Albania ; a Narrative of Recent Travel. By E. F.
Knight. (Samp- son Low and Co.)—This is one of the most entertaining books of travel that we have soon for a long time. Mr. Knight and his com- panions visited Montenegro, seeing it not in the grande tenue of war- time, as most recent visitors have seen it, but in the ddshabille of peace ; and they extended their journey into Albania, a region with which very few people have made acquaintance, and which these bold voyagers did not venture to explore thoroughly. The narrative which he gives us of the expedition is vigorous and picturesque, modestly and simply told, and with plently of fun in it. We guess that the writer's sympathies on the Eastern Question are not those of the Liberal party, but this does not make him speak otherwise than candidly, or give a testimony that is not quite impartial. He expresses a decided preference for the Albanians over the Monte- negrins, but tells us nothing to justify it. The Montenegrins are a trifle savage, but they do not seem to have the bloody vendettas which Mr. Knight describes as carried on in Albauia,—as, for instance, in Scutari, where the death of a trespassing pig ended in a feud which cost the lives of nineteen men and a woman. Neither does it seem that they have quite the same standard of re- spectability in Cettinje as in Scutari, where the gendarme in attend- ance whispered, as lie pointed out a "prominent citizen," to our travellers, " This is a brave man ; much respected ; has killed more of his follow-townsmen than any other Scutarino." Both countries offer strange pictures of manners. Here is ono from Montenegro :- " Here—playing together for pots of Austrian beer—were the Minister of Finance, the Prince's adjutant, the innkeeper, the post- man, and the potboy." We strongly recommend the volume to our readers. Not the least interesting part is what the writer says of the Albanian League. He seems, however, judging from recent events, to have underrated the power which the Turkish Government has in those regions, when it chooses.
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