The Washington times., 1904-03-13
MOST ILL-FAMED SPOT
IN ALL THE BALKANS


Gusinje. where the murder Of a Chris
tian magistrate and two OF the newly
appointed Christian gendarmes was re-
Gently announced to have been Perpe-
trated, is perhaps the mos ill-famed
spot in the whole Of the BALKANS. 1t is
situated in northern Albania. close to
to the Montenegrin frontier and al
though less than a weeks journey from
Charing Cross. It has seldom. If ever,
been visited by Europeans" within the
past half century. BY the terms of the
Berlin treaty of 1873 Gusinje and the
surrounding district was assigned to
Montenegro. but when the gallant noun
taineers of the principally. who had on
countless occasions defeated vastly su-
perior Turkish armies, attempted to take
possession they encountered so fierce a
resistance on the part OF the inhabitants
that they were forced 10 abandon all
idea of occupying the territory. They
We're consequently granted the port OF
Dulclgno by way OF compensation. and
Gusinje remains to this day under the
more or less shadowy rule OF the porte.
The Gusinjots are an extremely fierce
and barbarous Mohammedan Albanian
tribe, and belong to the Gheg branch OF
that race Their Mohammedanism Is not
of a very religious character, and. Ike
all the other Alba mans. they are not
really fanatical. But they hate all
strangers, especially those or Slavonic
stock. They are by no means partial.
however. even toward the Turks. and on
more than one occasion they have MUIR
dered or driven out the Turkish kali
makan who represents imperial author
fly IN that town. The whole district is
extremely wild and dangerous. and. al
though Il is said to be of great beauty.
Lake. hardly any outsider has visited
it and lived to tell the tale.
If a stranger attempts to 20 there he
meets with no opposition. and is al
lowed to enter the town undisturbed,
meeting with no signs Of hostility save
the scowling looks Of the inha bitants
But as soon as he has arrived the elders
Of Gusinie meet together and discuss
who shall murder the audacious out
slider. When this point is decided the
man TO whom the duty has been assign
ed dogs the unsuspecting stranger until
his departure. Then the assassin. haVs
Ing discovered by which route he is leav-
ing. waits for him behind convenient
rock and shoots him dead as ne pa sses
ny. In former times Gusinje was on
one OF the main highways Of commerce
b. tween the Adriatic coast and Con-
s;antinople. but today IT is not popular
resort for tourists, nor even for CONNER
cial travellers.
One can see the mountains and val
legs of Gusinje from along the Monte
regTin border. but even If one keeps well
on the safe side OF the frontier one is
liable to stray shots, and frontier af-
rays between Montenegrins and Alba
mans are of frequent occurrence. Gus
injots may be often seen in the bazaars
of Scutari. Prisren, or Ueskub on market
DAYS, and are recognizable by their spot
Iessly white headcloths. Many Of the
North Albanian tribes wear these Gu
rious headcloths which make the wear
ers look as though their heads and necks
had been carefully bandaged, but, save
in the case OF the Gusinjots, they are
generally of a dirty white color. Other
wise their costume consists OF the usual
white flannel trousers. picked out with
black braid-which latter detail is said
10 be "A sign OF mourning for Albania s
,-VvI7 national hero. Skanderbeg-and en-
Iroidered coats or vests.-W estminster
Gazette.