THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

160 THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE
The continued successes of their vessels at sea had
filled the Psariots with an overweening belief in their
own prowess, and a corresponding contempt for the
Turks, which was to cost them dear.
It never entered
their heads to take any effective measures for guarding
their island against the attacks of so despicable a foe;
and they boasted that, if the whole power of the Capitan
Pasha were to land upon the island,
they could
easily sweep
it into the sea. Their boast was soon to
be put to the proof.
On the 2nd of July, Khosrew Pasha, favoured by
a sudden change of wind, which disguised his movements
from the enemy, succeeded in landing a strong
force on the northern side of the island, where the
coast was apparently so inaccessible that it had been
thought unnecessary to protect it by
more than a weak
battery. Completely surprised, this was carried at the
first rush; and the Albanians proceeded to climb the
precipitous sides of the mountains, and in due course
reached the heights looking down on the town of
Psara, and commanding the rear of the Psariot batteries.
On the opposite side of the island, meanwhile,
Khosrew with the Ottoman fleet had attacked the town
and the ships in the harbour. Surprised
and outflanked,
the Psariots made a desperate resistance;
their batteries were ill
but
placed, they themselves little