It may now be asked, how it happened, that the Porte was induced, not only to come to a friendly understanding with Passwan Oglu, but even to accept an arrangement proposed in favour of the Janissaries who had been driven from Belgrade. The truth is, the pride of the Mussulmans revolted at the idea that old Moslems of the True Faith should be banished from a Pachalic, whilst the Christian subjects therein were allowed to rise in importance: indeed, the Mufti gave it as his opinion tbit it was against the law to drive the Faithful from their possessions in favour of the Raja.
Upon this the Divan ordered the Pacha to re-admit the Janissaries; though they had been exiled by a firman, and had joined a rebel in open insurrec-tion. Uadschi Mustafa would have placed himself in opposition to his legitimate government, and exposed himself to severe punishment, had lie resisted the order : the Janissaries accordingly returned.
We may easily anticipate the consequences of this measure: it proved the origin of much mischief.
At first the Janissaries did not press the Pacha for the restoration of their property; nor did they threaten him with violence; and they were satisfied with appointments in the Custom Houses or about the Court. Soon, however, they began to act as in former times; and as might have been expected, the Raja were the first to be made sensible of the change.
In Swileuwa, in the district of Schabaz, lived a man of irreproachable character, named Ranko, Grand Knes of his Kneshina. At a time when the their ranks into a neighbouring hut, where his back might be protected from his assailants. Covered with wounds when he reached the hut, lie yet managed to clear it of its occupants; and then, sitting down, defended himself to the last. He died from loss of blood, —the first victim of internal discord — a hero still remembered with admiration by his countrymen.
Kjurtschia’s enterprise brought death upon himself, but it procured for the district a government conformable to the laws.
An influential old man of Swornik, Mchcmet Kapetan, who had ever been adverse to the innovations of Alibeg, and who, though nearly seventy years of age, was still vigorous and inclined to war, now appeared amongst the Servians, declaring himself ready, with his five sons, to go against the Turks. With his assistance — though he perceived that the people followed him with reluctance — and through the exertions of the native chiefs, Antonie Bogitschewitsch and Jephtiini Sawitseh, these districts succeeded in obtaining peace.
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