KIRK-KILISSEH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10718, 31 October 1912, Page 4

KIRK-KILISSEH.

Kirk-Kilisseh, the "town of forty shrines," is the capital of tho sandjak of tho same name. Of" its population of over, 20,000 nine thousand arc Greeks, six thousand Turks, ; four thousand Bulgarians, and 1500 Jews. In the 1903 insurrection the "Comitadjis" attempted to Bulgarise the district, but this was prevented by the Turks. It has been the headquarters of a division of the Turkish army, and in many respects is a go-ahead town, possessing schools, a theatre, am even such civic Amenities as a public garden and a band! The Governor of tho sandjak gave Mr Allen Upward (author of "The East of Europe") the following quaint description of the place:—"Kirk Kilisseh is a more important department of tho province of Adrinapel. There is s.ix districts, the two of which (Vassilikos and Madia) situated on the bank of the Black Sea, the other two (Tirnovo and Viza) in the mountains, and the others (Baba Esk and Luleh-Burgas)' are on the railroad. Kirk-Killisseh (the Goovernor's residence) is a town very lively and well arranged, where are twentyfive thousand inhabitants. There are three great schools, one of which that is moro beautiful appertains at the Mussulmans, and tho others at tho Greeks and tho Israelitishs. Tho trees are planted in tlie streets sides. It is arranged a public garden on a pretty plane, a nd they trill build a big theatre and the casino in the side of which. It ia very difficult to direct that deportment wero are the different and .hostiles inhabitants (Mussulmans, Greeks, Bulgars, Jewishs). But for to annihilate the hostility the Government arranges tho concerns, tlie representations, and the picnic* with them."