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ar was their element。 Sometimes at feud with one another； canton against canton； village against village； often even house against house； sometimes rebelling against the government their sanjaks； sometimes in league with these against the sultan； they never rested from combat except in an armed peace。 Each tribe had its military organisation； each family its fortified stronghold； each man his gun on his shoulder。 When they had nothing better to do； they tilled their fields； or mowed their neighbours'； carrying off； it should be noted； the crop； or pastured their； flocks； watching the opportunity to trespass over pasture limits。 This was the normal and regular life of the population of Epirus； Thesprotia； Thessaly； and Upper Albania。 Lower Albania； less strong； was also less active and bold； and there； as in many other parts of Turkey； the dalesman was often the prey of the mountaineer。 It was in the mountain districts where were preserved the recollections of Scander Beg； and where the manners of ancient Laconia prevailed； the deeds of the brave soldier were sung on the lyre； and the skilful robber quoted as an example to the children by the father of the family。 Village feasts were held on the booty taken from strangers； and the favourite dish was always a stolen sheep。 Every man was esteemed in proportion to his skill and courage； and a man's chances of making a good match were greatly enhanced when he acquired the reputation of being an agile mountaineer and a good bandit。
The Albanians proudly called this anarchy liberty； and religiously guarded a state of disorder bequeathed by their ancestors； which always assured the first place to the most valiant。
It was amidst men and manners such as these that Ali Tepeleni was born。 He boasted that he belonged to the conquering race； and that he descended from an ancient Anatolian family which had crossed into Albania with the troops of Bajazet Ilderim。 But it is made certain by the learned researches of M。 de Pouqueville that he sprang from a native stock； and not an Asiatic one； as he pretended。 His ancestors were Christian Skipetars； who became Mussulmans after the Turkish invasion； and his ancestry certainly cannot be traced farther back than the end of the sixteenth century。
Mouktar Tepeleni； his grandfather； perished in the Turkish expedition against Corfu； in 1716。 Marshal Schullemburg； who defended the island； having repulsed the enemy with loss； took Mouktar prisoner on Mount San Salvador； where he was in charge of a signalling party； and with a barbarity worthy of his adversaries； hung him without trial。 It must be admitted that the memory of this murder must have had the effect of rendering Ali badly disposed towards Christians。
Mouktar left three sons； two of whom； Salik and Mahomet； were born of the same mother； a lawful wife； but the mother of the youngest； Veli； was a slave。 His origin was no legal bar to his succeeding like his brothers。 The family was one of the richest in the town of Tepelen； whose name it bore； it enjoyed an income of six thousand piastres； equal to twenty thousand francs。 This was a large fortune in a poor country； where； all commodities were cheap。 But the Tepeleni family； holding the rank of beys； had to maintain a state like that of the great financiers of feudal Europe。 They had to keep a large stud of horses； with a great retinue of servants and men…at…arms； and consequently to incur heavy expenses； thus they constantly found their revenue inadequate。 The most natural means of raising it which occurred to them was to diminish the number of those who shared it； therefore the two elder brothers； sons of the wife； combined against Veli； the son of the slave； and drove him out of the house。 The latter； forced to leave home； bore his fate like a brave man； and determined to levy exactions on others to compensate him for the losses incurred through his brothers。 He became a freebooter； patrolling highroads and lanes； with his gun on his shoulder and his yataghan in his belt； attacking； holding for ransom； or plundering all whom he encountered。
After some years of this profitable business； he found himself a wealthy man and chief of a warlike band。 Judging that the moment for vengeance had arrived； he marched for Tepelen； which he reached unsuspected； crossed the river Vojutza； the ancient Aous； penetrated the streets unresisted； and presented himself before the paternal house； in which his brothers； forewarned； had barricaded themselves。 He at once besieged them； soon forced the gates； and pursued them to a tent； in which they took a final refuge。 He surrounded this tent； waited till they were inside it； and then set fire to the four corners。 〃See；〃 said he to those around him； 〃they cannot accuse me of vindictive reprisals； my brothers drove me out of doors； and I retaliate by keeping them at home for ever。〃
In a few moments he was his father's sole heir and master of Tepelen。 Arrived at the summit of his ambition； he gave up free…booting； and established himself in the town； of which he became chief ago。 He had already a son by a slave； who soon presented him with another son； and afterwards with a daughter； so that he had no reason to fear dying without an heir。 But finding himself rich enough to maintain more wives and bring up many children； he desired to increase his credit by allying himself to some great family of the country。 He therefore solicited and obtained the hand of Kamco； daughter of a bey of Conitza。 This marriage attached him by the ties of relationship to the principal families of the province； among others to Kourd Pacha； Vizier of Serat； who was descended from the illustrious race of Scander Beg。 After a few years； Veli had by his new wife a son named Ali； the subject of this history； and a daughter named Chainitza。
Ire spite of his intentions to reform； Veli could not entirely give up his old habits。 Although his fortune placed him altogether above small gains and losses； he continued to amuse himself by raiding from time to time sheep； goats； and other perquisites； probably to keep his hand in。 This innocent exercise of his taste was not to the fancy of his neighbours； and brawls and fights recommenced in fine style。 Fortune did not always favour him； and the old mountaineer lost in the town part of what he had made on the hills。 Vexations soured his temper and injured his health。 Notwithstanding the injunctions of Mahomet； he sought consolation in wine； which soon closed his career。 He died in 1754。
CHAPTER II
Ali thus at thirteen years of age was free to indulge in the impetuosity of his character。 From his early youth he had manifested a mettle and activity rare in young Turks； haughty by nature and self…restrained by education。 Scarcely out of the nursery； he spent his time in climbing mountains； wandering through forests； scaling precipices； rolling in snow； inhaling the wind； defying the tempests； breathing out his nervous energy through every pore。 Possibly he learnt in the midst of every kind of danger to brave everything and subdue everything； possibly in sympathy with the majesty of nature； he felt aroused in him a need of personal grandeur which not