Chapter XV: Some Serbian Popular Anecdotes (2)

Potzerye, Milosh of.
Bogdan the Bully and, 87-89;
General Voutcha and, 89-94;
the veela Raviyoyla and, 102-105

Predestination.
Serbians believe in immortality and, 18

Priepolye.
A youth from, admires Milosh-the-Shepherd's steed, Koulash, 157

"Priest, The, why drowned."
A Serbian popular anecdote, 364

Prilip.
Serbian belief that Prince Marko is asleep in castle at, 64;
Prince Marko's appearance at battle of, in November, 1912, 64;
Archdeacon Nedelyko bids the four tabors appeal to Marko at, 67;
the Sultana's dream concerning, 74;
Milosh sends a messenger to, 90;
Marko imprisons Voutcha and Velimir in, 93, 94

Prisrend.
Theodor arrives at, and reports to Tsar Doushan the result of his
mission, 151, 152;
Tsar Doushan's return to, 168

Ptolemy.
Greek geographer, describes the Serbians, 1

Q

Quests.
The, of the three sons in the Serbian folk-tale "He whom God helps
no one can harm," 300-305

R

Rado.
The architect (neimar) who builds Skadar, 200-205

Radool.
One of the brothers in the Serbian ballad "The Stepsisters," 206-210

Radoslav. Son of Stevan, becomes King of Serbia;
deposed by his brother Vladislav, 4

Radoul-bey.
A Turkish lord, the supposed master of Milosh-the-Shepherd, 155

Ragusa.
Many noble Serbian families find a safe refuge in, 8

"Ram with the Golden Fleece, The."
A Serbian folk-lore story, 213-220

Rashka.
Name of the independent State that Djoupan Vlastimir attempted to
form, 2;
Tsar Simeon invades, to support Djoupan Tchaslav, 2;
overpowered by Byzantine Empire, 3

Rastislav, Prince.
Cyrillos and Methodius entrusted with a mission to Emperor Michel
III by, 29

Raviyoyla, Veela.
Prince Marko all but slays the, 17;
the story of Prince Marko and, 102-105

Religion.
Paganism and the, of the Serbians, 14-53;
naturalism and the Serbians, 29, 30

Relya of Bazar. A Serbian knight;
Bogdan the Bully and, 87

Renaissance.
The Serbian poets of Ragusa made frequent reference during the,
to nymphs and dryads as 'Veele,' 16

"Resnik."
A proper name in Serbia, etc., which means "the one who is searching
for truth," 24

Ressava.
Theodore of Stalatch wanders by river of, and sees Iconia, 210, 211

Roksanda, Princess. Daughter of King Michael of Ledyen;
Tsar Doushan sues for hand of, 150;
the four tests undertaken by Milosh-the-Shepherd on behalf of Tsar
Doushan in order to win, 160-166

Ronceval.
Reference to the French troubadour's ballad of battle at, in
comparison with the method of elaboration employed in connexion with
"King Voukashin's Marriage," 193, 194

Roumania.
Battle of Rovina in, 6

Rovina.
Marko killed in battle of, 6

Russians.
Funeral customs among the, 26, 27

S

Sacrificial Rites.
The exact terminology of well-known, from translations of the Greek
legends of the Saints, 24;
legends of human, among Russians, Polapic Slavs, Serbians, etc., 25

St. Elias (Elijah).
Serbian peasants believe that the god Peroon still lives in the
person of, 15;
kolyivo not prepared for, 41;
mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195;
comforts Beata Maria, 196

St. George's Day. Serbian equivalent, Dyourdyev Dan.
Strange sorceries practised on, 33, 53

St. John.
The princess appeals to Prince Marko in name of, 75, 76;
the veela Raviyoyla appeals to Marko by memory of, 104;
mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195;
brotherhood, koomhood, and the Holy Cross chosen by, 196

St. Nicholas.
Power of controlling ocean, etc., attributed by the Serbians to, 51;
mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195

St. Panthelias.
Mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195;
great heats chosen by, 196

St. Peter.
Mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195;
wine, wheat, and the Keys of the Heavenly Empire chosen by, 196

"Saints Divide the Treasures, The."
Serbian ballad, 195-197;
"The Sand and," a Serbian popular anecdote, 362

Salonica.
The Slav apostles of, Cyrillos and Methodius two of, 29

Samodrezja.
White church of, on field of Kossovo, 65;
Marko chased by Voukashin round church of, 70, 71

Sand "St. Peter and the."
A Serbian popular anecdote, 362

Sava.
Youngest son of Grand Djoupan Stephan Nemanya, 4;
becomes first Servian archbishop, 4

Scutari. Modern alternative for Skadar. See Skadar.
Sir John Bowring and the token on the walls of, confirming the
story of Goiko's wife being immured, 205

Sea.
The Saints divide the treasures of, 195-197

Serb-s.
The coming of the, 1;
Prince Ourosh seeks to promote an alliance between the French
and, 119

Serbia.
Use of the solecism Servia in English language, 1;
one of the kingdoms in the Balkan territories, 1;
ruled by dynasty founded by Grand Djoupan Stephan Nemanya, 3, 4;
Stevan assumes title of King of, 4;
Bulgaria a province of, 5;
Doushan the Powerful Tsar of, 5;
Knez Lazar elected ruler of, 6;
fresh subjugation of, in year 1813, 9;
Treaty of Berlin acknowledges independence of, 10, 11;
Princess Roksanda's excellence unmatched throughout, 152;
the love of a sister for her brother is proverbial in, 170

