The Brigands of the Mona: a Narrative of the Captivity
of Mr. S. SoterOpoulos. Translated by the Rev. J.0. Bagdon. 2 vols. (Saunders, ()Hey, and Co.)—This is a book which, without any pretence to literary value, possesses remarkable interest, because it photographs with a fidelity which cannot be mistaken scenes which happily do not come within common experience. M. Soter6poulos, a member of the Greek Assembly and ex-Minister of Finance, was seized by brigands on the 28th of July, 1866, as he was sitting after supper in the porch of his house. The house was situated on th.e western coast of the Pelopon- Beaus, somewhere in the south of Elis. A ransom of 80,000 drachmas (about 2,800/.) was demanded ; but the sum was reduced to 2,200/. The unfortunate man's difficulties were various. First, the money had to be raised, and the Bank of Athens was the only place where it could be got. Next, it was to be changed into gold, and the whole of the /■lorea hardly contained as much. Then the Government, much more anxious to capture the brigands than to save the prisoner's life, had to be eluded. Finally, precautions had to be taken against other gentlemen brigands, who, knowing that a largo sum of money was going about, were naturally in a state of great excitement. These obstacles pro- longed his captivity to a period of thirty-six days. How he lived dur- ing that time, what manner of men his captors were, what sort of meals they had, and what talk over them, he tells with a most charming naivete. The brigands seem to have treated him with uniform respect, were very unwilling, for instance, to subject him to the indignity of carrying anything ; but they gave him to understand that sooner than lot him out of their hands unransomed, they should be obliged by their " los- trio " honour to cut off his head. It is a curious trait illustfative of a demeanour unlike our restrained Northern manners, to find M. Soter6- pontos relating without the slightest feeling of shame how he wept and trembled at such talk. In fact, all through the book he is weeping and trembling, but his candour at least gives another charm to a most interesting narrative.
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