CHAPTER V
TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW IN SERVIA
A retrospect—A sitting of the Skupshtina—Peasants as deputies—Servia as an open field for British enterprise—Enormous mineral wealth—Mr. Finney, a mining engineer who has prospected in Servia for seventeen years, tells me some interesting facts regarding rich mines awaiting development—No adventurers need apply.
Servia has, indeed, had a turbulent past.
For centuries she has been torn by war and ground under the heel of the oppressor. From the days of Stevan Lazarevitch, at the end of the fourteenth century, until the revolt of the Serbs against Turkish rule under Karageorge in 1804, the country was constantly crushed and constantly disturbed. Karageorge declared Belgrade and the neighbouring region the free State of Servia, which was unfortunately not accomplished until after great sacrifices and many heroic battles.
In 1813, however, while Russia was engaged in her final conflict with Napoleon, the Turks again seized Servia, and Karageorge with several other chiefs was exiled to Austria. Two years later, Milosch Obrenovitch, with the aid of some chiefs, made another struggle for liberty, which, thanks to the Treaty of Bucharest, was crowned with success, and the interior autonomy of Servia thus became an accomplished fact.
In 1842 Alexander Karageorgevitch, the younger son of Karageorge, ascended the Servian throne as Prince, and under his rule the government of the country was modelled upon modern lines, and many institutions started which aided to develop the civilisation.
Exterior politics and the corruption of the officials by friends of the Obrenovitch were successful in creating so much discontent that Alexander at last abandoned the throne. Upon this, the Skupshtina, or National Assembly, elected the aged Prince Milosch, who died very soon afterwards. In 1861 his son, Prince Mihailo, succeeded, but in 1868 was shot at Topschider, near Belgrade, through motives of personal animosity. His cousin Milan, who was heir to the throne, was then in his minority, and Servia was governed by a Regency of three persons.
During Milan’s reign there occurred, 1876-78, the war with Turkey and the securing of four new departments, the recognition of the independence of Servia by the Berlin Treaty, the proclamation of the kingdom in 1882, the unfortunate war with Bulgaria in 1885, and the promulgation of a new constitution which, with some slight modification, is still in force. After the abdication of King Milan, his son Alexander mounted the throne. His unfortunate matrimonial alliance with the ambitious Draga, who quickly assumed authority, was soon responsible for much discontent. Life became impossible in Servia owing to the maladministration in every department, and the army revolted, with the tragic and regrettable result that is so well known.
After the death of King Alexander in 1903, the Skupshtina elected the son of Alexander Karageorgevitch as King under the title of Peter I.
With the present political acquisitions and the progress already made in the highroad of civilisation, Servia has already obtained a high place among civilised nations. But, alas! as the Servian author, M. Zrnitch, has put it, the Servians are only free in the head—Servia—and the arms—Montenegro. The other parts of their organism are still held in thraldom by the foreigner.
While in Belgrade I was afforded an opportunity of visiting the Skupshtina and being present at a somewhat heated debate. Just before my arrival two deputies had, it was said, come to blows. All that I saw there was most orderly, and certainly the speakers—even those in their quaint brown peasant dress—were mostly eloquent.
Servia badly needs a new Parliament House. The present Skupshtina is a large bare whitewashed building with two galleries, one for the diplomats and Press, and the other for the public. In front of a life-sized portrait of His Majesty sits the President, keeping order with his bell, and on either side at baize-covered tables sit the Ministers. The benches are set in horseshoe shape, and look very uncomfortable. The deputies consist of all classes, from the wealthy landowner to the peasant, and all receive fifteen francs a day expenses while the House sits.
Plans have already been prepared for a new and handsome Parliament House, which is to be built on a fine site behind the royal palace, and it is believed the work will be commenced during the present year. The sooner the National Assembly is properly housed the better, for the present building is mostly of wood, old, rickety, and the reverse of dignified. None are so alive to the urgent necessity of providing comfortable quarters for the deliberations of the Skupshtina than His Majesty himself, for it was he who explained to me what is intended.
