, 1877-10-28
NICSICS.
Picturesque Features OF tho NTahomctau
IIcEir.1.


Letter 10 tht Manchester Guardian-
N1cs1cs, Sept. 21.--For the lust few days I
have been the witness OF a melancholy spectacte
the wholesale emigration OF the Mahometan
population OF Ncscs. But do not Imagine that
this is due to any harshncss On the part Of tho
conqucrors- Immediately on entering the town
Prince Aikola convoked tho leading Afussul-
man townspcople, and informed them Ill the most
reassuring terms that he guaranteed for all who
chose TO remain complete personal security. the
possession OF their houses, lan1s, and atl prup-
erty, perfect religious freedom; aud, In fact,
all the rights Of MOntenegTin citizenship, incluu-
ing the right to carry arms. On tue other 1and,
If any chose to depart, they would be allowed to
carry all their moyeables with them, and suppli-
cd with horses and guards by the MontenegIln
Government. The greater bulk Of the Mahonl-
etans OF Nicsics have preferred poverty aud
exile, the loss OF house and fand> to remaining
in place where they could no longer feel thctn-
seITcs the dominant caste Equality before the
law has been offered them: but equality before
the law is precisely the thing which the Turks
will not accept. Some Of theln, no doubt, expect
that at no distant date the Sultan's troops will
rccapture Nicsics, and that they may then re-
vain; there arc few more certain things as to
the future OF these lands than that Ntcsfcs will
remain in Montcnegrin hands, BY emlgratfng
wholesale the Mahometan inhabitants have but
been playing into the hands OF their conquerors-
Had they elected to remain, the danger Of an
eaneute within the walls would have much hamper
ell tho defensive strength Of garrison; and to
keep III check an armed population OF some
6,000 fanatics large body Of Montcnegrin
troops must continually have been drawn OF
principalty has learned the danger Of possessing
Il large Aoslem population within its borders
The rencgades we're always ready to conspife
with their coreligionists beyond the border, anu
the darkest CHAPTER in Montenegrin history tells
us how they opened way for the Turk Into the
heart Of the country. Montenegro would, indeed,
long ere this have become Turkish pasha1ic
but for the terrible remedy devised by the
greatest OF her Vladikas. Montenegro, too,
has her Vespers- On Christmas Eve, 1702, the
whole Mahomctan population was massacred
from one end Of the country to the other. but,
with such experiences in the past. 1t may be
imagined that the incorporation OF 4,00o Turks
in the body polite at One fell swoop was re-
gartled by many Monteuegrlns with great mis-
gyings, in5omuch that the most respected man
and the brayest general in the country, tho
Voivoda Bozo Pctroyieh, told me ouly the other
day that hal lie the management Of Affairs he
would never have given the Turks the option OF
remaining. AS it is, Turkish fanaticisrn IS spar
iDr the MontenLfin Government great deal OF
trouble and the Prince has lost nothing by his
generosity. Day BY 1ay up to tho present, tue
last day Oh which the Prince accoris them horses
and escort, these naughty aloslems have been
iug with them thrir wives anti children 8au
household goods. It has been striking sight
to watch long cayalcades, sometimes as many as
sixty at q time, streaming out OF the town.
Now ind then one OF the little ones would look
tlisconsolatc enough, but the women were
muftled in their long white sheets, so that you
could hardly sec so much as nose, and the men
were too proud to betray any symptom OF re-
sret, and were even dressed out in their bright
est holiday costume. How dull and dlnsy look
the Moutenegrins who escort them beside these
brilliant Oricnta1st You may pick up, if you
have 4 mind to, the elaboratcly- trunks
Of Turkish families removing gorgeous He1Ze~
goyiniau rugs, with their rich pervading orange
most creditabfc memorial Of the taste and III
dustrv OF the Nicsics is she Sns; you may pur-
chase from their Bashi-Bazouk owners desirOus
Of realizing ancient Albaulan fint-locks, their
stocks iniaid with mother-of-peari, their barrels
exnuistte}v wrought with silverwork by the
artistsof frizreu,i. have said that the 3fafou-
ctans OF Nicsics refuse to betray any emotion.
was wrong. Even tue stofciStn OF the M0siem
can break down ut parting with his arms: An
ancient Turk who had covcnauted with Z friend
Of mine to sell his flint lock fur ~ dorius-t bad
! date upon it OF three centuries back. and is
irsttned to adorn museum at Bcrlln-fatrly
burst into tears Us be concluded the bargain, c1-
.laiming. *'My great-graudfathcr will rise from
his grave to rebuRe mel"
There are still some nfty Afahometan families
Hho have not yet migrated, but 1t Is probable
hat the Turks will leave Nics1cs almost to
nau. Moutencgritts are already settling here
some who resided here before the war are com.
ng back, aud may mention. Is ao example o.
honesty on the part OF true believer"
hat Montencgriu merchant who at the be-
ginning Of the troubles, two years back, left his
su1es to the safe Keeping of Mahometan
r;c1,d, found them intact On his return here tho
>tllrr day. Yes that old tyrnnnuus dominant
.aste had its fine silc, too. Those turbaned
.raYbcarls sitting In their fur-boruered mantlcs
outside the city gate awaiting the signal for
heir departure are not wanting at least IN
,oblcuess Of expression The black bordeEed