Serbian-s.
Galicia occupied by, prior to their incursion into the Balkan
Peninsula, 1;
described by Ptolemy as living on banks of Don, 1;
Heraclius cedes provinces to the, 1;
an easy prey to the Byzantines, the Bulgars, and the Francs, 2;
attempt to form a State on banks of River Morava in ninth century, 2;
nation hindered by internecine strife from becoming a powerful
political unit, 3;
church, Sava obtains autonomy of, 4;
archbishop, Sava becomes the first, 4;
lands occupied by the Turks, 6;
struggle between Turks and, 7;
final defeat of, 8;
emigration of, to Hungary, 8;
superstitious beliefs of, and national customs, 13-53;
mixed with the indigenous population of the Balkan Peninsula, 13;
the Boshnyaks considered the most typical, 13;
bards, the Veele glorified by, 16;
national customs of the, 31-53;
national epic poetry, 54-58;
"Banovitch Strahinya" one of the finest ballads composed by anonymous
bards during Middle Ages, 119;
the departure of, from Ledyen, bearing Princess Roksanda, 166;
"People, Why Poor," a Serbian popular anecdote, 362

"Servian Popular Poetry."
Sir John Bowring's, quotations of three poems from, 198-212

Shar.
The mountain where Milosh-the-Shepherd tarried with his flocks, 153

Sharatz (Piebald).
Prince Marko's wonderful courser, 17, 57;
story how Marko became possessed of the wonderful steed, 61-65;
alternatives, Sharin or Sharo, 62;
Marko rides to Kossovo, 68, 69;
prepared for fight against a Moor, 76;
Marko rides, to Istamboul, 76, 77;
Bedevia and, 79, 80, 81;
Marko rides, in his conflict with the Moor to abolish his wedding
tax, 82-86;
how Marko escaped Bogdan the Bully on, 87;
Marko attacks General Voutcha on, 91-94;
Marko flees from Moorish princes on, 102;
the veela Raviyoyla overtaken by, 103, 104;
Marko pursues the Turkish Grand Vizir on, 106;
Marko rides forth on, to meet Moussa, 112;
Marko returns triumphantly to the Sultan at Istamboul on, 114;
Marko slays and buries, 116, 117

Shishman, King.
Marko and daughter of, 95-97

Simeon. A Bulgarian Tsar;
Rashka invaded by, 2

Sirmia.
I. One of the kingdoms in the Balkan territories, 1;
Dragoutin king of, 5.
II. A plain containing village of Koopinovo, in which Zmay-Despot
Vook lived, 130.

Sitnitza.
Strahinya beholds supposed tent of Vlah-Ali from the banks of, 122;
Banovitch crosses the river, 124;
Ban Strahinya's death by the streamlet, 174

Skadar or Skadra. Modern alternative, Scutari;
birthplace of Prince Marko, 59;
the capital of Northern Albania, where Strashimir
Balshitch-Nemanyitch reigned (1360-1370), 119;
the capital of Zeta (the Montenegro of modern times), 120;
name derived from the Italian appellation Scodra, otherwise Scutari,
198;
belonged to Serbians from time immemorial, 198;
Serbian ballad "The Building of," 198-205;
on river Boyana, 186

Skoupshtina, The (National Assembly).
Milosh restored by, 10;
elects King Peter I, 11

Slav-s.
Language, teachings of Christ translated into, by Cyrillos and
Methodius, 2;
apostles, Cyrillos and Methodius two of, 29;
explanation of conquest of Ottoman generals over the Balkan, 175

Slava. Alternative, Krsno Ime.
The Serbian tutelary Saint-day, 40-46

Slavonic Races.
Paganism and religion of, 14-53;
influence of Graeco-Oriental myths and legends, Illyrian and Roman
propaganda, Christian legends and apocryphal writings, on the, 14;
remains of idols of the Sun god 'Daybog' among the, 16

Southern Slavs.
At first the Christian faith spread only superficially, 28;
life of, interwoven with superstition, 30-53;
national customs of, 31-53;
allusion to frescoes illustrating duel between Marko and Moussa on
tavern walls in villages of, 108

Spirits, Good and Evil.
Serbian belief in, 18, 22

Sredoi. A kinsman of George Irene;
Iconia promised to, for Irene, 211

Stalatch.
A ruined fortress on the banks of the river Morava, 210;
Theodore of, 210

Stamboul.
Mediaeval history of Serbia contains many instances of malcontents
going to, and becoming tools of Ottoman generals, 174, 175;
return in triumph of the vizier of Tyoopria to, 178

"Steel, True."
The Serbian folk-tale of "Bash Tchelik" or, 247-267

Stefan Strematz.
The celebrated Serbian novelist, and Slava customs, 46

"Stepmother and her Step-Daughter, The."
A Serbian folk-tale, 235-240

"Stepsisters, The."
A Serbian ballad from Sir John Bowring's Servian Popular Poetry,
206-210