After the revolution of June 2, 1903, the National Assembly convoked by the Government of the kingdom of Servia gave the country, on June 15, a new constitution, which was ratified three days later. The Skupshtina is composed of deputies elected directly by the people, and its members, during their office, cannot be sued or arrested without the consent of the Skupshtina itself—save in the case of _flagrant delit_. Besides the “Little Skupshtina,” which carries on the government of the country, there is also the “Grand Skupshtina,” which consists of double the number of deputies, and which is only summoned in exceptional circumstances, namely, to elect the King; to elect regents; to decide the succession of the throne; to deliberate upon any modification of the constitution; to decide upon any cession or exchange of territory; or when the King wishes to consult them. The King alone has the right to choose or dismiss his Ministers.
In Servia there are 17 departments, 81 arrondissements, and 1571 communes. At the head of each department is a prefect nominated by the King, at the head of each arrondissement a sous-prefect, and at the head of each commune a mayor elected by the people.
Military service is compulsory, and the number of conscripts average 26,700 a year. The duration of service in the active army is for cavalry and infantry two years, and eighteen months for other branches of the service. I visited various barracks, and was afforded several opportunities of inspecting the troops. Both officers and men seem exceedingly smart and capable. Many of the officers had received their military education in France, Germany, and Russia, while one artillery officer I met had studied at Shoeburyness!
When the defensive forces are re-armed, as they will be completely within the next twelve months, Europe will find in Servia a very capable and well-trained army. Every Serb is a born fighter, and no detail is being overlooked to render Servia’s defences up to date and complete.
Servia is not a country of great landowners. Apart from the property held by the State, the land is almost wholly divided among peasant proprietors. The law grants to every Servian peasant 2.8 hectares of land, which cannot be sold to pay private debts. It is also forbidden for cultivators to give bills of exchange. These two measures are of great importance in preserving the land to the Servian peasant. The country is a very rich agricultural one—perhaps one of the richest in Europe. Yet one fact struck me as curious, namely, that in Belgrade one cannot obtain any good milk, and all butter worth eating comes from Budapest. There is a very great opening in Servia for dairy-farmers, a branch of industry which, it seems, does not exist. The vines have, in recent years, been all destroyed by the phylloxera, but they are being rapidly replaced by the American variety. The country around the arrondissements of Smederevo, Golubac, Ram, and Krayina are particularly noted for good grapes and excellent wine.
Tobacco is a monopoly of the State. It is purchased upon a tariff fixed by special commission, and is of well-known quality and peculiarly adapted for the manufacture of cigarettes. The departments where it is principally cultivated are Vranya, Krayina, Nisch, d’Uzice, and Kragooyevac, while in other parts of Servia the Turkish varieties are grown with great success, and for aroma will compare well with the tobacco of Albania or Kavala. Not only is sufficient tobacco grown in Servia to supply the wants of the country, but the quantities exported are increasing year by year. A favoured few Englishmen, and especially diplomats in various parts of Europe—who know the excellence of the special quality of Servian cigarettes—have them direct from Belgrade. Cigarettes bought for export cost one-half the price they do for consumption in Servia.
Marmalade and _slivovitza_—an _eau-de-vie_ made of prunes—are also two articles manufactured in Servia and largely exported, about three million francs’ worth of the former, and two hundred thousand francs’ worth of the latter being sent out of the country annually.
There are immense forests in various parts of the country with a great wealth of timber unexploited, as a glance at any good map of Servia will show, while the sportsman will find there plenty of game of every kind, from bear, lynx, wolf, and such-like animals, down to the quail, pigeon, partridge, pheasant, and woodcock. The whole country teems with game, and the only prohibitions are upon the stag, deer, chamois, and hen pheasants. There are many sporting clubs, the chief one being in Belgrade, where a paper is also published called _Le Chasseur_.
Servia’s mineral wealth is well known to geologists. Gold, in diluvial and alluvial deposits, is being worked at Timok, at Pek, and at other places, while cinnabar is found at Avala, near Belgrade, and in the villages of Brajici, Bare, and Donja Tresnica. At Podrinye, at Lyuta Strana, at Zuce, at Crveni Breg, in the region of Avala, at Rudnik, at Kopaonik, at Djurina Sreca there is lead; at Zavlaca and Kucajna, zinc; and at Povlen, Suvobor, Cemerno, Aldinac, Majdanpek, Bor in Timok and Rtanj, large deposits of copper. Arsenic is found in various regions, but principally near Donja Tresnica, in the department of Podrinye; while antimony is known to exist in the Zajaca region. Rich iron is waiting to be exploited upon the Kopaonik, in Vlasina, Rudna Glava, Crnajka (department of Krajina), on the Vencac, in the centre of Servia, and on the Boranja (in Podrinye); while there is coal in places too innumerable to mention in this work.
