IN THE LAND OP THE BORA. 211 



last two subjects are somewhat incongruously com- 

 bined. The hunting scenes are full of life, the 

 beast of chase generally being the stag, then 

 common in the country. 



On some few there is a legible inscription. To 

 these I will return later on, preferring now to say 

 something of what is known of the people who lie- 

 buried under these monoliths. I think I should 

 take the opportunity of expressing my indebtedness, 

 to Major-General E. von Kahlig, from whose article 

 in the Deutsche Rundschau I have condensed the 

 following : — 



The sect which raised these stones was known 

 as that of the Bogumilites. It flourished in the 

 days of the Hungarian supremacy, and its existence 

 was the cause of the fall of Bosnia and the Herze- 

 govina into the hands of the Turk. 



The heretical doctrines of the Manichoeans had 

 been preached by Armenians in Thrace as early as 

 the eighth century. With these Armenians the 

 Bulgarians were in close communication, and as 

 early as the reign of the Tsar Boris complaints 

 were made that Armenians were preaching in the 

 country. They seem to have found a fertile soil 

 for their labours, for the complaints go on increasing 

 until, in the reign of Tsar Peter, there appeared a 

 priest named Jeremias, who assumed the character- 

 istic surname of Bogumil, and gave its name to 

 the entire heretical organization. 



