The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-08-31
Seryia and Bosnia.

Servia, the Slavic Principally now
engaged in one of its periodical struggles
with the Ottoman Empire, contains an
Austria, Wallachia, Bulgaria, and Bosnia.
the greater part is covered with dense
forests. The land which is under cult
walton is extremely fertile, and yields
bountiful harvests of the cereals, of hemp
and tobacco, and of various fruits, par
ticularly of plums and grapes The
climate is temperate and salubrious, but,
in the elevated plateaus, is somewhat
cool. Oak is the chief wood in the
forests, yet chestnut and fruit-trees of
various sorts abound In some places
large tracts are covered with wild pear
trees. The plum crop is one of the most
important resources of the country, many
of the peasantry depending upon it for
their subsistence. The fruit is dried in
the form of prunes, by process which is
known only to this people and to the
Bosnians.
Almost ne-half of the revenue derived
from the exports of Servia is gained by
the traffic in pigs. 1t is estimated that in
one year Az, 700 of these, animals were
sent out of the country. Their flesh is
not used as an article of food, but they
are melted into fat. Servia is rich in
mineral products, and its mines of iron
and copper are prolific source of
wealth.
The religion of the Servians is that of
the Greek Church, but they are independ-
ent of the Patriarch of Constantinople.
They were converted to Christianity about
the middle of the ninth century The
country was placed under tribute by the
Turks toward the close of the fourteenth
century, and in the middle of the fifteenth
century was completely subjugated by
Sultan Mahmoud. During the last $50
years instructions have frequently oc-
Cured in Servia, which, though success
full for time, have provoked a barbarous
retaliation from its foreign masters. In
1915, Milosch, the leader of triumphant
rebellion, was chosen Prince of Servia,
and the election was sanctioned by hat
ti-sherif of the Sultan. He was succeeded
in 1860 by his son, and by Milan w. in
1868.
Bosnia, lying on the western boundary
of Servia, includes the Turkish domains
in Croatia and Dalmatia, and the district
OF Herzegovina. 1t comprises an area of
1854 square miles, and in 1869 had a
population of about 100000. The sur
face of the country is much like that of
Servia, being mountainous and covered
with forests. Some of the highest peaks
of the Dinaric Alps reach an altitude of
above 1000 feet. The oak is the principal
wood in Bosnia, as in Servia. The Quercus
4ezslops produces very large acorns, the
cups OF which are extensively used by
tanners and dyers. They abound in tan
min, and are exported from the Levant
under the name of Valonia. The Q.infec-
toria furnishes the large brown gals
known as Mecca gals, and used for dye
ing, IN the manufacture of ink, and in the
preparation of tannin and gallo acids.
The iron obtained in the mines of Bos-
mia is of superior quality, and it, together
with coal, lead, and other minerals, is
found in great quantities The fertile soil
and the temperate climate of the country
are favorable to the growth of agricultural
products, which are nearly identical with
the crops of Servia. The Bosnian plums
are esteemed above those of Servia, Croa-
tia or Austria. The manufactures of the
country are limited to the production of
fire. arms, saber blades and knives.
About one-fourth of the popula-
ton of Bosnia are Turks; the remainder
consists of Bo>nians, Croats, Morlaks,
Montenegrins, Germans, llyrians, ETC.
The Morlaks, inhabiting Herzegovina, are
Greek or Roman Catholics. Bosnia was
annexed to the Ottoman Empire in 1929,
and has since been the scene of perpetual
Chicago Tribune.