47 
Educationally, the influence of the Turks in the secondary 
schools is almost entirely absent. Of the 27 secondary 
schools only two are under Turkish control, 25 being under 
the control of the Bulgarians and the Greeks. North of the 
Balkan mountains all the schools are controlled by Greeks 
and Bulgarians. 
Captain Cooke naturally made some references to the 
recent troubles with Macedonia. Macedonia, he pointed out, 
is a Turkish province, but the Bulgars have peopled it and 
have given it their own religion and literature. Bulgaria 
therefore aspires to incorporating Macedonia — a prospect 
which the Macedonians regard with some favour. With a 
view to compel the Turk to give up the province, Bulgarian 
agents are constantly at work inciting the Macedonians to 
revolt against Turkey. But Bulgaria has not only to fight 
against Turkey, but against Greece also. For Greece wants 
Macedonia, because she considers it essential for her scheme 
for the reconstitution of a greater Greece. Is it to be wondered 
at therefore that Macedonia should be unsettled ? So long 
as Bulgaria and Greece continue their intrigues, so long will 
Macedonia be in a state of unrest. She may well cry, “ Save 
me from my friends.” 
The political unrest of the country, however, has a healthy 
side, for it indicates change and not decay, and if the present 
feeling is properly directed, there is no reason why Bulgaria 
should not become in the immediate future one of the pioneers 
of progress in the Balkans. 
From Shumla Captain Cooke proceeded across the Danubian 
plains to Rustchuk, floated down the Danube on a raft to 
Braila, and concluded a most interesting and adventurous 
journey with a three weeks’ stay in the gypsy colony at that 
place. 
In reply to a very hearty vote of thanks and to questions, 
the lecturer added that if the people were to attempt to live 
under ordinarily comfortable conditions they would be heavily 
taxed. Poverty seemed to go hand in hand with unclean- 
liness. The wretched Turkish system of taxation caused 
the people to make no show of any worldly possessions. 
