Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-05
Among Montenegrins.
CAMrIxG HIGH UP on THE MoUSTAISs.-
PEASANT CUsToMs.

e a correspondent VI tiit l<oBLDH s.aiuoAN
writes of the Montenegrins as follows: The
road which have followed from Antivari to
this point is a most creditable piece Of en-
gineering. and when it is completed If will
constitute an excellent carriage way between
Antivari and Cettinje. When the road is
constructed the next thing will be to build
vehicles so pass over it. At present Monte
negro possesses onsy one wheeled vehicles Of
any kind. On leaving Antiyari for Montene-
grin camp, ! rode for miles through fiat
country, with fields of maize and stagnant
pools and marshes, which render II In all
probability, the most unheglthy spot IN Eu-
rope. When the road reached the lower
slopes Of the hill the scene changed, and
rode for hours through olive groves and
thickets Of myrtle. Higher up the foliage
changed again, and oaks and other sturdy
trees, clothed the hillside; but the gray sum
r1its aud steep slopes on which the Nontene-
grins have pitched their camp lie so high that
here the oaks are dwarfed into mere under
wood. Only by an ascent from the Italian
lakes right up into the Alpine passes can
such a variety Of climate and foliage be wit
messed elsewhere in Europe.
The Montenegrin troops have no tents
Their camp ia a bivouac, only the Brigadiers
having the luxury of a tent. Each company
shifts tor itself and the men make what shell
sgmc of them erect huts of the rudest kind,
with walls of loose stones. and matching
Of bushes but the ma ority do not care to
take even this trouble, but rely upon their
thick wraps for protection The only cloth
ing furnished to the troops by the Govern
ment is a thick shawl,
They have no uniform and no pay, and I'M
til the present year they received no food or
ratons whatever. Money is. however, more
plentiful at present. Russia is believed to
have increased her annual subsidy and the
men have really an extrayagant amount OF
food as they receive as much meat as they
can get through and two pounds of bread
daily. Cooking, consequently, occupies a
large portion of their time, and when not en-
gagged the men lounge in groups, hardly dis
tinguishable a short distance off from the
gray rocks and bush foliage, save for their
red caps and the glitter of their arms. The
crest of the hill they occupy is some four
miles in circumference and their Struggling
camp entirely encrcles it.
These armed peasants are generally dressed
in a cloth coat, breeches and gaiters, once
white, but now gray with dirt, and a red sash
furnished with miscellaneous weapons. The
mass of them have none of that characteristic
bearing of savage pride which strikes travellers
among the chiefs. Many of them are tall and
handsome, Dut. as IL TuIe, tItN
featured and commonplace. These rustics
complain that they have been five years
under arms but l suspect that ideness is
not unpleasant to them, especially with such
abundant rations they now enjoy. 1t was
no doubt to obviate all risk of collision that
a position was selected eighteen miles away
from the Albanian camp the broad plain of
Antvari lying between the hostile forces.
There are two roads from the plain over the
mountain of Mazura to Dulcigno, but both
have been strongly fortified By the Turk
ish engineers-as is said-and are SO strongly
held by the Albanians, that an attacking force
would suffer terribly. There is no other road
practicable. and one or the other of these
positions must be forced in advance to Dull
cigno.
The Montenegrins say that they would not
hesitate in attacking the position were they
sure that they would only have the Albanians
to contend with but they are convinced that
in ease of an attack the Turkish regular
troops would assist the Albanians. They are
said to number 6 800 men, considerably fewer,
indeed. than the Albanians, but their excel
lent arms and discipline render them far more
dreaded by the Montenegrins than any num-
her of Albanian peasants would be. The
Montenegrns learnt something of the fight
ing power of the Turkish soldier when Suei-
man Pasha's men forced their way through
defies considered impregnable. The Mon
tenegrin force is divided into three brigades,
and there is regular formation of batallons
aud companies but the soldiers have a very
dim idea of anything beyond their own com
pany.
The transport and commissariat service in
the field is performed BY women. The new
system of rationing the troops has greatly
reduced their importance, for formerly each