All this enormous mineral wealth might well be exploited by British capital. The Servian Government are, however, very careful to whom they give concessions, and will not entertain, for a single moment, any application, unless the applicant is properly introduced and can give undeniable proof of his _bona fides_. Therefore the adventurer who thinks he will, without capital, be able to make a “good thing” will find himself sadly disappointed. The Government is extremely anxious to receive _bona-fide_ proposals, and as His Majesty himself informed me, will grant concessions, but only to firms or companies who mean serious and legitimate business.
The Servian State is owner of all the subsoil of its territory, and can give what rights it thinks proper to foreigners to prospect and work.
British capitalists would do well to make inquiries, for, from certain information I gathered in Belgrade, I have no hesitation in saying that great returns await those who commence serious mining operations in that rich and inexhaustible field.
As the future wealth of Servia will depend to a large extent on the exploitation of her mineral resources, and as Englishmen must, ere long, be interested in her mines—as they are in mines all over the world—a few facts concerning the Mining Law of Servia may not be out of place here.
The Government grants two kinds of rights to make researches, the “simple right” and the “exclusive right.” The former is given for one year, and may be extended to two years, and is limited to the three communes indicated. The second lasts a year, but is renewable each year as long as required, and it gives a right to explore over 500,000 square metres of mining field.
The State gives concessions for mines for fifty years upon a sufficient number of mining-fields each of 100,000 square metres, the boundaries of which are fixed by a special commission. To obtain a concession it must first be proved that there are undoubted traces of minerals; that the capital is sufficient, and a plan of the proposed works has to be furnished. The concessionaire, after fifteen years of uninterrupted work, becomes proprietor, but he must continue to pay the mining duties, and of course conform to the Mining Law.
Both the prospector and the concessionaire are obliged to work regularly, take proper precautions for the well-being and personal safety of their workpeople, report annually upon work executed, and furnish each year plans for next year’s work. There must be no mining beneath roads, water-courses, buildings, or cemeteries.
All rights of research and all concessions are lost if the specified work is not executed within the first year, or is interrupted without a reason approved by the Minister, or by bankruptcy.
The State, in order to encourage industry, favours the importation of all machinery and material for use in mines, as well as the exportation of the ore obtained, and gives many other advantages to the concessionaire.
Of late, Belgrade has been overrun with foreign concession-hunters, most of them of the adventurer type. I met several of them in Belgrade. In my conversation with the Ministers I quickly learnt that the Government, fully alive to the great mineral resources of their country, and confident in the great wealth that must in a few years accrue, will have absolutely nothing to do with any person who comes to them without introduction.
In Belgrade, I repeat, the doors are closed to the irresponsible concession-hunter, but at once open to anyone who on being introduced can show his _bona fides_ and that he has capital behind him.
In the course of my inquiries into the mineral wealth I had a number of conversations with Mr. J. R. Finney, Ass. I. M. & M., an English mining engineer who has spent seventeen years in prospecting and working mines in Servia.
No one knows more about mines and traces of minerals in the country than he.
He pointed out to me that the mineral deposits of Servia have been worked to a very great extent from very early times, as the remains of Roman and Venetian works prove and the enormous slag-heaps found in various parts of the country. He himself has on many occasions found, while prospecting, rude ancient implements, bones, etc. Of the ancient Roman workings, copper, galena, and silver were obtained at Kopaonik; at Rudnik, lead, silver, and zinc were mined; at Kucajna, gold, silver, zinc, and coal, while alluvial gold is to be found all along the Pek River, and especially where it joins the Danube. This gold has, he said, evidently been worked down in course of time from a rich quartz reef which is known by certain persons, including himself, to exist.
At the Rebel copper mine, which Mr. Finney himself discovered, he found ancient workings that had been shored up with timber, but so long ago that the wood was petrified! Again, the wood was pine, which does not now exist in the forests. The latter are all beeches, and it is known that in course of long ages beeches kill the pines. At the mine in question is an extensive copper-smelting works, and a very large percentage of metal is obtained. All over this same district Mr. Finney has prospected, and declares that in the mountains of Medvednick and Povlen there are large deposits of lead, copper, silver, and antimony all awaiting exploitation.
