Meeting IX

Now hearers lend an attentive ear to a tale about Mustapha-beg, the son of Gariz. He came on a visit to Chamly-bill and found all the seven hundred and seventy-seven of Kurroglou’s brigands, seated before the tablecloths spread close to their knees. They were eating, and drinking wine. There were three cupbearers, Ayvaz, Mussah, and Issah-Bally, busied in filling Kurroglou’s cup with wine. The first of them was ever ready to serve Kurroglou with a perfect good grace; but he was much hurt in his soul when the latter commanded him to help also his guest Mustapha-beg to some wine. Kurroglou, who had taken a drop too much, either did not understand, or perhaps only pretended that he did not understand Ayvaz’s feelings on the subject. In the course of conversation he asked his guest, “Hast thou seen a banquet more splendid than mine V 9 The latter replied, “I have not, one thing alone i3 wanting here.” “What is that?” “I have been on a visit in Tokat, to the pasha of that place. On the other side of the town he has ordered a park to be laid out in which he preserves a great quantity of excellent game. The kabab prepared from the geese, ducks, cranes, and swans, that are fed in that park, is by far more exquisite than any you have ever tasted in all your life. If, in addition to the wine we are now drinking, thy Ayvaz would fetch us but a few spits of such kabab, verily there would then be no other banquet comparable to thine in the world.”

Ayvaz grew pale, and then red, but said nothing. He reached Kurroglou a cup full of wine. The latter raised it in the air and exclaimed, “If any of ye, my warriors, should be willing to undertake to fetch from the preserves of the Pasha of Tokat, the game that has just been alluded to, let him approach to take this goblet from my hands, and drink its contents. I should like to taste some kabab made of the pasha’s boasted game. Mustapha-beg is my guest, and I shall not suffer him to want for anything in my house.”

“Give then the goblet to me,” exclaimed Ayvaz. Kurroglou was rather loath to let him. Thou hast had the opportunity of showing thy valour in Kars, whilst the others had none. Stay at home where thy services are required by myself and my guest. At the mention of the guest, the colour of Ayvaz’s face changed alternately; but he sat down and said nothing. No warrior however rose from his place, for they were all afraid to give offence to Ayvaz. The latter therefore stood up again and said, “I have told thee, my lord, that this was my affair. Look at this knife. If thou wilt not allow me to go to Tokat, I shall this instant plunge it in my breast.” Kurroglou, however unwilling, presented the cup to him. Ayvaz emptied it, and rode away without loss of time.

Demurchy-Oglou, Kimchy-Oglou, and Daly- Ahmed, who were seated in a row, began to whisper amongst themselves, and said, “This child is tipsy and does not know what he is prattling. Kurroglou will be sober to-morrow, and he will be sure to punish us, if we should allow Ayvaz to depart alone. He will pluck out from the surface of the earth the root of our existence.”

They then rose together, left the banquet, and, having armed themselves, they got on horseback and rode without stopping until they came up with Ayvaz.

On one of the subsequent days they arrived at Tokat; and finding plenty of good grass in the park that has been described by Mustapha-beg, they left their horses to graze. Of course they had been careful not to forget to take with them a bag of wine. They then killed some birds, which they saw in the park, and began to roast the kabab on spits prepared from the twigs of some fruit-trees which Ayvaz had chopped of for the purpose with his sabre.

The gardener saw all the depredations they had made; he went and reported to Ahmed Pasha as follows:—“Four robbers belonging to Kurroglou’s band have made themselves at home in thy park; they are killing birds, and injuring the trees. I asked them what business they had to cut the trees. They answered, that so far from cutting them, they were only grafting them that they might produce an improved sort of fruit.” The pasha was indignant, and called for the commander of his troops Bolly-beg, whom he ordered forthwith to take four hundred horsemen with him, and to conduct the robbers alive into the town.

While Ayvaz busied himself about preparing the spits for the kabab, Demurchy-Oglou said to Daly Ahmed, “Ayvaz has brought us here between four inclosures; we are shut up with trenches as in a cage. The gardener is gone to make a complaint to the pasha, who will be sure to send immediately gome troops here, and then our fathers will be burnt.” “Thou art right. But Ayvaz’s courage will be tried here. If, upon seeing the Turks approach he should say, Let us fly, I shall then kill the villain; if, on the contrary, he should say, Let us fight, we shall then combat as long as we have a soul left in our bodies. But here he comes.” “Well, Ayvaz, thou hast brought us into a cage, as it were for the express purpose of delivering us into the hands of the Turks? They will soon be here from Tokat after us.” Ayvaz said, “We will try, I am resolved to shed the last drop of blood in our defence. And in case of my being killed, I should advise you to surrender yourself to Ahmed Pasha, and to remain in Tokat, till Kurroglou may be enabled to come here and avenge us,’ as soon as he shall have heard of your fate.”

Demurchy-Oglou was sincerely rejoiced when he heard the above answer, and exclaimed, “Ayvaz, Let me fall a sacrifice to thy eyes! get up, we must now arm ourselves and be prepared for the worst.” The four robbers then mounted on horseback, and took their station on the road to meet Bolly-beg, who was now but a short distance from them. Being determined to wait no longer, they rushed at once upon the centre of the enemy. Bolly-beg soon saw that one half of his soldiers fell under the blows of the four daring brigands; but as his orders were that he should not slay them, he was obliged to have recourse to a subterfuge. He directed ropes to be tied in a noose (huncnd) and to be thrown over them. Ayvaz was first entangled by this device, but Demurchy-Oglou cut the noose through with his sword, without remarking that another was thrown round his own neck from behind at the time. Belly- Ahmed cut it through. Bolly-beg who was at a loss What to do, fell in great despair, and exclaimed, “Children! you must now surround them all with ropes on every side, and do your best to entangle the legs of their horses.” This time the Turks were successful. All the four robbers were unhorsed, and captured alive. The Turks then having bound their feet and arms, began to drive the brigands before them, being mounted themselves, until they arrived in Tokat.

