Introduction. 9 



comitats and provinces. They mostly fixed their residence in 

 the northern provinces and in Transylvania, so that from Pres- 

 burg to the frontiers of Wallachia, they formed a sort of mili- 

 tary cordon. They came from all countries, from Flanders, 

 the Netherlands, Alsace, and the southern parts of Germany; 

 they are designated, however, by the general name of Saxons. 

 These ancient Germans have proved a valuable acquisition 

 to the country, compensating amply for the privileges granted 

 to them. The civil professions of the state of burgesses origi- 

 nate from them, and to them may be attributed the opening 

 and labours of the mines. By the Germans, industry was 

 introduced into the towns, and a commercial intercourse with 

 the north created. They early adopted the manners and cos- 

 tume of the country, though partly mixed with their own ; but 

 in some cantons they have a particular mode, which appears 

 odd, of wearing a white chemise over a dark-coloured culotte. 

 The ancient colonists look with an evil eye on the fresh comers 

 from the Palatinate, Franconia, Suabia, and Bavaria, that ar- 

 rived in Hungary at the beginning of the eighteenth century, 

 after the expulsion of the Turks. These last go by the name 

 of Suabians (Schwaben) which is become a term of reproach, 

 " he is a Suabian, es ist ein Schwabe." 



The number of those whose vernacular tongue is German, 

 is comparatively small; a circumstance which is owing to the 

 influence of the Slowacks. In many places originally founded 

 by the Germans, we at present only find Sclavonians. The 

 vestiges are few of that great girdle that reached from the foot 

 of the Carpathians into Transylvania. It is in the comitat of 

 Lips, in the centre of the Carpathians, that they mostly abound, 

 their number exceeding 60,000. There is another numerous 

 assemblage of them in Transylvania; there the Germans, 

 under the name of Saxons, occupy the local seats of Herman- 

 stadt, Nagysink, Medgyes, Reps, Segesvar, Szaszsches, Szas- 

 zvaros, Szerdahely, and Uj Egyhaz, together with the districts 

 of Bistricz and Kronstadt. Here they form one of the three 

 nations, and possess particular privileges which rank them 

 above the state of burgesses. There are also many Germans 

 in the Banat, colonists of the eighteenth century. We trace 

 them again in great numbers towards the frontiers of Austria, 

 in the comitats of CEdenburg, Eisenburg, and Wieselburg, be- 

 sides which, there are many Germans scattered through all 

 parts of Hungary. Several are to be found in all the mining 

 towns, and whatever depends on industry or trading concerns, 

 in the free towns, is chiefly in the hands of the Germans. 



In the Population of Hungary, other nations require to be 

 mentioned, though their number be, comparatively, inconsi- 



VOYAGHS and TRAVELS, No, L, VOL. IX. C 



