The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-05-21
Greek Brigands.

.
lieutenant. He states that after the fall OF
Constantinople, in 1853, and the subjuga-
ton of Greece by the Turks, bands of
patriots, particularly from amongst the
tribes known as the Cleptai and the Arma-
toll, joined together to resist the tyrants
and, retreating to the mountains, and fast
holds of nature, there set up code of laws,
and formed small but independent gov
eminent in the midst of the conquered
country. Gradually, however, these heroes
dwindled into robbers; and the warfare
against tyranny became spelling of the
weak. Their code of laws, as at present
existing, is strange mixture of barbarity
and chivalry. 1t contains fifteen clauses,
which are as follows
/. All treachery to be punished by cut
ting off the extremities of the traitor, as an
example to others.
2. On a second offence, the traitor to be
killed and exposed.
3. The rich to be captured, and not
allowed to depart till they have paid ran
rom, and sworn not to injure the brigands
by relation of their adventures to the au-
thorities.
4. The captives, if not ransomed, to be
strangled.
s. If the ransom be short of the sum
named, lots to be drawn whether the cap
tive shall GO free, having one ear cut off to
show that the sum was deficient, or shall be
killed.
6. Captives once ransomed must, if re-
captured, pay second time.
Z. All soldiers to be killed.
8. The bearers of the ransom to be re-
spected, and small money to be given them
on their departure.
9. After the ransom is paid, before the
captive is released, he is to be kept and en-
tertained some few days, to see what man.
ner of man he is; and before he goes his
beard to be shaved off.
10. All robbers plotting with government
to be killed.
H. No one to be admitted into the band
as member who has not previously COM
mitted criminal act.
10. Should captive escape, his keeper
is to be held responsible, and expelled from
the band.
IS. Never to steal the goat and sheep
from the shepherds, but to pay for all
taken.
IA. To offer gifts at any monastery or
hermitage, by way of expiation for sin.
Is. Not to lie cruel to captives; to go
shares in everything; and never to injure
women.
1t is the shepherds who support the bri-
garNds, and by whose means they are SO
well hid from the authorities. The shep-
herds supply them with bread, meat, and
wine, serve them as guides in times eff dan
ger, and it is their children who are educa-
ted to be brigands, and who reinforce their
ranks. Immense precautions are taken by
the robbers against surprises. In the fine
weather they come down from their strong
holds amongst the rocks and evergreen
olives to the more sheltered country, to re-
tire again in the winter. They always
travel by night, proceeding in file through
the open country; never through the mar
row passes, for fear of ambushes. The
smallest object, the faintest sound, startles
them; and down they drop fiat on their
stomachs till their confidence is renewed.
A tree waving in the breeze, or the rustic
of dead leaves as they walk over them
shoeless for fear of noise, is often enough
to cause one of these panics. Before start
ing on any of these journeys they always
appoint rendezvous in case of separation.
Their scouts 60 on in front, driving horses
or oxen, and habited as drovers. Under
their shelter follows the main body, peep
ing constantly beneath the cattle to see if
an enemy is approaching; and behind come
the vanguard, who, if anything is amiss,
whistle like night-bird, and the band dis
perses.
From very horrid reason, it is said that
the crows are the best detectives of the
robbers. When the band are camping in
marsh, their clothes, owing to their I'M
clearly habits emit SO strong a smell, that
the crows, imagining it to be carrion, col
lect in swarms and hover above them, so
that the soldiers are often guided to the
spot by seeing the dark clsud in the air.
There is a regular system of treating for
the ransom Of the captives. A letter is first
conveyed by the robbers from the captive to
his friends. This generally contains safe
conduct for the messenger who shall be
chosen to 60 to the robber camp and treat,
and plan making out certain places he
must stop at. He travels by night, on a
white horse, and carries small bell, which
he rings at certain convenient and solitary
situations, where he is answered by shrill
whistle if all is we'll. Unless the whistle is
heard he must not go on, and the whole
plan is so arranged that the man himself
does not know where he is finally going to,
so that it is impossible for the authorities
to discover the brigands' haunt thereby
At certain spot the robbers meet him,
and conduct him into the presence Of the
chief Then regular bargaining is COM
menced. The chief names a sum, which
the messenger, if he is a man Of determi-
nation, and represents well the insufficient
means of the captive, can often get reduced.
When the bargain is finally struck, the
messenger goes back for the money by
different road to that he came by, and re-
turns with the same ceremonies and pre-
cautions. The ransom is delivered to the
chief in presence of all the band, who light
a taper and examine the coins to see if
they are good. The captive is then brought
in, loosed from his ropes, his beard cut off,
and then he is kissed by each rebber on the
cheek, whilst they all cry out several times
'iKallalin' that is to say, "Begone, and be
of good health Should the robbers be
besieged during the time of the bargaining,
both captive and ransom are destroyed.
The robbers great object is to terrify
the people into bringing sufficient ransom;
therefore, when it is deficient, or the cap
tive is too poor to pay at all, the most hor
rible cruelties are practiced. There are