THROUGH WILD EUROPE 123 



rifles hung on the wall behind ready for use. It 

 turned out that our host had a vendetta, or blood- 

 feud hanging over him, and was obliged to maintain 

 a bodyguard of ten men, who were eating him out 



of house and home. He besought B to try to 



make some arrangements through Humdy Bey to 

 settle the feud by a compromise ; and I believe the 

 Bey afterwards expressed his willingness to use his 

 influence towards ending the affair for a payment of 

 about ^30, the bulk of which would probably go into 

 his own pocket. While waiting for dinner we had 

 some impromptu shooting at a mark, a piece of 

 broken tile on a hillside some 200 yards away. When, 



at his third shot, B broke it in half with his 



Mannlicher carbine, the enthusiasm was immense. 

 The weapon was handed round from hand to hand 

 and examined, while anxious inquiries were made as 

 to the price of a similar one. Several of the men 

 wished to sell their Martinis and get one like it if 

 it were possible. 



Nowhere have I seen such interest taken in 

 weapons, especially in firearms, as is manifested by 

 the people in these countries. To possess a rifle is 

 the first necessary of life. Even the boys, as soon 

 as they reach the age of sixteen, may be seen armed 

 like their fathers. In fact, one is hardly accounted 

 a man without one. Frequently one sees the old 

 long-barrelled Turkish muzzle-loading rifle with 



