60 IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



The Cavaliere is also a pillar of the Slav party in 

 Dalmatia. Austrian politics are always difficult of 

 comprehension to the outsider, and in this province 

 they seem more puzzling than usual. The truth 

 of the matter is apparently this, that they are really 

 rather a farce. There are three parties, the Slav, 

 the Serb, and the Italian. The latter, which is by far 

 the least important numerically, is, not unnaturally 

 perhaps, the most noisy. Its objects are less actual 

 union with the present kingdom of Italy than to 

 obtain a preponderance in Dalmatia for the Italian 

 language in official matters, schools, etc., which, as 

 the Italian element amounts only to some twelve 

 per cent, of the entire population, is decidedly 

 ridiculous. However, as the party returns only 

 some five deputies to a Provincial Diet of forty-two 

 (and one to the Imperial Diet), it is a quantite 

 negligeable. The Serb party are the Greek Catholic 

 Slavs. This party is more important in numbers, 

 and also, for some singular reason, receives the 

 support of the Roman Catholic Slavs of the Ragusa 

 district. Even with the support of these and of 



