"Dere's lots a mineral in dese mountains, you feller. I show you one
lump feller got a' Ipek, an' I guess it's silver, sure. Wen de war over
you come back an' we'll go over dem places tergedder. Dere's coal too.
Lots."
He told us that the wretched skeleton who was driving us had power in
Turkish days to commandeer the services of Christian labourers, and to
pay them nothing.
We passed by placid fields containing cows, horses, donkeys. The country
seemed untouched by war. Those cows could never have drawn heavy carts
and lain exhausted and foodless after a heavy day's work. The horses
reminded one of the sleek mares owned by old ladies who lived in awe of
their coachmen.
For this all belonged to Dechani, and it was beyond the power of the
state to touch their riches; nor had they been molested even in the days
of Turkish rule.
"You see, monastery 'e pay money to the toughest Albanians--Albanian
they give besa--and nobody never do no 'arm to the monasteries. Russia
she send much money, she send always her priest to Dechani and the
Turks they keep sorter respectful.
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