"At that time, as I have said before, the Christians were groaning under the Turkish yoke, and several attempts had already been made to shake it off; nay, many of the struggles which had taken place between the Turks and the men of the Kotar had been most successful, as they had for their chief, Jancovic Stoyan, or Stephen, known in history as 'the clearer of Turkish heads.' These continual skirmishes had weakened our oppressors in such a way, and spread so much fear amongst them, that Kuna Hassan never felt sure whenever he left his castle walls. Finding himself reduced to this extremity, he determined to muster all the troops he could get together and make war upon the Christians.
"And now," said Giulianic, "I think I can give you some of Kacic's verses on this subject;" therefore, taking a guitar, he sang as follows:
"A letter wrote Hassan Aga From Knin itself, the white-walled town; He sent it to the bordering Turks, To Mujo and to Velagic.
"And in this letter Kuna spake: 'Oh! brave men of my border-lands, Now muster all your borderers, And hie to Knin, the white-walled town.
"'For we shall raid upon Kotar, And there rich plunder shall we get Both gold and young Molachian maids, Shall be the prize of all the brave.
"'Kotar will be an easy prey For you, the warriors of the Cross! Besides, the Sirdars are away, And Stoyan is in Venice now.
"'Milikovic has fallen sick, Mocivana has lost his horse, Mircetic has sprained his hand, And Klana to a feast is gone.'
"The Bulju Pasha heard all this, And wisely answered to Kuna: 'Forbear, Kuna Aga; forbear To make a raid upon Kotar!'"
Giulianic stopped to take breath. "The poem is long," said he, "and I am old; I shall relate the story in my own words:--Well, Kuna Hassan Aga would not be dissuaded, especially as the _Dizdars_ were for it. The expedition took place. Jelascovic and Velagic--called the snakes of the empire, on account of their strength and craft--came to Kuna's castle, bringing each man three hundred men with him. The _Aga_ mustered as many men himself, and with this little array they set off for the Kotar. At first they were successful; they fell upon the open country, plundering and sacking, carrying away young boys and girls as slaves, finding nowhere the slightest opposition. It was not a war, but a military march; thus they went on until they reached the lovely meadows at the foot of the hills of Otre, a most pleasant country, watered by many rivulets.