THROUGH WILD EUROPE 99 



Scutari, the secretary to the Austrian Consulate 

 dined with me one evening at my hotel. During 

 dinner he talked much of the safety of the town, 

 and declared that all statements as to its insecurity 

 and danger were greatly exaggerated. When it 

 was time to go he suddenly disappeared, and after 

 some time we found him trying to borrow a revolver 

 from the landlord to go home with, as he had for- 

 gotten his own ! He positively refused to go home 

 without one, though he had barely 100 yards to 

 go to reach his own house. In fact, it wasn't 

 much more than across the road. 



Bribery is rampant among the officials, from the 

 highest to the lowest, and murder can be committed 

 with impunity as far as arrest or trial is concerned, 

 provided the murderer can take a sufficient back- 

 sheesh to the authorities. There is some excuse, 

 therefore, for the custom of the vendetta which 

 obtains here universally. Everybody avenges his 

 own injuries, as well as protects his own life. In 

 the event of a murder the friends and relatives are 

 bound in honour to exact another life for the blood 

 that has been shed. If the actual offender can be 

 slain, why, so much the better ; but sooner than 

 have nothing to show in revenge they will kill the 

 nearest relative they can get at. In this way it is 

 dangerous to be one of a large family, because if 

 your brother should kill anybody and escape you 