It happened that the merchant Khoja Yakub, who had once brought from Orfah, Ayvaz’s portrait to Kurroglou, was on that day in Tokat. He had placed himself in the town gate, and seeing a great crowd of people on the road which led to the park, he inquired of a Turk: “What are these men 1 see conducted towards us?” “They are four of Kurroglou’s bandits, who had crept into the pasha’s park, and whom the latter directed to be captured and brought hither." Khoja Yakub went quickly to the troops, and beheld four men, who were all known to him personally, driven on foot, in front of the horses’ towards the town. He made a deep sigh, and inquired: “Is it possible! how did it conuMo pass?” He then looked beyond the four men and saw that ever}’ horseman had one or more Turkish corpses fastened with straps to the saddle. When Ayvaz was passing near where Khoja Yakub stood, he recognised him and wept. Bolly-beg said, “Thou haram-zadah, thou art afraid to die, and didst thou not alone kill two hundred of our men?—thou art weeping now.” Ayvaz replied, “I do not fear to die, but I owe five hundred tumans to this merchant here, and I must now die in the sin of insolvency, as I have not paid my debt. Kurroglou, I know, is as fond of me as if I was his son, and were I even as much as two thousand tumans in debt, I am sure he would pay it. I beg of thee to allow my hands to be untied, that I may write a few lines to Kurroglou, to request him to pay my creditor.” Bolly-beg complied with his prayer. Ayvaz’s hands were then untied, and paper as well as a pen was placed before him. Ayvaz wrote the following lines:—

“My w r ay lies on the top of high mountains. O help me 1 help me! Death is pursuing me; it is following me step by step. O help me! help me! I had but one sword, and one horse. I felt great bitterness in parting with them. Where is my country? where are my relatives? O help me! help me!”

We have seen that Kurroglou did not willingly allow Ayvaz to leave him, but that the latter had himself insisted that he should go. Ayvaz therefore added another stanza, in which Kurroglou is represented as complaining of his conduct:—

“He himself came to me; he poured poison in my sack. Look, what misfortune has fallen upon my head. O my tongue, proclaim my griefs. Help! help!”

His letter was closed with the following words:—

“My Ayvaz rises, then sits down again; he forces his master to speak. Who will now shroud me, and lay me in my grave, when I am dead? Alas! 1 am dying. Help! help!”

Here he stopped. Khoja-Yakub then took the letter, and hastened to the caravanserai; he brought into his shop the wares that had been exposed for sale, and proceeded without delay towards Chamly-bill. He was in such a hurry, that he would not allow his horse to be saddled, but mounted it with the horse-clothings alone upon its back, and Without stirrups.

The four captives were then brought before the pasha. The latter ordered that their heads should be cut off immediately. His vLzi6r y $aid, “May 1 fall a victim to thee! There is not-one amongst thy subjects, but he has a grudge against Kurroglou. One had a son carried away, another had a father killed by him. From this one he has taken the cattle; another again he has kept in prison. 1 beg of thee, therefore, to give orders that the brigands should be thrown into a dungeon, m<l that chains should be forced both upon their fevt andnnns. Let them continue to 1>1> scourged there for a fort night; and in the mean time, information should be sent round the country, in order that the katkhodas (seniors) of villages and the elders of the different tribes may all meet here together. When this is done, we shall then proceed to brand Kurroglou’s heart, by the means of hot iron, with the stamp of grief, in the public square, in the midst of music, and of general joy and illumination.” The pasha said, “Thou art right, vizier, let them be thrown into prison.”

Listen now to the news of Kurroglou. Four days elapsed before he became sober and to his senses after his excessive drinking. All the banditti and all his servants had hidden themselves in the darkest corners and holes, being afraid lest Kurroglou should punish them, because they had allowed Ayvaz to go to Tokat in search of such trifles as the game of the pasha. Daly-Mehter alone went to him; and, having made a low obeisance, remained standing, without saying one word. Kurroglou told him to call Ayvaz to him. “I have a headache; I wish he would give me a few glasses of wine— that would refresh me.” “My lord, art thou only laughing at me, or dost thou speak in earnest?” “What means this question, thou insolent our?” “O my benefactor! this is the fourth day since thou hast dispatched him to Tokat to fetch some birds from the pasha’s park, to cook a kabab for thee.” “Is it possible?” Daly-Mehter swore by his master’s head that it was true, and added, that, such and such men went with them on \ n v’.that journey. “Woe to me!. I am confident some- ’ \ tiling, bad. will befall my v son.” ’ He then seized the \ v ghitgr, and sang as follows \— \ ’ ’ ’ \

‘v lifiprovisqtion. — “I have sent him to fetch some game, but he stays away, and ‘does not come backV. OMny Gd in case of need, whom wilt thou send to \ hisxassistanb? He.stays away, and does not come back. ’ I heard the firing of guns and muskets,’ defeat follows after defeat. My poor boy must have fallen, into, a stranger’s hands, for he stays away) and does not come back.”

Kurroglou, whilst singing the above song, was foaming from his mouth like a male camel. He then roared to Daly-Mehter, “Let Kyrat be saddled. 1 He sang again:—, \ v Improvisation’, — “I have sent Ayvaz to Syria.

O may my heart, be overflowed with a rain of blood. He promised to return the same night. It is very unkind of him; he Stays away and does not come back.’ \

He ordered his armour to be brought to him, and during the interval s&ngvas follows:—

Improvisation. —“The roses are budding in the,\ garden. ‘/The.’CimmouYec] nightingales’ have <>m- mbiiced their songs. Thou alone, Kurroglou, must ’ throw ashes upon thy, head. Thy son, thy brother, stays away, and does not come back. 5’ \ \ \

He put on his armour, took his weapons, mounted upon Kyrat, and rode to the mountains upon which his outposts were stationed. He examined the country all around, but the roads were empty; there was but one horseman to be seen in the direction of Tokat, galloping towards Chamly-bill like a shooting star. Kurroglou thought, “No doubt this is a courier with some news.” Kurroglou then descended into the valley, and advanced towards the horseman. Khoja-Yakub recognised him, and was sorely frightened, for he was not ignorant of Kurroglou’s habit of putting to death all those who happened to bring him any bad news. He therefore advanced a few hundred paces, tied the letter in a handkerchief, and then, throwing it towards Kurroglou, ran away as quick as he could.

