IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 7 



These are a few facts, some of which I learnt 

 previously to going there by studying the authori- 

 ties (all foreign) on the subject, and others of 

 which I obtained locally. Dalmatia is now, and 

 has been since the termination of the Napoleonic 

 wars, an Austrian province, and, by virtue of its 

 possession, the Emperor of Austria adds to his 

 many titles that of King of Dalmatia. It com- 

 prises the former trans-Adriatic possessions of the 

 Venetian Kepublic, as well as of that of Eagusa 

 and other lesser ones, together with a bit of 

 Turkey handed over to Austria in 18S2 (the Spizza 

 district). In position it extends along the east 

 coast of the Adriatic, and is, though only a narrow 

 strip, of the respectable length of two hundred and 

 twenty English miles. The islands, whose area 

 bears a very considerable proportion to that of the 

 mainland, may be roughly divided into two groups 

 — the Northern or Liburnian Archipelago, ending 

 near Sebenico ; and the Southern one, extending 

 from Trau to Eagusa. Their number is enormous, 

 but many are mere uninhabited rocks. The three 

 largest in order of size are Lesina, Curzola, and 

 Brazza. No better idea of the nature of the 

 country can be given than that which can be 

 obtained from the following statement : eleven- 

 thirteenths of the whole country is entirely sterile, 

 being nearly all rock. 



Although Dalmatia has formed an integral 