Some very important copper mines and smelting works are at Maydan Pek, and have been worked at a good profit for years, while at Bor there has been erected a large smelting works, which are capable of producing ten tons of copper daily. Large deposits of antimony exist, to Mr. Finney’s knowledge, at Zajitchar and Krupanj.
“I quite admit,” said Mr. Finney, as we were chatting, “that some mines in Servia have not been successful. The bulk of them have been over-capitalised. Take, as an instance, one company with £300,000 capital, which left £20,000 for working. The consequence is that the sum at disposal has not been sufficient to develop the mine or to work sufficient to pay interest on £280,000.
“Again, in many cases men unacquainted with any foreign language, or with the customs of the country, have been sent out here to manage, and with instructions from a board in London utterly ignorant of the requirements of the case. As an instance of this, a certain company that I could name sent out to Servia six managers in three years. In such a case, with a manager dependent upon interpreters and ignorant of the people, the price of labour and materials rises from 200 to 300 per cent. I have known these prices to be paid. Again, there is some little reform needed in the mining laws, and the Government would be well advised if they compelled the communes to put the roads in better repair. Transport is at present somewhat difficult, and if the communes put the roads in order they would, in the long-run, greatly benefit by the opening up of the country. Such,” Mr. Finney added, “are some of the reasons why foreign mining undertakings in Servia have not been altogether successful in the past. But for the future there is great hope, and English capitalists will do well to regard Servia as a field where good profits may easily be made.”
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AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL SERVIAN PLACE-NAMES
ALEXANDROVATZ Chief town of the arrondissement of Koznitza, on the river of that name. ALEXINATZ Chief town of the department of the same name, at the junction of the Morawa with the Morawfitz. 6000 inhabitants. Copper mines. The monastery of Sant Stepan is in close proximity. ALEXINATZ Department with arrondissement of 30 communes. ARANGYELOVATZ Chief town of Jassenitza, department of Kragooyevatz. 1000 inhabitants. Source of Boukovik mineral waters. Watering-place much frequented from May till October. ARILIE An arrondissement of 23 communes in Oujitze, valley of the Morawa Serbe. ARILIE Chief town of arrondissement of that name, department of Oujitze. AZANJA Town in Jassenitza. 4500 inhabitants. AZBOUKOVATZ Arrondissement of 38 communes in Podrinié. BANIA Watering-place very frequented, in the department of Alexinatz. Ruins of a Roman bath and of a feudal castle. View upon Pyramid of Rtanje, and one of the most picturesque places in Servia. BANIA Hot-water springs an hour from Nisch. BANIA-YOSCHANITZA Chief town of Yoschanitza, in Kruschevatz. BELAVIA Mineral-water springs in the arrondissement of Yagodina. BELIVNIA Chief town of the arrondissement of Prokoupatz, department of Toplitza. BIELA-PALANKA Arrondissement in Pirot of 44 communes. BIELITZA Small tributary of the Morawa. Also name of an arrondissement. BLATO-LUZNITZA Chief town of Luznitza, department of Pirot. BOGATITCH Chief town in the arrondissement of Matchva, in Schabatz district. BOLIEVATZ Chief town of an arrondissement in the department of Tzrna Reka, at foot of Mount Ratni. BOLIEVATZ An arrondissement of the Zrnarjeka. BRESTOVATZ Station between Nisch and Vranya. BRZA-PALANKA Chief town of an arrondissement in Kraina, on the Danube. BRZA-PALANKA Arrondissement on the Roumanian frontier with 20 communes. DERVEN Chief town of the arrondissement of Sverlichka, department of Kniajevatz. Monastery of S. Arangel in the vicinity. DESPOTOVATZ Arrondissement with 33 communes in Tchoupria. DJEP Station between Nisch and Vrania. DJUNIS Station on the Morawa. DOBRA Coal-mine on the Danube between Golubatz and Dolni Milanovatz. DOBRITSH Arrondissement in Toplitza with 85 communes. DOLNI DUCHNIK Chief town in the arrondissement of Zaplania, department of Nisch. DOLNI MILANOVATZ Chief town of the arrondissement of Poreschka-Rieka, in Kraina, on the Danube. Fine forests; stone and lignite in the vicinity. DRAGATCHEVO Name of an arrondissement of which Gutscha is the chief town, in Tchatchak. 