As soon as Kurroglou had perused Ayvaz’s letter, the world grew confused and dim before his eyes. Taking one of his feet out of the stirrup, he threw it over the knob on the fore part of his saddle, and taking the guitar from his pocket, he tuned it, and began to sing. His voice was so powerful that the warriors in Chamly-bill could hear every one of his words.

Improvisation.—“Bolly-beg has made Ayvaz a prisoner. His object is, no doubt, that the warriors of the Turkman Tuka should go to war with him. What is the world to me now after the loss I have suffered? He wishes that brave warriors should arrive from the Turkman Tuka; he will have them.”

Every one of Kurroglou’s men, as soon as he heard this summons, hastened to arm himself, and mounting his horse, ran to join his lord. He sang on:—

Improvisation. —“My armour and my coat are both adamantine. I can chew steel between my teeth, and then spit it towards heaven. 1 shall be your advanced guard myself; I shall go before to scour the country. Tuka’s warriors, my Begs, will follow in my steps.”

Mustapha-beg had likewise in his service three thousand horsemen; he ordered them to arm themselves, and led them to Kurroglou’s aid: he was the more willing to do it, as he had been the cause of the accident. Kurroglou then sang:—

Improvisation —“I shall soon leave behind me the tops of the mountains; and then, ye foes, 1 shall have all the soil of your native country carried away in the foraging bags of my warriors. Your chiefs, I shall bring down from their horses myself. Dost thou wish that Tuka’s warriors should come? They are coming!”

All his men requested him to be led to Tokat without delay, being anxious to avenge, before his very eyes, the fate of their comrades. Kurroglou said, “This is the most trying day for me in all my life.” He sang as follows:—

Improvisation. —“Bolly-beg has been more prompt than we to-day. Grief lies like a knot on my breast. Kurroglou says, ‘Verily this day is the doomsday.’ Bolly-beg, as thou hast desired that the Turkman’s Begs should come, here they are!”

Having ended his song, Kurroglou proceeded to Tokat with all his horse, as well as with that of Mustapha-beg. On his way Kurroglou continued to converse with the latter chief. He saw a flock of cranes that passed under the sky singing. Kurroglou said, “I shall ask of these birds what is the fate of our men at Tokat.” “A crane has no language to give thee an answer. Hast thou lost thy reason?” u O mayst thou, instead of the kabab thou hast been coveting, eat the serpent’s venom! When a man is afflicted by a misfortune like mine, he will ask for tidings even of birds.” Disconsolate in his grief, he then sang as follows:—

Improvisation.—“Five cranes are passing in the air. See whether Ayvaz is not amongst them. How beautiful these birds are! See whether Ayvaz is not amongst them? The crane pursues his flight from field to field. He learns his song under the arch of heaven. Oh! sweet is the melody of his strain. See whether Ayvaz is not amongst them?”

They journeyed on from one menzill to another, until they came within a farsakh’s distance of Tokat, upon a hill from which they could se the town and country all round. Daly-Ahmed said, “My lord, wisdom and penetration have given way in thy head to grief. If we should descend from this hill upon the field below, with our banners lifted as they are at this moment, we shall be seen by the inhabitants of the town, who will be sure to shut their gates. We have no guns with us to bombard them. But what is till worse, in order to annoy us, they will accelerate the execution of our comrades. You had better direct that the banners be folded, and that the horses should make a halt here. In \the mean time we must take hold Somewhere of a citizen of Tokat, to learn from him what has become of the prisoners. If they have already been put to death, we shall avenge their blood, if they are still in life, we must manage this affair in a different manner.,, “Bravo, Daly-Hassan!” said Kurroglou, “thy words are full of wisdom. If God allows us to rescue our men, I shall give three hundred tumans reward, and if any man should dare from this day forth to call thee mad (Daly), I shall burn his father”

In consequence of the orders of the chief, the troops were soon encamped. Kurroglou said to Daly-Ahmed, “Mount quickly upon Kyrat, approach the town, and fetch us a Turk here.”

It is customary in all Turkish towns on Fridays, not to open the gates of the ramparts till three hours after sunrise. It must also be worthy of remark that there is a prophecy in some of the Turkish books, which foretells that Turkey will be conquered by the Persians on a Friday, three hours after sunrise.

Daly-Ahmed continued to roam and to examine the country, but without any effect. IIe could see no living being stirring anywhere. At last a little old man appeared in the field carrying a bag of cotton upon his back. “Whither does God conduct thee?” The foolish and hair-brained Turk replied, “What is that to thee?” “My master is a merchant, he is stopping with his caravan on the other side of yonder hill, and has sent me before him, that I might ascertain the prices of different wares in this town; if the price is high we shall sell them here; in a contrary case we must proceed to some other town.” “Go to the devil with thyself and thy master. Dost thou not perceive that I am carrying a heavy bag of cotton, just in the direction where thy master is resting himself now with his caravan. I am on my way to the market of yonder village.” Daly-Ahmed seized the old man by the neck, and with one hand lifted him in the air together with his bag. He then put Kyrat to the gallop, and dragged the prisoner along, so that the latter’s feet touched the ground all the time. The old man soon began to choke; Daly-Ahmed, therefore, released his neck, and seizing him by the beard continued to drag the poor fellow as before. During that time, Kurroglou was walking to and fro upon the top of the hill. He saw that his messenger was coming back, and that he carried, moreover, some white object in his hand. This object was the old wretch, whose clothes had become white in consequence of the cotton issuing from the bag and sticking to them. “Mustapha-beg! look at this villain, Daly-Ahmed, I have told him to fetch us a living man, and I see he is bringing us a corpse in its shroud, whom he has most likely dragged out from the burial-ground of some village.” Daly-Ahmed, who had heard these last words, rode up to Kurroglou, and said, “My lord, he is not dead.” “If he had a thousand souls in his body he must die, being dragged in the way thou hast conveyed him.” “I have released his throat, my lord, to make him breathe freely, it is by the beard that I dragged him.” He then placed the old man on his feet before the chiefs, but he dropped down. “Did I not tell thee, rascal, that this was a corpse?” “Upon my faith he is not dead, my lord. He only shuts his eyes intentionally. I shall restore him to life in a minute.” Saying these words he squeezed the old man’s hand. The latter opened his eyes, but as soon as he perceived Daly-Ahmed he closed them again. “Go away and leave us alone with him,” said Kurroglou, for he is afraid of thee.” He then ordered the old man’s nose to be stuffed with a mixture of clay and straw, and the latter soon came to his senses.

