Gilpin observer., 1913-08-14
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land. However, II he returns home
and defends it for three days SO 1t
cannot be fired he Is allowed to re-
tain 1t. He can also save it by invit-
ing the lord of another tribe to take
possession with a posse of sharp-shoot-
ers to defend it
Sometimes for business purposes an
oath OF peace is taken by two parties
for a stated period. and at festival
time a weeks peace is sworn; SO that
all blood foes may attend church and
the festivities without danger OF death.
During this week everybody is very
gay and friendly. At the end OF that
time they instantly become bitter
enemies again.
In most towns the entire population
can turn out under arms inside Of ten
minutes and the smell of gun powder
is like blood to a tiger
Gurizi (Black Stone) is Moslem VII
lage that derives its name from an
enormous rock. 1t is full of greyish-
white dogs with wolf blood in their
veins, who are taught to attack
strangers on sight Puppies too young
to walk. will snap fiercely at passersby
and no stranger can enter the town
with safety.
In some villages houses are formed
OF irregular stones. with a stable on
the first floor and living room on the
second. with a covered balcony across
the front Windows are small and
very scarce. and most OF the light
comes through broken roof tiles, which
also provide an outlet for smoke from
open fires. There Is little or no furni-
ture. The rough stone walls are COW
cred with guns and field implements
and festooned with drying fish and
meat Other food is hung In tight
baskets from the rafters. beyond the
reach of rats. Rude cooking dishes
made OF clay and chopped pigs
bristles are kept In an alcove near
the fire. Large tree trunks are dug
out and used to hold food and small
pieces OF the trunk are followed out
for bowls. wattled larder for milk
stands on posts in the yard.
Clothes are kept In rudely-painted.
clumsy chests. The floor Of thick
planks. hewn by an Ak. ia always clut-
tered with household belongings. The
family sleep in hurdles hung from u
tie-beam of the roof and supported
by a pole underneath. Sheets are OF
thickly-woven white felt and pillows
Of bright red cotton. Very often =
sheep is penned in one corner Of the
room and a pig in the other! Goats
are tethered near the fire!
Albanians are friendly and hospi-
table with everyone. as rule. except
blood enemies. When guests come
within bowling distance of the house
they are to VISIT they begin to yell
greetings and empty revolvers-which
Is heartily returned by their host and
kept up until they are inside by the
fire that always blazes and the tam
boritza that always tinkles music.
News travels fast-being actually
shouted from town to town. The Al
banians have peculiar. powerful
voices. and can hurl messages across
the valleys with great force. In an
hour message can be sent and An
answer received from q place IL hours
distant by horseback. Anyone hear.
ing the shout. repeats 1t and sends II
further.
There are NO doctors In the country
Tho sick usually wait for death on q
heap OF rags in some dark corner full
OF lice.
An old custom still in vogue is
swearing brotherhood. II a man be-
comes very fond Of a friend he asks
him to be his brother. Each ties
string around the little finger so tight
that It swells. 1t is then pricked and
the blood allowed to drop on IA loaf OF
sugar. The sugar Is then exchanged
ard eaten-making both men OF the
same blood! II either has any feuds
the other Is in honor bound to avenge
thom--so swearing brotherhood usual
~ means more shooting.
The few who are not shot live to
great age.