are inflicted by the guards of the bachis, who are Greeks; they always appear with sticks in their hands, and strike the prisoners indiscriminately whenever they please; they go round the prison at night, preside at executions, wake the prisoners, and send them to their work. They also take an account of the slaves morning and evening; for if any of these effect their escape, an equal number of the guards must forfeit their heads. They often get bribes for unchaining the prisoners, which they divide with the effendi. The Bagne is situated on the eastern shore of the port or gulph of Ceras; its form is nearly that of a parallelogram; and the wall which is contiguous to the sea, follows the windings of the shore. The spot appropriated to the slaves, consists of a vast hall, above which is a floor or entresol; it contains fieldbeds, on which the prisoners sleep, though without being released from their irons. The officers have obscure niches, in which they reside; and they, as well as the sick, are exempt from labour. There are several other divisions for different classes of prisoners. In the last war with the Turks, the Russians built a handsome pavilion in this prison, which still remains. There is also a chapel, in which a Greek papas celebrates mass every Sunday. On solemn festivals a kind of procession takes place in the Bagne, at which the Christians who are imprisoned give their assistance. Around the court-yard are several shops kept by the guards, who sell provisions, wine, and brandy. Our soldiers were in the end treated far better than the other prisoners. The Turks no longer confounded them together; and though barbarians, they knew how to respect misfortune; they not only separated them from the slaves, but they did not fatigue them by excessive labour. Between six and seven in the morning, they called them over and sent them to work; they laboured in the port, in rigging and equipping ships; and those who were too weak, remained in the court of the Bagne, where they were employed in beating junk into oakum. Towards noon they had a meal, and at four in the afternoon their day was finished. The captains of the Turkish ships instead of ill-treating them, often made them a compensation. At six o'clock the guards again mustered the prisoners, who were afterwards shut up in their cells. A voice then addressed them to the following effect: "Christians, eat and drink in peace; do not quarrel with any body; and to-morrow, if God wills it, you shall be at liberty." After this brief exhortation, the guardian bachis began their nightly service. This was also the period for executions, which were frequent in the first year of the war: it had scarcely broken out three months, before the capoudan-pacha sent to the gallies a Greek named Ianaki, who was nephew of Cangierli, prince of Wallachia: this young man, the favourite drogman of Hussein Pacha, after having followed him to Widdin, suddenly fell from the greatest honour to the depth of misery; but his good education, general knowledge, and innocence, rendered him an object of interest and commiseration, Being resigned to death, he expected to meet his end on the day in which he was put in irons; but this period passing over, he began to hope, and came to find consolation amongst the Frenchmen. He soon attached himself to the susceptible M. Richmont, to whom the young Greek developed the series of intrigues which had drawn upon him the vengeance of the capoundan-pacha, and the plots which had a few months before caused his uncle Cangierli to lose his head, which was demanded by Paswan Oglou. In short, he disclosed to him the secrets of that inveterate policy which was employed against France. During the time of his detention, the relations of Ianaki applied to the capoudan-pacha to obtain his pardon, and transmitted to the captive such intelligence as might tend to tranquillize his mind. The guardian bachis, a barbarous and cruel race, paid him some respect, because they considered him only as a favourite under a temporary disgrace. The solicitations of the afflicted family, after a month's application, were at length heard by the wife of Hussein Pacha, who paid them a favourable attention, and the pardon of the prisoner seemed certain, because the niece of the present sultan, who was Hussein's wife, had interested herself in his behalf. short, Hussein answered her last solicitation by saying, that Ianaki should come out that very evening; but with a duplicity that a coward could only be guilty of, he sent a secret order for his strangulation. The unfortunate Ianaki began to suspect the fate In འ which was reserved for him, by the defection of the guardian bachis, and the imprisoned Greeks, who used to pay their respects to him; but his hopes entirely vanished, when, after the usual nightly call, instead of letting him re-enter the Bagne, they took him into a coffee-house within the walls, whither the condemned persons are generally conducted. As soon as the day was closed, the cord terminated his existence, and his body was thrown into the port. Such was the reward of the fidelity and devotion of Janaki, whom Hussein sacrificed, in order to bury with kim the secrets which he feared he might divulge. HYMN TO THE EVENING STAR. MILD Star of Eve, whose tranquil beams All hail, thou soft, thou holy star, And when my steps are wandering far, Leading the shepherd-minstrelsy, No savage robber of the dark, No foul assassin, claims thy aid, Or light him on his plund'ring trade; The transports of requited love. THE following beautiful lines on the same sublime subject, appeared a few months ago in one of the London newspapers. TO THE EVENING STAR. HAIL, loveliest of the stars of Heaven, The mildness of advancing Even, The splendour of retiring Day! Star of delight! the rosy sky Sheds tears of joy for thy return; All earth is gladden'd by thy rays; Day for thy partial smile contends ; |