Stevan.
Second son of Grand Djoupan Stephan Nemanya, 3, 4;
on abdication of his father he assumes title of King of Servia, 4;
Radoslav son of, 4

Stevan Detchanski. Miloutin's son;
by victory at Velbouzd brings whole of Bulgaria under his sway, 5;
dethroned by Doushan, 5

Stevan Tomashevitch.
King of Bosnia, 8

Stoyan and Stoyana.
Twins whom it was attempted to immure in the foundation of Skadar,
198-205

Strahinya, Banovitch.
Serbian bards improvise ballads to tell story of Nicholas I
Petrovitch just as their ancestors recorded exploits of, 120;
Vlah-Ali attacks castle and captures wife of, 120-128;
slays Vlah-Ali and returns to Kroushevatz, 128

Strashimir Balshitch-Nemanyitch.
Some Serbian historians believe identical with Banovitch Strahinya,
119;
a descendant of the old Provencal family of des Baux, 119;
reigned conjointly with two brothers in Skadar, the capital of
Northern Albania (1360-1370), 119

Strength.
The secret of Bash Tchelik's, 266

Strhigna, Ban.
Tsarina Militza and death of, 173

Sublime Porte.
Accepts Milosh as hereditary Prince of Serbia, 10

"Suitors, The Three."
A Servian folk-tale, 316-322

Sun and Moon.
Serbian beliefs regarding eclipses recall Norse belief of a similar
nature, 19

Sun-God.
Pagan sacrifices to, in Serbia, 49

Sunday.
Veela discountenances fighting on, 17, 113, 114

Superstition.
Christianity and, in the Balkans, 30

"Svati" (or svatovi).
Serbian equivalent for wedding guests, 32

Svetchar.
The chief man of the family in connexion with the Slava, 40, 42

Svetopluk, Prince.
Cyrillos and Methodius entrusted with a mission to Emperor Michel
III by, 29

Sword.
Novak makes a celebrated one for Prince Marko, 111, 112

T

Tarra.
The river, 186

Tasks, The Three.
Named in the Serbian ballad "The Ram with the Golden Fleece," 213-220

Tchardack.
A Turkish word signifying a tower provided with balconies, 129

Tchaslav. The Djoupan of a Serbian tribe;
claims the Rashka State, 2;
wrests also the territories of Zetta, Trebinye, Neretva, and Housa,
2, 3

Tchile. Diminutive for Yaboutchilo.
The steed of Voivode Momtchilo, 186-191

Tekiye.
Allusion to the church at, 93

Theodor. Tsar Doushan's Councillor of State;
sent to sue for hand of Roksanda, daughter of King Michael of
Ledyen, 150;
reports result of his mission, 151, 152;
his inability to undergo the fourth test in order to win Princess
Roksanda, 164, 165

Theodore of Stalatch.
Hero in the Serbian ballad "The Abduction of the Beautiful Iconia,"
210-212;
Dobrivoy servant of, 211

Thracians, The.
Driven by Serbians toward Adriatic coast, 1

Thunderer, The.
Appellation for St. Elias, 196

Timok.
River of, crossed by Marko and Milosh, 105

Toasts.
The Slava and, 44

Toplitza, Milan of.
General Voutcha and, 89-94

"Trade, A, before Everything."
A Serbian popular anecdote, 366-369

"Trade that no one Knows, The."
A Serbian folk-tale, 340-353

Trajan, Emperor.
Confused in the Balkans with the Greek King Midas, 27;
confused in Serbian legends with Daedalus, 27

Travnik.
The city of, 179

Treachery.
Vook Brankovitch's, against Knez Lazar, 7

Treasures, "The Saints Divide the," 195-197

Treaty of Berlin.
The famous, acknowledged the independence of Serbia during the rule
of Milan, 10, 11;
mention of a Veele ring in the, 17

"Tsar, The Maiden Wiser Than The."
Serbian folk-tale, 287-291

Turk-s.
Reference to campaigns between Christians and, 6;
struggle between Serbians and, 7;
final success of, 8;
almost driven from Europe under glorious rule of King Peter I, 11;
abhorred by the Veele, 17;
defeat of, on battlefields of Koumanovo, Monastir, Prilip, Prizrend,
Kirk-Kilisse and Scutari, 54;
sought and attacked by Banovitch on field of Kossovo, 121-128;
Prince Maximus and Yovan Obrenbegovitch become, 149;
Belgrade assailed by a great host of, 177-184;
Stephan Yakshitch resists the temptation to become a, 179-182;
historical note re the cunning efforts of, to seduce malcontents
from their allegiance to their rightful lords at courts of the
Christian princes of the Balkans, 184, 185

Turkish Atrocities.
Their culmination reached in seventeenth century, 9

Turkish Huntsmen, The.
Prince Marko and, 105-108

Turkish Rule.
The miseries of, 8, 9

Tvrtko, Ban. Of Bosnia;
alliance against the Turks between Knez Lazar and, 6

"Twins, The Golden-Haired."
A Serbian folk-tale, 353-361

Tyoopria.
I. Vizier of;
one of the leaders in the assault on Belgrade, 177-183;
Stephan Yakshitch led as prisoner to, 178;
kindness of, to Stephan Yakshitch, 178-180;
his return in triumph to Stamboul, 178;
his wish to make Stephan Yakshitch vizier of Novi Bazar, 180.
II. Castle of, the vizier of Tyoopria offers to retain Stephan
Yakshitch as prisoner in, 179.

