Chapter I: Preface

On turning over the pages of this work, some readers may possibly be surprised to find that so large a proportion of the engravings belong to one of the countries composing the Austrian empire. When, however, it is considered that a high degree of civilization tends to assimilate the manners, amusements, and dress of the great mass of the inhabitants of those countries in which it prevails; and that the people of the German states of this empire are scarcely, if at all surpassed in that respect by any nation in Europe; it will be evident that they must exhibit fewer of those peculiar characteristics which it is the object of this work to collect and delineate.

Hungary stands in a very different predicament. Peopled by tribes belonging to many different nations, whose distinctive habits, manners, and prejudices have not been melted down by refinement and cultivation, it affords much more ample materials for the pencil than Austria, properly so called. For this reason, by far the greater part of the embellishments have been selected from among the singular, picturesque and romantic costumes of that kingdom and its dependant provinces.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

I.--Provinces of the Austrian Empire--Their Extent and
Population 1

II.--Of the different Nations of the Austrian Dominions--The
Jews--The Germans--The Slavonians, including the Bohemians--
The Slowacks--The Wendes and the Rascians of Illyria--The
Magyares or Hungarians--The Walachians--The Zingares or
Gipsies--The Armenians--The Greeks, Turks, &c. 2

III.--Religions--Roman Catholics--Greek
Church--Armenians--Protestants--Socinians--Jews--Mahometans 9

IV.--Character of the People of Austria 12

AUSTRIA, LOWER AND UPPER.

V.--Inhabitants of Lower Austria--Manners of the People
of Vienna--Amusements--Houses--Population
and Mortality--Shops--Paved Streets--The Fire-Watch--
Costumes of Upper Austria 16

STYRIA.

VI.--Costume of the Inhabitants--The Johannæum at Grätz 26

BOHEMIA.

VII.--Costumes of the Bohemians 28

MORAVIA.

VIII.--Costumes of the Inhabitants--Account of the Haunacks--
Peasants of the Frontiers 30

THE TYROL.

IX.--Migrations of the Tyrolese--Their Frankness--Their
Attachment to the House of Austria--Anecdote of the
Archduchess Elizabeth--Literary Turn of the Tyrolese--
Their Extraordinary Honesty--Fondness for Pugilistic
Exercises and the Chase--Ancient Practice--Moral
Character--Superstition--Mechanical Genius--Persons and
Costumes--National Songs--Custom of visiting the Graves of
Relations--Marriage Ceremonies of the Tyrolese 32

HUNGARY.

X.--Extent--Division--Constitution--Vast Estates of the
Magnats--State of the Peasantry--Their Indolence--Thievish
Disposition of the Herdsmen--Punishments--Hungarian
Prison--General Appearance of
the Peasants and their Habitations in different
Counties--Horned Cattle--Sheep--Village Herdsmen--Ravages
of Wolves--Granaries--Costumes 49

TRANSYLVANIA.

XI.--Extent of Population--Manners of the Walachians--The
Gipsies--Costumes 70

BUKOWINA.

XII.--Transfer of the Country to Austria--Extent--Population--
Costumes 81

THE MILITARY FRONTIERS.

XIII.--Military Constitution--Carlstadt Frontier--Banal
Frontier--Slavonia--Banat Frontier 86

GALICIA, OR AUSTRIAN POLAND.

XIV.--Extent and Nature of the Country--Benefits resulting
to the People from the Partition of Poland--Cruelty
and Injustice of the Ancient System--Superior
Degree of Security enjoyed under the Austrian
Government--Mode of Building--Appearance
of a Polish Village--Inns--Jews--Uncleanliness of
the Poles 100

LIST OF PLATES.

1. Clementinian Women of Slavonia, _Frontispiece_
2. Peasant of Egra in Winter dress, _to face page_ 28
3. Peasant of the Mountains of Moravia 31
4. Tyrolese Hunter 37
5. Hungarian Peasant of the County of Weszprim 64
6. Armed Plajash 80
7. Boyar of Szered 82
8. Unmarried Female of Jackobeny 84
9. Female Peasant of Philippowan 85
10. Tanaszia Dorojevich, Vice Haram-Bassa of the Szeressans 88
11. Unmarried Female of Ottochacz 93
12. Unmarried Female of Glina 94

AUSTRIA.

CHAPTER. I.

PROVINCES OF THE AUSTRIAN EMPIRE--THEIR EXTENT AND POPULATION.

The empire of Austria, one of the most extensive and powerful of the states of Europe, is composed of provinces situated in Germany, Poland and Italy, and embraces the whole of Hungary.

The German dominions of this monarchy consist of Upper and Lower Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Bohemia, Moravia, part of Silesia, and the Tyrol and Salzburg.

In Poland it possesses the kingdom of Galicia.

The Hungarian states are: Hungary proper, Slavonia, Croatia, Dalmatia, Transylvania and the Bukowina.

In Italy, Venice and the Milanese form the Lombard-Venetian kingdom, one of the brightest jewels in the crown of Austria.

The extent and population of these provinces is shown in the subjoined table.

EXTENT AND POPULATION OF THE PROVINCES OF THE AUSTRIAN EMPIRE.

German
Square miles. Inhabitants.

The kingdom of Bohemia 956.80 3,203,222

The Margravate of Moravia 417.64}
The duchy of Silesia 86.85} 1,680,935

Austria below the Enns 363.65 1,048,324

Austria above the Enns, including
the circles of the Inn and
Hausruck and Salzburg 344.32 756,897

The duchy of Styria 398.98 799,056

The duchy of Carinthia 190.90 278,500

Illyria and part of Croatia 250.95 467,836

The Littorale, or Coast District 176.18 422,861

Tyrol and Voralberg 520.44 717,542

The Lombard-Venetian kingdom 867.50 4,111,535

The government of Dalmatia 274.94 295,089

The kingdom of Galicia 1526.12 3,755,454

Civil Hungary, Croatia and
Slavonia 4097.06 8,200,000

Civil Transylvania } 1,510,000
Transylvanian Military } 1118.70
Frontiers } 138,284

Banat Frontiers 186.00 171,657

Slavonian Frontiers 139.40 230,079

Warasdin Military government 67.40 107,217

Carlstadt Military government 166.40 188,906

Banal Regiments 54.20 95,442
--------- ----------
12,204.48 28,178,836