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National Geographic : 1912 Nov
Contents
Photo by D. W . and A. S. Iddings. Copyright by Keystone View Co. TYPES OF SERVIAN HERDERS The progress of Servia has been disappointing. The other newly constituted States of the peninsula have escaped the misfortune of a native dynasty, but Servia has been afflicted with two, and the feud between the houses of Karageorgevich and Obrenovich has distracted the country throughout the whole period of its revived national existence. The perpetual conflict between Austrian and Russian influence, the deadly animosities of political groups, and the unfortunate domestic history of the Obrenovichs have been other factors of con fusion, while the absence of a seaboard, the fiscal tyranny of Austria-Hungary, and thriftless financial management have hindered economic and commercial development. The wars of 1876 and 1877 with Turkey, and of 1885 with Bulgaria, also tended to the exhaustion of the country. Constitutional changes have been frequent, and three Servian rulers-Garageorge, Prince Michael, and King Alexander-have been assassinated. Amid all these drawbacks Servia has lagged in the race of civilization with her neighbors, Rumania and Bulgaria. The most favorable feature in the condition of Servia is the prosperous condition of the peasantry,; almost all are small land-owners, and well-to-do, if not rich, and poverty is, almost unknown.- JAMEs D. BOURCHIER. and even in many families, there are both Mohammedans and Christians, and, al though constantly fighting among them selves, religion is hardly ever the cause of the quarrel. They have but little ag riculture, no trade or industries, and in deed few occupations, save fighting. The Turks have used them in Europe much in the same way as they have used the Kurds in Asia, giving license to plunder and practical autonomy in exchange for fidelity to the Sultan and persecution of the other races. They also furnish a useful argument against reforms in Macedonia; for when the powers de- mand that the Sultan should fulfill his promises, a rising of the Albanians is at once threatened, and often actually takes place. With all their barbarism the Albanians have many excellent qualities. They are brave, hospitable, and, if you succeed in winning their confidence and attaching them to your person, absolutely reliable. The foreign embassies and consulates in Turkey preferably employ Albanians as kavasses (orderlies) on account of their trustworthiness. They are by no means unintelligent, and have furnished the Turkish Empire with some of its ablest 1131
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