Travels in Sicily, Greece and Albania (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1820 edition. Excerpt: ...sacrifice, and the destined victim was no other than the venerable Ibrahim. However, before he ventured to imbrue his hands in the blood of this respectable character he thought it necessary to discover whether such a deed were likely to arouse the indignation of the Porte. In order therefore to sound the feelings of the Divan, he put in practice the following manoeuvre. On a certain day Ibrahim Pasha disappeared from his apartment in the tower. The messenger who was sent 'every morning by his daughters to inquire after their father's health, came back and reported the circumstance of his absence, adding that he had made all possible inquiries without being able to discover his abode. The daughters hearing this, and feeling convinced that their father had been secretly put to HIS CUNNING WITH RESPECT TO IBRAHIM PASHA. 197 death, set up the Albanian howl for the dead, in which they were joined by all the slaves of their harems as well as by the women of the adjoining mansions: from thence the cry was spread from house to house, and the whole city of loannina rung with lamentations during three days for this imaginary death of Ibrahim. The occurrence indeed was generally believed, and the French consul dispatched a courier with the intelligence to Constantinople. This messenger was stopped by the agents of Ali, his dispatches were read, and he was allowed to proceed. The news occasioned a strong prejudice against Ali in the minds of all. A council was called, and a capigi-bashee of the highest rank was sent to loannina with the sultan's commands to investigate the affair and bring back the depositions of the great officers of religion and the law. The messenger arrived, and being introduced into All's presence surrounded by all his ministers, ...