No. 1, Missolonghi. A maritime town of central Greece; it is
principally celebrated for the part it played in the War of
Independence of 1821. It was three times besieged by the Turks,
in 1822, 1823, and 1825. In 1822 it resisted successfully against
Rechid-Pasha and Omer-Pasha. In 1823 it was fortified on the instance,
and by the advice, of Lord Byron (who died there in 1824), and bravely
defended by Botzaris; it was besieged by the terrible Omer-Vrioni,
and relieved by Mavrocordato. In April, 1825, Rechid-Pasha reappeared
with 35,000 men before Missolonghi, which at the time had only 4,000
defenders. Protected by the Turkish fleet, and afterwards helped
by Ibrahim Pasha's army, Rechid-Pasha after a long siege brought
the defenders to their last extremity, and rather than fall into
the hands of the Turks, they blew themselves up with gun-powder,
with their women and children.
The war of 1821 was the war of independence, in which Greece threw
off the Turkish yoke.
No. 2, Botzaris or Botzari. One of the greatest heroes of the War of
Independence, born in 1788, died in 1823.
Palamas, Pappaloukas, Tricoupis, Razikotsikas, Kapsalis, all brave
fighters and defenders of Missolonghi.
"Zamana" is an imaginary name.
No. 3, Pilaf. A national Turkish dish much eaten in Greece: it is
made with rice, butter, and tomatoes. It is a popular saying that
"pilaf" is the only good thing we ever got from the Turks.
No. 4, Keftedes. Flat, round, meat cakes made of mince-meat, eggs,
etc., and fried in butter.
No. 5, Acropolis. See notes for "Mattina" No. 18.
No. 6, Hermes. Otherwise Mercury; the son of Jupiter, messenger of the
gods, and god himself of Eloquence and Commerce. Nathaniel Hawthorne
in his delightful Tanglewood Tales, talks of him often, calling him
"Quicksilver."
No. 7, Yaourti. A sort of curd, or thick, sour milk: much eaten
in Greece, and of late years introduced into France, and I believe
into England, under the name of "Lait Bulgare" and much recommended
by doctors.
No. 8, Louki Laras. An interesting book on the life of a young boy,
in the Greek War of Independence, written by Demetrius Vikelas. It
has been translated into French and I believe other languages.
No. 9, Halva. A sweet, made of flour, butter, milk, and honey.
No. 10, The King's Summer House. A little summer residence or lodge
belonging to the King, situated just inside the Piræus harbour.
No. 11, Themistocles. The great Athenian general, born about 525
B. C. At the time of the invasion of Greece by the Persians, he
commanded the Athenian fleet. It was he who persuaded the Greeks
to give battle at Salamis. The Spartan Eurybiades, general of the
confederate forces of Greece, being of the contrary opinion to
Themistocles, raised his rod of commander as though to strike him,
and it was then that Themistocles calmly answered the furious Spartan
by the famous words: "Strike but listen!"
No. 12, Salamis. An island ten miles to the west of Athens, celebrated
for the naval victory which the united fleet of Greece gained over
the Persians in 486 B. C.
No. 13, Tettix. A sort of cricket which in hot weather chirps all
day long, in trees and bushes.
No. 14, Batti. The afternoon breeze which comes from the open sea.
No. 15, The Seven Mills. A place on the heights, opposite Poros, on
the Peloponnesus, so called because seven water mills were placed at
intervals up to the top of the hill.
No. 16, Miaoulis (Andreas). Greek admiral, born in Euboea, in 1768,
died in Athens in 1835. Between the years 1822 and 1827 he had the
supreme command of the naval forces of the country in the War of
Independence.
No. 17, Galata. Small village of the Peloponnesus, opposite the island
of Poros.
No. 18, Trata. The dragging the sea by a big net which gathers in all
the small fish. The net is cast from boats and then the men stand in
two lines on the shore and drag it in. I rather fancy this is called
a seine-net and seine-fishing in English.
No. 19, Foustanella. The short linen pleated kilt reaching to the
knees, which is part of the national Greek and Albanian costume. It
is worn by the Royal Guards and by certain troops called the "Evzones."
No. 20, Glitsa. A tall crook used by shepherds; it very often has a
carved handle.
No. 21, Tagari. A woolen bag, generally bright-coloured, carried by
peasants to transport fruit, or nuts, or any small objects.
No. 22, Stania. A sheep fold, generally on the hills.
No. 23, Ouzo. A strong spirit which is drunk mostly by the poorer
classes and peasants.
No. 24, Skaltsounia. A sort of almond cakes made principally in the
islands; something like German marzipan.
No. 25, Yatagan. A Turkish or Arabic curved sword.