“Tell us what are the prices of different wares in the town?” “My lord, what can I tell thee? A maun of bread, which could be had before for four shahis, costs now as much as eight shahis”

Kurroglou soon saw that the old man was an idiot, and knew nothing of the things of this world, but prattled all that came to his mouth. “What news from the town, old man?” he said, “Didst thou hear anything about Kurroglou?” “Four of his robbers, viz., Ayvaz, Demurchy-Oglou, Kimchy-v About fifteen pounds, Enlibb.

Oglou, and Belly-Ahmed have been captured” “Have they been put to death, or are they still alive?” “When I left the town they were still in prison. -Summonses have been sent over the country that all the people should meet in town this day to witness the execution of the robbers, which is to take place, with firing of guns, in the midst of general joy and illuminations. I am hastening to my village, that I may sell the cotton, and then come back to Tokat. I must enjoy the pleasure of pricking Ayvaz, at least once, with my knife.

Thou art a merchant, and it is impossible that thou shouldst never have been stopped on the road by that scoundrel Kurroglou; go, therefore, quick to town, and plunge thy poniard in his son’s body.”

Kurroglou said to Daly-Ahmed, “This fool’s tale has burnt my liver. Detain him no longer, but let him go” The old man was set at liberty, and had already advanced to some distance from them, when Daly-Ahmed galloped after him; and, coming up with him, he struck, with a club, such a violent blow at the old man’s head, that it was immediately fowls, then lambs, sheep, and so on. Grown-up people consider it as a very fashionable pastime, to snatch a ram from a flock, order two of their servants to hold it by the head and feet, and, placing a bundle of straw underneath, in order to prevent the sword from striking against the ground, to cut the blceting animal to pieces while it is alive. The most famous of such swordsmen ( [shemshirzen) in Persia, is still living, Suleyman Mirza, son of Fetch Aly Shah. He has often, in the presence of the shah, and numerous witnesses, with one blow of his huge scimitar, cut in two an ass, and severed the head of a camel from its neck. This, however, has nothing to do with his personal courage, as this dexterous swordsman was one of the first who fled away after his father’s death, on learning that the present shah was coming to Teheran to he crowned. The debt of impartial truth must he paid to the more humane disposition of Mohammed Shah, and his present minister, Haji Mirza-Aghussy. Executions have m ver been so scarce in Persia as at the present day In Turkey the progress of humanity is still greater, as the punishment of death is quite abolished by a special firman of the sultan. dashed to pieces. Then, by his lord’s direction, he proceeded in search of some more acute cicerone.

Daly-Ahmed saw a peasant at a short distance from Tokat, who was occupied with watering the corn-field from the adjoining canal. He was much pleased with the general appearance, as well as the healthy looks of the stout young lad. “My lad, may God increase thy strength!” The peasant said, “Warrior, you are welcome.” “My master is a merchant; he has stopped to have his horses fed behind yonder hill, and sends me to inquire about the prices of merchandize.” The peasant placed his spade on the ground, and at once offered him his services. Daly-Ahmed seeing that he was running bare-footed before his horse, was moved by pity, and placed the lad behind him on the saddle. The peasant, as soon as they arrived at the camp, understood that they were not merchants at all; he then inquired, “Which of them is your master?” Daly-Ahmed pointed to Kurroglou with his finger. The peasant looked at him, and saw a head like the cupola of a church, mustachios extending up beyond the ears, and a beard that reached down to the waist, and the height nearly equal to that of a minaret. He naturally inferred that the valour of a giant like this must be in proportion, and said in his heart, “This must, no doubt, be Kurroglou; just such a man as he has been described to us to be.” He jumped down from the horse. “Why didst thou dismount inquired Daly-Ahmed, “My lord, thou hast been telling me he was a merchant, but I see he is somewhat like a mighty serdar; he does not at all look like a merchant;” Daly-Ahmed seeing that the lad was a sensible and acute fellow, taught him what N v ’ he should say, and how to behave in the chief’s presence.

When Kurroglou saw a comely young man running before Daly-Ahmed’s horse, he said in his heart, ’

“If this boy is a fool, may God inspire him with prudence that I may not punish him in my anger.’

As soon as the peasant had approached Kurroglou, he made him a low obeisance. “Come nearer, my lad.” The peasant bowed again, and,, y remained silent. “Canst thou tell me anything about the prices of wares in Tokat?” The, lad immediately proceeded to give an account of the different prices with so much precision, that one \\ might have easily taken him for a merchant. thoroughly conversant with all the details of his profession. “What news have you here?” “My lord, my tongue is loath to forward the fatal news to thee.” “What news dost thou speak of?” “On your passage through Chamly-bill you must no doubt have heard of Kurroglou’s fame.” “Yes, I, did.” My lord, four of his warriors have been captured by Hassan Pasha. This is the day on which they are to suffer death. As I cannot help pitying the fate of such fine warriors, and should not like to. look upon their tortures; and so I came out of town to water my corn-fields. Now if God had allowed me to alight upon thy troops, I should have had a great mind to conduct them to Tokat, that they might exterminate the Pasha’s army. After I should have thus delivered Kurroglou’s servants from death, I would immediately have lead them back to Chamly-bill. Indeed, if I had been aware of all that five or six days ago, I would rather have gone myself to inform Kurroglou of what had happened. Kurroglou would be sure to have given me as much money as would have been sufficient for the maintenance of all my family from generation to generation.”

