DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-07-10
PRIMITIVE COURTsHlP.
curious customs Tint Stn Prevail In tn
Mountains of Albania

ni"l Nv { COOR SHIP
curious Customs Tint Stin Prevail In tho
Mountains of Albania.
Ali through the mountains and vii.
iages OF what was once known as AL.
pania, but which now is lost on the map
OF Europe as separate nation, the old
ana primitive customs still exist, and
the maiden of to-day is wooed and won
as was Der great grandmother in her
youth.
Young girls throughout all this region
nave more liberty than any other of tho
oriental nations, except tho Montene-
grins' partly because they are upright
by nature, and partly because Of an un-
written law that makes young girl sa-
cred In those half-sayage lands.
Every male member of the Young
girls family through countless genera.
tlons would be bound to be perpetual
vendetta against every man of every
branch OF the family whoever would
wrong any girl, and as the men Of these
TWO nations are perfect marksmen and
men of the fercest courage, any man
would think many times before he
would dare insult ono of these girls.
Thus the girls go about on the mount.
aims with their little hocks and herds in
security, and at sunset they all go with
their earthern pitchers to the village
fountains or to the natural spring, from
whence they obtain the drinking water
for the night.
The girls and women all stand about,
brown and barefooted, with bright eyes
and gayly colored embroidered gar.
ments, and with tinkling little pend.
ants in their hair and around their
necks and wrists. All their wealth is
thus spent, and the barbaric display Is
attractive. Homes are simply shelters
and places to sleep in, and in even the
well-to-do families little attempt is
made at decorating them, all the family
putting into dress and ornament their
surplus, and what they buy goes down
to grandchildren, as it is always OF
sterling though crude value. Many
girls have a string Of gold coins around
the neck, which constitutes the dowry,
SO that the suitor can see at glance
her fortune.
These gatherings at the fountain,
aside from their useful purpose, serve
for the dissemination of nows and the
matches are also made there, for when
young man feels that he wants a par
ticular young girl for his wife he first
tolls several of his young men friends
and then takes his rife and starts with
them toward the FOUNTAIN, anu TrleS w
time his arrival so that he will reach
there just as this particular young
woman has lifted her cruise of water to
her head and started toward home. He
then raises his rife and shoots d.
rectly at that cruise and breaks it, let
ting all the water fall on tho girl,
after which he steps forward and takes
her hand, and they walk bashtully to
her parents, who quickly understand
tho matter and bring out bread, and
wine, and dried fruits, which two latter
have been saved for the occasion Of their
daughter betrothal.
Sometimes the parents object, but
very seldom, and the girl almost never.
The young man who would break cruise
and afterward refuse the young girls
hand would be instantly killed by the
younr girls relatives, and, failing rela-
tiyes, other men would do itas a just and
religious vengeance. The young men
Gather at the fountains and chat and
laugh freely with all the girls, but
never one word of love-making is al
lowed or said before the open declara-
ton by breaking the cruise Of water.
After that tho young couple can wander
unchecked among the fowors and trees
until the wedding, which is never very
long delayed.
Girls marry very young in these
nlaces and make contented and loving
wives They labor hard and are very
ignorant and their highest ambition is
to embroider the richest and finest
Jacket and cloak for their husbands and
to have at least 1900 pieces of snowy
linen in his fustanelle or white kilt
which he wears. They are adepti in this
gold embroidery. 1t is quite possible
that the young couple understand each
other in some occult way before the
final declaration is made.-Vienna Cor
n. Y. Press.