The Osceola times., 1880-10-30
THE DESCENDANTS OF PIRATES.
a Town Upon which the Eyes Of The
World Rest.

World Rest.
The town of Dulcigno, which the Al
banions are ordered by the Powers OF
Europe TO give up to the plucky little
Montenegro, lies on the Turkish side OF
Adriatic Sea, at a point Opposite Rome
and Naples, midway between each. IL
is called in that quarter of the earth
Dulcheen-you. About 5000 people live
there and are the efiete DESCENDANTS of
the most formidable band of pirates that
ever existed. Ii is very odd old town,
as everything in that region is old be-
yond our Westetn meaning of the world.
One hundred and sixty-seven years be-
fore Christ the city surrendered to the
Romans and received exemption from
taxation and its freedom.
From 800 TO 1900 pirates held full
| sway, and in 17lS a great battle was lost
| there by the Nenetians. In the seven
teenth century Dulcigno became tempo
rarily as noted as Jerusalem on account
of the unsuccessful assumption of an
imposter named Sabbath, who pro-
| claimed himself the Messiah. Converts
| to Sabbath were numbered by the
thousands in every part of Europe. His
| face was handsome and his conduct
austere and becoming to tue part he
| played. He was deeply vWsed IN Tai
mus, and able through his fine education
and general earnestness of demeauOr, to
| impose upon all who came under his in
| fluence. As his fame increased his re-
| sponsibilities widened, and it became
necessary that he should depose the
Sultan, the enemy of Christianity.
He therefore set out from CONSTANT
noplc to confound the Turk with his an
athena. Owing to the moral power
which he had acquired. this expedition
was not so crazy an affair as might be
imagined. However, the Sultan met
him With craft, tempOrized, and finally
got him in his power. Under threat oil
execution the imposter renounced his
| claims and became convert to the
Mussulman's faith. lie was then ban
ished to Duligno, where such is the
power of faith, his former deciples re-
fused to accept his apostasy in any other
light than as divinely inspired means
of bringing Islam TO his feet. The re-
ligion of Sabbatai of Dulcigno continued
TO thrive until his DEATH and his tomb
became IA shrine for fanatlcal pilgrims
from Germany and France.
The harbor of old DuIcigno is one of
the oldest on the Adriatic coast, and the
best that exists on that harborless coast
between the southern point of Dalmatia
and the mouth of the Drin. The haven
is safeguard frnm the south wind-the
fierce sorocco, but is exposed on its
northern side. When the pirates were
captured in the sixteenth century this
harbor was the scene of the contiagra-
ton of 500 of their ships, lustration
that ut one blow forever purged the
whole Adratic Sea. In 1878 the Monte
negrls took Dulcigno by storms, most of
the Turkish garrison having previously
| got away by sea. Austria, however, at
the Berlin Congress, objected to its re-
tcntion by Montenegro.
Austria is chargrined by the present
cessioe OF Dulcigno to Montenegro. TIE
little country of hereditary fighters is an
unwelcome neighbor, and its liability to
also want Scutari in the near future dis
turbs the Austrians, The Dalmation
! tongue of land which Austria is COM
PEELED to guard so jealously is at all times
open to the iorages of the Montenegris,
and the stronger they become the great
er the danger to Austria.
The Montenegris entrenched III their
mountain Businesses can never be eXtir-
| pated by their enemies. Their position
| is as impregnable as was the retreat of
| Captain Jack in the lava beds There is
a vitality in their race which would seem
| to prophesy great possibilities, they
ever drift into the Roman role Of con
quest,