Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-11-20

travellers have still to pass one place
to another by means of bridle-paths.
The inhabitants. who are one of the
most ancient races in Europe. are d.
vided into two divisions, northern
and southern. known as Ghegs and
fighters. defending their mountain
Businesses In the past with remark
able success against all invaders.
Retain Original Customs.
Retaining their original customs
and language, the Albanians present
a marked difference from other races
in the Balkan peninsula. Sir Edwin
Pears in Turkey and Its People"
gives an interesting description of the
Ghegs and the Tosks. He remarks
that the Ghegs are noted for thei-
square heads. refined features, and
usually light colored hair; whilst the
Tosks have heavier cast of features,
with darker hair Among both. how
ever, are beautiful heads. which re-
call those of classic Greece. The
characteristic dress of the Ghegs is a
waistcoat. jacket and breeches. each
close-fitting. of white material us
ually resembling tweed cloth, braided
with black. That of the Tosks is the
long white petticoat. known as the
dastanella. which the Greeks who en-
ploy big numbers of Albanians as sol.
diers. have taken for the uniform OF
the kings guards
In northern Albania the clan svs.
TEN still exists, and the Ghegs very
rarely pay taxes. The scattered Turk
ish officers possess little authority,
and the one obligation the inhabitants
owe to the Ottoman empire is that OF
providing soldiers in time of war. In
each clan the elders form a council
and preside over gatherings of the
tribesmen, which exercise the supreme
legislative power. Loyalty to the
chief of his clan, and to his work. is
the Albanian's greatest virtue. An In.
born courtesy is common to the race
The best fighter is the best man. and
every Albanian feels himoelf indepen.
dent, except when bound by the an.
cient customs of his race In northern
Albania he recognizes no law except
that based on such ancient customs.
The Turk until recently has hardly
attempted to impose any other law.
Whether in the field or the market.
place. he is nearly always armed. and
is ready to fight on the smallest pre-
text The boy attains manhood when
he can show he possesses arms which
he has captured from an enemy. All
fire the rifle as a sign of Joy, and
Christian congregations are summon
ed to divine service by definite num-
Der of shots.
The primitive method of revenge by
means of the vendetta, or blood
feud still obtains in the country. and
the slaying of one member of family
or clan leads to series Of crimes or
to warfare The claims of hospitality.
however are very strict, and injury
to a guest has to be revenged In the
case of marriages, stipulated price
is paid for the bride. Marriage by
capture remains the rule today. Won
en- are respected, but wives have to
work their hardest in the fields. There
is very little education in the coun-
try although there are schools in
some of the towns.
1t is this primitive race whose quar-
rel with the Turk is not very clearly
understood in the west which Is wor-
rying the concert OF Europe. In the
first place. as has been shown, the
most successful of sultans and con-
quering generals in the heydey OF OF
toman power never succeeded in sub
DUNG the Albanians. These gallant
mountaineers acknowledged the SOW
ereignty of the sultan only so far as 1t
protected them from the encroach-
ments Of other nations who would
have civilized them
Turks NefarIoUs Rule.
The present trouble with the Alban-
ians began when the new constitu-
tional regime came into being in Tur-
KEY four years ago. The Young Turks
insisted on regarding themselves as
the dominant authority in Turkey.
This would have been all right If they
had had numerical preponderance and
the moral and intellectual ability to
dominate the other races.
Al! races in the Turkish dominions
have suffered during the nefarious
rule OF the Young Turks secret com
mittee OF mediocre men. but none
more than the Albanlans In few
weeks their centuries-old privileges
and immunities we're abolished. their
country was invaded by hordes OF In
experienced officials Of a race which
they held 10 be their interiors. their
language was tabooed In the schools