BALKANS FEUD

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1936, Page 12

BALKANS FEUD

DRAMA IN MONTENEGRIN TOWN A striking revival of ancient Montenegrin tribal law took place recently in the village of Zhupa, near Nikshitch. Some time ago, a 15-year-old hoy, Yovan, the son of Philip Knezhevitch, was killed by his school friend, Marinko Kroulanovitch, who rashly took out his knife in a quarrel, while the two were watching their flocks in a field. . The occurrence gave rise to a great concern in the neighbourhood, as, according' to the old blood feud system, which still rules in parts of Montenegro, the spilling of blood calls tor vengeance. \ By primeval custom, however, the normal “taking of blood,” may, in cases of unpremeditated murder, be waived for a ceremonial reconciliation. . A number of well-known men in the district consequently took it upon themselves to bring the two families together, and some days later a long procession headed by the priest healing a cross, and followed by the whole Kroulanovitch family, wound its way through the village to the house ot -the-Knezhevitchi,- where the .head of. the Kroulanovitch household made a solemn offer -of “knmktVd,”*-a form of religious relationship hfild even mote sacred than family 'ties -among Balkan peoples. This was accepted by the father of Philip Knezhevitch The whole .gathering, headed by the. i reconciled families, then returned to the Kroulanovitch house, where a generous feast awaited them.