55 communes. DRINA Tributary of the Save between Bosnia and the Servian frontier. Excellent trout-fishing. GAMSIGRAD A locality near Zaitchar. Close by upon a plateau near Timok are most interesting ruins of a Roman fortress. One of the best preserved ruins in Servia. GLEDIKJ A plateau south of Kragouievatz. GOLEMO-SELO Chief town of the arrondissement of Polianitza, in Vrania. GOLIA Mountains on the frontier of Novi-Bazar. GOLUBATZ Arrondissement of 29 communes. GOLUBATZ Mining centre on the Danube. GOLUBINIE Mountains in Kraina. GORNI-MILANOVATZ Chief town of the arrondissement of Takovo and of the department of Rudnik. 3000 inhabitants. School of commerce. GRDELITZA Station on the Nisch-Vrania railway, south of Vlatchotinza. GREATCH Station near Alexinatz, on the Belgrade-Nisch railway. GROTZKA Small river, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 17 communes. GROTZKA Town on the Danube, near Belgrade. GRUJA Tributary of the Morawa Srbska, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 63 communes. GUBEREVATZ Important traces of minerals 35 kilometres from Belgrade. GUTSCHA Chief town of Dragatchevo, department of Tchatchak. Splendid pastures. GUTSCHEVO-BORANJA Mountains in the department of Podrinie. HASSAN-PACHA Chief town of the arrondissement of Jassenitza, department of Semendria. 3200 inhabitants. IBAR Tributary of the Morawa Srbska. IVANYITZA Chief town of Moravitza, department of Oujitze. 200 inhabitants. Wheat-growing. JADAR Tributary of the Drina, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 40 communes. Chief town, Loznitza. KAMENITZA Chief town of the arrondissement of Podgaratz, in Valievo. KATSCHER Arrondissement, of which the chief town is Rudnik. 38 communes. KLADOVA Chief town of the arrondissement of Kljoutscha, department of Kraina, on the Danube. 2706 inhabitants. KLIOUTSCHA Arrondissement, of which the chief town is Kladova, north of the Kraina. KNIAJEVATZ Chief town of the department of that name at the foot of the Balkans. Growing of cereals and a school of commerce. KOLUBARA Tributary of the Save. Gives its name to two arrondissements. KOPAONIK Mountains to the south of the Dinaric Alps. KORMAN Station ten kilometres north of Alexinatz. KOSSMAY Mountain which gives its name to an arrondissement of which the chief town is Iopot, department of Belgrade. 26 communes. KOSTLENIK Mountain in the department of Rudnik. KOURSCHOUMLIE Chief town of the arrondissement of Kossanitza, on the Turkish frontier. Country noted for its wines. KOUTSCHEVO Chief town of the arrondissement of Svidje, on the Pek. Coal mines. KOZIERITZA Chief town of the arrondissement of Tzerna Gora, department of Oujitza. KOZNITZA Watercourse and tributary of the Morawa Srbska, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 92 communes in the department of Kruschevatz. KRAGOUIEVATZ Chief town of the department of that name, and ancient capital of Servia. Situated on the Lepnitza. 13,000 inhabitants. Contains a large library, a gun-factory, and powder-magazine. Potteries and stone quarries. Excellent wine grown here. KRAINA Department in the north-east of Servia. Chief town, Negotin. KRALIEVO Chief town of the arrondissement of the same name, department of Tchatchak. 4200 inhabitants. Lead and iron mines. Military school. KROUPANIE Town in the department of Loznitza. Lead, zinc, and antimony mines. KRUSCHEVATZ Chief town of the arrondissement and department of that name, with 6200 inhabitants. Ancient residence of the Tzars of Servia. Vine culture. LAPOVO Junction of the railway Belgrade-Nisch with the line to Kragouievatz. LEBANE Chief town of the arrondissement of Yablonitza, at the junction of the Medvedja and Buguecka. LEPENATZ A series of plateaux in the south-west, near the environs of Nisch. LEPNITZA Tributary of the Morawa, which gives its name to the arrondissement of which Ratscha is the chief town. 40 communes. LESKOVATZ Chief town of an arrondissement of that name in the department of Nisch. Monastery of S. Radni in vicinity. Arrondissement contains 77 communes. LIPOVATSCHA Small river in the arrondissement of Ratscha. LOZNITZA Chief town of the department of Podrinie. 