Meeting X

Learned men are aware, that in the tribe of Terjim, on the Turkish frontiers, there was a warrior named Nazar-Jalali. The name and the power of Kurroglou spread so far as to reach Nazar- Jalali\s ear. They never saw each other; nevertheless each of them entertained the highest opinion of the other’s valour and chivalrous accomplishments.

One day, on a sudden, a thought took possession of Nazar-Jalali’s heart. “1 will take with me twelve thousand horse, and I’ll wage war with Kurroglou. I’ll fight him. If I conquer him, all his beautiful and costly things will be my property, and then I shall roll in riches and pleasure. If I lose the battle, I shall be a welcome guest at Chamly-bill; and, after having seen all the delights of his life, I will return to my country.”

It was morning. The sentinels stationed upon the mountains surrounding Chamly-bill, notified to Kurroglou that a numerous army was encamped upon one of his meadows. They said, “Master, we do not know whether they are thy friends or foes."’ Kurroglou immediately dispatched Daly-Hassan, in order to get the exact tidings who they were, friends or foes. Daly, after having lifted his hands to his eyes in token of assent and gratitude, went on his mission.

He came near the camp and rambled about it. He discovered ten soldiers sitting round a fire in a narrow passage amongst the rocks, “Allow me to ask you whose camp is this?” “Nazar-Jalali’s” “Allow me then to ask you where is he going?”. “If you wish to know the truth, he is going against Kurroglou with the intention of killing him and taking possession of Chamly-bill/’ Daly having raised up his club, killed the respondent, saying, u There is thy reward for good news.” He then asked another, “For what purpose did Nazar-Jalali come here?” “He came on a visit to Kurroglou, that he might, himself and his army, learn the art of military tactics, and then go back home.” Daly drew his sword and cut his head off. In this manner he killed one after another to the last; and he said to himself, “I shall not be able to learn the truth otherwise than by asking the chief himself.”

He rode, therefore, on horseback into the middle of the encampment, alighted before Nazar-Jalali’s tent, and walked into it. A great number of chiefs were sitting around the chief; and they were so proud that none of them deigned to look at him. Daly took the nearest by the hand, threw him on the ground from the cushion, and sat in his place. Nazar-Jalali said, “A guest never sits himself down till he is asked to do so: what an odd man thou art?” “When a guest perceives that his post is occupied by an ignorant and stupid man, he must help himself. It is written in the Koran, Honour thy guest although he be an infidel” “Who art thou?” “In Chamly-bill they call me the servant of Kurroglou.” “What is thy name?” “Dal v- Hassan.” “What is thy business here?” “I came to levy the haratch. You must pay me immediately one thousand live hundred tumans in ready money for the damages done upon this meadow by your troops. Then you must strike your tents and go where you came from: avaunt!”

Nazar-Jalali stared at Daly, and thought to himself, “The master whose servants are so rash and violent, must be a powerful master. It will be better, then, to pay him a visit, to get a peep into his business, and return home. Otherwise it will be difficult to get out of this dilemma.” He said then, “I came to Kurroglou on a visit for a few days, and wish to take a few lessons from him in the military art.” “It is better for you to tell the whole truth, to confess all you have upon your heart. I will report faithfully your words to Kurroglou. I swear upon the Creator’s purest essence, that you and none but yourself will be guilty of all that can fall upon your head.” Nazar-Jalali swore that what he said was the plain truth; that if he ever felt any envy or enmity, he had banished them from his heart. Then, turning to one of the chiefs, he said, “Order the troops to mount on horseback.” Daly said, “Order the troops not to mount on horseback. I must go and acquaint Kurroglou with your intention; if he condescends to be pleased with it, I’ll bring his answer myself, if not I shall not come back, and then you had better not wait any longer but strike your tents and go, with God.”

Kurroglou ordered out his seven hundred and seventy-seven horsemen in order to meet courteously Nazar-Jalali. The guest-chief and his twelve thousand horsemen were introduced with pomp and firing of guns. Kurroglou himself met them at the gate and accompanied them to his house, where they found the floor covered with different dishes and wine.

They sat down. Kurroglou ordered Ayvaz to pour some wine, and being a little flushed, he began to sing.

Improvisation.—“Call him, let him come here and bear round the glasses and sweets. Bring the backgammon, come, let us play! Throw the dice, one, two—let him have six. Fetch calves; kill sheep. Eat, my boys; God speed you well!”

