant dog that
closed on him, and turning to bay at every bush
and tree made' straight towards myself. I stepped
forward to the encounter, and the whole field,
curious, perhaps, to see an English performance,
drew up and left the honour of the fight to me. The
boar would not give me a chance at his flank, and as
he evidently meant mischief I was obliged to mind
well what I was about. I allowed him to approach.
within 30 yards, and aiming steadily at' his head
between the eyes—psha, the wretched gun missed
fire, and Heaven knows what would have happened
if an opportune brought shot had nobroughthimto the
ground,just as he was coming to close quarters. I
should explain to you that I was armed, not with.
my own gun, which is suited only to small game,
but with an inferior French article borrowed for the
nonce. Aiiz Pasha, who, by the way, is a thorough
sportsman, presented me with the boar, adding some
complimentary remarks which T but little deserved,
and I hope some time to show you the head,which
I have preserved as the trophy of the day. We
continued the sport until late in the afternoon, and.
resumed it again next day. The total bagged
were—eight hogs, two wolves, and two jackals, to
which may be added five hares that we killed in
coursing on our return from Armiro. Just as we
had finished on the second day and were riding
along the sands, we observed a huge boar that had
taken the water, and:was about 200 yards from the
shore. Several shots were fired at him, but as there
was a smart bit of sea on they all missed. To get
out of harm's way, however, he struck out towards
the middle of the Gulf. We watched him with our
glasses until he was lost in the distance, and it is
doubtful if he ever got safe again to land.

Frederick John Earl of Ripon, F.R.S., P.C., of Nocton.
WILLS.—The will and codicil of the Right Hon.
Park, Sleaford, Lincolnshire ; Mowbray Lodge, Ripon,
Yorkshire ; and Putney-heath, Surrey, were proved in Lon-
K.H., the acting executor • the other execu-
tor,don on the 18th of March, 1859, by Vice-Admiral Sir
Gee rlgler.Tßyolbere'rt Gosling, of Botley, Chertsey, and of Fleet-
street, having renounced. These two executors were
appointed by the codicil, dated the 23d July, 1856, the
testator having named in his will, dated the sth of Septem-
ber, 1850, as his executors Viscount Hardinge and the
Right Hon. Henry G'oulburn, both of whom predeceased
the testator, who died on the 28th of January, 1869. The
will and codicil are short. His lordship has bequeathed to
his countess £20,000 absolutely, and all the furniture, linen,
china, &c., and the farming stock and a life interest in the
estates at Putney-heath, Nocton and Dunston. Leaves all
his manuscripts, correspondence, and papers to the countess
for her life, and then to hia son. Leaves the countess the
Portrait of her father, Robert, Duke of Buckingham, and
one of himself, by Sir Thomas Lawrence ; all other por-
traits, and the bust of King George IV., which his MajestY
had himself presented to the earl, are to go and be held•vrlth
the estate of Nocton. Bequeaths to Marianne Gandillot, who
was the companion of his late daughter, the interest of
principal to her son Charles.
expended in the education of the children
Diirle°ts for£
of a late servant, deceased ; also an annuity, of £5O to be
given to a former servant, who has since been in the employ
51 her . life,
be
of his son ; £lOO to his steward and bailiff ; and one year's
wages to all his servants, gardeners, and gamekeepers. Ap-
points his son, now Earl of Ripon, heretofore Viscount
Goderich, who is his only surviving child, the residuary
legatee. The personalty was sworn under £BO,OOO. The
will of Vice-Admiral Villiers Francis Hatton of Eaton-
place, Belgrave-square, and of Dalgarry, Ireland, was
proved in London in the principal Registry of the Court
of Probate by Colonel the Honourable, James Lindsay
(Grenadier Guards), and Lieutenant-Colonel Villiers La-
touehe Hatton (Grenadier Guards), the son, the joint
executors. The personal property in England was
sworn under £B,OOO. The admiral has bequeathed his
freehold estates in Wexford and Waterford, Ireland, to
his son and to his issue, and, in default thereof, their
to his own daughters and their issue. To each daughter
he has given a sum of £lO,OOO, settled on them-
selves. To his executor, Colonel Lindsay, 100 guineas. To
his son he leaves the house in Eaton-place, with all the
furniture, pictures, plate, china, and the carriages and
horses; and to his son's children he leaves the residue of
his property. The will is of some length, and was made
on the 18th of November, 1856. The admiral died on the
9th day of February, 1859. The will of the Right
Honourable Lady Sarah Taylor, of 3, Fairlawn House
Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was proved in London on the 18tli
of March, by Miss Elizabeth Lucy Taylor, her ladyship's
eldest daughter and sole acting executrix, a power being re-
served of making the like grant to Mr. William O'Bryen
Taylor, her ladyship's eldest son, and, also executor ap-
pointed by the will. Her ladyship has bequeated to her
said eldest son the salver and silver breakfast service pre-
sented to her late husband by the inhabitants of the town of
Tunbridge Wells ; also leaves to her said eldest son the
plate and plated articles which were baqueathedto her lath
husband by John, Earl of Chatham ; with these exceptions,
she bequeaths the whole of her property to be divided
equally amongst her six children. The will is in herlady-
ship's own handwriting, dated the 10th of April, 1858. Her
death occurred on the 9th of February, 1859. The person-
alty was evrorn under £lB,ooo,—gua(ratof ,Lyndon Areff Se