312 . MEHEMED ALl'S SLAVE-HUNTS.

covered him from the day of his birth, under which he has passed happy hours in the circle of those that are dear to him ? Who can boldly face a frightful future, entailing permanent captivity, promising nothing but misery, cruel treatment, and, what becomes even desirable, pallid death ? Yet the necessity is there—some one must be victimized, some one must volunteer to sacrifice his liberty ; and for this privilege the father will contend with the son, and the brother with the brother, for each man is anxious to save the other at the exf)ense of his own life. Overpowering, indeed, must be the knowledge that they are about to fall into the hands of the heartless Turks, where nothing but misery and torture awaits them, to which they must ultimately succumb ; but yet more heart-rending must be the feeling of leaving all that is nearest and dearest to them, for ever ; this must be wretchedness, indeed. In sorrow and tears they part—press the last kiss on the cheek of their relations, and descend into the camp of their heartless and ruthless tormentors ; nay, they are even frequently torn by force from the arms of their friends. The sheikh generally receives a present of a dress in remuneration for the readiness with which he has performed his services. Very few hills, however, submit to the voice of power thus tacitly on a mere challenge ; for the majority of the villages, advantageously situated on steep declivities or inaccessible heights, and only to be scaled with the utmost difficulty, defend themselves most sturdily, and