S E R 
61 
S E R 
the north: the Morawa on its eastern, the Dwina on its west¬ 
ern boundary, both flow to the northward, until falling into 
the Danube, after collecting the waters of a number of 
inferior streams. The Danube, in this part of its course 
through Servia, is in many places bordered by lofty rocks, 
some rising almost perpendicular from the river, others 
appearing to hang suspended above its channel. Some are 
bare, others covered with wood, but the scenery, different 
from the scenery of this river in other countries, is pic¬ 
turesque, and even wild. 
Climate and Soil. —The climate of Servia, though tem¬ 
perate, is less mild than might be expected in the 43d and 
44th degree of north lat., the winter being of considerable 
length, and spring not beginning till April. This is owing 
partly to the height of the great ridge of the Argentaro or 
Glubotin mountains, extending along its southern boundary; 
partly to the number of forests, and the general neglect of 
cultivation in its interior. In the month of June the south¬ 
west winds generally bring on periodical rains, which are 
succeeded in July and August by days of great heat, although 
the nights are generally cool and pleasant. September is 
often a rainy month; but in October and November, the 
weather is in general pleasant, and on the whole, the cli¬ 
mate of Servia is healthy. Its soil also is in general fertile, 
the cultivated tracks producing abundant crops; but a small 
proportion of the country is as yet under tillage. The most 
common products are wheat, barley, oats, rice, hemp, flax 
and tobacco; also vines, and fruit of various kinds. Cotton 
is raised in the valleys and other warm spots. Timber is 
abundant, and would form, with the aid of water com¬ 
munication, a great article of export- Mines of iron have 
been discovered in several parts; but like the mines of salt 
and other minerals, they are almost entirely neglected, the 
productive industry of this country being as yet in so back¬ 
ward a state as to be confined to the raising and export of a 
few articles, such as hemp, wool, flax and tobacco; to these 
is added an annual export of cattle and hogs; the latter fed 
in the woods. The manufactures, still more limited in ex¬ 
tent, are of woollen, cotton and hardware; the whole for 
home consumption. Improvement is retarded equally by 
the insecurity of property under so unenlightened a govern¬ 
ment as the Turkish, as by the total want of canals, and 
even of carriage roads, except in the immediate vicinity of 
large towns. Of the latter, Servia reckons only Belgrade, 
Semendria, and Nissa: the other places are villages meanly 
built, and thinly peopled. There are, however, spread 
over the country many vdstigesof antiquity, in particular cas¬ 
tles resembling forts, said to have been erected by the Romans. 
Manners and Language .-—-The inhabitants of Servia are 
divided into Servians, Turks and Jews; the last two are 
found only in the towns. The Servians, who inhabit almost 
exclusively the open country, are originally a tribe of Scla- 
vonians from Galicia, in Poland, supposed to be of the same 
race as the Russians. They are not confined to the territory 
strictly called Servia, but are spread over other parts of 
Europe, and form a considerable proportion of the popula¬ 
tion of Hungary. The language of the country has a great 
resemblance to the Russian; it is spoken not only by the 
Servians, but by the Bosnians, the modem Bulgarians,, the 
Morlachians, the Sclavonians proper, the Dalmatians and 
the Ragusans; all which tribes are sometimes comprised 
under the general denomination of Illyrians. The Servians 
are reported to be little improved by civilization, and sadly 
debased by bigotry and superstition. Still they appear to 
possess much natural activity, and the beautiful specimens of 
their poetry recently published in this country shew that they 
are by no means wanting in the higher orders of genius. 
History.- —Servia, on the decline of the Roman empire, 
shared the fate of the other frontier provinces, and was oc¬ 
cupied by invaders, from a tribe of whom, called Serbis or 
Serbi, it received its present name. It formed in the middle 
age a separate and independant kingdom, but yielded to the 
Turks, when, about the year 1365, their arms extended in 
this direction. The Servians have since experienced not un- 
frequently the hardships of a frontier province, and still 
Vol. XXIII. No. 1554. 
oftener those of a government accustomed to allow its pachas 
and other provincial governors to practise extortions, and 
its military to live at the expense of the inhabitants. A 
sense of these injuries, and the implacable hatred of the 
Turks, inspired by their religion and the instigation of their 
leaders, led to an insurrection on the part of the Servians 
about the year 1801. This insurrection, at first partial, soon 
became general, and the Servians flocked round the standard 
of Czerni Georges, previously known only as the head of a 
band of robbers, but now honoured with the name of 
avenger of his country. This chieftain at first confined 
himself to the forests, and attacked only detached parties of 
the Turks. In time his followers increased, and found 
themselves of sufficient strength to meet the enemy in the 
open country. In December 1806, he besieged Belgrade, 
took it after an obstinate resistance, and, in a great measure, 
expelled the Turks from the country, which he ruled with 
the authority of a sovereign. The Turks brought, from time 
to time fresh forces against him. These he resisted with va¬ 
rious successes until 1814, when he judged proper to with¬ 
draw into Russia; and by a convention concluded between 
his country and the Porte in 1815, the Servians acknow¬ 
ledged the sovereignty of the sultan, but observed the free 
exercise of their religion, as well as their civil rights. Every 
father of a family pays a ducat of yearly tax to the Porte, and 
every other individual a piastre; no Servian can settle in 
Turkey, nor travel in that country, except for commercial 
purposes. The Turkish division of the country is into four 
sandgiacats, viz., Belgrade, Semendria, No vibassar andKratow. 
SERVIA, or New Servia, a district in the south-west 
of European Russia, in the government of Ekaterinoslav, 
between the Dnieper and the Bog. It takes its name from a 
number of Servian hussars and Pandours, who emigrated 
hither in 1754, from Moldavia, Wallachia and Hungary. 
Being a frontier province of the administration, it has a mi¬ 
litary form. The territory is divided into ten districts, each 
occupied by a regiment; and on the southern frontier there 
is also a regiment of cossacks. 
SERVIAN, a small town in the south of France, depart¬ 
ment of the Herault, with a population of 2200; 6 miles 
north-east of Beziers. 
SE'RVICE, s. [feppj’. Sax.] Menial office; low busi¬ 
ness done at the command of a master. 
The banish’d Kent, who in disguise 
Follow’d his king, and did him service 
Improper for a slave. Shakspeare. 
Attendance of a servant. 
Both fell by our servants, by those men we lov’d most: 
A most unnatural and faithless service. Shakspeare. 
Place; office of a servant.—-I have served prince Florizel; 
but now I am out of service. Shakspeare. 
By oppressing and betraying me. 
Thou might’st have sooner got another service. Shakspeare. 
These that accuse him are a yoke of his discarded men; 
very rogues, now they be out of service . Shakspeare. —A 
court, properly a fair, the end of it trade and gain; for none 
would go to service that thinks he has enough to live well 
of himself. Temple.- —Any thing done by way of duty to 
a superior. 
That service is not service, so being done, 
But being so allow'd. Shakspeare. 
Attendance on any superior.—Riches gotten by service, 
though it be. of the best rise, yet when gotten by flattery, 
may be placed amongst the worst. Bacon .—Profession of 
respect uttered or sent. 
I am a woman, lacking wit 
To make a seemly answer to such persons, 
Pray do my service to his majesty. Shakspeare. 
Obedience; submission. 
Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law 
My services are bound. Shakspeare. 
Act on the performance of which possession depends.— 
R Although 
