Page:History of Greece Vol II.djvu/103

 STATE OF SOCIETY, ETC. gj They are the instinctive manifestations of human sodality, standing at first alone, and for that reason appearing to possess a it. The longest space of time cannot cool their wrath, nor the most distant place of refuge afford security to their enemy." (Loskiel, History of the Mission of the United Brethren among the North American Indians, Part I. ch. 2, p. 15.) " Charlevoix observes, (says Dr. Ferguson, Essay on Civil Society, Part II. 2, p. 145.) that the nations among whom he travelled in North America never mentioned acts of generosity or kindness under the notion of duty. They acted from affection, as they acted from appetite, without regard to its consequences. When they had done a kindness, they had gratified a de- sire: the business was finished, and it passed from the memory. The spirit with which they give or receive presents is the same as that which Tacitus remarks among the ancient Germans : ' Gaudcnt muneribus, sed nee data imputant, nee acccptis obligantur.' Such gifts are of little consequence, ex- cept when employed as the seal of a bargain or a treaty." Respecting the Morlacchi (Illyrian Sclavonians). the Abbe' Fortis says (Travels in Dalmatia, pp. 55-53): "The hospitality of the Morlachs is equally conspicuous among the poor as among the opulent. The rich prepares a roasted lamb or sheep, and the poor, with equal cordiality, gives his turkey, milk, honey, whatever he has. Nor is their generosity confined to strangers, but generally extends to all who ai-<! in want Friendship is lasting among the Morlacchi. They have even Trade it a kind of religious point, and tie the sacred bond at the foot of the altar. The Sclavouian ritual contains a particular benediction, for the solc*nn union of two male or two female friends, in presence of tho whole congregation. The male friends thus united are called Pobratimi, and the female? Posestrcme, which means half-brothers and half-sisters. The duties of tl)T Pobratimi are, to assist each other in every case of need and danger, to revenge mutual wrongs, etc. : their enthusiasm is often carried so far as to risk, and even lose their life But as the friendships of tho Morlacchi a> - e strong and sacred, so their quarrels are commonly uncxtin- guishable. They pass from father to son, and the mothers fail not to put their children in mind of their duty to revenge their father, if he has had the misfortune to be killed, and to show them often the bloody shirt of the de- ceased A Morlach is implacable, if injured or insulted. With him, revenge and justice have exactly the sarae meaning, and truly it is the prim- itive idea, and I have been told that in Albania the effects of revenge are still more atrocious and more lasting. There, a man of the mildest charac- ter is capable of the most barbarous revenge, believing it to be his positive duty A Morlach wto has killed another of a powerful family is com- monly obliged to save himself by flight, and keep out of the way for several yoars. If during that time he has been fortunate enough to escape the search of his pursuers, and has got a small sum of money, he endeavors to obtain pardon and peace It is the custom in some places for the offende'J