352 APPENDIX. 



the harbour, I discovered that my gold watch and chain 

 had been stolen from my cabin ; after many inquiries, I 

 discovered that some Russian sailors had been on board 

 my cutter, and on the following day I did all in my 

 power, with the kind assistance of the head magistrate, 

 to detect the thief, but for a considerable time to no 

 effect. At last the old Spanish proverb came to my 

 assistance, " Good words cost nothing," and w^ith fair 

 speech I endeavoured to persuade the one I most sus- 

 pected, to tell me all he knew about the matter, and to 

 return me my property, when, to my infinite surprise 

 and relief, it succeeded perfectly : he said, that on my 

 releasing him from custody, and allowing him to pro- 

 ceed unmolested on board his vessel, he would meet 

 me in half an hour with both watch and chain. I 

 thought it my best chance to take him at his word ; 

 within the stated time he acted up to it, and re- 

 turned me both uninjured, save being very greasy. I 

 afterwards ascertained that, by way of concealment, he 

 had thrown it into a large oil jar, which no Black Sea 

 trader is without, and which being an article so much 

 apparently exposed, and so constantly in use, was never 

 suspected to contain such a treasure. I returned de- 

 lighted on board, and set sail homewards instantly. 



About this time I chanced to make the acquaintance 

 of a very celebrated character, residing in Albania, at 

 the entrance of the Corfu Channel, the aga of a town 

 called Murto, immediately behind the Black Island. 

 This far-famed individual, by name Rassuli, enjoyed 

 the soubriquet of the Black Robber. I consider myself 

 fortunate in being one of the first Franks who succeeded 



