FOUA. 
445 
people, and told the men they were heartily welcome to stay. One 
soldier, however, who was^ drunk, became very riotous, and de- 
clared that Christians had no business to have a girl in their 
tents dancing, and that he would take her out by force. Many 
of his companions opposed him, and strongly took our part, but he 
tried, in defiance of them, to force his way into the tent and draw 
his pistols, but was prevented. Two Albanians, in particular, took 
up our cause, and at length the fellow, baffled in his object, went in 
a rage towards the town. I sent also to the Governor to slate our 
situation, and request his presence to send off these people, and in 
the mean time gave a turban to the man who behaved best, to se- 
cure him in our interest. He now conjured me to send the child 
away, as he said her life would not be safe if the soldiers got her, 
as she would be punished for being the cause of the dispute. I sus- 
pected that he wanted to give her to his companions in the boat, 
and told him so. He assured me I was mistaken ; and said, if I would 
let her go, he himself would be answerable for her safety, as he 
would fire at the first man who attempted to follow her. I did as 
he desired, and she got off into the country without being seen by 
any of the boat people. ' • . . 
Soon afterwards, my head Frosh returned from the Governor to 
say he would send his people. I saw some soldiers coming, and 
thought they had been his, till they were close, when I too late 
discovered the rascal who had run away. They rushed towards 
the tent, and not seeing the child there, seized the Frosh, and said 
he must go to the Governor. They began instantly to beat him, 
and cut at him with their sabres, without accusing him of any 
thing, or listening to a word we could say. The confusion became 
