Mustapha, by way of reply and justification, gave to the most noisy of his insubordinates a division to attack the insurgents at Omalos, where the prudent, if a little useless, Zimbrakaki commanded a body of volunteers, and was supported by Hadji Mikhali with his Lakiotes, Criaris, one of the bravest of Crete, with the Seliniotes, and all the men of the destroyed villages of the Rhizo and Kissamos, a desperate throng which every movement of the Turks did but increase. Ali Riza Pasha, to whom the movement was entrusted, unwilling to risk again the twice-attempted road by Lakus, made his attack by a pass further to the west, which led to a declivity by which approach to the plain of Omalos was possible but not easy, and which the Cretans call _kakoi plevroi_ (bad slopes). The assault was against men hidden amongst huge fragments of rock and brushwood, and, though obstinately pushed, made no headway, and the troops, after losses, as usual unreported, retreated to Hostí in the valley, where they were followed and surrounded by the Cretans, and all communication was cut off with Canéa for two or three days. Here Hadji Mikhali performed one of those feats which recall the old days of Greek heroism. Descending at night with a small party of picked men, he cut his way through the Turkish camp, and disappeared on the other side. The Turks began an indiscriminate firing of musketry and artillery in every direction, and kept it up until daylight. Mikhali was certainly the most remarkable character developed by the insurrection. The son of a chieftain of the same name, who is one of the traditional heroes of the "great insurrection" (1821 to 1830), he inherited an influence, with genuine strategic abilities and undaunted courage, which, with great personal prowess, made him the terror of the Turkish authorities. I have often remarked the unconscious adaptation of Homer's description of Achilles used by the Cretans in speaking of Mikhali, his most-dwelt-on characteristics being his beauty, his swiftness of foot, and immense strength and stature. Ali Riza was only rescued from the hands of the Cretans (for M. Zimbrakaki never ventured from his safe retreat, though he had now an opportunity to destroy the whole division of Turks by an energetic and concentrated attack, and the Hadji had to work with his own people) by a strong column from Canéa opening up the way for his retreat; and with the abandonment of this plan all hopes of making any impression on Sphakia were abandoned, the more as all the villages now took up arms and threw off any pretence of composition.