TO THE COUNTRY OF THE CICONES. 91 
flag-ration were added the howling and shouts chap. 
of the rebels, and the shrieks of the poor '_ . 
inhabitants. No one of the fugitives had yet 
ventured to return to the scene of so much 
horror : but the Tahtar couriers passed through 
the place; and, as there was no other road, 
we had been constrained to do the same ; not 
expecting, however, to meet with so much 
peril as we had encountered during this fearful 
night. The fact was, that the Pashas through- 
out all Thrace and Macedonia were then in a 
state of warfare ; either among themselves, or 
with the Turkish Government : and there was 
no road entirely free from the danger, either of 
the insurgents, or of those bands of plunderers, 
who, profiting by the distracted state of the 
country, poured down from the mountains 
upon the plains. When these robbers meditate 
an attack, the expedition they use is such, that 
they overwhelm the inhabitants before any 
intelligence is received of their approach ; and 
the blow being altogether unexpected, is always 
successful. The alleged cause of the disorders J,^"JfJ'^ 
at Fairy was said to be nothing more than a ^''^'■'^• 
dispute between the ^gha and his Tchohodar; 
when the latter having fled from his master, 
returned with a band of insurgents, and set 
fire to the town ; plundering it of every thing 