In the meantime Kurroglou’s wives were in the utmost perplexity how to furnish the cook with food sufficient for twelve thousand men; so much so, as Kurroglou promised to maintain Nazar- Jalali for forty days. In the neighbourhood of Chamly-bill, on the Turkish land, there was a wandering tribe, Bull-Keeda, from which Kurroglou never took anything. On the contrary, he treated them with the greatest benevolence, that they might assist him in case of need. Now, prompted by necessity, he sent to them requesting their aid; and the tribe willingly offered their flocks to him, to use as much of them as he liked. Kurroglou has left some stanzas, improvised on that occasion.

Improvisation.—“Let the fog come and shroud those mountains. Let the heads of the slaughtered cattle fall down; let their blood flow! Drive here the flocks of Bull-Keeda; kill them and eat. God speed you well! Kurroglou says, A coward can have no strong faith. The fog has covered the summits of the lofty mountains. Whoever returning from the battle will bring to me the enemy’s head tied up to a saddle, will get fifteen hundred turnans.’”

The banquet grew merrier. Ayvaz being summoned, came dashingly dressed, but dissatisfied with being obliged to wait upon a new guest at the banquet. “Ayvaz, pour the wine, and offer it to Nazar-Jalali.” Ayvaz obeyed, but his face blushed. This time it did not escape Kurroglou’s eye. Ayvaz boldly met his eye with an angry look, put the glass and the bottle down, and sat; and when Daly-Mehter laughed at his anger, he broke a plate upon his head. “Ayvaz! why don’t you give us wine?” asked Kurroglou. “Cursed be the father of him who serves you!” Having said that, the boy left the room, armed himself, mounted his horse and rode away into the field.

The next day, when Kurroglou woke up sober, he mounted on Kyrat, and looking from the top of a mountain on the surrounding country, he espied at a distance, Ayvaz, riding on the road towards Tokat.

He overtook him. The angry youth spurned Kurroglou’s entreaties and threats, and gave him this answer: “Thou hast carried me away from my parents’ house, thou hast adopted me for thy son; thou hast brought me up for a warrior. How much 1 have profitted by thy lessons, how grateful I was to thee, let the dead body of the Arab, Reyhan, tell!” Kurroglou swore that henceforth he would never employ him in the capacity of a cup-bearer; and getting his guitar, he sang.

Improvisation.—“Ayvaz, my son, my eye! leave off that quarreling with me; do not take offence for the trifle that has happened. Let not thine anger mislead thee. Do not forsake me, a lonely old man, as I am. Do not look with a scornful glance at my bread. Thou, my son, my darling fawn! do not leave me.”

Ayvaz was inexorable: “Yes, I shake off all the ties which united me with thee. I will enter either Bolly-beg’s or Mustapha-beg’s service. 1 will lead a powerful army against thee, and will not quench my thirst till I drink thy blood.” Kurroglou sang again.

Improvisation.—“Where art thou going, Ayvaz? The roads on these mountains are stony; thy horse will lose nails and heels. Thou wilt lacerate thy tender feet on these rocky paths. Come back; thou wilt be my heir in wealth and power. The son of a tent-maker carries the tents; the son of an armourer knows how to take armour to pieces.”

Ayvaz rode on. Kurroglou, exceedingly grieved and shocked by this obstinacy, said in his heart, “He is tipsy, and imagines he can be something without me. We shall see. I am sure that before two days are elapsed, he will come back unasked.” He then returned home, and retired to his harem, enjoining his servants to leave him alone till Ayvaz’s return. Nazar-Jalali felt quite ashamed at his being the cause of what had happened.

But listen now to the particulars about Bolly-beg. Having gathered a numerous army, he determined to revenge the outrage committed by Kurroglou at Tokat, and undertook an expedition against Chamly-bill. He was only a few miles from that town, when, running away, Ayvaz saw his tents, and wishing to know to whom they belonged, turned his horse’s head toward them. The Turkish sentinels, seeing a fine and well-armed youth approaching, informed Bolly-beg of it. Introduced into his tent, Ayvaz confessed who he w T as, and was received most courteously. Bolly-beg, having heard Ayvaz s story, said, “I am astonished that you dared to come here by yourself.” “I have dared more. I swore to persuade thee, or Mustapha-beg, to fall upon Chamly-bill, and kill Kurroglou.” Bolly-beg said in his heart, “He does not know what he utters; he is not sober yet after the Chamly-bill revels.” However, he gave him a tent and servants, and entertained him as became a noble warrior.

