1827.] The " Mammal in ga-Voda^ 33 



but not without reluctance. Indeed, this single act of the viceroy's raised 

 him at once to the very pinnacle of Greok pride and ambition. The hos- 

 podarian thrones of Moldavia arid Wallachia are objects of such covetous- 

 ness among the members of a few families, who have thought proper to 

 consider them as their exclusive property, that no sacrifice is generally con- 

 sidered too great, no expedient too extravagant, provided it conduces to the 

 glory of being seated in them for a time, and of exercising the short-lived 

 semblance of kingly power. 



In J 737, the Baccal Yanacki was, with customary pomp, admitted to 

 the sultan's presence, and actually received from the imperial hands the 

 investiture of sovereign authority, with the title and attributes of Prince of 

 Moldavia. When his nomination became known, the boyars were thrown 

 into consternation. This corps of nobility had, with a vast share of pre- 

 tension to exclusive rights, been actually suffered to enjoy certain privileges, 

 which, with the property they possessed in the country, gave them some 

 influence in the administration of public affairs. Arrogant in their dispo- 

 sitions, as well as servile, they became intractable or docile, in proportion 

 to the energy or weakness they discovered in the character of the hospo- 

 dars, who were, every two or three years, sent to govern their country ; 

 and it may be supposed that the announcement of Yanacki, whom they had 

 seen but a few weeks before as an obscure baccal in their own capital, was 

 by no means calculated to give them satisfaction. No objection, probably, 

 would have been made against his late condition, had he now come as a 

 perfect stranger into the country ; but to submit to be governed by a man 

 who had been for years seen daily, by the inhabitants of Yassy, exercising 

 a mean trade, was a thing to which they could not make up their minds. 

 As they had not the means, however, of opposing effectually the sultan's 

 choice, they prepared a system of annoyance by which they hoped to 

 disgust Yanacki himself from power, and force him to the relinquishment of 

 it. The appellation of Mammalinga-Voda* was bestowed on him, and 

 by it he was, in the sequel, regularly designated. 



Yanacki was unfortunately destitute of that natural quickness of intellect 

 peculiar to the majority of his nation, and of course wanted all knowledge, 

 as well as experience, in the administration of public affairs. The hostility 

 which met him on every side he found it difficult to contend against; and 

 things went on in a state of confusion for a long time. All his orders were 

 disobeyed, his decrees remained unnoticed, arid his threats treated with 

 derision. The boyars would not co-operate with, but, on the contrary, 

 declared to his face their intention to worry and annoy him. He wrote, at 

 last, to his patron, the grand-vizier, stating all his grievances, supplicating 

 that he might be allowed to withdraw from the exercise of functions for 

 which he felt himself so little qualified. The vizier sent him, by the same 

 messenger, a gold-mounted hangiar, or dagger, on which these words were 

 engraved : " Make use of this, and you will be obeyed." 



Upon the receipt of this extraordinary present, the meaning of which he 

 guessed but too well, Yanacki held long council with himself; and finding 

 that he was forced, against his will, to continue in an office which placed 

 him in opposition with the whole country, he determined on a blow which 

 should at least end the state of suspense and controversy in which he was 

 existing. Accordingly, he announced a banquet at court, to which he 



* Oatmeal-prince. The poorest and meanest classes of Moldavians live entirely on this 

 food. 



M.M. New Series VOL, IV. No. 19. F 



