Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-20
manner and give them Pheasant i'm
pressions of the country.


tremeiy primitive and old-fashioned.
There were no conveniences or com.
forts; no modern improvements
whatever; but filth, disorder and dis
comfort prevailed everywhere. SO
much SO that decent people avoided
Bosnia. The description which Fran
els Bacon applied to Turkey cen.
turtles ago was true of Bosnia In
1875; Without morality. without
letters, arts or sciences; people
that can scarce measure an acre of
land or an hour of the day; base and
sluttish in building, diet and like:
and, in a word. a very reproach to
human society; and yet this nation
hath made the garden of the world
wilderness. for it is truly said con-
cerning the Turks. where the Otto
mans horse sets his foot people will
come up very thin"
The Austrians devised every
means to induce immigration and
capital, to encourage commerce and
industry, and they decided to make
the country attractive to strangers
and tourists, who would advertise 1t.
1t is now pleasant to come here.
The hotels have not only proved an
attraction, but source of profit.
Amusements and pleasures of all
kinds were introduced for the enter
tainment of the people, who. under
Turkish rule. had been deprived of
everything OF that sort. The diver
sions have been gratefully appreci-
ated-theaters, operas, parks, muse
ums, gardens. cafes. military bands,
parades. ceremonials-by people
whose natural love OF music and mo-
tion is very strong. They also have
proved remarkably important in di-
verting their minds from politics
and opening to them a new world
This is another hint to the admin.
istration of affairs in the Philippines
and Cuba. where the people have
similar tastes and the conditions are
very much like those that existed
in Bosnia twenty-five years ago
The official residence of the Aus
trian governor general is a pleasant
structure surrounded by rich gardens
and shrubbery. and is called the
Konek. 1t was built half century
ago for the use of the Turkish pasha,
who was a man of luxury and taste,
and had unlimited command OF mon
ey. In many places are other evil
dences of official and private extrava-
gance, and the people were taxed to
4 pay--fnr. it,.
The Roman Catholic church is a
fine Gothic structure, with two hand.
some spires. 1t was built by the gov.
ernment with contributions from the
Catholics Of Vienna and other Aus
trian cities. The orthodox Greek
church is also imposing. and most
of the wealthy men are members OF
that faith. 1ne Jewish synangogue
is also notable building.
Under Turkish rule all worship ex.
cept that of the Moslems was forbid.
den and the Christians were Obliged
to say their prayers In secret. They
were known as the rayahs-the word
means "ransomed"-those who have
merited death because of unbelief
but have purchased permission to
Christians do not appreciate the re-
ligious heroism which the poor peas
ants, not only of Bosnia, but Of Bull
garia, Macedonia and other parts Of
the Balkans have displayed during
all the centuries that they have sun
cred from the persecution of the
Turks. They have lived in daily
dread of martyrdom, for the Moham
medans consider that they do nc
wrong when they kill Christian
Nevertheless the Greeks and the Ro
rafhnitna ot,, 70 tLol- Rott
when they might at any moment
have secured safety. prosperity ant
position by recanting and accepting
the religion of their oppressors. The
same may be said OF the Jews. who
have actually increased In numbers
came from Roumania, where they
suffered even more from the Christ
ians than In Bosnia from the Turks
there has been large invasion o
Jewish traders. who have been at
tracted by the commercial opportun
} tiles. But, curiously enough. the OLE
J Jewish families will have nothin,
to do with the newcomers. The,
are descendants of the Jews VIII,
were driven out OF Spain In 157
} and obtained permission from tn
Sultan of Turkey to settle In Bosni
and Servia. They number altogeth
er about 1000. and at least 800
live in Sarajevo. They speak Spar
! ish among themselves and have pre-
served their ancient customs an
: habits. Their burial ground In
suburb of the city on the slope Q
the mountain Trebevic is an intel
esting place. Unhewn boulders ar
used for tombstones. a practice whic
originated when the Jews were to
poor to buy anything better.
The Bosnian Jews claim exemptio
from the persecution imposed upo
the rest OF their race on the groun
, that they are descended from q men
! ber of the Sanhedrin OF PLATE. VIII
! voted against the crucifxion {
r Christ. The same claim IL made b
Y the Jews OF Toledo. Spain.
= 1t Is the prevailing impressio
!. that the Turks are the most din