BANDITTI.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 27, 3 January 1850, Page 3

BANDITTI.

The meaning of the word, which heads this article, denotes companies of armed robbers. These were formerly, very common in France, Germany, Spain and Italy, and exist, in the latter country, to n very considerable extent, even to the present Way. In England, they never acquired a permanent fooling; although n hundred years have barely elapsed since lOngland, and especially the neighbourhood of London, mas infested by desperadoes who pounced upon and plundered every hapless traveller that fell into their hand'. These fellows were called highwaymen. They were mounted on line, swift, horses, They robl-cd, alone, or in pairs ; and the hardihood of their n>tacks, and the audacity and skill with which they, for a length of time, evaded the lmnds of justice have rendered their adventures a strange and stirring feature of the age in which they lived. They rarely committed murder whilst fleecing tlie r victims, cn the contrary, exhibiting so many instances of courtesy and consideration, ihnt compassion for their fate, r.itlicr than a just abhorrence of their criine>, was commonly manifested at their executions. These days, however, are no more. The cxelleiii'o of the police, the f.iciiity and the rapidity of travelling, have put nn end to anything like organized hands of robbers oitlier in jEngland or in Fiance. I'i Germany 100 the system 13 nearly extinct; although, in the more unsettled territories of Spain anil Italy, banditti, and those of the most biu'al nnd sanguinary dispositions.—are still to be found. We prnceeil to give 4 (ew characteristic examples. About twenty years since, two young KnglishtJ.in were on a visit t<> the city of Home, keen sportsmen, the ctlebrity o( the Pontine Marshes for snipe shouting attracted their attention, and as the spot was but .1 trifling distance, tlx y set oil' for it, bent upon a few duys amusement. They put up at the ordinary inn, and were accompanied, in tlici;' shunting excursions, hy peasant guides provided by their landlord. They had enjoyed themslcvcs in this way for two or three days, when two more Englishmen arrived at the inn, also anxious after shooting. The accommodations of tlie :i>n weie unequal to the occasion. There were neither rooms nor beds Jor the strangers, who requested that as the otheis had had a fair share of sport they would vacate the pri'mixeE in theii favour. —

I This the first comers, delighted with their suecess, declined, and the new arrivals were ob- | liged to put up witli such shifts as the landlord I could contrite.

One of them, out of frolic, (and in a hope of harmless revenge in the shape of an enhanced bill,) told the innkeeper that his first guests were great and wealthy English noblemen. Upon hearing this, the innkeeper's attention exceeded all bounds. His lodgers were " Exeellenza'd" .and " My Lorded - ' at every turn. They were, naturally, surprized at such conduct, but speedily became accustomed to it, attributing it to the mean servility of a sordid and degraded people. At length tlicy determined upon returning to Home. Their carriage was ordered to be in readiness by 2 o'clock of the following day, the morning of which was to lie spent lor the last time in the marshes. When the morning arrived, circumstances induced them to give up the : r shooting exrurjion. Their bill was paid, and their carriage desired to be ready by 11 o'clock. The hour arrived. The carriage was still in the yard, the horses in the stable, and no preparations were making to attach tlicm to the vehicle. The travellers became impatient, nnd urged the landlord to get their conveyance in order. It was lazily and reluctantly equipped ; —and, after a considerable lapse of time, moved off sluggishly from the inn. It had not proceeded far, when the postilion, who appeared to be greatly bewildered, dismounted, and lilting up one of his horses hind legs spent a long lime in examining it. A second and a third time the postilion alighted noil went through the s ime f.ircc. At last the English patience was exhausted ; and one of the travellers pointing his gun out of the coach window, poured a torrent of abuse upon the driver, telling him if lis did not get his cattle into rapid motion and make up lor the time be had so wantonly lost lie would blow his brains out. The threat sullieed. The carriage flew rapidly on its course, and the travellers reached (tome in snfety. A few days afterwards, intelligence was received that a traveller had been seized and severely bandied by banditti, at a ljuely spot on the road from Home to the Pontine Marshes. The unfortunate stranger had been mjstakeu for the gieat and wealthy English noblemen, a:\d, in revenge for their disappointment, the brigands had beaten him most mercilessly. The explanation is an easy one. The story of lii 3 second quests had excited the cupidity of the landlord, lie and his people were in lengue with tile robbers, to witom the mov< - ments of their intended prey were communicated. A plan was forthwith arranged, and .it the spot, already mentioned, tnu chaise was to be surrounded and the Englishmen carried prisoners to the mountains. The relinquishIment of the morning's shooting, and tile subsequent doti-rinination to set oil'at 11 instead of '2 o'clock, disconcerted the plot. In vain the horses were delayed in the stable. In vain the postilion defended in thu hopa of protracting the journey, till the hour agreed upon should arrive. Providence willed it otherwise, and the intended victims happily escaped the snare. Had they fallen into the hands of these ruthless brigands, they w.iiild have been carried prisoners to the mountains ; anil under tho impression of thiir immense wealth, an enormous ransom would have been demanded. The amount required would be communicated to their friends or acquaintances, and a time and sure place for its delivery appointed.— Those are, generally, under certain stones, or at othtr places indicated. If the money were sent they would have been set free. If not, a second demand, enforced, perhaps, by an ear cut from either prisoner's head, would

