The regiment arrived at Zante after a passage of eight days in a ship densely crowded, which had to put back to renew its supply of water. It rained nearly the whole time, and the heat below being intolerable, the greater number remained on deck night and day. At this time the insurrection was in full activity, and the Zantiates in a state of great excitement. Shortly afterwards a cannonading was heard at sea, and a Turkish ship of war came in sight, chased by sixteen Greek armed merchant ships. The Turk, having been crippled in his rigging, found that he could not weather a certain headland, and observing the red coats of a few soldiers, who had been sent there to maintain the quarantine laws, he ran his ship ashore to obtain their protection. He had fought a most gallant action. For nearly two hours those sixteen ships had in succession been pouring in broadsides, raking in crossing his bows, firing again on the opposite side, and again raking in crossing his stern, and yet he never struck his colours. When the cannonading had ceased, the peasantry commenced firing on the Turk with their long muskets. And when the soldiers were pushing them back—forming a cordon—they began firing on the troops. I happened to be there mounted as a spectator, and recommended the young officer to collect his men on a neighbouring hill, and defend himself as well as he could, while I galloped into town, four miles distant, for reinforcements. These soon arrived, and quickly dispersed the mob. Three soldiers, however, had been killed and their bodies barbarously mutilated. When the report reached Corfù, Sir Frederick Adam came down, declared martial law, and held a Court of High Commission under the Venetian laws, which had been guaranteed to the Islanders; and after a very patient investigation, selected four of the principal ringleaders, who were hung two hours after sentence was passed. The Ionian Greeks had always been in the habit of carrying long muskets and pistols, even when pursuing their daily labour. Sir Frederick Adam immediately issued a proclamation for disarming the population. In every district, town, and village the inhabitants were ordered, under severe penalties, to bring in their arms, which were piled in heaps and burned in the presence of English officers appointed for that purpose. A few years previously, the French, with a garrison of three regiments, had attempted the same thing and failed.