THE BUKOWINA.
TRANSFER OF THE COUNTRY TO
AUSTRIA--EXTENT--POPULATION--COSTUMES.
Bukowina, formerly part of Moldavia, was subdued in 1769 by the
Russians, but restored to the Ottoman Porte at the peace concluded in
1774. In the same year Austria took military possession of this
province, and by the convention of the 12th of May, 1776, it was
formally ceded to that power. It derives its name from the numerous
forests of beech which it contains, that tree being called in the
Slavonian language _buk_. Its greatest length is about 150 miles, and
its extreme breadth 80. The soil is fertile, especially between the
rivers Pruth and Dniester, and in the valley of Szucsawa; and the
mountainous parts are interspersed with rich and extensive
pasture-grounds; but on account of the early frosts and the long
duration of the winter, the only crops that can be raised there are
oats, barley, and potatoes.
At the time of the occupation of this province by Austria in 1776, it
contained no more than eleven or twelve thousand families. The
conscription of 1817 exhibited a total of nearly forty-two thousand
families, and upwards of two hundred thousand souls. These are
composed of Moldavians, or original inhabitants, Ruthenians, Germans,
of whom there are eighteen colonies, Hungarians Armenians,
Lipowanians, or Philippowanians, Gipsies and Jews.
A BOYAR, or GENTLEMAN OF THE BUKOWINA.
In the Bukowina every gentleman or proprietor of land is called Boyar.
The usual dress of this class is faithfully represented in the
opposite plate. A long blue pelisse, with short sleeves, covers the
under-garments, which consist of wide red trowsers, a blue striped
shirt, and a broad belt, in which a knife is stuck, and from which
hangs a handkerchief. The head is covered with a red Servian cloth
cap.
The Boyar here represented, is an inhabitant of the town of Szered; he
is supposed to have just quitted his house, and appears in a
contemplative attitude.
A PEASANT OF THE BUKOWINA.
The usual costume of the peasants of the Bukowina, consists of white
or red trowsers, a shirt, the wide, open sleeves of which are
embroidered at the wrist, and over that an open waistcoat bordered
with fur. With a pouch slung over his shoulder, and a long handled
hatchet, which supplies the place of a stick, in his hand, he
usually proceeds to his work in the fields and woods.
[Illustration: BOYAR of SERET.]
According to the regulations of Gregory Gyka, prince of Moldavia, the
holders of land are bound to labour twelve days in the year, and the
holders of houses six days, for their lord, besides paying him the
tithe of all their field-crops and fruit, and also of the produce of
their gardens when they deal in such articles. According to ancient
custom, every vassal holding grants of land gives, moreover, as a
yearly acknowledgment, a hen, and a certain quantity of yarn; and if
he keeps a cart or wagon, he must carry home for his lord a load of
wood from his forest, or if there be none on his domains, from that
which lies nearest to them.
WOMAN OF SZUCSAWICZA.
Szucsawicza, pronounced Szutzawitza, is celebrated as the ancient
residence of the princes of Moldavia. On a hill near the place are
still to be seen the ruins of a strong castle which they inhabited. It
seems to have been destroyed by violence, probably in one of the
frequent incursions of the Turks and Poles into this province. Whether
the destruction of this castle, or as some assert, the commands of the
Porte, caused the princes of Moldavia to change their place of abode,
we shall not pretend to determine. So much at any rate is certain,
that, till the middle of the sixteenth century, the Woywodes or
Hospodars of Moldavia resided at Szucsawicza; and consequently it was
not till the latter half of that century that they removed from this
place to Yassy.
On a gentle eminence near the town there is a convent of monks of St.
Basil, belonging to the not united Greek church, which, in regard to
the number of its members, predominates in the Bukowina. This edifice
stands in a dreary, melancholy country, and makes an extraordinary
impression on the traveller with its numerous towers, crosses, and
bells, and the paintings on the outside of the church. It is
surrounded by walls and towers, as a defence against sudden attacks of
banditti; and owes its existence to the pious donations of several
Moldavian princes who are interred in it.
The women of Szucsawicza wrap a handkerchief about the head, and wear
trowsers, slippers turned up at the toe, and a jacket bordered with
fur in the Greek fashion. In their manners and customs these people
closely resemble the Moldavians.
UNMARRIED FEMALE OF JAKOBENY.
Jakobeny is a place situated in the mountains and inhabited by miners.
The females of the lower class here as every where else, are fond of
finery. To the decorations of their persons belong indispensably
numerous necklaces and other ornaments made of beads, coins, crosses,
rich embroidery, and in summer fresh flowers and sprigs of plants for
their hair. The gown is coloured and striped, and a red sash encircles
the waist.
The engraving represents an unmarried female; the dress of the married
woman is destitute alike of ornament and taste. The coarse gown is
commonly of a dark colour with blue stripes, and in cold weather they
wear over it a loose shapeless brown coat.
FEMALE PEASANTS OF PHILIPPOWAN.
We have already observed that the Lipowanians, or Philippowanians,
form a particular class of the inhabitants of Bukowina. They belong to
the Russian Raskolniks, and to the not united Greek church. They
removed about the year 1785, from the Black Sea into the
Bukowina, and obtained of the emperor Joseph II. the free
exercise of their religion. They are a peaceable, industrious and
active people, addicted to agriculture, and partly subsist by the sale
of fresh and dried fruit, fish, and cordage of their own manufacture.
They are extremely skilful in draining wet, marshy lands, inhabit
three villages, and are among the different sects of the eastern
church what the Moravians are among the Protestants.
[Illustration: UNMARRIED FEMALE of JACKOBERG.]
[Illustration: FEMALE PEASANTS of PHILLIPPOWAN.]
The appearance of the Philippowanians produces an agreeable impression
on the stranger. They are in general tall and well-shaped, and both
sexes usually wear long cloth coats carefully buttoned from top to
bottom. The women have stiff caps over which they tie a large
handkerchief. A bandeau embroidered with gold encircles the forehead.
The gown, without sleeves, is either green or red, bound round the
waist with a sash, and the feet are covered with red or yellow
buskins. The annexed engraving represents two females of this
district, and displays the front and back of their rich dress, which
bears a strong affinity to the Ottoman costume; the only features
seemingly peculiar to the subjects before us being the ornamented
shift sleeves.
The Lipowanians have but little intercourse with the other inhabitants
of the country: at least, if they can help it they will not admit
strangers into their habitations. Should a person, nevertheless, have
obtained access through accident or against their will, they consider
the spot where he has sat or stood as contaminated till they have
purified it in their own way. They never eat with any stranger. They
have particular plates, vessels, and utensils for guests, and when
they entertain a person they press him to eat all that is set before
him, or throw away what is left. They are forbidden to use tobacco and
snuff, and suffer no inn or public house to be kept among them.
It is surprising with what care these people keep both the ceremonies
and the doctrines of their religion profoundly secret. They have no
priests but only a teacher called _daskal_: they acknowledge the
authority of no oriental ecclesiastic, but profess to belong to a
church of their sect in Moldavia, where all their marriages are
solemnized. No traces of burial-grounds are to be found among them,
and hence it is conjectured that they burn their dead. Their churches
in Moldavia are in all respects like the other churches of the East,
excepting that they are surmounted by three triple crosses, the lowest
cross-bar of which is placed in an oblique direction.
The Philippowanians are said to have derived their name from one
Philip, who was first servitor in a Russian convent, then became a
monk, and aspired to the rank of superior. Being disappointed in this
scheme, he accused his brethren of having swerved from the ancient
faith; and having made proselytes of about fifty of his colleagues, he
seceded from the convent, built another, and thus became the founder
of a new sect.