Henry Skene, Esq., on the Albanians. 321 



trait drawn from the life, and it is strikingly resembling, 

 although there is one point which does not now appear to be 

 an exact copy of the original, but the lapse of years since the 

 picture was painted may account for the discrepancy. The 

 valuable work,* from which tlie extract is taken, was pub- 

 lished more than thirty years ago, and then the Albanian 

 may have been more wedded to " religious prejudices and 

 superstitions" than he is now. It is a sad state of society 

 for the century in which it exists, and for the geographical 

 position of the country, which is so near the civilised nations 

 of Europe. But even, bad as it is, it fosters many fine qualities 

 in the Albanians, which are brought out by their adventurous 

 life. For instance, they possess great presence of mind 

 when exposed to danger, and in general they know not of 

 the existence of such a feeling as the fear of death. They 

 are strong and fine-looking men, with the exception of the 

 Liapi tribe, and bear in their gait and carriage a conscious- 

 ness of physical power and determined courage. A well- 

 known traveller* says, when landing in Epirus, " the Alba- 

 nia peasant or soldier, words which, in this country, seem to 

 be almost synonymous, is here seen in the completeness of 

 his national character and costume. Generally masculine 

 in his person, having features which shew him not subdued 

 into the tameness of slavery, and with a singular stateliness 

 of his walk and carriage, the manner of his dress adds to 

 these peculiarities, and renders the whole figure more striking 

 and picturesque than any other with which I am acquainted.'' 

 They are devoted and obedient to their chiefs, whom they 

 love, and follow from generation to generation. A species 

 of hereditary and feudal aristocracy thus exists, and its 

 power among themselves is unlimited. The title of these 

 nobles is that of Bey, which originates with the Albanians. 

 Many of this people know no language but their own ; and 

 those who can speak Greek are easily recognised by^heir 

 strong guttural accent. Their conduct to their women is one 

 of the worst traits in their character : they marry, as tliey 

 would buy a donkey, not to enjoy conjugal happiness, but to 



* Researches in Greece. t Dr Holland. 