Kurroglou was much pleased with the above answer. He ordered the lad to open his mouth and then had it filled with ducats to the brim of the lips, Then the boy was asked, “Hast thou seen the camel, my lad?” “God forbid, my lord, I have never seen his dung in all my life.” “What kind of tortures have been prepared for the prisoners?” “Summonses have been dispatched by the pasha to all parts of the country, to invite the people to meet in town this day. The fun, the firing, the illumination, and I don’t know what lots of other follies are in preparation.” The lad was allowed to depart.

Kurroglou ordered the whole of the troops to move forward. The banditti’s horses were then all covered with large cloaks, that their weapons might not be seen. The country people were seen advancing towards the town from all sides, and this circumstance enabled the troops of the robbers to approach the town without awakening any suspicion. Daly- Ahmed was the first who conceived the idea of having recourse to this device. Kurroglou, in reward, gave him the command of the expedition of that day, and made him a promise of another three hundred tumans. “Thou must mind, during the fray of the battle, to keep thy eyes constantly directed towards me. When I shall raise my hand to my mustachios, it will be a signal for thee to commence the carnage.”

Thus the robbers contrived to enter Tokat; and the people of that town imagined they were coming as mere spectators of the execution.

Kurroglou then posted Mustapha-beg’s men along the four sides of the square in which the prisoners were to suffer their punishment. He wrapped himself in a cloak of Jam, and left Kyrat’s reins in Daly-Ahmed’s hands.

A seat was brought for Hassan Pasha and placed in one of the corners of the square, in the centre of which a gibbet had been previously erected. The pasha, surrounded by all the civil officers of the province, as well as of the town itself, arrived soon after and sat down on the place that had been prepared for him. “Vizier, let the criminals be brought hither!”- After a short delay, Ayvaz, Demurchy- Oglou, Kimchy-Oglou, and Belly-Ahmed arrived, having all of them chains around their necks. When Kurroglou saw them, he wished he was blind that he might not look upon his men in their present state.

The pasha then called out and said, “Let them be put to death.”

But the vizier said, “Didst thou not command, my lord, that their death should take place in the midst of universal joy, by the singing of aushiks, and the presence of musicians and rope-dancers.” “Thou art right, call an aushik here that he may sing, and order the firing to commence in sign of public rejoicing.” Kurroglou, who was standing in the crowd of spectators, took the guitar from his pocket and tuned it, after having first made fast its handle. He then placed his hands under the arms of two of the pasha’s servants, and said to them, “Do you want an aushik —Here 1 am.

One of them seeing Kurroglou’s immense mustachioS, was frightened, and said that a man of his appearance could not possibly be an aushik. He then began to run away from Kurroglou. But the latter, as if he had been born in Tokat, took the turn of a shorter street and stopped the man’s path. He then as before, passed his own arm under the arm of the servant and inquired, “Well, do I not look like an aushik?” “Not a bit. An aushik may be known at a first glance; but as for thee, thou art neither one thing nor the other.” The other servant said, “His aspect will make the people laugh, we must bring him before the pasha.” The other servant then said also, “How sayst thou, aushik, wilt thou make us laugh V Kurroglou replied, “I cannot hear well with this ear, speak louder.” The servant brought his mouth close to Kurroglou’s face, in order to repeat his summons, but he received such a box from the upper end of the guitar, that four teeth were forced by it out of the gums and fell into his throat. The servant placing one of his hands over his mouth, said to his comrade, “Thou dog’s son, did I not tell thee that an aushik does not look like that. This rascal savours of the plague.” Never mind, he must make amends for this, by dividing with us the pasha’s reward.” They then went on and conducted Kurroglou to the pasha.

The pasha looked on Kurroglou and then inquired of the servant, “Is this man an aushik?” “Yes, pasha.” He then examined in turn Kurroglou’s portendous mustachios, as well as the beard, and said to the vizier, “This aushik looks very queer, he is more like a wrestler ( peh/evan) than a musician. Well, aushik, play a tune and give us a song, we will hear thee before these thieves are put to death.” Whilst the pasha was speaking, Kurroglou saw a lad in a rich dress who had brought a bow full of wine for the pasha; he looked the cupbearer in the face and licked his lips. The pasha inquired, “What is the reason of thy licking thy lips, aushik “May the pasha live long! I came from a good distance, my throat is full of dust and sand. If thou wouldst deign to let me swallow a few drops of wine, I could sing better, having first cleared out the way for the voice.” The pasha ordered the boy to hand Kurroglou a bottle of wine. Kurroglou immediately emptied it to the bottom, and then held up one of his hands in the air with an empty bottle in it: the meaning of this gesture was that he should like to have another. At the same time, with his other hand he was slapping his belly, to signify that it was empty, and that there was plenty of room for a fresh supply of liquor.

The pasha smiled and directed an entire mchtara of wine to be placed before Kurroglou: The vizier then exclaimed, “Drink, that thou mayest swell and burst.” Kurroglou looked round and met on every side the faces of his banditti. In his joy, he lifted the mehtara, and having drunk its contents to the bottom at a draught, placed it again on the ground. The pasha exclaimed, “Thou haram zadah, stand up and let us see, there must be a pond under thee, in which all that wine has flown.” Kurroglou stood up and gazed on his place, which was quite dry and smooth. A general burst of laughter followed this scene. The pasha said to the vizier, “If this aushik should stay here a few days longer, the price of wine in our town will be sure to rise. Now thou must give us a song.” Kurroglou said, “May the pasha live long! I drank with an empty stomach, and my heart is sick in consequence. I should like to have something to eat.” By order of their master, the pasha’s servants brought soon after a large tray filled with meat and rice.