Tyouprilitch, Grand Vizir.
Undertakes a campaign against Moussa, 108;
Moussa takes prisoner and sends ignominiously bound to Istamboul,
108, 109;
advises Sultan to send for Prince Marko, 109

Tyoupriya.
Modern alternative for Horea Margi, 2

"Tzechin."
A golden coin worth about ten shillings, 240

Tzigan-s.
Serbian equivalent for gipsies, 36, 363;
their main occupation is stealing and selling horses, 363

Tzrnoyevitch, Ivan.
Sails across the Adriatic to Venice to secure wife for his son
Maximus, 134;
sails for Zablak, 135;
Zdral steed of, 135;
invites Voivode Milosh Obrenbegovitch to be the stari-svat in
connexion with his son's wedding, 138-149;
invites Captain Yovan to the wedding of his son, 139;
Krgno and Zelenko, two famous guns of, 140

Tzrnoyevitch, Maximus.
The marriage of, 134-149;
son of Ivan Tzrnoyevitch, 134;
stricken with small-pox, 135;
Yovan in a dream sees a falling tower strike, 139;
Milosh Obrenbegovitch slain by, 148;
Turkish alternative, Scanderbeg Ivanbegovitch, 149;
Scutari on river Boyana granted to, by Sultan, 149

U

Uglesha-Voivode.
Second of three brothers who built Skadar (Scutari), 198-205

V

Valahia.
Many noble Serbian families take refuge with Christian princes of, 8

Vampires.
The belief in, universal throughout the Balkans, 21, 22

Varadin, Fort.
Guns of, signal General Voutcha's triumph, 89;
Prince Marko on the plain before, 91, 92;
Marko sends Voutcha and Velimir to, 94

Vasso. The igouman (abbot) of Mount Athos;
finds the body of Marko and mourns his death, 118;
Issaya the deacon of, 118

Vassoye, Land of.
Momtchilo dreams that a cloud of fog from, wraps itself round
Dourmitor mountain, 189

Veela.
Marko endued with superhuman strength by a, 17;
presented with Sharatz by a, 17;
Raviyoyla a, allusion to incident of Marko and, 17;
Oossood a, who pronounced the destiny of Serbian infants, 18;
Raviyoyla and Marko, 102-105;
Marko calls for aid from his sister-in-God the, 113, 114;
Marko hears the call of the, on the top of Ourvinian mountain,
115-118

Veele or Vile (singular, Veela or Vila).
Minor deities in Serbian superstition identical with the nymphai
and potami mentioned by the Greek historian Procope, 16-18;
Stephan Yakshitch and a, 177;
Skadra's fortress and the, 198;
the prince and the, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Dream of the
King's Son," 324, 325

Velbouzd.
Famous battle of, 5

Veless. The city of;
derived name from Russian God of Cattle, Volos, 15

Velessnitza. A village on the lower Danube;
derived name from the Russian God of Cattle, Volos, 15

Velimir. Son of General Voutcha;
Marko and, 91-94

Venetian King.
The four tests put by the, to Tsar Doushan in order to win the
Princess Roksanda, 160-166

Venetian Land.
Tsar Doushan journeys to the, 152

Venetians, The.
Their cunning known from ancient times, 152, 153

Venice.
Maximus Tzrnoyevitch's wedding and, 140, 142

Venice, Doge of.
Marko invites to act as koom the, 96-100;
Ivan Tzrnoyevitch asks daughter of, in marriage for his son Maximus,
134-149

Vidal, Pierre. A French troubadour;
Donna Azalais de Baux his patroness, 33

Vidin, The Pasha of.
One of the leaders in the assault on Belgrade, 177-184

Vidossava. The lonely consort of Voivode Momtchilo;
letter sent secretly to, by King Voukashin, 186;
the treachery of, 187;
destroys wings of steed Yaboutchilo, 188;
her punishment, 192, 193

Vienna.
Vouk Stephanovitch-Karadgitch's first collection of Serbian national
poems published at, 54

Vilindar.
Vasso the Abbot of Mount Athos rides from the white church of, 118;
Prince Marko's body interred within the white church of, 118

Vladika.
Meaning in Serbian, 'bishop,' 184

Vladislav.
Radoslav dethroned by, 4;
Ourosh the Great dethrones, 4

Vlah-Ali.
A haughty chieftain who attacks Strahinya's castle and captures
his wife, 120-128;
independent of the Grand Vizir Mehmed and of Sultan Amourath, 121;
Strahinya seeks out and attacks, 121-128;
his slaying by Banovitch, 128

Vlastela (Assembly of Nobles).
Doushan the Powerful proclaimed Tsar of Serbia in agreement with, 5

Vlastimir, Djoupan (Great).
Attempts to form an independent State, 2

Vo or Voll.
Equivalent, Ox, 15. See Volos

Voinovitch, Milosh, Prince.
Identical with Milosh-the Shepherd, 168, 169

Voinovitch, Petrashin.
Nephew of Tsar Doushan, 151;
Doushan swears to hang, 152;
Milosh-the-Shepherd brother of, 153, 154

