Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/268

218 pirates, as there is no part of the Archipelago more suspected than these unfrequented and landlocked channels, full of harbours and lurking-places. I had a sort of vague confidence in my little flag, and thought that the majesty of the name English Consul would be sufficient to repel any attack, but felt at the same time certain misgivings, as it is now only two years since the Smyrna brigands took the Dutch Consul prisoner in his own garden, and made him pay an immense ransom. However, all went well with us; and after a great deal of becalming and rowing, in which I joined, to the great astonishment of the sailors, we got to Patmos.

I had two objects in going to Patmos: first, to see manuscripts in the monastery, as the collection has been a celebrated one; secondly, to get hold of a certain Greek captain, who was hiding in this island after having committed a barratry. One of his crew was an Ionian, whom I am detaining at Rhodes till the captain is tried; hence, his capture is a matter of interest to me. I arrived at Patmos provided with a stern and peremptory letter from the Governor of the Archipelago, ordering the Patmiotes to give up the captain, and warning them that the Pasha was perfectly aware that he was concealed somewhere among them. Patmos, like all the small islands in this part of the Archipelago, is governed by a Mudir and Demarchia, or corporation of three or four of the richest Greeks of the place, who, being the richest are said to be generally the most dishonest. If there are no Turks in the island, the Mudir is a