The New York herald., 1868-11-08

pendicular walls Of limestone rock mile in length.
1ne village stands directly st the mouth Of the pass
olive and % grape % Vines Upward the pass narrows IN
ssSn ss three upright ggnnalsa was
in height The torrent in the narTowest part Of the
pass nils chokes up the pass for aDous lvo =
clean, sweet water. Through the middle Of this
stream the chief picks his way and we ioiow M nm,
through it running at right angles that we have 70 re-
'se nsy asr march o three or four miles,
road takes It's way along eage % Of roeH e 0veI ls
could not travel 10, It sslantng and smooth, and
walking II is something very like travelling on the
edge OF steep slate roof ltrequires steady stride
into hno the the pas pass which @ now but n cnasm
| where the gentle stream has become Q brawling
into C whs oa ans
ing spray. The bold volunteers must be born noun
taneers, for they break forth with lightsome hearts
ears in laughing accents. With bounding pace they
spring up as unconcerned OF the abyss and its dan
as q ae a.
until we arrive at the summit Of small plateau, at
the farthest end OF which We perceive grove Of
making the place one Of the most loveabe spots that
anch0rto would choose for retreat. Among the
sas n0R wR the
spring issues out OF the grove in stream Of liquid
diamond lined by plots OF grcenest grass. On the
ground we throw ourselves and partake OF the
morning meal just as old Sol shows his bright face
over the spine OF q hill which bounds the view
ward.
Breakfast despatched, we continued our journey
over the rocks overlangng the Turks Pass, 30
called because Mussulman In the revolution OF
ls20 met his doom at the hands OF Sphakan noun
taineer. The plateau we had just left IL known as
Tarrba, interesting to scholars OF the earliest
localities OF the Apollo worship.
Half an hours rapid marching brought MS to the
base OF lofty HILL the top Of which was crowned by
the village OF Samaria. Here the most singular
freak OF nature that man ever saw is visible. Fancy
mountain, 5000 feet above the level Of the sea,
split in halves, divided by chasm nearly
Had the Cretans desired better protection than
this moat, 800 feet deep, against the Turks,
aey coma md nG naq Ia an e nations s o Europe strug
high that all the ladders In the world could not
reach the top OF its walls. Yet here, by strange
two which formed an impossible barrier against hu
man foes When the Cretans are not at war q
people on both des wS eae
other IL is known as the Loskao. The head OF this
gulf is terminated by the plateau Of Omalos, which
lary above the plateau hundred feet and more.
On the other side Of the patesu sphaka is protected
by deep ravnes. fankea by rising hills the steep
sides are covered with loose bouders Of an immense
size which on the approach Of the enemy are easily
sent crashing down the slopes. On one side Of this
eccentrcally wild plateau the Turks are encamped,
under Hassan Bey, whose detachment numbers, per-
But the chief Of the volunteers takes no heed Of the
gull or the ruined bridge, but leads on the way up
hn and turns neither to the right the LETT brush
lOokouts, who are seepless viglant Spak0ies, have
made known an arrival 70 the Inhabitants Of the W.
Who ronS around uS WITH isafaon V and ieHss love-
Faithfully depicted on their features.
Samaria Is just seven miles from the village OF
Aghia Rumeli on the seacoast It has popuar
tion Of, of sbo1t 600 souls. who mainly follow
Ss Would Oeap sgs sv sp0s cultivated IL sGons 20
producs. cSn 1ys groves and VINEYARDS
were not for the black rafters Of some houses half
. mile Away intruding themselves In an ugly way
on the happy landscape there are no indications Of
'nssss sssed 1SSsas ossss n % % x the village and
then took op line Of for camp D the
White Mountains, Soon after leaving samaria we,
by grove of fine expresses.
TINS monastery i a true type Of the Grecian con-
with em9atted walls pierced BY hume
rous loopholes, and very often they have
pscio"s cellars wts their rcS stores of wne ana
provisions are OF some purpose to support garrison
or 500 or 600 patriots hard pressed BY the enemy On
turrets is reminded OF scotts description OF the
monasteries Of Lndisfarne.
And needful was such strength to these
scourgsd BY the winds eternal sway.
Open 70 rovers fierce ~ thsv
The view from the walls is very magnificent. sea
OF spllntered peaks cresting the splendid range
known rs the White Mountains acres OF cypress
gliding from the snowy hills with rushing footsteps
70 the sea; swelling ridges clothed with Olives varied
n ~ S s
temperate breezes blowing from the heights makes
the most prosaic vividly fanciul.
After hard days march OF twenty-five miles we
arrived ut the Insurgents camp at Askyfo. Not the
principal one, for that lay In Amar forty miles or
but one Of the chain Of outposts which the Cretans
Although fatieued and weary very little rest could
be obtained, for the patriots crowded around u.s. and
finished our supper q loaded musket was handed to
each OF US, ana with musket by my side slept all
night, ready to spring to battle at Q moments
notice.
In the morning ] came across an English volun-
tecr who gave me all the Information that could be
desired concerning the war with the Turks Con-
dcnsing hts statement, the following fact viii serve
to show the exact state OF arairs:-The insurgents
number between 0,00o and ZOO now in arms and
are divided as foIows-At Psariforado, Capa Tani.
ana and Calouslcneeves there arc 3,400
on the southern coast there are ct Melissa the
monastery OF Preve Rhodakino and Polirisso 3 900
In the western provinces scattered through
Roupeu Treblta, Souga. Cavo Kirino, Oava Spartha
Stounleon, there are $500 men.
In the north, and in close proximity to she Turks
While the.Cretans occupy the whole interior. and
are likely %, from all can hear zee, the Turks
content themselves BY occupying the forrcsses and
walled towns Of Canca Ritthymos Gambia or Hera-
| cicum splnalongh Eavapatra Castle OF Kisamos
| and chain Of block houses which run In direct
| lne from Csnea, on the NORTH To the plateau OF
Amallo and Lula, on the south Altogether the Turgs
have force OF about 10 900 men including the navy,
| employed IN actual war In Crete.
The provisional government over Crete IN at
Anari, where the major part OF the insurgents b at
| present The members OF II are seven in number,
TO whom the four committees Immediately control
ling the twentylour provinces OF Crete make their
\ reports. At Amar are the general hospitals for
| the sick and wounded under charge Of Mr.. Hilary
Skinner the excorrespondent OF the Daily Ne7cs OF
London. Also the principal depots from whence the
| insurgent army Is supplied with arms
Is very strange how very little outsiders know OF
what IL being done In Crete Battles and skirmIahcs
| take place every week. While your correspondent
| was a. Askyfo he was invited 10 accompany q
| marty down few miles In the direction
or Pcmona- There IS o small village near Pemona
named Rithymos, where party OF Turks were
found. The Cretans, numbering 100 men, well
armed, at once set upon the Turks, who probably
were OF the same numerical strength. The patriots