Jtiivc been iihilc, with il l intimniiuii thai in the event of non-cjiiipliiuice tho lic.ul itself should fallow; —for tiv-'se mi-'cre.mn rarely absinincd from blood if the gold they demanded were denied or iiii|iossii)la to be raised. In this case, the lOufclislimen would in all probability have lost tlirir lives through the

sorry jest of their countryman. I'liey were but moderately rich; nail little money in their hinds : were in a strange country, with no friends and few acquaintances. How, then, could they have satisfied iho npicity »>'villains trained to a belief of their vast wealth ? Much about tin; (lite of thU occurrence, an linglisli gentleman of fortune, who, with his youiiy bride, had been making the tour of Italy, were surrounded by banditti, 011 ilia Terrocinn road, between Niples ami I'onie. I'lij ICiiglislini 111 was well armed, nod ill de. spite of the vast array Of posed to his progress ollered the most frantic resistance, discharging It 13 pistols in rapid succession. One shot was relumed by the brigand*. U entered the carriage, I.tying the young wit'j, who ha I e.ung to huibind's embrace, dead in hii arms, pavsing at the same timi tliroagh his body and inllietin:; a mortal wound.

The Captain of the baud, who had 1101 been present at the commencement of the skirmish, came up at its close. Looking at the slaughtered victim'-, and turning from thcin witli an eye of fury towards his ftsf'ii:»hvtl bind, —

" Which of you," ho roared, " dared to fire allot unsanctioned by me?"' There was a pause. The ruffians quailed beneath the savage glances of their chief. " What! No answer?" lie exclaimed iviih increasing violence. " Your carbine," said he suddenly turning upon one of the band, lfe was The smoke on the barrel had betrayed the offender. "fool!" cried the captain, with a bitter smile, " You art- unworthy of the profession you have undertaken. You have robbed your comrades of an inestimable booty. lSehold your handy work ! Idiot! Had this sweet face and dainty form been borne alive to our mountain retreat, what ransom would liave been too costly for this fond fool so prodigal of life in its defence? Look, I say nt the needlesscarrion you have made—Look—Gaze on a meal fit only for the vulture. Go—add to the banquet you have so presumptuously dared tocarve: but see that others beware how they plare finger upon tiigger until I command !'' fie drew a pistol, the biignnd fulling dead as he spoke. "Ha!" he exclaimed, tinslinging his carbine, as a faint murmur escaped the band, " Discipline or Death!" lie brought the weapon to the "ready.'' Rut his eye and gesture sufiiccd—passive submission resumed its sway. There is a story, said to be an authentic one. of an Austrian Colonel beir.g pounced upon and cariied to the mountains, by a band thnt made him prisoner, almost under gunshot of his own soldiers.

The regiment was on iho nvtrch, and ihe Colonel had ridden alone a slioit iyay in advance of his battalion, when suddenly the pass teemed with armed rtillians, who bore away their prize. We Ibrgtt the result of this achievement, but are inclined to think it ended in the recovery of the Colonel and the extermination of the brigands. So much, at present, lor Italian Banditti. At another time we shall furnish an illustration or two of German robbers and their dealings.