The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-05-31 00:00:00

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AUSTRIAN DALMATIA.

lIIITTER OF A TRAVELLER OF DISTINCTION, TROD
SEBENICO, IN AUSTRIAN DALMATIA, DATED
SEARCH 4, 1805.
The country from which I write to you is, in the
present political situation of Europe, of the highest
importance, and yet but imperfealy known. I will
give you some account of its manners and peculiari-
ties. The head-quarters of the troops which have
lately arrived, arc at Zara, the capital of the pro-
vince, and most uf the men are distributed among
the desart Islands of the Guarneio, and from Cat-
taro to Trau.
Sebenico is composed of wretched houses, among
which a few good buildings, belonging to wealthy
inhabitants, are construcled, in an amphitheatrical
form, on steep rocks. It contain; a fortress, partly
the work of nature and partly of art, which, up-
wamils of a century ago, defied the repeated attacks
of the Turks, to whom it would have been an im-
portant post. Many years since Sebenico was the
asylum of pirates, to whom the narrow entrance out
of the sea into the Cherka, which may be so easily
defended, afforded the utmost security against any
surprise.
This town is at present inhabited by Merlacks, as
they are denominated. The Nadi in general dress
in the German fashion; and, besides the Illyrian,
which is the language of the country, they speak
bad Italian. They are not yes, pat lie! to the Ger-
mans. Among them there are a few well-disposed
people ; but all, without exceptien. are rude and
uncultivated. Of opportunities of iiattrullion, they
are utterly destitute. Venice, to whom this coun-
try was formerly subjcel. suffe•ed its inhabitants to
receive nothing but its cast.eff fashions, without,
however, losing sight of the grand nhj,•Et, the re-
venues it derived from than. The Eta sex is about
a century behind the females of Germany ; in a
word, knitting and sewing are the whole of luck
accomplishments: literature, the arts, rine works.
and musk, being entirely unknown here, ex opting
to a very email number of the men who have been
educated in Italy.
The country is of the most dreat7 description.
particularly the shores of the Cherk.v, with their
perpendicular rocks, towering Aloft to the skies.
For many miles, there is neither wood nor field ;
nothing but a surface of craggy rock. Nature
cannot possibly be more niggardly. Ile sts!);.iii-
ence of the natives consists.of some wretehi'd fruits,
mintstre, a kind of thick, half raw rice soup, mixed
with water and oil ; mutton, small, wild beans, and
hard sheep's milk cheese. are the food of the lower
classes I fish, fowl, and beef, of the higher ranks ;
but wine is so plentiful; that all of them live in a
continual intoxication. Hence, their incapacity for
all mental exertions. and the principal trait in their
chara&er, indolence. Good vegetables, fruits, good
milk, and fresh butter, are things tr which they
are utter strangers. Veal was never seen here, and
with game they are unacquainted. Ali the men
continually go armed ; and even the peasant, when
driving his cattle, or engaged in any other occupa-
tion. Of social parties, or assemblies, there is
none, not even among the higher classes.
Not far irons Sebenico, is Spalatres, where a
temyle, a monument of Roman grandeur, still ro-
ma' as entire, in perfeft magnificence. It was once
consecrated to Jupiter, but is now e,nployed for
Christian worship. Spalatro likewise contains the
ruins of a palace of Dioelesian ; but no it aces are
now left of the splendid gardens of that Emperor,
which were situated at Selena. Here and :here are
found other monuments of past greatness, proofs
chat the rulers of Greece and Rome had likewise
settled there. Their spirit, however, was bu ied
beneath these venerable ruins : all is now a scene
of wildness and desolation.
The climate is sharp, and you may pereesve that
you are near the sea. The situation ,1 Sebenico is
such as to iucxease the force of the winds, and
hence the scanty vegetation in the surrounding
country.
The same ceremonies are observed here at wed-
dings and at funeral.. The greatest dainty on such
an occasion is a eastrese (a sheep) roasted whole,
and an incredible quantity of wine is consumed, so
that the guests tie scarcely able to see each other.
The bride and Inidegroom sleep the three first
nights between two large vessels of wine, in the
cellar, which, however, is not under ground.
Their dances, in which those who chuse to take
part in the amusement, form a long row, are not
accompanied with instrumental music, but only
with a kind of bawling, which always ends with 0 ;
and in a very simple manner repeats the atchieve-
ments of an ancient Illyrian King, called Marco.
They have a second kind of dance, in which each
person moves by himself in little circles, in measured
time, without any noise or singing whatever. A
third kind of dance is a mixture of figures that can-
not easily be described, accompanied with the
sound of a kind of drum, and another instrument,
consisting of a thick <wing of strained horse-h.iir,
across which a thinner is drawn ; it gives a disagree-
able tone, and is called saute. When these .:iver.
lions are over, the relations and acquaintance fill
their hats and the empty bottles, amidst the most
dreadful howling. In this manner they attend ;he
new-married couple to their dwelling, or the de-
ceased to the grave. All the friends then go home,
and endeavour, by a carousal, suited to their circum-
stances and their taste, to testify their sorrow for the
loss they have sustaided, or their joy for the happy
union.
Of newspapers, one individual takes Tae Journal
Frsacfsrl.lc Besides this, you may now and then
see a Vienna or a Florence Journal; but they are not
received regularly.

It is reported, that on board the Toulon fleet is an
Oiricer, now an Aid.de•Carnp of BONAPARTE, who
was formerly in the service of TIPPOO SAIII, and
from this it is inferred that the Toulon fleet, if not
the combined armament, is destined for the East
Indies. These, however, are slight grounds. The
WOO inference was made with as much probability
fromGenerall.Aultsroa,whnsefathereras Governor
of Pondicherry, and who himself was born there,
com martdin rhe French troops. We think the specs.
lotion which assigns the East-Indies as the *ea
of the Frencis armament, not destitute of plausibi-
lity, thoosh undoubtedly the ger,eral opinion looks
to the Wert

CERTIFICATES TO AF. GRANTED TO-MORROW.
John Largx, of the parish of Allesley, in the county of War-
wick, dealer and chaoman.
Ilannah Jonea, of Oolegnch, in the county of Cardigan, mer-
chant, dealer and chapooman.
William Fr.inca •aurnout, late of Mitre court, Chrapside,
hs the city of London, wine and brand) merchant, dealer
and cha?man.
James Sutherland, of York-street, in the valid, of St. Mary.
la-hoinie' in the county of Middlesex, painter anal glazier,
dealer and chapman
John A.thury, of ShcfSelol4trect, Clare-market, in the county
of Middlisex, rlcal.r and ehapmaii.
Titennas Ditosterville, of the penal, of Ir.,m Stnnehouse, in the
of Davao, shipwright, dealer aml chapinait