Servia and the Servians 1862 William Denton

120 8ERrI.4. .4.11.D THE .BERrI.4.N 8.
finest oaks are cut down for a stockade for the field,
for shingles for the roofs of cottages and outhouses, or
for fuel for the fire. Any passenger who needs a
walking-stick may cut down a tree for the purpose, and
the little consideration which is bestowed upon all this
lavish profusion of nature may be gathered from tho
common proverb, "Whatever is scarce in Servia, wood
and water are within everybody's reach." The best
practical comment on this proverb is presented by the
number of dry and blackened trunks of trees every ...
where seen in these forests, which have been destroyed
by the fires of the gipsies or swineherds.
This part of the country was well known to the
Romans during their occupation of Servia, and here
are situated the mines w:hich were worked by them,
and, until a recent period, have remained untouched
and almost forgotten since their time. The intricate
mountainous character of this comer of Servia, and its
boundless forest fastnesses, made it the chief retreat
of the patriot bands during the War of Independence
against the Turks. It is a country in which a handful
of resolute men might stay the march of an army.
On the plateaux of the smaller hills we saw spots
of cleared land, surrounding small farm-steads and
cottages ; but with these rare exceptions, the only
inhabitants of these interminable forests are the game,
which is abundant, and the countless herds of pigs,
which run wild and find ample food under the oak
and beech trees. During our journey of some fivf:} and
twenty ~es, we met the mounted postman with ~
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