Kurroglou tucked his sleeves up to the elbows; he then looked round, and saw the eyes of every man fixed upon him. He lowered his head, and began to snatch by handfuls, and to fling into his mouth all that fell under his hand, not excepting the bones. Soon after, the bottom of the tray became visible; and the pasha, seeing that all its contents had disappeared, said to the vizier, “Indeed, this fellow must be famine personified in human shape. Well, that will do now: get up, and sing us a song. If thou shouldst dwell any longer in Tokat, the prices of rice and butter will be very high. Go on!”

Kurroglou looked round, and saw that Daly- Ahmed’s eyes were on him, and that one of his hands was placed on his dagger. By this sign, Daly- Ahmed meant to inquire, whether it was time to commence the battle. Kurroglou raised his eyebrows, to signify that the time had not yet come. He also possessed this quality, that when he had once tasted any man’s bread and salt, he felt grateful, and would never betray him. He now said in his heart: “I have been eating the pasha’s bread and salt, and I must not forget it. I shall ask him to present me with the captives; if he complies with my request, I shall then depart as I have come; but should he refuse, I shall be compelled to light against my will; I shall then be free from all sin.” He shook off, with the handle of his guitar, the remnants of rice that hung upon his mustachios, and sang as follows:—

Improvisation —“Hassan Pasha, listen to the meaning of my song. Let Ayvaz be set at liberty; allow him to depart. Thou shalt have God’s blessing for it, and live a hundred years in happiness. Let Ayvaz be set at liberty; allow him to depart.”

The pasha was surprised when he heard that the aushik’s song terminated with an allusion about Ayvaz Kurroglou continued to sing:

Improvisation.—“Why dost thou shake the dark plume of thy turban? Thou must not rely too much on thy brassarts of steel. Hear me—give Ayvaz back to me, and allow him to depart.”

The pasha then said in a whisper to his vizier, “This man looks like Kurroglou.” 44 May the pasha live long! that robber would never dare to come hither.” Kurroglou sang on:—

Improvisation.—“A lamb is brought up to serve for a kabab—a man is brought up to be a companion. O pasha! I conjure thee on thy own head, let go Ayvaz; allow him to depart.”

The pasha then said to Kurroglou, “Aushik, thy words will avail nothing. I shall not give Ayvaz to thee; I must have him put to death!” Kurroglou said in his heart, “Now let us tell this dog who we are: will he understand?” He sang as follows:—

Improvisation.—“My cloak has been all pierced through by lances. All who saw it were loud in their praises. It is Kurroglou himself that is now asking thee. Give me back Ayvaz; allow him to depart.”

The pasha exclaimed, “Children, this man is Kurroglou: take him and let him be killed.” Kurroglou said in his heart, “This dog of a pasha has been repeating so often the word, ‘Let them be killed,’ that the hearts of the poor captives must now be bursting with fear.” He then said aloud, “May the pasha live long! I have been with Kurroglou more than once; and, whilst there, I heard the voice of Demurchy-Oglou, the same who is shortly to be put to death. He is an excellent singer. Let my guitar be given to him, that he may sing for you.”

The |>pasha said, “If he will sing some good verses in my praise, I shall grant him his life.” Kurroglou had a different object in view. As soon as Demurchy’s eye fell on the guitar, he knew at once to whom it belonged. He therefore said in a whisper to Ayvaz, “Good cheer, my friend. Our lord is come hitherand when the latter expressed his doubts, he showed him the guitar. The happy event was immediately communicated to their two remaining comrades. Demurchy-Oglou thus sang for the pasha:—

Improvisation. — “Glory and obeisance to thee, valiant Kurroglou! See, he is already advancing to the battle. Effendy, thou must be on thy guard. God has created him all perfection, without blemish. He is humble before heaven alone, but he scorns all human kind. See, he is already advancing to the battle. Effendy, beware!”

The pasha called out, saying, “Take the guitar from this villain’s hands. Does he mean to frighten me with Kurroglou’s name?”

Kurroglou said, “May the pasha live long! This is but a joke to us; but his life is at stake, and there is no wonder that, in such a critical moment, he prattles all that comes to his lips. Thou must not be angry with a poor culprit.” Demurchy continued to dug:—

Improvisation. — “Pasha, thou must, not reject our beloved’s prayer. Let the same God put a term to our life who originated it. A roaring lion will soon dart from the wood. What can foxes do to him? O my Effendy, take care of thyself.”

The pasha fell into a great fury: “This thief here has made a fox of me and a lion of Kurroglou. Quick, let him be put to death.”

“Pasha, a man at the hour of death raves as if he had a fever: allow him to speak as he likes.” Here Daly-Ahmed, who was holding Kyrat’s bridle, approached the gallows, and said in a whisper to the singer, “Villain, I am to-day the commander of this expedition. Why shouldst thou not praise me as well as others?” Demurchy thought in himself “What is to be done with this madman? If I should not praise him, he is likely to kill me in the meEe which must soon take place.” He sang, therefore, as follows:—

Improvisation.—“He has seven hundred and seventy-seven warriors; all madcaps, from the first man to the last. But Daly-Mehter’s arm is the strongest of all. He will soon appear in this square. O my Effendy! take care of thyself.”

Again the pasha ordered the guitar to be taken away from Daly-Ahmed; but Kurroglou again succeeded in appeasing the pasha’s anger. Demurchy sang as follows:—

Improvisation.—“A few words more from the mouth of the blacksmith’s son. You have made tears flow from my eyes. It is time now to wipe them. If you must kill, let only three of us be killed. But O my Effendy I let young Ayvaz be spared.”