4000 inhabitants. School of commerce. LUBOVIA Chief town of the arrondissement of Asboukovatz, upon the Drina. LUZNITZA An arrondissement with 54 communes in the department of Pirot. MAIDANPEK Important mining centre 30 kilometres from Dolni-Milanovatz, on the Danube. Iron and copper. Vast forests. MASSOURITZA An arrondissement on the Bulgarian frontier, department of Vrania. 43 communes. MATSCHWA An arrondissement of 24 communes in Schabatz district, north-east of Servia. MIONITZA Chief town of the arrondissement of Kolubara, department of Valievo. MLAVA Tributary of the Danube which gives its name to an arrondissement of which the chief town is Petrovatz. 32 communes. MORAWA Chief river in Servia, and by its tributary the Morawa which rises in the Yavor mountains, waters much territory in the south-east of the kingdom. There is an arrondissement of the same name in the department of Rudnik, with 38 communes. MORAWITZA Tributary of the Morawa which gives its name to two arrondissements, one of 31 communes, the chief town of which is Bania, in Alexinatz, and the other, of which Yvanitza is the chief town, in Oujitza, with 149 communes. NEGOTIN A town of 6000 inhabitants, in Kraina, East Servia. Noted for its wines. NISCHAVA Tributary of the Morawa, which gives its name to the arrondissement of which Pirot is the chief town. 65 communes. NOVI HAN Chief town of the arrondissement of Timok, in the Tchiprovatz Mountains, on the Bulgarian frontier. OBRENOVATZ Chief town of the arrondissement of Possava, department of Valievo, on the Tamnava, near its confluence with the Danube. 3000 inhabitants. OMOLJE Mountains. Highest, 3500 metres, in the department of Pojarevatz. ORATSCHA A town in Semendria, upon the small river Rallya. Also the name of an arrondissement of 14 communes. OROPSI Mineral springs near Belgrade. OUB Chief town of the arrondissement of Tamnava, in Valievo. OUJITZE Town of 8000 inhabitants in the department of the same name. Wine and school of commerce. OVTSCHAR Mountains near Tchatchak. Sulphur baths. PARATCHIN Chief town of an arrondissement of that name on the Zanitza, department of Tchoupria. The monastery of S. Pelka is not far distant. PETCHENIKOTZA Town at the confluence of the Jablonitza and the Morawa. PETROVATZ Chief town of the arrondissement of Mlava, in Pojarewatz. PIROT Chief town of the department of that name in the south-east of Servia. 14,000 inhabitants. PODGORATZ Mines of iron, copper, and lead, in Valievo. Lithographic stone is quarried. PODGORIE Arrondissement of 29 communes in Valievo. PODRINYE A department in the west of Servia. Chief town, Loznitza. PODUNAVLYE Arrondissement of 25 communes in Smederevo. POJAREVATZ Chief town of an arrondissement of that name. 13,000 inhabitants. Mining centre. School of agriculture. The scene of the famous Congress of 1718. POJEGA Chief town of an arrondissement of that name, department of Oujitza. The arrondissement contains 52 communes. POLYANITZA An arrondissement on the Turkish frontier, department of Vrania. PORESCHKA Tributary of the Danube in a deep valley between the Pekska and the Misosch mountains. It gives its name to an arrondissement of 11 communes, in Kraina. PORTES DE FER (GYERDAP) “The Iron Gates” of the Danube, or passage between the Balkans at the point where the river leaves Servia. There is also a small town of 3000 inhabitants. In the mountains in the vicinity the wild cherry is found. It is very rare, and is much sought after for the manufactory of expensive furniture. POSSAVA An arrondissement of 27 communes in Belgrade. Also one in the department of Valievo. POSSAVO-TAMNAVA Arrondissement of 54 communes in the department of Schabatz. POTSERIE Arrondissement of 34 communes, of which the chief town is Schabatz. PRECHILOVATZ Chief town of an