The next day Bolly-beg once more repeated his inquiries, and got for answer: “I swear by God that I will fulfil what I say. If thou refusest me, I will leave thee immediately, and go to Mustapha-beg, with whom, I am certain, I shall not fail.” Bolly-beg nearly died with glee; however, in order better to secure the young man’s services, he brought the to take an oath upon that holy book. Ayvaz put his hand upon it, swore the required oath, kissed the book, and gave it back to the chief. Then, having reviewed the troops, he said, “Thy army is too scanty to enable us to overcome Kurroglou’s band. But there are other means. Give me fifty men, the best ones of thy cavalry. I will lead them myself to the meadows near Chamly-bill; thou must lay in ambush with the remainder. Kurroglou loves me. As soon as he learns of my arrival he will come to me alone, and persuade me to return home. He does not believe yet that I am his mortal enemy. Then I will seize and bind him, and then thou wilt be able to fall upon, and rout his gang easily.”

This plan seemed very judicious to Bolly-beg, and he disposed of his men accordingly. Ayvaz having reached the valley of Chamly-bill, met two gamekeepers of Kurroglou, carrying two wild goats to their master. Accustomed, as were all the servants, to show the greatest respect to Ayvaz, the gamekeepers offered him the goats, saying, “Master, why are you sitting here?” “Kurroglou is cross with me; I sit here waiting till he will come, and try to recover my affection.”

The gamekeepers went away, and informed the eunuchs of the Chamly-bill harem of what they had heard. Kurroglou overjoyed at such good tidings rewarded liberally the eunuchs and the gamekeepers for being the bearers of such happy news, enjoining them not to mention it to his banditti; and, taking only his sword with him, he sprang on the back of Kyrat, and was soon on the spot.

He found Ayvaz on the meadow, sitting in the tent with fifty armed horsemen. He said to himself, “Look at him! he went from me, after having made up a pack of servant recruits, in order to look more like a warrior, and to be exempted from waiting upon me with wine. Let it be so; I must feed and clothe these parasites. I am sure that as soon as he perceives me, he will get up, kiss my hands, and beg my pardon.” Ayvaz, looking from his tent, saw Kurroglou approaching, but sat motionless. Kurroglou said to himself, “There is a swell for you: haughty stripling! Surely he wants some reward from me, or a pelisse of honour. Never mind—he shall have it.” He then rode on to the door of the tent, and sang as follows:—

Improvisation.—“Ayvaz, my son! what dost thou want of me? my head? take it! He is silent; he bends the bow of his brows. I do not know whether it is anger or something else.”

Ayvaz continued sitting, as if he neither saw nor heard him, and turned his head another way. Kurroglou was very much displeased with it, and sang on.

Improvisation.—“He turns his head from me He draws a stream of tears from my eyes! I cry_

Ayvaz laughs. Is it the fun of a child, or something else?”

Ayvaz said, “Thou speakest in riddles. My lord, all thy words are but trifling stuff, good only for women, I must kill thee, and drink,thy blood, in order to cool the thirst of my burning heart!” He beckoned to his fifty warriors, giving them a signal to surround Kurroglou. “How,’ Ayvaz! thou art # in earnest determined to fight me?” “Most decidedly, yes! I shall not take my hands off thee before I kill thee, and drink thy blood!” “Ayvaz, wait a while yet, and listen to the song which comes to my mind:—

Improvisation.—“The pregnant sun brings forth the day. It gathers a host of rays on its head. From its face comes snow—the frost. What does it signify? Is it a hurricane, or a winter?”

Kurroglou saw that Ayvaz had frowned his forehead into one wrinkle, and looked so wrathful that were even the monarchs of China and India both to come, and unite their strength, they could not untie the stubborn knot of his angry brows. In the mean time the fifty men surrounded him on all sides. Kurroglou drew out his sword, levelled a blow at the nearest, and half of his head, with the jaw% dropped on the ground like the half of a melon. The remainder of the horsemen ran away. Canine breed!” shouted he at Ayvaz, “Thou wishest to fight me!” “Yes, I do” “Then thou hast mustered those puppies against me.” And he thought to himself, “He to fight me! It is impossible! I must be dreaming,—it can’t be a reality!” and he sang.

Improvisation.—“Stand boldly like a warrior, Kurroglou the ram, be a man! Thy mystery is known to God only. If thou art dreaming, awake! Rub thy eyes, and convince thyself whether what thou seest is a reality or something else.”

