Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-09
REFORM IN NEW RULE.
Austrian Sovereignty Gives to Bos.
mia Freedom from Turkish
Oppression.


Ctriatians and the Turks In Bosnia,
for both wear turbans. embroidered
waistcoats. loose open jackets, zou-
ave trousers gathered at the knee.
and heeless shoes with toes that tnrn
up like the arms of crescent. the
same that you see In the windows Of
shops that sell Turkish goods 1t
home. The ordinary EuroDean cos
tune is rapidly being adopted by
those who wish to be considered up
locate. The rich families of the
riddle class buy all their clothing at
Vienna or Budapest, and II Is din
cult 10 cistiaguish them from The ias
trians. Nevertheless, there aie lit
tie signs by which those familiar with
the country can always tell whether
a man he meets upon the street IL a
Moham mcdan ~ Christian. The
peasants adhere more tenHciously 10
the ancient customs. and by going ~
to the country one can get much
better idea OF what Bosnia used to be
than In the cities, although the latter
are picturesque and interesting.
In Turkish times Christians were
compelled to wear a certain costume
OF dark colors TO deno,e tneir ser,lle
condition. and II was as much as lifo
was worth for any one 90 wear green
the color OF the prophet. The Turks
considered II sacrilegp and the penal
" for violating this unwritten law
var 40 terrible that 1t was seldom or
never broken. Now. however. any
man or woman. Christian oi Turk, IA
.ll 10 n hInU thar nlaarp4
the taste and fancy. and you see mix
ed costumes as often ms any. the fez.
which was formerly the distinguish
ing badge of the Mohammcdans. be-
ing frequently worn by Christians and
Isws.
The same change has been going
on among the women. Formerly
they were restricted to the haren,"
as In Turkey, but now they may be
seen in the streets and bazaars. and
even In the fields. where before the
Austrian occupation II was impossi-
bic for them to appear. because OF the
,'auger Of inru,t from any tapsibg
Turk. They never ventured far
from theii homes and the protct ton
OF their husbands and nolghbora. II
has never been customary for Turk.
ish women to work In the fields Ike
the Germans and Austrians; but this
is all changed, and throughout Hos
mia these days their bright costumes
illuminate Bosnia and Its landscapes
In every direction, They work side
by side with the men, as In Hungary.
Nowadays. also. many Mohammedan
husbands In Bosnia allow their wives
and daughters to be treated by Chris
,ian doctors when they are Ill. not
withstnnding the superstition that /,
Is contrary to the will Of Allah. En-
iightcned Mohammedans who have
observed the advantages of the social
agricultural and administrative re
forms introduced into Bosnia and
have reflected thoughtfully upon then
are gradually yielding to their bettci
Judgment, and while they will uevc
! yield In their attachment to he oil
faith. are adopting the customs ant
habits OF the western world.
The lives OF the women are thu.
becoming enlarged. They are beint
released from the degraded position
which they occupy In all Mohammo
dan countries. They tell me here
that the popular impression that th'
Mohammcdan religion denies soul
and Immortality to women is fal
lncy. The Koran teaches the reverse
and admits them to the hope of Para
, disc: and IL IL custom rather than I
religious decree that prohibits then
from entering mosques at same tint
with mon. Certain hours are alotte'
women for prayer In most OF thu
= mosques, but some OF them they ar'
t, not allowed TO enter.
The Turk IL not altogether terrible
, He has many admirable traits
: There is much to be admired In hi
= religion aud In the spirit with whiol
he observes the iniunotions OF thu
prophet. The Mohammedans are I
curious contradiction. Although
' Is asserted that ninety out OF ever!
one hundred cases In the Turkish
y courts are settled by bribery. an'
"a the official class Is absolutely un
Trustworthy, yet | am informed b.
those who have had long experience
that the word and still more th
: oath OF Mohammedan may be nc
cepted implicitly wherever II Affect
:, members of his own faith Thei
. religion teaches that those who ar
: guilty OF falsehood shall have n
part in the next life. In Egypt an
In other countries the rule Is tn
same as In Bosnia. that when sui
' Is being tried between two Moslems
:, the defendant. II he has Justice oi
:, his side. will insist that the plainti!
:, be compelled to testify, feeling con
:, tident that he win tell the exac
' truth. II properly questioned, and ad
init that he is wrong. That 1t Il
: not because OF religion but In sup
, of II. that corruption is uuiversa
wherever the Turks control.
In Bosnia the Austrians have sep
aratc courts for Turkish cases, be
cause IL Is not perjury for Moham
medan TO swear falsely against