arrondissement of that name in Alexinatz. PREILLINA Chief town of the arrondissement of the Morawa, a few kilometres from Tchatchak. PRIBOI Town on the railway Nisch-Vrania. PRILIKA Mineral springs in the arrondissement of Oujitze. PROKOUPATZ Arrondissement of 104 communes in department of Toplitza. PROKOUPLIE Chief town of Toplitza and of the arrondissement of Dobritsch. PSCHINIE An arrondissement of 89 communes in Vrania. RADJEVINA Chief town of Radjevo, in Podrinie, on the Bosnian frontier. Lead mines. RADJEVO Arrondissement of 32 communes. RADOUYEVATZ A town on the Danube at the point where the right bank ceases to be in Servia. RAJAN Chief town of the arrondissement of that name, in Alexinatz. The Monastery of S. Roman is in the vicinity. RALLYA Station on the Belgrade-Nisch line. Important mining centre. Also the name of a small river. RAMA Arrondissement of 31 communes, of which Veliko Graditcha is the chief town. RASCHKA Chief town in the arrondissement of Stoudenitza, department of Tchatchak, at the foot of Mount Golia. RATSCHA Chief town of the arrondissement of Lepnitza, in Kragouievatz. Also the name of an arrondissement of 28 communes in Oujitze. REKOVATZ Chief town of the arrondissement of Levatch, in Yagodina. RESNIK Station on the Belgrade-Nisch railway. RESSAVA Tributary of the Morawa which gives its name to an arrondissement of 24 communes in Tchoupria. RIPANIE Station and mine on the line Belgrade-Nisch. RTANIE A pyramidical mountain of 3900 metres in the arrondissement of Alexinatz. RUDNIK Chief town of the arrondissement of Kastcher, department of Rudnik; also the name of a range of mountains in the centre of Servia. RYBAR Mineral springs in Kruschevatz. SAVA A tributary of the Danube which joins the latter at Belgrade. SCHABATZ A town of 11,000 inhabitants upon the Save, capital of a department of that name. SCHORNIK A plateaux to the west of Oujitze. SCHUMADIA A vast forest extending through the departments of Belgrade and Rudnik. SEMENDRIA Chief town of a department of that name, situated on the Danube, with 7500 inhabitants. Vine culture. SIKIRITZA A station between Belgrade and Nisch. Lignite is known to exist here in large quantities. SIKOLIE A mining centre in the Kraina. SLATIBOR A chain of mountains forming part of the Dinaric Alps separating Servia and Rascie (Novi Bazar). Also the name of an arrondissement of 30 communes in Oujitze. SMRDAN-BARA Excellent sulphur springs at the confluence of the Drina and the Save in Loznitza. Very picturesque. SOPOT Chief town on the arrondissement of Kossmai, department of Belgrade. STALATZ The junction of the railway Kruschevatz-Oujitze and the line Belgrade-Nisch. STANISCHITZA High plateaux in Kruschevatz. STIG An arrondissement of 13 communes in Pojarevatz, the chief town being Koutschevo. STUDENITZA Tributary of the Ibar, which joins it between the mountains Iakowo and Radotschewo. It gives its name to an arrondissement of 144 communes in Tchatchak. The chief town is Ratschka, near which is the celebrated monastery of Tsarska Lavra, built in the twelfth century by the orders of Krale Stefan Nemania, who became a monk under the name of Simeon. The monastery, in the Slavonic style, Orthodox and Byzantine, is entirely constructed of white marble, and is of marvellous beauty. SVERLICHKA Arrondissement of 40 communes, the chief town of which is Derven, in Kniajevatz. SVILAINATZ Chief town of Ressava, upon the river of that name in the department of Tchoupria. TAKOVO Arrondissement of 43 communes in Rudnik. TAMNAVA A tributary of the Save which gives its name to an arrondissement of 42 communes in Valievo. TCHAITINA Chief town of the arrondissement of Slatibor, near the Bosnian frontier, twenty kilometres from Mokragora. TCHATCHAK Chief town of a department of that name, situated upon the Morawa Serbe. 4200 inhabitants. TCHOPITZ Chief town of Kolubara, department of Belgrade. TCHOUPRIA Chief town of a department of that name, situated upon the Morawa at its confluence with the Kamenitza. 