Ayvaz called to his men, “Take him!” Kurroglou rushed upon them, and five or six men dropped down on their heads from their horses. Ayvaz, taking advantage of this strife, sent to Bolly-Beg with the intelligence, and before Kurroglou turned round, his retreat was cut off; wherever he turned, he found strong opposition. He said to himself, “It is impossible to save myself. If that good-for-nothing Ayvaz were to assist me from behind, we should soon send all these dirty turbans to the winds. I must once more try and win him over to me.” He then said, “Ayvaz, stop that pack of hounds of thine. I have bethought myself of some stanzas; hear them, and thou shalt fight me afterwards.”

Improvisation.—“Aghas, my brethren, what shall I do? Ayvaz every day is somewhere else. He drew forth tears from my eyes. Every day he is somewhere else. Now he comes to me,—now he goes away; every day he is somewhere else. He to impart grief to my soul. He wishes to be the general-in-chief of my army. That Ayvaz every day is somewhere else.”

He then said, “Thou makest war with me; dost thou wish to be Beglerbeg in my Chamly-bill?” “Yes.” “Without all this, thou wert at liberty to do anything thou pleasedst.” “I do not understand thee. All I know is, that Bolly-beg, who is present here, will be the Beglerbeg of Chamly-bill. I will serve him, and I will devote my sword to his cause.” Kurroglou, hearing this, became frantic, and improvised the following stanzas Improvisation I cut through the ranks of thy army. Do not let off from your hands that valour-ous youth. The day is ours! I say to Bolly-beg. My Ayvaz every day changes his mind.”

But seeing that this song made no impression upon his adopted son, he changed the tune, and sang on.

Improvisation. — “Wherever thou goest, thou wilt earn out the way for thyself. Twelve imams will obsequiously follow thee. Kurroglou is thy old friend. My Ayvaz every day is somewhere el so.”

As soon as he had done singing, Ayvaz shouted, “Seize him!” and all of them rushed upon him alone. Kurroglou, with his sword, cut a way for himself, and began running away Ayvaz cried out, “Holloa, Sir Knight! Who used to teach us never to turn our backs to the enemy? Art thou not ashamed to run away in that manner?” Kurroglou stopped, and sang thus:—

Improvisation.—“Winter sits on the summit of high mountains, and below, close to their snow-tops, the spring blooms. So in thy mouth shiver the teeth on one side, and the tongue on the other.”

Ayvaz laughed, and Kurroglou sang on.

Improvisation.— 11 The heart boils and boils with passion. Love, like steam, bursts from it and evaporates. Oh! the day will come when thy head will drop down on one side, and thy carcase on the other.”

”’till Still the reproach that he was running away, contrary to his own precepts, pressed heavily on Kurroglou’s breast; and he sang accordingly:_

Improvisation. — “Kurroglou the ram, says, ‘What can I do? The cup of my life is filled up to the brim with blood. Thou canst see how much my enemy is stronger than I am. Throw thyself one way, and escape the other.’”

Thus singing, he rushed into the middle of the troops, and the ground around him was strewed with dead. But the crowd increased continually, like Satan’s seed. He intended to cut his way along the dyke of the valley, but it was occupied by horsemen. What was to be done? There was a steep rock commanding the dyke: Kurroglou gave spurs to Kyrat, and in another moment he was on the top of it. Not one of Bolly-beg’s horses was able to reach such a height. Ayvaz said, “Let us alight; and, in order to secure him, let us climb this craggy rock that has no road for horsemen.”

Bolly-beg and Ayvaz began scaling the top of the almost perpendicular rock. Kurroglou stood on it, holding the reins of Kyrat, and looking on the surrounding country.

But let me tell you the tale about Daly-Mehter. He was sleeping in the stables, and saw in his dream, that Kurroglou was swimming on Kyrat, over a sea of blood; and although he spared neither spur nor whip, his horse could not reach the opposite shore. He awoke, jumped up, and ran out to inquire of the banditti, where their master was? “He must be in the judgment-hall.” Daly-Mehter went there, looked about, but found nobody. He then went to the doors of the harem, and his inquiries were again fruitless. Luckily the gamekeepers were still in the yard, and related to him all that had happened. In order to convince himself of the truth of their account, he went to see whether Kyrat was in the stable. He was gone. He then cried out, “To horse, my boys! let us go and look for our master. That cunning cur, Ayvaz, has brought some mischief upon his head.”