Voinovitch, Voukashin.
Nephew of Tsar Doushan, 151;
Doushan swears to hang, 152;
Milosh-the-Shepherd brother of, 153, 154

Voislav, Stephen.
Ruler of Zetta, son of Dragomir, declares his independence and
appropriates Zahoumlye (Hertzegovina), 3

Voivode.
As a title of nobility corresponds to English 'Duke,' 7

Voivode, Balatchko the.
The contest with Milosh-the-Shepherd, 167-169;
Milosh slays, 168

Volos. The Russian God of Cattle;
derivative appears in the Serbian word vo or voll ('ox'), 15

Vook, Zmay-Despot.
The Zmay of Yastrebatz and, 130-133;
fear of Zmay of Yastrebatz of, 130;
village of Koopinovo on plain of Sirmia, his abode, 130;
his fight with Zmay of Yastrebatz, 131, 132;
the Zmay slain by, 132;
ruled over Sirmia, 132

Vouk Stephanovitch-Karadgitch.
Serbian national poet, 54, 55;
takes down from lips of Serbian bard the ballad of "The Marriage
of King Voukashin," 193;
records the belief of the Serbian people that no great building
can be successfully erected without immuring some human being, 205;
Serbian legend "A Pavilion neither in the Sky nor on the Earth,"
contributed by Prince Michel Obrenovitch III to, 220

Voukashin, King.
Defeated by Ourosh on banks of river Maritza, 6;
Prince Marko son of, 59;
Serbian ballads sing of, 60;
the bad faith of, toward Emperor Doushan, 61;
disputes the inheritance of the Empire, 65-71;
curses Marko, 71;
the marriage of, 186-194;
vassal king to the Emperor Doushan the Powerful, 186;
writes a book (letter) to Vidossava and dispatches it to Herzegovina,
186;
on the advice of Vidossava he marches a large force to Herzegovina
against Momtchilo, 187-192;
his woe concerning the death of Momtchilo, 192;
weds Yevrossima 192;
Marko and Andrias born to, 193;
historical note on, 193, 194

Voutcha, General.
Prince Marko and, 89-94

Voutche of Dyakovitza.
Admires the steed Koulash, 157

Voutchitrn, Castle of.
Tsar Doushan swears to hang his nephews, the Voinovitchs, on the
gates of the, 152;
Tsar Doushan's wedding procession passes by walls of, 152;
Milosh takes farewell of Tsar Doushan in order to return to, 168

Voyages.
The three, of the good son in the Serbian folk-tale "Good Deeds
Never Perish," 291-299

Vrzino (or Vilino) Kollo.
Dance rings of the Veele, 17

Vukashin Kraly.
Eldest of three brothers who built Skadar (Scutari), 198-205

W

"Wager, Lying for a."
A Serbian folk-tale, 283-287

Wedding Procession.
The, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Biter Bit," 333

Wedding Tax.
Prince Marko abolishes, 82-86

Whitsuntide.
Serbian festivities during, 52

Witch-es (veshtitze).
Female evil spirits, who are irreconcilably hostile to men and
children, 20, 21;
the old, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Bird-Maiden," 281-283

Worship.
Of the sun and moon, 22;
of fire and lightning, 22;
of animals, 22, 23;
of snakes, 23;
of the dragon--that of Southern Slavs contrasted with that of the
Hellenes, 23

Wrath of God, The.
Mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 197

Y

Yaboutchilo (diminutive, Tchile).
The steed of Voivode Momtchilo, 187-191;
Momtchilo reproaches, 190

Yahorika.
Demitrius Yakshitch rests by river, 178

Yakshitch, Demitrius. Brother of Stephan Yakshitch;
the Veela's warning to, 177;
his remorse by the river Yahorika, 178

Yakshitch, Stephan.
The captivity and marriage of (a ballad of Montenegro), 177-185;
Demitrius the brother of, 177;
the veela's warning to, 177;
taken prisoner and led to the presence of the Vizier of Tyoopria,
178;
led to the presence of the mighty Padishah, 178;
the Padishah tempts him to renounce the Holy Cross, 179;
declines the "water of oblivion" offered by Haykoona, 181, 182;
Haykoona confesses her real love for, and enables him to escape,
182, 183

Yanissaries.
The pasha of Novi Bazar in the assault on Belgrade brings twenty
thousand fierce, 177

Yanko of Nestopolye.
Admires the steed Koulash, 157

Yastrebatz, the Zmay of.
The Tsarina Militza and, 129-133;
his fear of Zmay-Despot Vook, 130;
Vook attacks and slays, 131, 132

Yedrenet. Equivalent, Adrianople.
Prince Marko received by the Sultan at, 107, 108

Yelitza.
Sister of Paul and Radool, in the Serbian ballad "The Stepsisters,"
207-210

Yesdimir.
The aged brother of the doge of Venice, 143

Yevrossima (Euphrosyne).
I. Alternative name for Queen Helen, mother of Prince Marko, 59, 67.
II. Sister of Voivode Momtchilo, 187;
vainly attempts to rescue her brother Momtchilo, 191;
King Voukashin weds, to whom she bears Marko and Andrias, 193;
historical note on, 193, 194

