Photo by D. W. and A. S. Iddmgs. Copynglit by Keystone View Co. 



type;s of se;rvian herders 



The progress of Servia has been disappointing. The other newly constituted States of 

 the peninsula have escaped the misfortune of a native dynasty, but Servia has been afflicted 

 with two, and the feud between the houses of Karageorgevich and Obrenovich has distracted 

 the country throughout the whole period of its revived national existence. The perpetual 

 conflict between Austrian and Russian influence, the deadly animosities of political groups, 

 and the unfortunate domestic history of the Obrenovichs have been other factors of con- 

 fusion, while the absence of a seaboard, the fiscal tyranny of Austria-Hungary, and thriftless 

 financial management have hindered economic and commercial development. The wars of 

 1876 and 1877 with Turkey, and of 1885 with Bulgaria, also tended to the exhaustion of the 

 country. Constitutional changes have been frequent, and three Servian rulers— Garageorge, 

 Prince Michael, and King Alexander — have been assassinated. Amid all these drawbacks 

 Servia has lagged in the race of civilization with her neighbors, Rumania and Bulgaria. 



The most favorable feature in the condition of Servia is the prosperous condition of 

 the peasantry; almost all are small land-owners, and well-to-do, if not rich, and poverty is 

 almost unknown. — James D. Bourchier. 



and even in many families, there are both 

 Mohammedans and Christians, and, al- 

 though constantly fighting among them- 

 selves, religion is hardly ever the cause 

 of the quarrel. They have but little ag- 

 riculture, no trade or industries, and in- 

 deed few occupations, save fighting. The 

 Turks have used them in Europe much 

 in the same way as they have used the 

 Kurds in Asia, giving license to plunder 

 and practical autonomy in exchange for 

 fidelity to the Sultan and persecution of 

 the other races. They also furnish a 

 useful argument against reforms in 

 Macedonia; for when the powers de- 



mand that the Sultan should fulfill his- 

 promises, a rising of the Albanians is at 

 once threatened, and often actually takes 

 place. 



With all their barbarism the Albanians 

 have many excellent qualities. They are 

 brave, hospitable, and, if you succeed in 

 winning their confidence and attaching 

 them to your person, absolutely reliable. 

 The foreign embassies and consulates in 

 Turkey preferably employ Albanians as 

 kavasses (orderlies) on account of their 

 trustworthiness. They are by no means 

 unintelligent, and have furnished the 

 Turkish Empire with some of its ablest 



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