Mustapha found the Egyptian army diminished and utterly demoralized by defeat. About 12,000 Turkish troops were in the island, indifferently equipped and in a poor state of discipline; added to these, he had his 5,000 irregulars and a few hundred Albanians. From these he organized an army of about 10,000 men, with whom he marched to the relief of Candanos. The direct passes were all held by the Cretans in such strength that the Turks were unable to force their way, and they were obliged, therefore, to make a long détour through the western part of the island, constantly harassed by parties of the insurgents, who held all the advantageous positions on the route. The expedition succeeded in relieving Candanos without a fight, the Cretans retiring before the overpowering forces of the Commissioner, not too soon for the besieged, who were at the verge of starvation before relief arrived. The siege was marked by the usual atrocities of those religious barbarian conflicts. An incident, related to me by a Christian Cretan who assisted at the siege, will suffice to show the animus by which they were already possessed. Some of the besieged Cretans, recognizing a brother of a prisoner in their possession amongst the besiegers, killed the prisoner, and, cutting him up as the butchers cut meat, hung the members above the parapet, calling to the besiegers that they had meat yet. The besiegers retaliated by treating half-a-dozen prisoners in the same way, and calling to the besiegers that, if they wanted more, they might come and get it.[E] [E] The position of Candanos, although impregnable to direct assault, was commanded on all sides by hills within speaking distance, but which the Cretans had neither artillery nor rifles to take advantage of.