Never before had any such compact disgraced European diplomacy, accustomed hitherto to regard Turkish encroachments as simple sacrilege.

But Ali Pacha fascinated the English agents, overwhelming them with favours, honours, and feasts, carefully watching them all the while.

Their correspondence was intercepted, and he endeavoured by means of his agents to rouse the Parganiotes against them.

The latter lamented bitterly, and appealed to Christian Europe, which remained deaf to their cries.

In the name of their ancestors, they demanded the rights which had been guaranteed them.