The pasha ordered a proclamation to be made all over the square, that any man who should hit Ayvaz with one arrow, should receive a ducat as his reward; who should hit him with two arrows should receive two, ducats, and so on. All this was proclaimed in the presence of the officers who stood before the pasha. This order wounded Kurroglou’s heart like a lancet. He rose from his place, and advancing a few steps, said,’ “May the pasha live long! Allow me to say but a few words more, after which thou shalt be at liberty to shed blood, and murder as thou pleasest.” And taking the guitar from Demurchy, he sang as follows:—

Improvisation. “The turbans are proudly wrapped on their heads. The order has been proclaimed in the square, early in the morning. O ye turbans, may ye be dashed down from these heads unfolded and torn to pieces! ye shall soon hear the. voice of my heralds! The warrior s shouts, the horse’s neighing is heard; the banners are flying, and their golden balls are glittering’ in the sun. Wonderful are the ordainings of fate.”

And as the pasha had ordered arrows to be shot at Ayvaz, Kurroglou now added:—

Improvisation.—" From the left and from the right, arrows are flying. A hard bow require strength in the arm. Blood is gushing from the limb which has been hit by an arrow.”

The pasha’s patience was now exhausted, and he ordered the prisoners to be put to death. Kurroglou continued to sing:—

Improvisation.—“See!—the young warrior is stretching the spring of the stone-bow. The bullet has struck; the wound inflicted by it is burning most painfully. Blood is trickling through the rings of the coat of mail. The body is deprived of all strength and motion.”

The object of this song was to inform the prisoners of the fate which awaited them, as well as to express disapprobation of the manner in which they had allowed themselves to be made prisoners without a wound, and to make them sensible of the obligations they were under to Kurroglou for the latter’s timely assistance. He then sang oil:—

Imp’t’ovisation.—Kurroglou must not hear of it he must not quit his house for our sake. Shame upon a man who has not fallen in battle, and returns home without a wound.”

The pasha continued to call out all the time, “Let them be killed!” Daly-Ahmed grew impatient; he looked upon his lord, and twisted his mustachio. The meaning of it was: “Why dost thou delay giving us the signal agreed upon?” Kurroglou, upon this, made him understand that the time had not come yet. Daly-Ahmed, in his anger, came so much forward, impatient to make his signs to Kurroglou, that the pasha’s eyes fell on Kyrat. He beheld a horse like a mountain; even the stables of the sultan himself contained no steed that could be compared to him. The pasha inquired, “Whose horse is this?” “It belongs to this aushik here.” “Well, aushik, thou must sell thy jade to me.” “Take it from me as a present.” “I shall pay thee three hundred tumans in ready money, and then thou shalt be at liberty to go to my stable, and to choose any horse thou mayst please for thyself.” Kurroglou replied, “Have I not told thee already, take it as a present from me?” The pasha gave orders that three hundred tumans should immediately be counted over to Kurroglou. Kurroglou tied the money in a handkerchief, and giving it to Daly-Ahmed, said, “Here are the first three hundred tumans I have promised thee as a reward.” Then, turning to the pasha, he said, “O may the palace of thy generosity stand firm for ever!

The pasha told one of his grooms to lead the horse away. Kyrat, on his way to the stable, grew restless, and began to prance. The pasha’s reason abandoned him, and he said to the vizier, “This horse is full of spirit and vigour.” When Kyrat saw that he was going to be still further removed from his master, he reared himself up and placed his fore legs on the groom’s shoulders. The pasha and the vizier both continued to look in that direction; they smiled when they saw that the horse could play so many tricks. Kyrat bent his neck down, seized the groom’s head between his teeth, and then plucking it from the neck with all its veins, flung it on the ground.

The pasha cried out, “Aushik, may thy house fall in ruins! thy horse is an anthropophagus!” Kyrat, now left alone, with the reins laid on his neck, began to caracole over the square, whilst the Turks were flying before him. Not long before this accident took place, an old head-groom of the pasha had been discharged from his stable for some offence or other. This man, now seeing what had happened, came to the pasha, and said, “May the pasha live long! My family has always lived in the service of thine from the time of our great-grandfather. Thou hast removed me in order to take into thy service this man here, who has just paid, with his death, for his ignorance how to treat horses of a noble race. I have this moment left the bath,—I am quite clean.” The pasha said, “Well, then, take this horse, and conduct him to the stable.” The equerry advanced slowly, and whistling all the time towards Kyrat, who stood motionless. The equerry began to stroke his back; Kyrat, having firmly fastened his fore-legs upon the earth, aimed such a kick at the equerry, with his hind-legs, that the latter fell down with his breast burst open. The pasha said, “has served thee right; thou art a great connoisseur of horses indeed! Aushik, thy horse has killed two officers of my stable, and God alone knows for what reason.” “My lord, it cannot be helped now. I have never remarked in him this vice before. However, it is no proof at all that the horse is not of high breed. If thou hast any doubts on this point, let us both mount our respective horses, and see which of them can run the best.” Kurroglou, in his joy, expressed his thanks to Kyrat in the following verses:—

Improvisation.— <fi I shall kiss all over thy dear little head, O my darling Kyrat! If a man were to purchase thee at the price of his soul, he would have thee at a low price; I regret not the money I spent upon thee, nor the green clover, nor the trouble it cost me to recover thee when lost! When he goes to battle he neighs. He drinks from a basin carefully cleansed, the purest, the freshest water. I have brought him up myself from a colt. He neighs climbing over precipitous rocks. I give him every evening forty measures of barley. O my dear Kyrat, mayst thou live long and enjoy thyself.”

Kyrat with his reins thrown over his mane, was running playfully round the square. The pasha contemplated him with rapture. Kurroglou sang on.

Improvisation.—“I have earned Kyrat in a close battle. He hastens to the field of battle at his full speed. I have furnished his currycomb with two little bells, that he may not find his time too tedious in the stable. Trappings of velvet upon thy back will be cheap to me. Kurroglou’s words are always confirmed by deeds. He can distinguish a friend from a foe. Thy silver shoes with their nails of gold are cheap to me.”

