Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-11-12
MACEDONIAN PEASANTS.
Shocking Abuses to Which Even
Peace They Arc Subject.

Shocking Abuses to Which Even In
Peace They Are Subject.
The peasants of Macedonia who are
In revolt against the rule of the Turk
are an interesting people. Their coun-
try is much diversified in population.
In the south the Greeks predominate
in the north the Slavs. The middle
section has d mixed and debatable con-
geries Of nationalities and dialects.
there and sprinkling Of Mahometans
everywhere. In times of peace 90 per
cent Of the population is engaged in
agriculture. They till the fields in Il
primitive fashion, having little use for
modern improvements or farm ma
chinery. Their stolid industry, their
| thrifty habits, the fine climate and the
| natural fertility of the country would
make them most prosperous and hap
DIV people We're it not for the oppres-
sion put upon them.
Each Christian village suffers exac-
ton from its Moslem neighbors, its
| Turkish landlord, the Albanian brig
ands, to say nothing Of the official tax
collectors. The people have no security
in trade, and the privileged classes live
upon their labor In some places the
! peasants, besides sharing the products
Of their field equally with their land
lords, are forced to work for them
| eighty days each year, including Sun
days, without any pay In money or
goods. They are forced to obey at
| the point Of the knife, and there Is no
| redress.
The cottages of the peasants are
grouped together in little hamlets.
There are few fences and the land
marks are uncertain. Many of the VII
| lagos have a common lot for pastur-
| ing the flocks when it Is impossible for
| the shepherds to lead them into the
mountains, where for several months
each year the grazing Is good.
Both men and women are strong
| limbed and full of endurance. Few are
| idle or vicious. The women do their
share Of work In the fields. and have
| no end Of home duties. They make the
clothing Of the family, usually from
wool grown and sheared upon the
farm, spun, woven, cut and made in
the house.
The hospitality of the people appeals
to the visitor. Oriental laws prevail,
and no one who comes In peace Is
turned away. Even the poorest peas
ant will share his crust Of bread and
his wooden blankets with stranger
and without asking
The average peasant family pos
sesses a pair of oxen, forty or fifty
sheep, COW, several pigs and chick
ems. A portion of the increase of the
sheep flock must be turned over to the
landlord in many cases. One day each
week in the towns Of the district Is
market day. and the peasants come
from every direction. driving slowgo-
ing OK teams hitched to rough carts
loaded with produce. The distances are
great, and the market journey is usual
ly begun the day before and ended the
day after market day.
Like his brothers in Bulgaria the
Macedonian peasant buries his money
in the fields. There are few banks,
and these few the peasant does not
trust The house Is not a safe hiding
place. for it is liable to be searched at
any time by passing bands of Turks
who do not hesitate to loot when there
is anything to be taken. In Bulgaria.
where reform has been in force for
some years. the peasant is prosperous
and the total amount Of coin buried
in the fields is enormous. So fast do
the peasants hide the money which
comes to them that the output Of the
Bulgarian mint disappears almost as
soon as coined