The ninety vessels from Constantinople, and Saleh Reis, with the twenty under his command, had now arrived; so that, according to the royal command, the fleet now consisted of a hundred and fifty vessels; but the equipment and manning of the ninety from the Porte not being quite complete, Khair-ad-din emptied and sent back twelve of them to Gallipoli; the rest he despatched to the Negropont. The fleet then touched at Eskeri (Skyro), which they left the same night. In the forenoon of the following day, which was very foggy, they met seventy of the Mediterranean pirate boats which had but the day before attempted in vain to take Skyro. On the approach of Khair-ad-din, however, the infidels of the castle surrendered, crying for quarter; and he accordingly spared them, on the condition that they should pay an annual sum of one thousand pieces of gold. At this place he remained a short time, and oiled his vessels. With the plunder he took he filled seven vessels, and sent them to Constantinople. Two cannoniers had been sent from Candia to Skyro; but not arriving till the afternoon, when the castle had surrendered, they were seized and brought before the pasha, who having obtained from them the information he needed respecting the enemy’s movements, divided his fleet into seven squadrons, which he sent in different directions,—one cruising about the islands to levy the tribute. He then sailed to Istandil (Tino), the governor of which was a Frank, and the people Greeks. These immediately surrendered, and the pasha agreed to molest them no further if they would deliver up their chiefs, which they accordingly did. He then appointed one of the principal inhabitants governor, and stipulated for an annual tribute of five thousand pieces of gold. He next sailed to Andro, the people of which also submitted. On this and a neighbouring island he imposed an annual tribute of one thousand pieces of gold. From Andro the squadron proceeded to Naxia, and received the tribute from that island, the inhabitants firing a salute. In the afternoon of the third day from this time, as they were sailing to Candia, they perceived before them a huge barge, which seemed like a black mountain rising out of the sea. They immediately bore down upon her; but she received their fire for a considerable time without striking her colours. At length, however, she was weakened by several balls striking her prow, when the Capudan Ibrahim went in and took her in tow. On the fifteenth of Seffer the fleet arrived at Candia, first touching at the castle of Miloietimo, where they landed their men. They then plundered twenty of the neighbouring villages, which had been abandoned by the infidels, and proceeding thence to Bakorna, took the natives prisoners, and plundered sixty of the adjacent villages. On the 17th they sailed towards a very strong castle called Khania (Canea), and as the infidels had fled into the fortress, took in a supply of water, and made preparations to attack it.