Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-06-28
AN ADVENTURE In ALBANIA,
Two English Women in Feril,


Two English women-Miss Mackenzie
and Miss Irby = recently visited the
Slavonic parts Of Turkey, Bulgaria, bos;
MIA, Herzegovina and Old Serbs, besides
Free Serbia, Montenegro and North
Albania Afterwards they went to Dal I
malta, Salvonia, Croatia and Frusca
Cora, and on their return to England
wrote book, which is published under
the title Of iHThe Turks, the Greeks and
the Shvons." One of their adventures
is described as follows: ..,,., Z s,9..-.l
Our road during o morning in Alba
nis) passed the door of q khan, aud we
zaptie forbade and hurried US on, We
soon knew why. AT this khan all the
ragamuflins composing our escort came
TO a halt and were relieved by another
party. Apparently they expected US TO
halt, too, and when we did not they over
took US, marching In somewhat threaten
ing array, and calling on the zaptie in
terms Of remonstrance. To our surprise
he did not as usual refer to usf for orders,
nor even desire the ,dragoman to trans
late he held parley on his own account,
and in a determined and authoritative
tone. We took the hint and did not
interfere. Soon the eolloquy assumed no
friendly aspect we saw the faces OF the
Albanians darken, they ratified their belt
arms, shifted their guns about mena-
cingly, scowled al US, and finally began
talking among themselves. Suddenly the
zaptie broke on their consultation, and
pointed TO us with outstretched arm, We
heard the word /" firman" uttered in 0
voice Of thunder. I" Yok, yok (no, no)
cried the Albanians, with deprecatory
gestures; the guns were replaced on
every shoulder, and the company turned
to 20.
y Presently one Of them came back, APP
preached our guard coaxingly, ard
whispered to him. The zaptie relaxed
Then tn the whole party walked off, and we
proceeded in peace. We observed, how
ever. that no one escorted US except the
two men from the khan of Wet. When
fairly out Of sight and hearing Of our late
companions, the zaptie halted and ex
planned what had passed. "Rogues,
villains, robbers, began he, such are
these men, every one Of them. / called
on them to guard you from haidooks,
ana they proved haidooks themselves.
They followed us TO ask for bakshish. /
know what bakshish means. Whatever
they crave you must give; it is robbery
under a fairer name. So at once | re-
fused. / said you were travelling with
the Suhan's firmau, and all Of us, from
the Pacha downward, were bound to
serve YOU without bakshish. You saw
how they took NV answer they began
to rattle their guns, so l thought it best
10 cut matters short. / pointed to you,
and. cried out, Here they are, with the
Sultan's irman on their persons, shoot
them if YOU dare, if not let us pass. On
that you heard them cry, 'Yok, yok'
The rocues / am up to their bullying
waysTf -~-.-, I
3 We asked what the last Albanian had
returned 10 crave of. himP "Only this,
that as we had not given the bakshish to
them | would promise to give it to no
ono else ! Opr only excuse for not Civ
inc them baksbish must be that we give
Il 20 none This I promised gladly. as
Won. may believe." 4 But because ven
Isvs nrom;sed TO give no bakshish the
second edition Of our escort has not
chosen to come on with us2" Never
m;nd now We can do without them. {"
q Rnt (" cried the dragomap. Eve mus
nrom;sa som.tb;nr 10 The two men from