Beverly banner., 1925-06-05

, mosques, Out neither readlng nor
writing was taught.
Though no census Of population has
been taken, 1t is estimated that the
Albanians as a whole number more
than two million people. Their home
land is a magnificent country, with its
chaos of grand mountains, deep and
fertile valleys and beautiful streams
"a region without forests, almost
without woodlands 1t is true, but SUI
perb in its stern majesty.
The more attractive part of south
ern Albania lies, of course, near the
Adriatic. Fruits and grain are profit
ably grown along the seacoast, with
hills and with climate which re-
sembles that of Sicily.
Excellent grazing lands extend up
the mountain sides, affording pastur-
age in times of peace for large fiocks
and herds, the peoples chief source of
livelihood, while fish from the sea
and the rivers and game from the
hills-deer, wild boar, hares, game
birds, bear, and even the chamois-
are important resources.
Among the Albanians lives a frag
ment of strange people who call
themselves Rumani, said to be descen-
dants of the Romans-of that fifth
Roman legion which dispersed and
was scattered along the old highway
stretching from Durazzo to Constanti-
nople. This great road of ancient
Rome (Via Egnatia), called at it's be-
ginning the Appian way, passes
| through Italy to Brindisi; begins again
at Durazzo, runs thence through Ell
basan by Lake Ochrida to Krusha, and
on to Monastir and Vodena; thence to
Saloniki and beyond to Constantinople.
The Rumani are very proud of their
origin, and answer the question OF
race by saying, 81 am descendant
! of the Romans They are a simple
pastoral people, not given to robbery
or brigan6age Their primitive little
villages of stone are frequently seen
in the mountains, often perched near
high SUBMITS. A large colony of
them, known as Vlachs, live on the
slope of the Pindus mountains in sight
of Liascoviki, but far away across val
ley and gorge.
What the People Are Like.
In Albania the women are the work
! ers, the orthodox more so than the
Mohammedans but all work. They
are moral, too.
The Albanians are somewhat harsh
of feature, though the children are
bright and the young girls are some
| times pretty. The unattractive appear
ance of the women is increased, if not
caused, by the nondescript garments
commonly worn In these days, shabby,
| ill-fitting, and fastened together any
how or nohow.
The pretty national dress Of the AL
when the men come out with the white
skirt, over tight-fitting breeches, vest
and coat of white wool, with the point
ed, tufted shoe and white or red tur-
ban, and usually. especially in the rain,
the long sheepskin cloak, generally
black. The cap, or fez, however, Is
worn when possible as symbol Of
race.
The Albanians are probably neither
| so good nor so bad as they have been
painted, but certainly they are worth
the effort necessary to develop them
and their country. Their chief desire
now is to be allowed to manage their
own affairs and to work their little
| farms in the fertile valleys, to herd
their sheep and weave their garments
of wool, if only they are let alone.
They do not submit easily to govern
ment; have no love for chance stran-
gers, and are slow to accept change in
| the manner of living or of cultivating
| the fields.
The lands of Albania are largely
owned by great proprietors. Many of
| the estates We're in the hands of Turks
| before the war Others of the great
| landowners are Albanians, among
them the powerful family of the
| Vlores, at Valona, which is said to
possess over $50 square miles of land
BY the application Of modern farm
ing methods the Albanian valleys of
the south could be converted into YER
| liable gardens. The Italians made a
beginning in the direction of training
the Albanian farmer by means of ex-
perimental farms while their military
occupation continued during the World
war.
r, TL~o~ .S&.