Page:The nomads of the Balkans, an account of life and customs among the Vlachs of Northern Pindus (1914).djvu/35

 Veil Agha was ruler of Ghrevena in the days of Ali Pasha, and after the death of the Lion of Yannina is said to have taken part in the siege of Mesolongi. His son Mehmed Agha was for some time at Yannina with Ali Pasha and was smuggled out of the town across the lake in a coffin by Duda, one of the Pasha’s couriers. He then rode for his life to Ghrevena. Afterwards he made Duda’s two sons devrentji’s, one at the Bridge of the Pasha over the Haliakmon on the road between Ghrevena and Shatishta, and the other at Mavranei. Mehmed Agha on his death was succeeded by his son Veli Bey who died in 1880. The latter’s two sons Rif'at and Fu’ad live in their grandfather’s great fortified house in Ghrevena to-day (1912). The house or rather fort (Plate IV 1) stands in the middle of the town and covers an area of between two and three acres. From outside one sees a high loopholed wall built in an oblong space. At each angle is a square tower and in the middle of each of the long sides there is another. The gate is in the middle of the southern short wall facing towards the river of Ghrevena and the two corner towers on this side are larger than the others. The entrance goes obliquely through the thick wall and one is in the midst of a large courtyard in the centre of which a big, strongly built, Turkish house stands like a keep. The whole place was constructed for refuge and defence. Sheep and horses could be pastured within the walls which enclose four springs and a cistern. On the north side of the house was an isolated tower standing in the court, which was the powder magazine. The dates still visible in two places on the outside wall are 1829 and 1830 which show that the dates given in the tales about the career of Mehmed Agha are probably fairly accurate. He was exceedingly active in attempting to suppress brigand¬ age and is frequently mentioned in the klephtic ballads. He was constantly skirmishing with Zhakas and his friends, one of whom Yeorghakis Bisovitis he compelled to surrender and shortly after murdered in the market-place at Ghrevena, according to Aravandinos. In December 1832 he besieged the band of Suleyman Beltsopulos in the church at Subeno, and setting fire to it destroyed both brigands and church