Charles Philip Yorke, Fourth Earl of Hardwicke, Vice-Admiral R.N. — a MemoirBiddulph, Elizabeth Philippa, Baroness
History
Charles Philip Yorke, Fourth Earl of Hardwicke, Vice-Admiral R.N. — a Memoir
Biddulph, Elizabeth Philippa, Baroness
Hardwicke, Charles Philip Yorke, Earl of, 1799-1873
passes of the mountains; but in this case the excellent animal I rode
served me most faithfully and never made a blunder. Oh Maria [Footnote:
His stepsister.]! and ye lovers of horseflesh, how you would have
praised and petted this animal had you ridden him; pitch dark on my
return, nearly perpendicular flights of stone and not a false step!
Excellent beast, your master the Pacha knows your value. I got back
about 10 P.M. wet through nearly--the Pacha's cloak served me well
though. The tent of Osman Bey received me and we found some excellent
rum to season my sherbet with. The next day about one o'clock we
started on horse-back to attack the strong position of Gambus, two
regiments of regulars, 1000 each, had gone on in the morning. My object
in going with the Turks was a mixed one, curiosity and hope of doing
some good in preventing bloodshed. But there was no need for any
personage of that humane disposition, the Greeks themselves were so
full of humanity that they decamped bag, baggage, and colours a quarter
of an hour before the leading Albanians entered the place of Cambus. I
shall only remark that it stood on the top of a mountain; only to be
reached by the most narrow and difficult passes, and had the Greeks
intended to fight at all, they never could have had a better
opportunity.
'The day after I left Canea in a small boat I had hired to take me to
Karabusa. It was a fine calm morning, but when we had gone about two
miles along shore a very heavy gale came on, our sails were blown away
and with great difficulty we reached Cape Spada, rowing for two hours
within fifty yards of the shore, and could not reach it. We lay in a
level with a rocky headland this night with but little to eat. The next
day we tried to get round Cape Spada but could not; the wind then
shifted to the northward and blew a hard gale. We were now wrecked
among the breakers at the bottom of the bay of Gonia. Thank God I
reached the dry land and was well taken care of at the monastery. There
I found Chrisophopulos and Vanilikeli, who escorted me to Castelli and
from thence to Karabusa.
'December 12.--At Canea. Find the Greeks here well contented with the
Turks. No taxes or impositions get laid on, in fact at present the
Greeks are better off than the Turks. The Spakiotes have not all
submitted. Three Spakiotes taken prisoners with their arms are made
Primates of their respective villages and members of the Council.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account