Nazar-Jalali, seeing the seven hundred and seventy-seven armed banditti leaving the place, asked the reason of it. “Kurroglou has disappeared; we do not know what has become of him, and we are going in quest.” “Allow me then to accompany you with my army.”

Daly-Mehter rode before all, and with a vigilant eye examined the country around. He soon descried the rock on the meadow, surrounded by some unknown troops, and guessed that Kurroglou must be on its summit. He returned immediately to Nazar-Jalali, saying, “Our men and thine must prepare themselves for the attack; let us appoint a commander to each detachment, and let us fall upon the besieging party.”

But. the narration must return to Bolly-beg Having reached the top of the rock, with Ayvaz! they found Kurroglou standing on the ground! Kyrat’s bridle in one hand, and the other upon the hilt of his sword. “Where are you going, y e dogs? Look down, there are my men coming from Chamly-their swords are flaming with the rays of the un.’ Ayvaz looked behind, and recognising Daly- Mehter and Nazar-Jalali, at the head of two bodies of soldiers, drawn up in battle array, he trembled in body and soul, and said to Bolly-beg, Our black day is come; those horsemen are the banditti of Chamly-bill.” The terrified Turk began to complain, that having led him in this wilderness, and separated from his troops, he precluded all possibility of giving his orders to them. Ayvaz said, “Our only hope is, that I shall be able perhaps to move him by my supplications, and obtain his pardon for thee and thine.”

Kurroglou turned his angry look towards Bolly-beg, who thus addressed him: “My lord! I did not come here to make war to thee. I heard of thy servant Ayvaz’s fall out with thee, and my purpose in coming here was to bring a reconciliation between you.” Kurroglou easily penetrated this subterfuge, and saw that under this bowl there was another little bowl. He thought to himself: “Rogue! thou foughtest with me for some hours, and now thou wishest to save thy soul by deceit.” Then he spoke aloud, “Some verses come to my mind; listen!— Improvisation.—“Who has nothing to speak of, he had better be silent. It is better to refuse the bread and salt of a villain, than to eat it.”

Bolly-beg inquired whether Kurroglou s mind was averse to make friends again with his adopted son, and in answer received the following stanza:— Improvisation.— “I always repeat the same. The orchards cast off the withered leaves, which are unable to remain longer on the trees. It is better to be indifferent towards an inconstant flirt, than to love her.”

In the mean time the two armies were already fighting. The scuffle, shrieks, and groans were terrible, as on the day of the last judgment. Bolly-beg whispered to Ayvaz, “Villainous wretch! half of my army is already destroyed,’and thou art the cause of it. Try once more to reconcile us.”

Bolly-beg said, “Warrior Kurroglou! it is not the time now to sing morals. Make friends with thy son, and let us go to the camp; there thou canst play and sing as much as thou likest.” Kurroglou thought to himself, “I will tarry and procrastinate till all his army is swept away; and then it will be time enough to speak about the reconciliation.” “Hear another of my songs:”

Improvisation.—“A true warrior ought to be endowed with boldness, to have an Egyptian sword, and an Arab steed. It is better to keep a noble post vacant, than to bestow it upon a villain.”

Poor Bolly-beg w T as quite distressed, looking on his defeated army, very little of which remained. “0 warrior! O my benefactor! let us hasten to our armies!” “Willingly, but thou must do me the favour to listen patiently to the following song:”— Improvisation —“When Kurroglou begins fighting, he strews the field of battle with dead bodies. Whoever is not invited to a banquet, it is better for him not to attend it, than to intrude.”

Bolly, driven to despair, pressed hard on Ayvaz to solicit his pardon, and pushed him violently towards Kurroglou, who asked, “Audacious man 1 why dost thou beat the boy?” “Because he will not humble himself before thee.” “I shall never forgive him.” “Then, my lord, be so kind as to descend the mountain.” Kurroglou thought in his heart, “Daly-Mehter minces them exceedingly well; I must give him a little more time.” “Hear one more song; it is a complaint of a girl against her faithless lover.” And he sang.

Improvisation.—“What have I done, O remorseless fate? All the links which chained me to the world broke one after another. I lost my beautiful sweetheart. My soul grows dark, like the sky towards evening. O may God never separate thee either from thy family or thy sweetheart.”

He then said, “It is a beautiful lay, is it not? As concerns Ayvaz, be our judge thyself. I have had many troubles and expenses on his account. I adopted him and trusted him as myself; and what of that? For a trifle he left me, and brought an enemy against me to take my life. But enough of him. Hear another song, and then we will depart.

