Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-10-14
Descendants of Pirates. .

The eyes of the world rest 90 the town or
Dulegnu, which tho Albsnisn5 are ordered by
the Powers OF irope TO give up to pluik9 little
Montebegro. 1t lies on the Turkish side OF the
Adristio sea, at point opposite Rome aud
Naples, midway between e'ca. l. is called in
that quarter of the earth DJol chsen 20. About
S, 900 people live there, and are the effate de-
scsndauts of the most formidable baud Of pirates
that ever eX sted. 1t is very old town, es
everything in that region is old beyond our
Western mcasing of the word. Ooe hundred
and sky years b:fore Christ the city surrend-
cred to the RomaDs. and received ez mo.iou
from tsxation and its freedom.
From 500 to ]. 900 pirates held full sway,
and 10 l7l8 great battle was lost there by the
Vsnstisus. In the seventeenth century, Dali
cipno bt .me almost as noted as Jerusalem on
account Of the successful assumptions OF an
jmpost1r named Sabbatai, who proclaimed him
self The Messiah. Converts to Sabbath were
numbered by thousands in every part OF Europe.
His face was handsome, and his conduct sus.ere
aud becoming to the part he played. De Was
deenly versed iu the Tslmud. aud able, through
hil 6ue education sud general earoestness or
demesnor to impose upon all who came uoder
bis hlence ...
As his fame increased his responsibilities
wideued, spd it became necessary tust be should
dsposs thu Sultan, the enemy OF Christianity.
He therefore set ont for ConstantnoDla to con-
ouud the Turk with his anathema. OWING to
the moral power which he had scquired, this
expedition was not SO crazy an affair as might
be imagined. However the Sultan met him
with craft, tenporizsd, and fually got hin 10
his power. Uodar threat of execution the lm.
postor renouoced his claims and became con
vert to the Mussulman's faith. He was then
banished to Dulcisno. where, such is the power
of fai bis former disciples refused to acoeDt the
fact of his apostasy iu any other light than as
divioey inspired meaus Of bringing Islam to his
feet. The religion of Sabbath of Dulclguo COD
tinued to thrive uoti his death and his tomb
became a shrine for taustical pilgrims OF Ger
many aod France.
The barbor of cid Dulcigno is one OF the
Oldest on the Adriatic, and the best that exists
on that harboreas coast between the southern
point OF D ,lmsts and the mouth OF the Dro.
The haven is sure safeguard from the south
wind-the farce sirocco, but is exposed 90 It's
northern side. When the pirates we're captured
10 the l6sh century, this harbor was the scene
of the oouhagration of 500 of their ships. a
lusratou that at one blow forever purged the
whole Adriatic Sea. 10 1878 the Montenegtios
took Du cigno by s.orm. must OF the Turkish
garrison having previously gotteu away by the
sea, Austria, however, at the Berlin Congress,
objeoed to its retention by Montenegro.
Austria is caagrined by the present c,sslon of
Dulcigno to Nj nenegro. The little country OF
hereditary fighters is an uuwcl,'me nelghbor,
and its liability to also w.nt Scutari 10 the near
future dio,uebs the Austriars The Dalnatlao
tongue OF land which Austria holds is at all
times open to the forays of the Mouteuegrlas,
and the stronger they become the greater the
dagger to Austria.
The Mouteueerns, intreuch d 10 their mouD
tain fastuesses, c,n pevsr be cxtirpated bg
| their eremics. Their position is as impregoa
| bls as Vas the retreat of Captain Jack 10 the
| lava beds. There is vitality 10 their race
| wbioh would seem to prophesy great possibii-
ties should they ever drift toto the Roman role
! OF conquest.