Kurroglou then said, “May the pasha live long and reign! Permit my wretched groom to hold the horse in the mean time. When the execution of the robbers will be over, I shall myself conduct him to thy stable and try to make him quiet.” “Thou sayest well, aushik.” Daly-Ahmed then took again Kyrat’s reins into his hand.

Mustapha-beg who had been present all the time, thought in himself, “Kurroglou is drunk; his eyes can see neither earth no heaven. He takes no notice that we are dying here from extreme heat, standing as we do in the sun. In order to remind Kurroglou of their presence Mustapha-beg drew from beneath his belt a club, which he then hurled in the air to such a height that it disappeared to the eye, under heaven. An hour after, the club dropped before the pasha himself, on the ground. All that were present were struck with panic. Kurroglou was aware that the only arm in the world that could perform this miracle, was that of Mustapha-beg. When the pasha asked him for the meaning of this occurrence, he replied, “May the pasha live long! It is nothing at all. This club was thrown in the air by some of thy courtiers in their sport.” The pasha ordered the prisoners to be put to death; Kurroglou thought in his heart, “Demurchy-Oglou sang the praises of Daly-Ahmed in the pasha’s presence, it would be an act of base jealousy on thy part, not to praise before all these men Mustapha-beg, who has thrown the club higher than any man in the world is capable of doing.” “May the pasha live long! some verses have just come into my memory. Listen to them first, and let the robbers be put to death afterwards.”

Improvisation.—“A fire came down upon the earth from heaven. I imagined that my life—that my days had withered. Ayvaz had reached me a cup filled to the brim. It was a cup of bitterness, I thought he had drunk my red blood. He has awakened me from drunkenness. Death has sold itself to me, and like a female slave purchased with gold, she is now waiting for my orders. It was Mustapha-beg that threw the club! Yes. I fancied I beheld mountains falling down on the valley.”

In the mean time, the crowd was becoming thinner, Kurroglou’s eyes fell on the prisoners, who were standing, with their heads uncovered, having nothing but their shirts on. He was moved by the sight, and sang as follows:_

Improvisation.—“I look to my right and to my left; roses are scattered over the ground. The sun is descending beyond the western mountain. Ayvaz’s bosom is shining across his ragged shirt.”

During that time the vizier examined with increased attention Kurroglou’s face, until he recognized him at last. He put his hand upon his heart, and shrinking like a wounded serpent, he began to walk round the pasha’s seat. The latter remarked it, and inquired, “What is the matter with thee, vizier?” “May the pasha live long! I feel a pain at the bottom of my heart, allow me to retire, I must take my medicine.” He then went away. Kurroglou said in his heart, “Villain, thou art anxious to make thy escape. We shall meet again.” He then sang:—

Improvisation.—“Ayvaz’s pale face is turned towards me. He has consumed my soul with the fire of affliction. Kurroglou is raising from his place. If I am not mistaken, the grand vizier has deigned to take his departure.”

The pasha still continued in his resolve to slay the prisoners. Kurroglou now saw that he could do nothing with mild means, and he began to prepare his men for battle, communicating to them his orders in the following song:—

Improvisatio?i.—“Ye who eat my broth and my pillaw, ye who from my liberality bestride the Kholan steeds! In the time of safety every one of you boasted, 4 1 am the man! I am the hero P Rise now a similar cry on the field of battle and let us attack!”

All were in readiness and waiting for the signal. In the mean time, one of the pasha’s soldiers came to Kurroglou, and slipped into his pocket ten tumans;, “What is it for?” asked Kurroglou. “I see that the pasha is very fond of thee. I should like to secure thy interest with him on my behalf. It was I who first caught and bound Ayvaz. The pasha promised me a reward for it, but he forgot it altogether, and gave me nothing. I wish thou wouldst remind him of me and intercede for me.” “Agreed; but wait awhile. I’ll finish my song first, and then I will speak to him. Don’t go yet.”

Improvisation.—“The sentries slumber on the towers of the fort, the warriors are besmeared with dirt and dust. He of you who first shall take Ayvaz, shall have a reward upon my head”

Daly-Ahmed and the rest of the banditti fixed their eyes upon the chief’s hand, waiting till he should lift it to his mustachios. This signal would throw all their army upon the Turks. Endowed with greater self-possession than any of them, Kurroglou said to himself, “Well! now distribute the work amongst the robbers; thou art old already; the pasha will be quite enough for thee,” and he sang; —

Improvisation.—“The battle is my banquet, my holiday. What is the world for me without a warrior like Ayvaz? These are Kurroglou’s words, The pasha is mine, the remainder of them in the field are yours.’”

Daly-Ahmed stood in readiness, with his hand on the hilt of his sword. Kurroglou stroked his mustachios. “Hurra, children! kill the rascals!” shouted Daly-Ahmed. The banditti unsheathed their swords and broke into the square. Their voices, and the clinking of their arms, reached the heavens. The pasha took to his heels; Kurroglou fired his karabina after him. It was the first and the last shot he ever performed in his life. The pasha fell; and after a while, his head, stuck upon a lance, was exposed in the middle of the square.

The vizier came, Koran in hand, asking pardon. Kurroglou granted it, and stopped the slaughter. The cash, furniture, and all the moveables of the pasha became his property.

Kurroglou could not bear the miserable appearance of the four prisoners. He sent them immediately to the bath, and after they were washed, shaved, and richly dressed, he ordered them to be brought before him, directing the vizier, at the same time, to furnish them with new and costly clothing.

He appointed the vizier the governor of the country, instead of the late pasha; and the whole tribe engaged to pay Kurroglou a yearly tribute. He divided amongst his own and Mustapha-beg’s men the copious spoils. The two chiefs got innumerable riches for their share. They left Tokat, and going from one menzill to another, they safely arrived at Chamly-bill.