The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-05-26
The People of VVaIEachia.


has been scooped out of the living rock at the
base of a mountain, the crossing Of which used
TO occupy ten to fourteen hours with bullock
cart On the Turkish side faint veStiges of :
canal which Trajan cut through the fiat of land
opportunely occurring there; Tor the purpose Of
facilitating the communication with his splendid
bridge and on an island near to which we passed
can be dscerned traces of entertainments proba.
bly, thrown up by the same hands.
1t is not without feeling Of humility that one
compares these relics of ancient greatness with
the present debased state of the countries in
which they may occasionally be traced. What
enterprise and prosperity are indicated by these
magnificent works, as well or the nearer as on
the farther side OF the mountain barriers which
separated the mother country from her colonies !!
and now, after many centuries of boasted pro-
gress, we, the people OF generation which seems
20 have made the most rapid strides in civilization
see at length the fulfiIment Of works intended 10
lead to the same effects as must, in the midst of
the Roman empire, have been long in action.
In SIavonia, at The baths of Hercules near Me.
hadia, iii the vale OF Hatszeg, and many other
places in TTansy lvana, we'll in Wallachia,
evidences of m ancient taste industry, and spen.
dor, have from time TO time been brought to view ;
but the excellent roads, the canals, the bridges,
the cities, with their palaces, theatres, and tenn
pies, all telling of the hoUrishing state of the
Dacian colonies, are mouldering IN run or buried
beneath the dust OF barbarous ages. And when
we enter the ultra. Danubian portion, Wallachia
where these marks Of wealth and power once ex-
listed, we find people rclapsed into an almost
primitive barbarism, dwelling IN holes in the
earth, or IN sheds more suited for the abode Of
swine than OF men, people Of slaves, abused and
oppressed by few arrogant mobiles and their min.
ions. Turn to the upper classes, and we see that
their on idea OF civilization consists in apeing
the fashions and language of a people whose
better qualities they are ignorant Of that their
only pleasures gambling, show, and the i'm
moralitles which stamp Bucharest as the most dis
soue city IN Europe.
When Hadrian, with tmid policy unworthy
Of the successor of the enterprsing Traan, re-
called the Roman legions from the ultra Danubian
Dacia, and destroyed the bridge which Traian
had with so much success erected, MANY Of the
military coOnlsts, and the offspring Of soldiers
who had married Dacian women, were left ex-
posed TO the incursons Of the barbarians. AL
though proud 10 entitle themselves Ron1ou7ai or
ROumanl, they have always exhibited flexible
spirit in certain points, for they have vic lded ther
country, often without resistance, 10 every sue
cesslve host which poured down from the north :;
and were we'll treated, probably in consequences
of their understanding some Of the useful arts IN.
known 10 their less civilized conqucrors. Their
language they have retained almost as it was
given them, provincial Latin. which can hardly
be distinguished from some of the ruder Italian
dialects, when purified from the admixture Of the
Slavic words which have been engrafted penti.
fully on 1t, in contact with the BuIgarians and
Sert ians
Their social state, however, has gradually been
sinking; in the twelfth century they were strong
enough to bid defiance 10 Alexous Commenus in
some of the fortresses of the district they occupied
from he IOon uha Ell
Turks, they were held down by rod of iron :;
and through their non-intercrng, although COR
ruPt, misgovernment, reduced to a state
from which there appears to be no prospect of
their yet rising. The Porte used to appoint
roget, Hospodar, who, according TO law. ought
to remain in cffice at least three years but as il
was necessary for him, nomination, TO make
valuable present 10 the ministers, be was Of
course changed often possible extorton
thus became the order Of the day, and each rank
pressing on :hat beneath it, battened on the peas.
ant as their spoil.
A crowd of hungry Greeks have entered the
land who rent the farms from The boyars or mobiles
and gentry, and, with view to making fortune
rapidly take every method Of squeezing those
who fall within their gripP. Certain taxes for
tribute 10 the Porte, &C., have to he paid IN mo-
rey and since cash is to Le found only in the
hands OF the Greeks the countrymen are obliged
|" udhe oHel all IHat lhey nave IN order TO be
able 10 pay. These poor serfs may cultivate as
much land as they will, for there is plenty TO
spare, and Of good quality; and after the tenth,
twentieth, ground rents, days Of forced labor for
the farmer, &C., re paid, the rest is their own to
operate upon. The WaIIachlans are, however, a
thrlilless and lazy SET who, under the present
state of things, will do nothing without blows
which are paid out to them with much iiheralitv
and till they can be satisfied that they have an
interest in being industrious, it is vain 10 hope for
better things.
We were taught TO believe that :he indepen-
dence OF Turkey, obtained few years ago by
Russian arms, was 10 produce good fruits but the
campaign l!sef plunged the country into depth
OF misery; and this naturally rich land, with lit
tie more than two millions Of inhabitants, is some.
times visited by iamne-a result doubtless OF the
state OF slavery in which the peasants are still
fettered, and the want of an honorable middle
class 10 step in between the ex1ravagant boyars
and the sunken people,
Few countries have been more favored by ma.
iure than this PriaciPaliy. Its brea6 WELL wa.
tered plains produce the richest crops its hills
well calculated for vineyards, bear whole woods
ot fruit trees; whilst the higher mountains, to.
wards the Transy syivanian frontier, are said TO be
present indications OF minerals, and brisIe with
extensive forests, at present totally neglected. A
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