15 
years ago. The fringe of the country is occupied very largely 
by those who have overlapped from the adjacent countries. 
Many of them were sent there by former kings of Hungary 
in order to try and break down the supremacy of the Magyars. 
In this way they had hoped to be able to absorb the Empire 
of Hungary into the Empire of Austria, but they have not 
yet succeeded. The Magyars are still the leading race in 
the country. Then come the Roumanians, Slovaks, Germans, 
Croatians, Servians, and Ruthenians. 
The capital of the country is Budapest (pronounced Buda- 
pesh), one of the finest cities in Europe. It is divided into 
two parts by the Danube. The two parts were originally 
distinct, one being called Buda, and the other Pest. The 
older portion is very hilly ; off-shoots from the Alps extend 
right to the Danube. On the hill top is the very fine Royal 
Palace. The slopes of the hills are covered with vineyatfds ; 
apricots and other rich fruits grow there in the same way 
as apples and pears grow in our orchards. In the centre of 
the river is a small island known as S. Margaret’s, about a 
mile and a half in length, which has been laid out for pleasure 
purposes and makes a very charming resort. The 
older part of the city presents a most charming panoramic 
view when seen from the other side of the river. Several 
bridges join the two halves of the city. The first which was 
built was erected sixty years ago by an English firm, and re- 
placed an old bridge of boats. Since then the Hungarians 
have themselves erected several other large and beautiful 
bridges. One is called the Elizabeth Bridge, named in memory 
of their Oueen Elizabeth, whose premature death was a sad 
event for Hungary. It is one of the very largest single span 
bridges in the world. The royal palace on the hill is not 
only the largest, but probably the finest royal palace in 
Europe. It remains empty for the greater part of every 
year, but royalty with Hungarian people is by no means 
an empty name. They contribute to the maintenance of 
royalty in connection with this palace over £1,000 a day, 
almost half a million pounds a year, from what is practically 
a poor country, and they reasonably expect, and hope, and 
wish, their King to bestow a reasonable amount of his time 
upon them ; yet there have been some years, even in recent 
times, when he has not spent more than a fortnight of the 
whole year amongst them. He lives almost exclusively in 
Austria, and all the money the Hungarians contribute is 
spent in Austria, whereas were he to divide his time more 
equally between the two countries, the representatives of 
other countries and their Courts would also have residences 
