Travels in Southeastern Europe

The burden of the Balkans / by M. Edith Durham.

268 THE BURDEN OF THE BALKANS. mistake: I am of the lower classes. In England I am nobody! I am not accustomed to ceremony, and it troubles me.' 'You do not understand, mademoiselle. This soldier is simply to do you honour.' 'I understand very well, monsieur. You think I am a spy.' The Kaimmakam was horrified. The soldier was my servant, and I could command him. I said good-bye to the Kaimmakam and returned to my lodging. There I told the soldier to go. He saluted cheerfully, and departed. In ten minutes he was back again, and said that the Kaimmakam said he was to wait for further orders! I gave it up, and reflected upon the political situation. I was sorry for the Kaimmakam, for he had 'given the show away' rather badly. The leading Christians of the town all called on me, and were most polite. The presence of the soldier explained their position with silent eloquence. He and a police officer walked on either side of me, and helped me to pay return calls on the Christians. It was just before Easter, and the Christian houses were in the agonies of the' spring clean,' which is in reality nothing more nor less than the Easter purification. Every room has to be scoured and whitewashed. The gipsy women of the town served as paintersswarthy, bright-eyed things in baggy breeches, as active as monkeys, who rushed about wielding their whitewash brushes with the greatest glee, chattering gaily the while. Not that the houses looked as if
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About this Item

Title
The burden of the Balkans / by M. Edith Durham.
Author
Durham, Mary Edith, 1863-1944.
Canvas
Page 268
Publication
London :: Nelson,
[1905]
Subject terms
Eastern question (Balkan)
Balkan Peninsula -- Description and travel.

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https://name.umdl.umich.edu/ans3900.0001.001
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https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bosnia/ans3900.0001.001/275

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"The burden of the Balkans / by M. Edith Durham." In the digital collection Travels in Southeastern Europe. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/ans3900.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 30, 2025.
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