, 1877-06-09

The rulers the ofc3untry by the German EN-
pecors before its conquest by Turkey, and
hence its prescntname, signifying the duchy.
It's extent (S,400 square miles is only
about one twenty-fourth part of European
Turkey. and its population, on account Of
the mountainous character OF the country,
bears a still smaller proportion to the whole,
being only b1ut one eigh'ieth of the
entire population. OF this small population
(200,000) about ole thitl ere Moham-
medans, not Turks however, bat descen-
dants OF those natives wh), after the con.
quest, adopted the faith OF their masters.
The whole country is c verel by branch
IS Of the lofty Dilaric Alps, ths valleys
between which are fertile and beautiful.
In such a valley, by the side of stream
VIII Gu h1dS its way to the AlriatIc, stands
M0star, the c tpiCal, q tow of about $4,000
Inhabitants. The country is for the most
plr5 shut off fron the Alrlatlc by the mar.
row strip Of Austrian territory called
DllmltiA. o. the south lis neighbour is
Montenegro, on the north east Bosnia,
an on the northwest Croatia. Such then
briefly is the province in which the flag OF
rebellion was hoi. ted il July 1875 five
villages, it is stated, having declined to pay
the tax4s, and hlviny hoisted the Austrian
hlg. Turkish to pp9 were marched to Mos
tar in neIjately, aul found their task 3
harder one than they had expected REIN
fjrcenalts were poured into the pro-
vince, AMI by tho beginning Of Sep
tmber We fId that there were elgh'
teen thousand Turkish troops in the
Herzegovina, and these were still found
insufficient. ScIhvs from other parts
OF Europe, particularly from Servla, w9rS
hJcNing in to aid in the struggle, and tho
Turks lost many battles, Already the
instruction was beginning to excite alarm
il Europe. ana th3 Consuls Of the six
Powers were instructed to warn the insur-
gent leaders that they must not look tor
any support from the Powers. While
however the lea !ers rec .lveJ thls Official
HnuOI1c2meht, they we'll knew that they
had the sympathy of IL considerable part
Of the population Of Elrope and the
missiol Of the %colsuls was truit(es5. The
Official answer Of the revol utionAry chiefs
sets forth the rell reasons for the revolt.
Tney complain Of their treatment by the
Turkish o%fi;jlIa, OF the heavy taxation,
OF the a5SaIc, OF schools, OF the mall
administration Of j%ls;ice, Of insults to their
religion, All - forth; and they close
as follows -
"G3ot'cne Up to this time Europe
has accompIishel many revolutions. She
has p~rscipita'cd from their thrones many
kings, princes. AID emperor', amin ted
by noble anI Cmis,ian sentiments. And
y.tup to thiS present time OF civilization
YOU hold this barbarian Turk in high
esteem We neither can nor will live longer
under the Turkish lash. We are man, not
beasts. If you cannot afford US relief,
neither can you forcs us to remain 10
slavery. IIenc4forth we refuse to believe
in Turkish promises, and as to the inter
~vention whIch you offer in our behalf,
we can only reply that a Tnrkish promise
is not worth a p .ascol. WHAT we want 10
Iiberty-real, fuIl and entire liberty.
We will nevor return alive to Turkish
tyranny"
Such wl' the spirit with which this insur"
rection was sustained Esprit which soon
spread to thu surrounding provinces.
Bosnia quickly followed the example OF
her neighbour. and the Princes OF Servia
and Montenegro found it difficult to with
stand the enthusiasm OF their subjects. who
.o.n;oO kboro - anfor i'm p9aHIafQlW