ALBANIAN COSTUMES. 199 



graceful tie of a coloured handkerchief over it ; 

 his rude and shapeless sandals or shoes, suiting 

 exactly one accustomed to bound like a chamois 

 over the mountain crags ; his long and extraordi- 

 narily shaped firelock, with its crooked stock 

 inlaid with silver lying at his side, whilst his 

 pistols and yataghan or short sword remained 

 girt round his waist ; another, perhaps, in a brown 

 capote and red cajo, would be reclining his head 

 on his right arm on the ground, playing with his 

 long pipe with his left ; the player himself would 

 be seated on the ground in the middle of the 

 assembly, and would appear much pleased with 

 his own performance, the whole party at certain 

 periods of the song joining in a wild chorus. 



I could not sufficiently admire the general air 

 of boldness, and apparently independent spirit, of 

 these Albanians, and their apparent contentment 

 and happiness, notwithstanding the disadvantages 

 under which they, in common with all the subjects 

 of the Ottoman empire, so unfortunately labour. 



Albania is a magnificent field for an artist. 

 The costumes of the Albanians are very pic- 

 turesque, and I have often wondered much that 

 no English painter had ever taken the trouble to 



