LIFE IN THE WILDS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1929, Page 7

LIFE IN THE WILDS

CUSTOMS' IN ALBANIA. Fresh from the wilds of 'the primitive tribal hills of Albania, Miss iiosita Forbes, the famous woman ex plorer, recently found herself in the striking contrast of London bent 01 holiday-making among every luxurj of modern civilisation. “It seems strange to mix with 111 well-dressed, convention people of London after the queer society whic I have just left,” Miss Forbes saic in an interview at her West Ent home. “The strangest of all th people I met in the Balkans were tin Albanian virgins. Thesie are women who, according to the custom of the hill tribes, have been betrothed befor they were born. On reaching marriageable age—l 3or 14— they rejectee! their selected fiances and have been punished by being sentenced to perpetual single blessedness. The first of these women that I met gave me one of the biggest sur prises of my life,” said Miss Forbes. “As I approached a mountain dwell irtjg I saw standing precariously on a rock what I took to be a man. H< was dressed in the usual male garb of the hills. On his head was a white skull cap. He wore a whit r cotton shirt and baggy white cotton trousers, with a red sash at the waist. On his feet were rough sandals, and he wore also a cartridge belt and cavried a rifle. “Suddenly he threw back his head, opened' wide his mouth, and let out such a terrific yell that the veins an< muscles of his neck stood out lik iron hands. It was the signal tha guests were arriving, and a verj necessary signal too. For in thisland of perpetual blood feuds shoot ing affrays are common, but it is the code of the hills that a shot shall never be fired in the presence of a woman or a guest. “When I remarked on the violence of the yell, which must have carried a mile or more, I was astonished when my host told me that the crier was not a man at all, but a woman —one of the Albanian virgins. “I learned,” said Miss Forbes, “that when these betrothed girls rejected their fiance they were immediately ordered to dress and live as men. They eat as men, drink as men, sleep as men. They have also to learn to shoot and fight as men, and are expected to take part in blood feuds and when necessary kill as men. The one thing that is barred to them is love-making. “The sense of personal honour among the hill tribes,” Miss Forbes explained, “is extraordinarily high and although she will not marry, an Albanian virgin is still regarded • as the lawful fiancee of the man to whom she is engaged. 11l a sense the virgins have much for which to be thankful. Living as men they enjoy many advantages and privileges. It is the women who do most of the work, even toiling in the fields. Tire Albanians make the ideal hosts. According, to one of their quaint greetings a guest possesses their ‘bread, their salt, and their hearts.’ “My host in the hills,” said Miss Forbes, “slept armed with knife and rifle across the threshold of my room. In the event of a guest being killed,” Miss Forbes added, “ the lmst must avenge his honour by taking five lives, that of the murderer and four of his tribe. “The Albanians are the most kindly and courteous of people. They have a tremendous regard for the English. No one could do too much for me. I met King Zogi of Albania. He is a charming man of about 30, and is doing a great work toward civilising and modernising his country.”