View PDF version of this page

He pretended to desire a private interview with the rebel chief, which was promised for the night of August 14, when he persuaded Khalil Agha to escape from the fort by a secret way which led down to the sea, and to take refuge on his ship, assuring him of his safety, for his men would never allow him to be carried off ; for it was a point of honour with them never to give up a man who sought shelter among them, a point which they would maintain even against their own commander. It was not so in the case of Khalil Agha, who was taken on shore the next day, and handed over to the Pasha, who began by treating him well, giving him a tent to himself, where he was strictly guarded. Its chief gone, the fort surrendered the same day. The women were allowed their liberty and their goods. The men were all kept under guard, the leading insurgents being put in chains, for all Khalil Agha's most devoted adherents had retired with him into the castle. The fort was now in the Pasha's hands, and on the 19th he caused Khalil Agha to be brought again before him, questioned him at length to discover the other leaders of the revolt, reproved him for his infidelity to the sovereign who had confided to him so important a stronghold and had him strangled in his presence. All the forts in the kingdom saluted the rebel's death with their guns. On the 21st before starting on his return to Nicosia the Pasha saw that Qarqa Oghlu and his men were embarked for Caramania, so that they should not have occasion to return through Larnaca. He then looked to the punishment of the insurgents, 200 of whom were beheaded. Their heads, with that of their chief, were sent to Constantinople. Peace at last was restored to the island, but not its wealth and well being, which were greatly in decline. On September 8 the Pasha received from the Porte his third tail, as a recompense for having suppressed the insurrection—an exalted and highly valued distinction. On October и Hafiz Mohammad Efendi, the former xx] Insurrection of 1764-6 109

View PDF version of this page