RUMANIA 



4.4.1 



Bulgarians are as a rule sober and quiet. Street quarrels, rows, shouts and cries of any kind, 

 are of rare occurrence; even children in the street play in silence. 



The country is governed by a prince, elected by the National Assembly, with a popular 

 legislature. It acknowledges the suzerainty of the Porte; but this is little more than nominal. 

 The bulk of the population belongs to the Orthodox Greek Church; but there are large 

 numbers of Mohammedans, Jews, Roman Catholics, and Protestants. 



RUMANIA. 



To the ethnologist the Rumanians are perhaps the most interesting of the Balkan peoples. 

 The kingdom of Rumania, comprising the united provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia, was 

 recognised as an independent principality in 1878, and was promoted to the dignity of a 

 kingdom in 1881. The population is estimated at over 5,800,000, but it must be remembered 

 that this does not include more than half of the Rumanian people; quite as many of the 

 race are to be found in adjoining territories. 



Physically the Rumanians are characterised by dark skin, black hair, and black eyes. It 

 may or may not be the case that they have been influenced in this respect by an infusion of 

 gypsy blood. Gypsies are to be found in great numbers in Rumania. The Rumanians are 

 well built and muscular, and are altogether a fine race. 



In the cities French manners prevail, and the moral tone is decidedly lax. The people are 

 mostly agriculturists, and in the country they are primitive, lazy, and inclined to be suspicious 

 of strangers, though hospitable. The artistic sense is well developed, and some of the designs 

 of their textile fabrics and household utensils seem to date from Roman times. 



The men generally wear a long blouse of coarse, white linen, drawn in at the waist by a 

 number of cords passed round the body or a wide belt. The trousers are made of the same 

 material as the blouse. Some wear boots, but sandals are most usually worn, the cords used 

 to keep them on their feet being wound some distance up the leg. Hats of common felt or 

 cheap cloth are commonly worn, but a high cylindrical hat of sheep-skin is the national head- 

 dress. In winter the coarse linen blouse is replaced by a garment of sheep-skin; and when 



Photo by F. Topiq] 



BOSNIAN FALCONERS 