Improvisation.—“The snow whitens the tops of the mountains. A strong hostile army lies on the valley. Kurroglou says, ‘I spread the pearls before you,—the finest pearls. But the star under which I \was born does not befriend me.’”

Bolly-beg, having brought Ayvaz, bent forcibly his head, so that at least he kissed Kurroglou’s hands, and implored his forgiveness. But Kurroglou, seeming not to mind anybody before him, kept his eyes turned towards the battle, and was admiring the valour of his men. Daly-Mehter fought better than Rustem.

The unfortunate Bolly-beg broke the silence. " Men ’y, ln y lord, mercy! Come down—our people are thinking that we are enemies; my army is quite destroyed.”

Kurroglou descended a little from the rock, and getting on a stone, from which he could be seen and heard by all his men, thus encouraged Daly- M eh ter with a song:—

Improvisation.—“When too leaders step out into the same arena, they call on the advanced sentries. The dust of a battle-field gnaws the eyes of a coward. Beautifully in the hands of a brave warrior shines an unsheathed Egyptian sword.”

Daly-Mehter, who thought that Kurroglou was dead, was transported with joy at hearing his master’s voice, and cried out, “Thanks to God on high! Look! Rejoice, brethren, our master is &H\e! There, on that rock, the chief of our enemies stands by him. And, do you know the meaning of his words, the Egyptian sword shines They mean that we are to hang clubs at our girdles and draw out our swords.” They rushed on then with new ardour. Bolly-beg tore out his hair in despair. Kurroglou sang on.

Improvisation.—“The guns roar, peal after peal; the bombs shoot out, the treacherous lead whistles5 heads drop-down like unripe melons; the blood gushes, and, like water, flows in streams.”

Daly-Mehter hearing these words, shouted, “My boys, cut their heads off, such are our master’s orders. Set them in a row, let the sight of them gladden his soul, and let their chief’s heart burst with grief.” Kurroglou sang on.

Improvisation.—“The cowards do not go forward; they think that in the rear nobody dies. But God shields the brave man, protecting him from calamity. The arrow of destiny darts through a distance, and hits the coward.”

Daly-Mehter cried out, “Hurrah, children! every soul alive forward! Kill them!” Kurroglou sang on.

Improvisation - —“Now hear the doings of the traitor Ayvaz. Oh! I shall never admit a strange nightingale to my rose. These are Kurroglou’s words, ‘Never believe his lying tongue. An inveterate enemy will never become a fellow-countryman in our family.’”

Daly-Mehter exclaimed, “My boys! the hostile chief wishes to knit a friendship with our master; but an old enemy cannot be a true friend. Kill and crush the remainder of his troops.”

Bolly-beg said, “Warrior Kurroglou! Thy horsemen have completely exterminated my army. Stop the slaughter!” Kurroglou bade Ayvaz get down the mountain and bear the necessary orders for stopping the fight. The distressed youth threw himself on his face before Kurroglou, and departed.

The infuriated Daly-Mehter after hearing the commands brought by Ayvaz, said, “O thou false one! Didst thou forget the last banquet, when thou broke a plate upon my head?” Having said which he struck him with a club with such force, that the poor lad bent in two like a snake. Kurroglou seeing from the mountain what passed, was moved with compassion. He mounted Kyrat and rode down into the plain, addressing his adversary, “Bolly-beg, you see that all my entreaties and commands are useless; my boys do not obey me they we determined to slaughter all thy men to the last.” Daly-Mehter then bethought himself of having eaten Bolly-beg’s bread and salt, while prisoner at Tokat, and considering him now as a guest, he stopped the battle. He ordered him and those who had escaped with life, to be surrounded by guards and brought to Chamly-bill. They would have remained there for eternity had it not been for Nazar- Jalali’s intercession. Korroglou said, “I have heard that Bolly-beg has a beautiful daughter, brought up under the veil of modesty. Advise him to send for her. I’ll give him horses, palanquin, and all that is necessary for the journey.” When Nazar-Jalali made that proposition to Bolly-beg, he said, “Whether I will or not, I must consent.”

Before a few days were over, Bolly-beg’s daughter was brought to Chamly-bill in a palanquin with the sound of music and great display of pomp. The entertainments lasted seven days and seven nights. On the eight, Kurroglou ordered the bride to be led in to Daly-Mehter’s bed-chamber, as a reward for his gallant behaviour on the day of battle, and his fidelity to his master.