Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-04
Gales ano Skettbes.
BRlGAyDAGE N MACEDONIA.

Considering the pitch at which brigand-
age has arrived in the East, and the num-
Der of cases that have lately occurred OF
Europeans and others being captured and
kept in captivity until some fabulous
amount has peen paid in as ransom.
feel sure tina. a short account OF the daily
life and mode of existence Of these outlaws
cannot fail Ia be interesting. The follow
ing facts are gathered from the experiences
Of late captive. at the paving OF wht sc
ransom CHANGED to be present:
There Is no doubt that bsigandage will
have tendency rather to increase than to
subside. a long as Turkey remains in its
present unsettled condition, and little else
..an be expected when one finds nearly
everybody, be he pasta. priest or peasant,
either from fear or pecuniary motives. IN
league with the bands whose headquarters
are nearest their respective homesieads:
and one cannot shut ones eyes to the fact
that bribery and corruptun compose the
system on which il based the government
II country which. il properly looked
after, might be one Of the finest in the
world.
To begin with. one must know that
there are two distinct classes Of these men
who earn their livelihood by pillage. rob-
berry, and, IL necessary. murder: viz. the
briqand proper, Of whose career ! shall
chiefly speak, and who very often, not
withstanding his bad reputation, possesses
one or two good qualities, among which
NAV be me ntioned his strong sense of hon
or a. regards keeping his word after Civ
ing It !; and an inferior kind Of robber who
In called by a Greek word signiiying
'.sheep-stealer," and who lives by COM
hitting petty larceries. or intimidaiing,
perhaps killing. poor villagers and small
landowners, but has neither the pluck
nor the organization to make any grand
coup, such as carryin off European or
some wealthy merchant. To show in
what contempt this latter class is held. |
may state that no graver' insult can be
offered to the brigand proper than that Of
applying to him the epitbet Of sheep
stealer.
As aoon as the spring Is sufficiently adj
vanced to allow the mountains 10 be tray
ersed without too much discomfort from
the cold. several bands are formed.
consisting of Albanians. Greeks and
Armenians. varying in numbers from
twenty to forty. the majority of whom
are soldiers well drilled and accus-
toned to hard work and long marches.
who have deserted from the armies Of their
respective countries. and determined to
pursue more exciting and lucrative call
ing. A chief Is selected by vote. a Greek
generally being chosen. and one who has
been Mt the trade before also two or three
captains. according to the number Of the
band. who assist in organizing the recruits,
the chief always having complete control
over the movements Of the band. and sett-
ling any disputes that may arise among
its members. The next thing to do is to
take the necessary oaths. each man swear
ing not to desert, betray his fellows. or
ever assist in anv way in a prisoners es-
cape the last oath being that. should they
be attacked. the captive, if they have one
al the time. must not be recaptured alive.
This finishes the preliminaries. and the
work of cruelty. boodshed and pillage
commences thence, aud lasts until the
winter SHOWS leave the mountain sides no
longer habitable. when they dispense and
enjoy themselves on their Ill gotten gains.
till the following spring comes round.
The dress worn by the brigandS is much
the same as that at Albanian peasants.
consisting of a short sleeveless Jacket.
coarse CATERS and shoes. the national fcz.
and very short fastoHeId or petticoat
the latter being made of very coarse ma
terial. instead of white calico. and soaked
in oil. SO as To keep the insects. or at all
events certain percentage of them. from
annoying the wearer. rs they wear the
same one for month after month. and. liv-
ing day and night in the bushes. some
precautions seem necessary. and the only
course pursued is To take oil the fnsianeiia
about once week and shake it overa fire.
the heat causing the lice and other in -ects
TO drop out This is the extent of their
ablutinns. if such a term may he applied.
sometimes for weeks. Across their chests
they carry cartridge belt. and round their
waists girdle containing II revolver knife.
and in fact all their worldly possessions
while ny their sides hang their yataghar s
or curved swords. with which they b"head
their captives when not ransomed. The
rifles vary in kind. but are all very good
think the Winchester repeating rifle
seemed to be the iavoritc. altheugha great
number are armed with the weapons in
use in their own armies at the time they
took French leave. 1t is perfectly astonsh-
ing what good marksmen they are. and
how ammunition is obtained is mystery
to the uninitated; but know for fact
that within the last few weeks brig.,nd
chief ordered and received eight thousand
rounds OF ball-cartridge, of different de-
scriptions. In the middle of the mountains.
miles away from any town,
IL il unnecessary to detail their plan OF
attack when determined to carry off IA cap
tive. as they all resemble each other. and
several accounts have appeared in the psi
pers Of those which have most recently oc-
CURED. It's great mistake to think that
brigands ill-ireat their cap,ives during ne
gotiations. 1t is Just the reverse. All share
and share alike. the preference always be-
ing given TO the prisoner when il GENES to
the last loaf of bread or the last glass OF
wine. At the same time. it can hardly be
called an enviable experience I" pass
night after night. in fair weather and toul.
with no bed but the mountain side. and
no shelter but the canopy of heaven. The
routine Of one day is SO much like that of
another during the wandering in the
mountains. that description OF one
twenty-four hou,s will. think. be suf-
ficient. Soon after dark the whole party
start, the prisoner having his arms tied
loosely behind him by single piece of