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.

In 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 nothing could satiate.  In vain his father sought to calm his savage temper, and restrain his vagabond spirit; nothing was of any use.  As obstinate as intractable, he set at defiance all efforts and all precautions.  If they shut him up, he broke the door or jumped out of the window; if they threatened him, he pretended to comply, conquered by fear, and promised everything that was required, but only to break his word the first opportunity.  He had a tutor specially attached to his person and charged to supervise all his actions.  He constantly deluded him by fresh tricks, and when he thought himself free from the consequences, he maltreated him with gross violence.  It was only in his youth, after his father’s death, that he became more manageable; he even consented to learn to read, to please his mother, whose idol he was, and to whom in return he gave all his affection.