Travels in European Turkey, in 1850 Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXI. The importance of Tchernegora as a military position-- Its natural defences--Historical sketch of Tchernegora-- Extraordinary bravery of the mountaineers--Their wars with the Turks--How they recovered their independence --The Vladika Pctrovich--Perfidy of the Pacha of Scutari --Massacre of the Turks--Peter the Great of Russia--His alliance with Tchernegora--Victories of the Tchernegori over Marshal Marmont and the French--Their wars with the Austrians--Form of government in Tchernegora-- Religion, customs and manners of the people. The importance of Tchernegora is entirely referrible to its mountain character, and the ill-judged suicidal policy of the Ottoman Porte, in oppressing and persecuting its Christian subjects for so many centuries (to whom the impregnable fastnesses of this mountain fortress have proved a secure asylum), has been the means of adding to the enemies of Mussulman rule. Approach this singular district from whatever direction, and you see before you a calcareous wall of rock, its various peaks towering to a height in some places of from six to eight thousand feet, in others from four thousand and upwards. A chain of inferior altitude descends into the interior, which divide and subdivide the country in various directions; even the rivers as they flow from the mountains take a circuitous course, offering at every angle a succession of projecting crags, Nature's own formidable bulwark of defence. In fact, so complete are the natural fortifications of Tchernegora, that there is no communication between it and the adjoining provinces except from the Lake of Scutari, and from Novi-bazar, by crossing the lesser heights of Mount Jelieb and the Komm, and then following the tortuous windings of the Moratscha; and...