the moslems of kailar on the southern verge of what is properly macedonia are genuine osmanli turks who are said to have been exiled from asia minor in order that they might be isolated there is also a similar turkish belt inland from the aegean in the rich tobacco growing country between serres and drama but this again is on the fringe the eastern fringe of what is properly macedonia elsewhere even the moslems of the rural districts come within our generalisation they are either albanians or slavs converted by force or allured by self interest to islam and while politically they form part of the ruling caste in language origin and even in many of their social customs and institutions they do not differ from their christian countrymen