5200 inhabitants. Lignite. TEMNITCH A department with capital of the same name. TEMNITCHKA Mountains in the south of Yagodina which give their names to an arrondissement of 43 communes. TIMOK A river which rises near Biela Palanka, runs to the north, and falls into the Danube a little below Radouyevatz, after serving as frontier to Servia and Bulgaria for 50 kilometres. The name also of an arrondissement of 20 communes of which Novi-Han is the chief town, in the department of Kniajevatz. TOPLITZA A river rising in the Kopaonik mountains, and falls into the Morawa near Nisch. It also gives its name to a department of which Prokouplie is the chief town. TOPOLA A small town in Kragouievatz. 3100 inhabitants. TOPSCHIDER First station on the line Belgrade-Nisch. Royal villa and gardens. Also mining centre. The name of a small river falling into the Save. TRNAVA An arrondissement of 29 communes, the chief town of which is Tchatchak. TRSTENIK A town of 2000 inhabitants, situated on the Morawa Srbska, in Kruschevatz. Manufacture of millstones. Also the name of an arrondissement of 38 communes. TZERNAGORA A mountain which gives its name to an arrondissement of 126 communes in Oujitze. UMKA A town on the Save, department of Belgrade. VALIEVO Chief town of the department and arrondissement (of 62 communes) of the same name. 7500 inhabitants. Lithographic stone. Town lit by electricity by an English concessionaire, Mr. J. R. Finney. VARVARIN A town in the department of Yagodina. Stalatz station. VELIKA-LUKANIA A town at the foot of Mount Radotschina, department of Pirot. The monastery of S. Aranghel is near. VELIKA-PLANA The junction of railways between Belgrade-Nisch and Semendria. VELIKI-POPOVITCH Chief town of the arrondissement of Despotovatz, situated on the Retsava. VELIKO-GRADISHTE A town at the confluence of the Pek and Danube. 4016 inhabitants. Wheat-growing. VERSCHKA-TCHOUKA Mountain between Novi-Han and Zaitchar. Rich coal mines. VIZZOTSCHKA An arrondissement in Pirot containing 26 communes. VLADIMIRTSI Chief town of the arrondissement of Possavo-Tamnava, in Schabatz. VLADITCHIN-HAN Small station on the Nisch-Vrania line. VLASCHKA Fifth station from Belgrade, towards Nisch. VLASSINA Chief town of the arrondissement of Mazouritza, in Vrania, on the Bosnian frontier. VLASSOTINZE A town situate on the Vlassina-Vignes, in Nisch. Also the name of an arrondissement of 51 communes. VRANIA Chief town of a department of that name in South Servia, on the Nisch-Uskub line. Vine culture. At Bania, in the vicinity, mineral springs. VRATCHAR Arrondissement of 20 communes in the department of Belgrade. WRATARNITZA A plateau to the east of Zrna-Rieka, Bulgarian frontier. WRNTZE Excellent mineral springs upon the road from Kralievo to Trstenik, in the arrondissement of Kruschevatz. YABAR Chief town in the arrondissement of Morawa. Abundant lignite. YABLANITZA A river falling into the Morawa at Brestovatz-Tchetina, and giving its name to an arrondissement of 58 communes, department of Toplitza. YADAR A tributary of the Drina which gives its name to an arrondissement of 40 communes in Podrinie. YAGODINA Chief town of the department of that name and of the arrondissement of Bielitza, upon the Constantinople road. 5000 inhabitants. Station on the Belgrade-Nisch line. YASSENITZA A tributary of the Morawa, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 27 communes in Kragouievatz. Also a small tributary of the Medjloudje and the name of an arrondissement of 15 communes in Semendria. YAVOR Mountains on the western frontier of Servia. YBAR Tributary of the Morawa Serbe, which it joins near Kralievo. YOSCHANITZA Small tributary of the Ibar which gives its name to an arrondissement of 71 communes in Kruschevatz. YVANITZA Chief town of the arrondissement of Morawitza, in Oujitze. 2000 inhabitants. Cereals. ZAGLAV An arrondissement of 51 communes, of which Kniajevatz is the chief town. ZAGOUBITZA Chief town of the arrondissement of Omolje, upon the Mlava. The celebrated monastery of S. Giorgiak is in the vicinity. ZAITCHAR One of the arrondissements of the Zrna Rieka. 25 communes. Also name of the capital of the department. 7000 inhabitants. Coal mines. ZAPLANIE An arrondissement of 55 communes in the department of Nisch.
BULGARIA