Youg Bogdan.
Aged father-in-law of Banovitch, 120;
visited by Banovitch, 120, 121;
castle in Kroushevatz the residence of, 120;
Strahinya returns to, after his slaying of Vlah-Ali, 128;
Tsarina Militza and death of, 173

Yougovitch-s.
I. The nine brothers-in-law of Strahinya;
Strahinya urges them not to slay their sister, 128.
II. The nine brothers of Tsarina Militza, 170-174

Yovan, Captain.
Ivan Tzrnoyevitch invites, to the wedding of his son, 139-149

Yovan Obrenbegovitch.
Brother of Milosh Obrenbegovitch, 149;
meets Prince Maximus, 149;
Turkish alternative Mehmed-Bey Obrenbegovitch, 149;
plain of Ducadyin given as fief to, 149

Yovo.
Infant son of Goiko, 204, 205

Z

Zablak.
Ivan Tzrnoyevitch sails for, 135;
wedding attendants invited by Ivan Tzrnoyevitch encamp on plain
of, 139;
Yovan in a dream beholds fire consume the beautiful capital of, 139;
Milosh to escort Maximus' bride to, 141, 144

"Zadrooga."
Designation of Serbian family associations, 13, 14

Zagorye.
Mountain on which Milosh-the-Shepherd overtakes wedding procession
of Tsar Doushan, 155

Zagreb (Agram).
Croatians had established an episcopate at, as early as the eleventh
century, 14

Zahoumlye (Herzegovina).
Appropriated by Stephen Voislav, 3

Zdral.
Steed of Ivan Tzrnoyevitch, 135, 140, 142

"Zelenko" and "Krgno."
Ivan Tzrnoyevitch's two famous guns, 140

Zemlyitch, Styepan.
Accompanies the doge of Venice, who acts as Marko's koom, 96-100

Zeta.
The Montenegro of modern times, Skadar the capital of, 119, 120

Zetina.
Waters of, stirred by explosion of Ivan Tzrnoyevitch's guns, 140

Zmay.
The Serbian word for dragon, 129;
the, of Yastrebatz, and the Tsarina Militza, 129

NOTES

[1] This was written one month before an even more critical situation confronted the Serbian nation.

[2] Mussachi's memoir in Karl Hopf's Chroniques Graeco-Romaines.

[3] Tcheque is a better synonym for the solecism Bohemian.

[4] In Serbian Pepelyouga, where pepel, or--with vocalized l--pepeo, means 'cinder' or 'ashes'; ouga being the idiomatic suffix corresponding to the Italian one or English ella, etc.

[5] See Servian Conversation Grammar, by Woislav M. Petrovitch, ed. Julius Groos, Heidelberg, 1914 (London: David Nutt, 212 Shaftesbury Avenue, W.C.), Introduction, pp. 1-8.

[6] The English language is the only one which, instead of the correct forms 'Serbian,' 'Serbia,' uses the solecism 'Servia,' etc. Suggesting a false derivation from the Latin root which furnished the English words 'serf,' 'servant,' 'servitude,' this corrupted form is, of course, extremely offensive to the people to whom it is applied and should be abandoned.

[7] Protestants of the Greek Orthodox Church who later settled in Bosnia.

[8] See the poem: "Tsar Ourosh and his Nobles, or, The Royal Prince Marko tells whose the Empire will be."

[9] This title corresponds to 'prince.'

[10] 'Ban' is the original title of the rulers of Bosnia.

[11] Voivode originally meant 'leader of an army' or 'General.' As a title of nobility it corresponds with the English 'Duke,' which, derived from the Latin, dux, possesses the same root meaning.

[12] The male members of a Serbian family continue to live after marriage in the paternal home. If the house is too small to accommodate the young couple, an annexe is built. The home may be frequently enlarged in this way, and as many as eighty members of a family have been known to reside together. Such family associations are called 'zadrooga.'

[13] One of the principal characters in King Nicholas's drama The Empress of the Balkans is a warrior called 'Peroon.'

[14] See "Prince Marko and the Veela," page 102.

[15] See "The Death of Marko," page 117.

[16] See "The Building of Skadar," page 198.

[17] Monk Marcus of Seres, Zetesis peri boulcholachon, ed. Lambros; Neos Hellenomnemon, I (1904), 336-352.

[18] 'Pleiades' are otherwise known under the name of Sedam Vlashitya.

[19] See "The Tsarina Militza and the Zmay of Yastrebatz." page 129.

[20] A Serbian word of Turkish origin.

[21] This personage is usually a brother or very intimate friend of the bridegroom. He corresponds somewhat to the 'best man' at an English wedding, but his functions are more important, as will be seen.

[22] Forests have been considered until recently as the common property of all. Even in our day every peasant is at liberty to cut a Badgnak-tree in any forest he chooses, though it may be the property of strangers.

[23] Quoted from the historian Leopold von Ranke.

[24] An instrument which emits droning monotonous sounds, and which resembles in many points the hurdy-gurdy. In olden times, in Serbia, this instrument was played by minstrels thirty years of age or more; younger men played the flute, violin, and a kind of bagpipes.

[25] In order to illustrate how firmly rooted is that belief throughout Serbia, the author quotes from his article (condensed): "How a Fourteenth Century Serbian Prince achieved a Miraculous Victory in the Late War," The International Psychic Gazette, May 1913.

