The Vessels In Which War And Piracy Were Carried On During The
Years Of The Greek Revolution Became Merchantmen At
The end of the
war; but the tactics of the Greeks, as naval warriors, were so
exceedingly cautious, and their
Habits as commercial mariners are
so wild, that the change has been more slight than you might
imagine. The first care of Greeks (Greek Rayahs) when they
undertake a shipping enterprise is to procure for their vessel the
protection of some European power. This is easily managed by a
little intriguing with the dragoman of one of the embassies at
Constantinople, and the craft soon glories in the ensign of Russia,
or the dazzling Tricolor, or the Union Jack. Thus, to the great
delight of her crew, she enters upon the ocean world with a flaring
lie at her peak, but the appearance of the vessel does no discredit
to the borrowed flag; she is frail indeed, but is gracefully built,
and smartly rigged; she always carries guns, and in short, gives
good promise of mischief and speed.
The privileges attached to the vessel and her crew by virtue of the
borrowed flag are so great, as to imply a liberty wider even than
that which is often enjoyed in our more strictly civilised
countries, so that there is no pretence for saying that the
development of the true character belonging to Greek mariners is
prevented by the dominion of the Ottoman. These men are free, too,
from the power of the great capitalist, whose sway is more
withering than despotism itself to the enterprises of humble
venturers.
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