uish the hopes of the
invader; since which various fertile _pianuras_ have been gained on
the side of Herzigovina and Bosnia. In 1781 Kara Mahmoot, hereditary
bey of Scutari, marched with a great army into Montenegro. Advancing
towards Cettigna, he was attacked in a narrow defile by the Vladika.
This was a great day for Montenegro. The Albanians were utterly
routed, and Black Mahmoot, being taken prisoner, surrendered his glory
and his head to his priestly conqueror, and it remains there among the
trophies of the Episcopal dwelling. The present Vladika is not
unworthy of his martial uncle. He is truly the flower of the house of
Petrowitch. On his first arrival from St Petersburg to assume the
government, his appearance was that of a Frank[9] gentleman, and his
habits those of a priest; but he discovered before long that the dress
of his native mountains better became his manly form, while the
troubles in which his state was so constantly engaged, soon made him
exchange the crosier for the sword, and become as ardent a warrior as
his predecessor. Ever since the beginning of the summer, war had been
waged with Osman Pasha of Mostar, concerning a disputed territory. On
one occasion the opposed forces were in sight for a week. The
Montenegrians consisted of seven thousand foot--the Turks (I write
according to my information) of forty thousand horse. (!) Every day
they fought, sometimes for two, sometimes four hours and upwards, as
fancy dictated. About fifty persons had been more or less injured in
this pastime, but their ardour was rather increasing than diminishing,
when the pasha of Scutari, without notice or warning, seized on the
islands of Vranina and Lessandro, at the head of the lake of Scutari.
The Montenegrians had there a post of about twenty men, but they were
overpowered, several killed, and the rest sent captive to Scutari.
Not satisfied with this, he fortified Lessandro in such a manner that
no Montenegrian could fish in the lake with any kind of pleasure or
comfort. This was a vital blow. Visions of the market of Cattaro rose
before the eyes of the nation. Peace with Osman Pasha was concluded at
any sacrifice, and the Vladika instantly hastened to concentrate his
energies toward the recovery of the lost islands.

Our party consisted of ourselves and two mules, one being for the
luggage--Cesarea Petrarca, in the full pride of office, and armed for
our protection with a very small sword and a very small gun--a