"... When we arrived on the 15th of November last year, at Skoplye (Uskub), the Serbian officers gave a comparatively sumptuous banquet at their barracks in honour of Surgeon-General Bourke and the two units of the British Red Cross, on which occasion the aged General Mishitch related to us the following incident from the battle of Prilip, fought a few days previously.

"... Our infantry was ordered to make a forced march on the eve of that battle, which is unique in the history of warfare. They were to wait at the foot of the mount of Prilip on which stood the Castle of Marko for the effect of our artillery, which was superior both in numbers and quality to that of the Turks. They were especially cautioned against storming the fort before they received the order from their commander-in-chief. This was necessary, for our soldiers had won recently several battles at the point of the bayonet, and were convinced that there was nothing that would frighten the Turks more than the sight of the shining bayonets of the Serbian troops. They knew well that the mere exclamation of Bulgarians, Na noge! put the Turks to flight at Kirk-Klisse and Luele Bourgass.

"During the early morning the infantry kept quiet, but at the first cannon-shots we noticed an effervescence among our troops, and soon afterward we heard them shouting frantically and saw them running like wolves straight to the castle of the Royal Prince Marko. I could hear the voice of our Captain Agatonovitch, commanding them to stop and await the General's order. When the immediate commanders saw that discipline proved futile, they essayed in vain to appeal to the soldiers' reason, assuring them of certain death if they would not await at least the effect of our artillery. Our warriors, deafened by the roaring of the Turkish siege-cannon and mitrailleuses, ran straight into the fire, and appeared to fall in dozens! The sight was horrible. I was unable to stop my soldiers. My blood froze, I closed my eyes. Disastrous defeat! Demoralisation of other troops! My own degradation was certain!

"In a little while our artillery ceased firing, lest they should kill their own comrades, who were now crossing bayonets with the Turkish infantry. A few minutes later we saw the Serbian national colours fluttering on the donjon of Kralyevitch Marko's castle. The Turks were fleeing in greatest disorder. The Serbian victory was as complete as it was rapid!

"When we arrived on the scene a little later, a parade was ordered. After calling together the troops we found our loss had been comparatively insignificant. I praised my heroes for their brave conduct, but reproached them bitterly for their disobedience. At my last admonishing words, I heard from thousands of soldiers in majestic unison:

"'Kralyevitch Marko commanded us all the time: FORWARD! Did you not see him on his Sharatz?'

"It was clear to me that the tradition of Kralyevitch Marko was so deeply engraved on the hearts of those honest and heroic men that, in their vivid enthusiasm, they had seen the incarnation of their hero.

"I dismissed the troops and ordered double portions of food and wine to be given to all for a week. Every tenth man obtained a 'Medalya za Hrabrost' (medal for courage)."

[26] Tabor is a Turkish word meaning an army, or a camp.

[27] Other bards mention 'Gratchanitza.'

[28] Despot was an honorary title of the Byzantine emperors, then of members of their families, and was later conferred as a title of office on vassal rulers and governors. The rank of Despot was next to that of the king.

[29] Divan, a Turkish word for "senate."

[30] Koula is a Serbo-Turkish word for "castle."

[31] Istamboul is the Turkish name for Constantinople.

[32] Firman is a Turkish word for an imperial "letter" or "decree."

[33] Tovar is a Serbian measure, representing what a normal horse can carry on its back. It is now an obsolete term.

[34] Dervish is an ecclesiastic official amongst the Mohammedans. When applied to the laity it is used as a term of reproach.

[35] Literally, "until thy good luck calls thee," and means in Serbia until she marries.

[36] This is a reference to Lazar, who fell at the battle of Kossovo.

[37] Kessedjiya means 'fighter' or 'bully,' and is the nickname of an Albanian chevalier-brigand Moussa, who defied for years the distant power of the Sultan. The incident described in the poem here referred to recounts--according to some Serbian historians--an event which actually took place in the beginning of the fourteenth century. There is hardly any inn or tavern in the villages of the Southern Slavs on the front wall of which one cannot see a rough fresco illustrating the duel between Marko and Moussa.

[38] Arbanass is another appellation for Albanian.

[39] Dyugoom, a water vessel made of copper and enamelled inside.

[40] Adrianople.

[41] The lines are considered to be the finest composed by any Serbian bard, and may be freely translated: "O Lord Strahinya, thou Serbian glorious falcon! Depending ever upon thy true steed Dyogo and upon thine own courage, wherever thou goest, there thou shalt find a way free of all danger."

[42] Here the bard in his naive meditations on the psychology of women, states that the fair sex is always alarmed by true dogs.

[43] Zmay is the Serbian word for 'dragon,' but in this poem it is employed metaphorically to suggest the superhuman attributes supposed to be possessed by the heroes.

[44] Tchardack is a Turkish word and signifies: a tower provided with balconies.

[45] Ruler of Zetta and Montenegro, which were separate states at the beginning of the fifteenth century.

[46] This expression occurs in several of the poems and implies the most deeply felt depression of spirits, and disappointment.

[47] In this verse the troubadour expresses the opinion--not at all complimentary to women, but universally prevailing in the Balkans--that "women have long hair and short brains" (Dooge kosse a pameti kratke).

