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Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17030, 3 December 1915, Page 5

Bulgarians have a reputation for longevity. They boast of possessing more centenarians than any other people in Europe. Among these is “ the oldest woman in the world.” Mrs Baba Vasilka. who is. or was quite lately, still living at her native village of llavel.-ko, which she lias never left. She was born of peasant parentage in May. 1784, and there is no doubt about her age, because the record of hor baptism is preserved at a neighbouring monastery. According to the custom of a. country where women are employed on most kinds of manual labour, Mrs Vasilka worked in the fields for more than a hundred years. When she was horn Bulgaria was mur-aly a province oi Turkey.