The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-16
j AN / N A.
The Border Town in Epirus Where
Turk Meets Greek.
TEMPLE AND MOSQUE.
Jove's Ancient Oracle Transformed to
a Modem Garrison


so many persons ON other than political grounds
and Janina remains the bone OF contention between
the rival Powers the position OF that city, its history
In the past and its prospects in the future sud
denly raised to the dignity OF matters of
terapora interest II the readers OF the HERALD
will look at the map they will that Corfu and
dependent islands mask the coast Of this section
OF Albania up TO point much north of
yaninA. while. looking to the interior. Janina
II seeu to be tho key of the whole country
between II and the Gulf Of Arta not only strategi-
caly. but economically. while the Christian (ortho
dom population extends to the Bistrtza and Agia
saranda. ON the coast. Beyond this the Mussulman
population in majority. Janina is the centre com
merciay. politically ana agriculturay OF the whole
province. aud any cession of territory which did not
include Jznina would only prove 1burce of in
creased embarrassment. without any advantage to
Greece. Tho possession of this point makes de-
fonsive frontier Greece and the Turks with their
usual tenacity to military advantages. seeing that
Janina aud Arta equally useful for offensive
movements against Greece as for defensive line to
Greece. decline to relinquish any advantage they
hold. Hence the fight centres around Janna. and
there. according to n cable despatch published in
Thursdays HERALD, an army of 10000 Turkish
troops exclusive of cavalry and artillery, mass
ing Indeed. yesterday mornings news makes it
clear that slight krmishes have already taken place.
Janina or JOANNA it was formerly named Is
situated in lofty valley of Epirus or Southern
Albania ON the western shore of beautiful lake of
the same name. The town and lake about one
thousand feet above the level of the and
rounded all sides by lofty mountains. Nowhere
else in Tpirus does the traveller meet with greater
number OF curiosities than on the shores of this
lake Its depth IL nconsiderable nowhere exceeding
forty eot, aud it is fed by numerous springs which
issue from the rocks. 1t has two basins the north
ern and the southern. neither of which has any Wis.,
ible outlet 1t is affirmed. however. by Colonel
Leake that each of these basins is drained by SUBJ
terranean channel That to the north gives birth to
the river Kulamos the Thyamos OF tho sncients. 10
the south the river Acheron bursts from tho rocks.
and, having received che nauseous waters of the
equally famous Cocytos. emptes itself into the
lay OF Sweet Waters. A line drawn from the coast
of Albania. opposite to Corfu, the penin-
suia would. after traversing several valleys run
ming parallel with the coast. touch Janins on the
south. ut the distance OF some fifty miles. Imme-
diateiy to the east rises Mount MitziKe famous for
its steepness and rugged grandeur aud farther to the
southeast are to be seen the snow-cad SUBMITS of
the Pndr,s range. To the west OF Janna the noun
tans OF Sul attain altitude OF $500 feet Mount
| Oltyzka being the prominent feature of the range
| Thence the land slopes gradually down to the
Adriztic.
| The natural beauties OF Janina have called forth
glowing tributes OF praise from many able PENS.
ne reader will at recall the reference to the
place made by Byro in the second canto Of "Childc
| Unseen Is Janina though not remote
| Yelled by her OF hills II
was this very Janina October ~. 1909. that the
| first canto OF this poem was commenced.
Sir Henry Holland. who visited the place in 1872
has lett us the following descrption:-"Knowing
| our vicinity TO JOANNA We were now impatient to
obtain the mrs, view OF thai e.iy. which Is long con
the PLAN. AT length when little more than two
| miles distant. the whole view opened suddenly be-
fore us; magnificent scene, aud one that has re-
| NAMED almost single In my recollection. A largo
lake spreads its waters along the base OF lofty and
precipitous mountain, which forms the nrst range
| OF Pindus this the southwcst) side. and which,
as had afterwsrd reason 20 believe attains e)e-
Walton OF more than twenty I've hundred feet above
the level OF tho plain. Opposed to the highest
| nit OF this mountain am tn a small island which lies
M a.. base De nsua strctche. ard TO the lax
from it's western shore. terminated by perpendicu
lar face OF rock. This peninsula forms the fortress
OF JOANNA lofty wall is its barrier on the land
side. The waters which lac around its outer cliffs
reflect their surface the irregular yet splendid
| outline OF . Turkish seraglio and the dorncs and
ancient Expresses. The eye receding backward
fortress OF the peninsula reposes upon the
whole extent OF the city. as IL stretches along the
western borders the lake. kepose. indeed. may
not unhtly be called. since both the reality aud
fancy combine in giving to the scenery the character
OF vast aud beautiful picture sprrat before the
! sight" Similar testimony has been borne 10 the
beauty OF the general situation By Mr.. dollhouse
| and fellow traveller; b, Colonel Ieske. by Lady
strangford aud others. a recent French writer de-
scrbes Janina as at once tne fortress anu granary
| POPULATION. RACK. RELIGION.
Before the outbreak of the late between
Russia and Turkey. the disturbing effects Of which
penetrated to- this secluded valley. the population
| had reached a. high A. 1900 ofthese about two
thirds profcssed the Christian religion. The re-
naming ons-third Was divided between Mussuinans
and Jews. the former outnamoerin1 the latter by
nearly two TO During the war The population
suffered great diminution, partly by CONSUMPTION
and partly Wy deseriion. 10 Was hardly eonee vabe
that such population could be in hearty sympathy
with the Turkish government. Janlna j. the
seat OF Greek Metropolitan and Is the chief
| city Of the Niiayet OF the
| IL boasts of churches. eighteen mosques
and at least eve synagoguc-. There are also ireck
college and library. with other Sensational institn-
tons The manufactures of this place limited.
being confined mainly to gold lace. hrocsc. moroccc
borhood OF Janna. Tho Turks hold u now and
have held II for centuries by the right OF conquest
The Greeks claim II part OF the ancient inherit
| auce of their aud nation property virtually
| guaranteed to them by the British government A.
the reward OF their abstinene from hostilities and
| avowcd by the Berlin Recommendation. and above
ALL because IL IL aud har tor been occupied
by people who whatever their rsce originally. are
now and have long been Greek an religion .rcrk an
| language and, therefore, Greek in sympathy.
yASISA or TODAY.
IL was a gricyous disappointlncnt 10 the Greeks
OF Janna when In issa notw outstanding all their
labors aud sicrinces. they found themselves en-
cludcd from the Kingdom. Many ot them had be-
dcncc that they found II necessary 20 retire from
their ancient homes anu cast in their lot with their
brethren OF tho h'nkuon.' N'"a"".a's """e'''s $50
city became rcpcopled with Greeks from other parts
| OF Epirus and now IL has resumed much Of It's old
character The school founded by the brothers
Zozims is in active operation. and contains
some seven hundred pupils. There are ave
SCHOOLS OF mutual instruction. with 2voo
! pupils. There are three girir' schools. ~ith
four hundred pupils. There " also normal. which
has Just been established. IL ~ estim ted that the
sum spent annually ON educational institutions from
lcacies and endowment 10 about $4,000. II IL I'M
portant bear In mind that the language spoken by
the inhabitants IN almost entirely Greek. Even the
| Turkish official gazette OF tho vilayct OF Janina,
| called yanina, Is printed In Greek. II would be
great error to suppose that Janina IL an isolated
Greek town, with an isolated Greek community. 10
il by falling this error that some have beon led
to value the so-calcd Albanian protest against
the cesson OF any part of kpirus to- 0rcece. Janna
| Is n part of Epirus: aud IL IA notorious
| that the ,ao,,lc of Epirus Southeru Albania