But when the Turks got possession of the isle of Candia, in 1669, they came by sea, and made a descent upon Maina, penetrated into the heart of the territory, and soon became mailers of it; and then, the unfortunate posterity of the Spartans, were reduced to a state, little better than slavery. Exorbitant taxes were imposed upon them; their finest women were forced away to the seraglios; and towers were built in different parts of the country, where troops were garrisoned, to keep them in awe; so that they had no hope of deliverance. Their spirits gradually sunk, and many of them embraced the faith of the Koran.
Still, however, a spark of the ancient fire was preserved amongst those, who dwelt at Porto Vitilo; who, despairing to see any change in their dejected country, came to the resolution of abandoning it altogether, and of seeking an establishment somewhere else.
With this view, they sent to Italy, deputies who had some acquaintance with the different states, and who were intruded by the community to look out for a convenient settlement, and to conclude the terms of a convention.
The Genoese sent them over to Corsica, where they were shewn a trad of ground, belonging to the chamber of the state, on the western side of
