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

MASSACRES AT GALATZ AND YASSY 33
the Mussulman inhabitants to the fiscal laws of the
Principality. The Christian troops of the Hospodar
stationed at Galatz were commanded by a Greek
named Kara via; and this man, who had joined the
Hetairia, thought the present an excellent opportunity
for enriching himself, in the name of patriotism, at
the expense of the Turks. He accordingly assembled
the Hetairists and his own mercenaries, and, informing
them of the revolution that was about to break
out, led them to the attack of the Turkish guard. Of
these a few, taken by surprise, were slain at once.
The rest held out for some time; but their resistance
was at last broken, and Karavia then ordered his men
to seize and murder all the Turkish merchants in the
town, to take possession of the goods in the warehouses
and seize all the vessels in the port. In obedience
to these orders, Turks of every rank, merchants,
sailors, soldiers, were surprised and massacred in cold
blood. 1
The bloody example thus set was followed in many
places. At Yassy had been left a body of fifty Ottoman
troops to act as a guard of honour to the Hospodar.
Before Hypsilanti entered the city, Michael Soutzos,
the Hospodar, had persuaded the commander to order
his men to lay down their arms, under promise that
i
Gordon, i. 100; Finlay,
i. 147.
8