[48] Other renderings of this ballad have it that Maximus challenged Milosh to a duel in which the prince was victorious.

[49] Others state that Maximus did not flee but remained and fought till he was nearly exhausted by his numberless wounds, and that then he made a superhuman effort and succeeded in rescuing his bride.

[50] This is the popular appellation of Serbians living in Batchka and Banat, which provinces are now under Austro-Hungarian rule.

[51] The love of a sister for her brother in Serbia is proverbial. Entire ballads are devoted to beautiful examples of such love. There is no greater and more solemn oath for a sister in Serbia than that sworn by the name of her brother.

[52] Kroushevatz was the capital of the vast Serbian empire during the reign of Tsar Lazarus Hrebelianovitch at the time of the famous battle of Kossovo (A.D. 1389).

[53] Laboud means white swan in Serbian.

[54] The Turkish sultan, Amourath I, perished by the hand of Voivode Milosh. That great Serbian hero stabbed him with his secret poniard when conducted as an alleged traitor to the sultan's presence.

[55] Corrupted form of Amourad or Amourath.

[56] A ballad of Montenegro, county Byelopavlitch.

[57] Danitza is the Morning Star. The Serbian bards often begin their poems with a reference to the dawn and "Danitza." Several well-known ballads begin thus: "The Moon scolds the star Danitza: Where hast thou been? Wherefore hast thou wasted much time?" And Danitza in order to exonerate herself, invariably relates to the Moon something she has seen in the night during her absence; usually some wrongful deed by a Turk or dishonourable conduct on the part of a young man to his brother or other relatives, such as an unjust division of patrimony, &c.

[58] Sidjade, a divan.

[59] Hodja, a Mussulman priest.

[60] Kadi, an Ottoman judge.

[61] Djelat, an executioner.

[62] Vladika means in Serbian 'Bishop.' In Montenegro members of the Petrovitch-Niegosh family were bishops as well as political rulers. It was Vladika Danilo Petrovitch, uncle of the present king of Montenegro, who first assumed the title of prince as an hereditary one.

[63] King Voukashin, the father of Prince Marko, was a vassal king to the Emperor Doushan the Powerful.

[64] Boyana is the river upon the banks of which Scutari is built.

[65] The Serbian bards of the fourteenth century invariably use the word "book" when speaking of a letter.

[66] Or, according to some bards, Piritor. It is said that the walls of the castle still exist in Herzegovina.

[67] Tchile, diminutive of Yaboutchilo, the full name of the steed.

[68] It must be remembered that these ballads are recited by bards before great gatherings of people of all ages and both sexes, hence such direct addresses.

[69] This is one more instance of the intensity of sisterly love to which we have previously referred.

[70] This ballad is in all probability a remnant of the mythologic traces of a great prehistoric catastrophe, and it illustrates more than any other ancient memorial of the poetic Serbian people, the striking similarity in the beliefs of nations.

[71] This opening might perplex many readers if it were not explained that the commotion is not caused by the saints, but is due to the device, familiar to a Serbian audience, whereby the bard gives his ballad an effective start, and obtains the close attention of his peasant hearers.

[72] Divan means in Serbian any state gathering. In this passage it means the Supreme Judgment.

[73] Skadar or Skadra, derived from the Italian appellation Scodra, otherwise Scutari, the present capital of Albania. Scutari has belonged from time immemorial to the Serbians.

[74] Kraly means King.

[75] Boyana is the name of the river washing the wall of Skadar.

[76] Neimar means 'architect.'

[77] Sir John Bowring, writing in 1827, states that a small stream of liquid carbonate of lime is shown on the walls of Scutari as evidence of the truth of this story. Vouk St. Karadjitch, says that the Serbian people even to-day believe that no great building can be successfully erected without the immuring of some human being. Therefore they avoid the neighbourhood of such buildings while they are being erected, for it is said that even the spirit of such an unfortunate being can be immured, whereby a speedy death would ensue. Srpske Narodne Pyesme, Vienna, 1875, vol. ii. p. 124, footnote 20.

[78] A ruined fortress on the banks of the River Morava. The same name is borne by a city in Central Serbia, situated not far from the castle of Theodore.

[79] This legend was written and contributed to Vouk St. Karadgitch by Prince Michel Obrenovitch III, who had heard it in his childhood from the lips of his nurse.

[80] The Christians of the Balkans usually make the sign of the cross before and after every meal.

[81] A golden coin worth about 10s.

[82] The apple is a symbolic gift, which a wooer offers to the maiden of his choice.

[83] It is the custom with Serbians, for one of her brothers to present the bride to her wooer.

[84] Beardless is used as the personification of craftiness and sharpness.

[85] This and the remaining stories in this chapter are reprinted from Serbian Folk-Lore, by Madame C. Mijatovitch, by kind permission of M. Chedo Miyatovich.

[86] Tzigans or Gipsies in Serbia, and indeed in the whole Balkan Peninsula, deal mostly with horses. Stealing and selling horses is their main occupation.

[87] Era is a name given to the peasants of the district of Ouzitze (Western Serbia). They are supposed to be very witty and shrewd, and might be called the Irishmen of Serbia.

[88] When Serbians are greatly surprised at anything they involuntarily make the sign of the cross.