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some had internal injuries, some were so terrified that they thought death imminent. The meeting was broken up, those prosent fled in alarm, and the people outside, hearing what had happened aud the tumult within, believing it to have been a trap prepared beforehand to kill the bishops, rushed madly to the palace, carrying bludgeons and arms. They found the doors shut, they set them on fire, the palace was wrapped in flame, and the mob pouring in slew the wretched Chil Osman, with eighteen of his followers. They sacked and robbed the palace of all they conld find, whether it belonged to government, to the murdered Governor or Iiis traiu—a terrible tragedy. The news spread and all were dumb as corpses, Ulema, aghas and rayahs, all crouching in mute terror, expecting only that the award of authority would fall on all alike, and that inexorable vengeance, aud savage requital would be exacted for the blood thus savagely shed. Three or fonr hours passed before there was any lull iu the shouting in the streets, in the rush and roar of men running to the sack of the burning palace. The bazars were shut, and all the respectable people shut up in their houses, suffering paroxysms of terror. They believed that the city was wholly given aver to revolt, murder and pillage, and the Tnrkish magnates, though sadly distressed, took prudent measures, to disperse tlie mob, lest the rioting should increase, and be directed against the houses of the wealthy and prominent citizens. The Molla, by tho dellal or crier, straightway commanded the villagers, Turks and Christians, in the name of the Sultan, to disperse and depart each to his village. They obeyed and left Nicosia forthwith. Orders were given for the burial of the wiusellim and the other victims: the fire in the palace was extinguished, and guards were set to watch tlie city within and without, and carefully to search everyone who entered the gates for concealed arms. When night came the Ulema and aghas met in the Mol la's house to consult about appointing a temporary administrator, and to contrive the most prudent method, and most specious pretexts, with which to announce the daring action of the mob to the government. How should they devise any reasonable justification and excuse, so that the Porte should not think that the island generally had risen in revolt? The murder of the sovereign's representative, the pillage of the treasury aud robbery of the imperial funds, the burning of the Serai, or official palace,—here were three indofensible crimes, which would require tact and wisdom, and common feeling aud action of both Turks aud Greeks, to make them appear natural results of the tyrannical harshness of the murdered tnitneÜhi, which had been such as inevitably to drive the people to the fury and daring which they had displayed. So they debated, and found some specious exenses, representing .the Governor as a tyrant, and something like a traitor, and so concocted their report to the Vazir. I omit the details as unimportant. Meanwhile the Turks in their mosques, the Christians in their churches offered unceasing prayers and supplications, that God would be pleased to inspire the Sultan's heart with pity, and that the lives of the Cypriote might be spared. At last- the news reached the Vazir, and he too softened down the affair as well as lie conld to Sultan Mustafa 111., and after no long delay Hafuz efeudi came as muhassil, to complete the term of the deceased" Chil Osman, and later a muvela and qapiji-bashi to ascertain if what the magnates had written was true, to examine minutely into the causes of the slaughter, to exact the repayment of the sums stolen from the palace, and blood-money for the musellim and his followers, Tlie commissioners made their enquiry, and the kindly souls were won by gifts to declare the deceased the causo of the outbreak, and to justify the offenders. Tho relations of the murdered men presented themselves, and each received the price of blood. The 358 EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

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