The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-06-03

Dhnlan Is 1fmly convinced tnat one
day an enormous foreign army will
come TO rob him of his dearly priced
independence. In this respect they
show great shrewdness, and when 1t is
remembered that ceaseless agitation
is in progress. chiefly on the part OK
schools) to gain influence. 1t is scarce
to be wondered at that they look ask.
ance at strangers.
The worst traducers of the Albanians
are their neighbors the Montenegrlns
but this Is mutual and scarce to be
wondered at. Often has the writer
been amused listening, first to one and
then to the other, admiring his bravery
in going among such a treacherous
murderous race. and the tales of blood.
thirsty deeds committed daily by "the
other side"
The most prominent of the clans
bear the following names: The Mlrlditi,
Clement, Hotti. Grudi, Skrell, Trejepsj
and Kastrati. There are many others.
but Of these the writer has no knowl.
edge.
However, there Is one more clan,
without mention of which no paper
on Northern Albania would be com.
pete. 1t Is the clan of the Guslnje,
the most dreaded Of all the hillmen.
They inhabit a plain closed in by lofty
mountains ut the eastern corner Of
Montenegro. Tho Congress of Berlin
gave this land TO Montenegro instead
of the equally AlEaniGl seaport of Dul.
cigno. Some ten thousand Montene'
grins, under the leadership Of the cele.
brated Voivoda Mar.;o Drekaloyic, all
flushed with their recent victories over
the mighty Turk, which had won to
them land as large again as their
original possessions. marched into Gu.
sinle to take over this last fruit OF
their success. A few hours later the
intrepid AIonte.egrlns found their
match and more. Their teeth were
broken in the cracking Of this last nut
and their army was declmated.
The independence Of Gusinje goes Sc
far as that they maintain that they
are not even Albanians. They are men
of Gusinje, and acknowledge no sway
other than their own clansmen. They
do not welcome strangers in their city,
and indeed 1t Is said to be counting
death to sojourn among them. Last
year they murdered the Turkish Kali
makan Tor resident GOVERNOR, and are
still unpunished.
One custom still remains to be de-
scrlbed. 1t is that OF blood brother.
hood.
In a wild and utterly lawless land
such as Albania the custom Is invalu'
able TO personal safety. When once
it is performed the ''brothers' are
bound to help each other. even to ono
sacrificing his life in defense OF the
other. Besides, the compliment Is
great. The procedure is as follows,
and, ii it is not exactly the same. still
closely resembles the ceremony OF
blood brotherhood as once performed
by the ancient NOrsemen
The two men stand out in a ring
and bare their forearms; each makes
an incision with knife, the blood
flowing into cup of wine. with
linked arms the cup is emptied-half by
the one, half by the other-by the
friends. A kiss concludes the COM
pact, far more real to these men than
our marriage VOW, It'll death do us
part"
They have far more ceremony in
common every day intercourse than
any Western nation. y new comefs
first remark Is an Acknowledgements OF
his faith. which every one present an
svers with the prescribed formula.
Then he greets those present ana Is
likewise responded to. To each he
gives his hand. but it is not shaken,
merely clasped; TO his friends he pre-
sents his cheek. not to be kissed, but
for his friend TO lay likewise his check
against it. When glass of spirits Is
given him, he does not drink 1t till he
has first praised God and then wished
good health to all present, both OF
which phrases are responded to by
all.
A grave courtesy pervades the whole
party, and the stranger among them
cannot but wonder at the perfect man
ners these men display. Should his
cigarette 90 out, prompt hands relight
it for him; is the food ready for eating,
he is the first to be served, ana not til
he has eaten his fill do his hosts be-
Gin. En- route, over dangerous passes,
where a step would be fatal, men risk
their lives that no harm come TO him;
the writer has known them clinG on
the face of n precipice. making him
foothpld with their hands when the
way is steep or shelving.
There Is no rude staring or impcrti'
aent inquiry. no molestailon or rough
ness. In order to properly appreciate
these vrtues-for such indeed they de-
serve to be termed, in comparison with
the rudeness shown by the lower
classes 10 conspicuous stranger In
any of our large cities-it must be
borne in mind that very many of these
men have never seen a human being
dressed in our quaint garb In their
lives. A village may be visited by
stranger once in n generation. and not
even the little children will show indie.
cent curiosity.
But--now the reverse OF this idyliic
picture must be shown--should the
traveller be observed making notes.
taking photographs or measurements,
then his life would be considerably
endangered. The Unborn suspicion OF
these hlllmen would BE- aroused. and
plain request TO leave their domains
would assuredly follow, backed up by