THE SLAVONIC PROVINCES.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 945, 5 July 1877, Page 3

THE SLAVONIC PROVINCES.

[from the peess.] BOSNIA.

Bosnia, another of the Slavonic provinces, is situated to the west of Servia, from -which it is divided by the river Drina, which is the boundary line between the two states on that side. Slavonia, the only place which now retains the name of the powerful people who occupy so important a place in Europe, is situated to the north of Bosnia, and is separated from it by the river Save, a river which falls into the Danube, near Belgrade. Bosna is a tributary of the Save, and gives its name to the province. Herzegovina and Montenegro bound it on the south, and Dalmatia, belonging to Austria, on the west." It is not certain that Bosnia was peopled by the Serbs, although the country was overrun by them in the seventh century, as we have already indicated. It seems probable that it was peopled by another Slavonic tribe, known as the Chrobatians, or Croats. This tribe peopled Slavonia and Croatia, both of which now belong to Austria, and it is probable that they spread themselves over Bosnia, which was partly occupied by the Serbs, who had responded to the invitation of Heraclius, and had subsequently rewarded themselves by appropriating the countries now known as Bulgaria, Servia, and Bosnia. The history of this early stage is very obscure, and many of the results arrived at cannot be regarded as certain. We are, however, quite right to say that the province in question was peopled in the seventh and eighth centuries by two Slavonic tribes —the Serbi and the Crobatians.

Eor pome centuries Bosnia was governed by either the Croats, their neighbors to the west,

or the Servians, their neighbors to the east. But in the eleventh century we find that the King of Croatia was elected by seven electors, of whom the Ban of Bosnia was one. On the assumption of the crown of Croatia by the King of Hungary, in the beginning of the twelfth century, his rule was extended to Bosnia also ; aud for several centuries it remained one of the Banats of that kingdom. This state of things lasted till the fourteenth century, when Stephan Turkto in 1376 was crowned King of Bosnia. The dignity was, however, of but short duration; for the terrible battle of Kossovo, thirteen years after, which has been called the Flodden field of Servia, included Bosnia in its disasters. The Bosnians, 20,000 strong, fought side by side with Servia against the rapidly rising Turkish power, and shared in the defeat, although they were able, under a skilful leader, to make good a retreat to their own country. For the next hundred and forty years, until 1527, the fate of Bosnia oscillated between the two rival Powers—Turkey and Hungary. In the fifteenth century it was by Mohammed 11. invaded and made tributary to the Porto. On the refusal of the King of Bosnia to pay the stipulated tribute the Sultan, in 1463, again invaded the country, and reduced it entirely to subjection. The King, and many of the nobles and senators, were put to death, aud the best of the male population was drafted into the Turkish army. Hungary, however, who regarded Bosnia as an integral portion of her kingdom, assisted the Bosnians, and took possession of many of the towns and fortresses. She was not, however, permitted to make good her claim without opposition from Turkey, and for many years the two nations fought over the prostrate body of poor Bosnia, which at last fell under the power of the Ottoman Turks. This was in 1527. From that day to the present, Bosnia has remained under Turkish rule, and has struggled in vain from time to time to attain her independence. The last struggle for independence was in 1849-51. That less is heard of Bosnia, and of her struggles for national existence, is due to a singular fact. The Bosnians were originally members of either the Creek or Roman Church; but in the course of time a considerable proportion of the population—nearly one-half —embraced Mahommedanism. This is a singular fact to be taken into account when considering the case of Bosnia. She is, however, none the less determined in her opposition to Turkish misrule. The rising that we referred to as taking place in 1849-51 originated as follows : —A celebrated code of reforms, known as Tanzimunt, was promulgated by Sultan Abdul Medjid. The reforms were in the main highly favourable to the province ; but one provision, one that the Turks endeavoured to enforce upon Servia, viz., that none except those who obtained permission should bear arms of any kind, was highly obnoxious to them. Hence the resistance which the code met with, when in 1849 the Porte attempted to enforce its provisions. To suppress the insurrection which followed, a man whose name is well-known to the European world was sent against the insurgents —Omar Pacha, a Turkish general of distinction, although not by birth a Turk or Mahommedan. He was an AustroServian by birth, and though brought up as a Christian,became a convert to theMahommedan faith. In spite of the strength of the force employed under him, it was not till 1851 that he succeeded in repressing the insiu'rectionary movement.

It is said that tho former Bosnian nobility, who became Mussulmans, are reduced to great straits, being too proud to cultivate the soil. They are described as ignorant and corrupt. Bosnia is a rugged and mountainous country, and is full of magnificent forests. Miss Irby says that " the soil of Bosnia teems with various and valuable minerals, her hills abound in splendid forests, her well-watered plains are fertile and productive, her race, under culture, proves exceptionally gifted." But her people, tho same writer says, are " the most barbarous of the provinces of Turkey — the mass of them are ground to tho dust under the present regime. There is no development of the country, no means of employment and occupation which might enable the poor to meet the ever-increasing taxation." Not one in a hundred can read ; and in the capital town, containing 50,000 people, there is not one bookseller's shop. According to the consular report for 1874, the condition of the people is tranquil, but the Administration, although not corrupt, is very uncertain. The roads arc as bad as they can well be, interfering sadly with the success of agricultural pursuits. Tho revenue for 1874 was a little over lialf-a-iuillion of English money ; and as the population (with Herzegovina) is 1,216,800, it is evident that taxation is not excessive. The populat ion may be divided as to religion thus : Mahommcdans, 442,000 ; Christians of Greek Church, 576,756 ; Roman Catholics, 185,500; others, say 12,000. This is only an approximate estimate, for the smaller province of Herzegovina is included in it. All estimates of population must be accepted with a big grain of salt. But the above is near enough to the facts to enable us to see that nearly half the population consists of people of the same faith as the Osmanli Turks at Constantinople.