Henry Skene, Esq., on the Albanians. 319 



shed. These were produced on this occasion by the following 

 circumstance. A Tsami shepherd, being alone on the hill, 

 was overpowered by a party of Liapides, and his flock of sheep 

 was driven by the latter to the wild mountains of the Chimara. 

 A detachment belonging to the village of the Tsami was 

 bold enough to enter this rugged and hostile country in 

 search of the stolen sheep, or of revenge. They met a num- 

 ber of Liapis, inhabitants of the obnoxious village ; the sheep 

 were demanded and refused, a volley of abuse ensued on 

 both sides, and the signal for action was given. The ma- 

 noeuvres consisted for some time in their favourite mode of 

 fighting, which resembles the service of riflemen ; they fired, 

 at each other from a considerable distance, and sheltered by 

 trees and rocks. But emissaries had been dispatched, at the 

 commencement of the fight, for succour by both contending 

 parties, and in a few hours hundreds were engaged. Not 

 many, however, had been killed and wounded as yet, consi- 

 dering the mode of skirmishing which was going on, but in 

 a short time they would have thrown down their long guns 

 and used their pistols and yataghans. The Albanians are 

 in the habit of rushing upon each other with loud shouts, 

 when their fury is lashed into charging order by a few suc- 

 cessful shots. On this occasion, before they had come to 

 close quarters, several of the old men of the respective vil- 

 lages had come to the spot, and one of the Liapi tribe, who 

 was respected for his age and wisdom, called out that he de- 

 manded a parley. It was immediately granted, and in a few 

 minutes the scene was totally changed. Ten or a dozen of 

 the patriarchs of both tribes were now seated on the ground, 

 smoking their long pipes and discussing the terms of peace 

 in the most solemn manner, while the palicara or fighting 

 men stood around them, leaning on the muzzles of their guns, 

 looking fierce at each other, and twisting their long musta- 

 chios. The killed and wounded of both parties, being but few 

 in number, were already in the hands of the women, who are 

 never far distant from a scene of conflict ; and, on comparing 

 notes, it was found that the respective tribes had suffered an 

 equal loss in this way. The old men of the Liapides then 

 tendered an off^er of restoring the stolen flock of sheep, but 



