Hungary and its People ... With illustrations

Front matter

n m MIS MAJESTY FRANCIS JOSEPH I,, APOSTOLIC KING OF HUNGARY. Page i. HUNGARY AND ITS PEOPLE MAGYARORSZAG ES NEPEI BY LOUIS FELBERMANN, FfiLLOW OF THE HUNGARIAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY; FELLOW OF THE HUNGARIAN ETHNOGRAl'HIC AL SOCIETY; OFFICER OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF TAKOVA ; KNIGHT OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF ST, SAVA, etc., etc. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS LONDON GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LIMITED NEWBERY HOUSE, 39, CHARING CROSS ROAD 2>eJ>tcatct) most respectfully BY SPECIAL PERMISSION TO HER EXCELLENCY THE COUNTESS DEYM, BY THE AUTHOR.

Preface

. Long before the great Hungarian Revolution in 1848-49 and the compromise between Austria and Hungary in 1867, which established the rights of Hungary, that great Hun garian patriot Francis Dedk, to whose skill and efforts the reconciliation between sovereign and people and the two sister countries is mainly due, said in one of his speeches in the Diet of Pozsony : — " There is in the heart of every man a pure and ardent feeling which binds him closely to his fatherland, and I hold him to be no brave man, no true Magyar, to whom this poor suffering country is not dearer than the most brilliant empire in Europe." The great patriot now dreams his eternal dream, and the homage paid to his remains by the King and his subjects, and the great reverence in which his memory is kept by all classes of people in the vast dominions of Francis Joseph, show that not only the Hungarians but also the Austrians know how to appreciate the true sense of this speech.

This will be an excuse for me, as a Hungarian, to take Hungary and its people for the subject of this work. But to write about the Hungarians, who by their supposed relationship to the Huns have already gained fame in the Roman period ; and whose swords for the last thousand years have not rested in the defence of their country ; and who by their bravery in checking the Turkish invasion into Europe rightly deserve to be called the champions of Christianity ; and above all whose country is so beautiful and varied in scenery, and which contains so many nation alities, each different from the other ; it is not sufficient to be a Hungarian to do justice to the cause, and to describe a nation like the Hungarians, whose past history is so full of heroic deeds, and whose country is as beautiful as the promised land of Canaan : something more than personal knowledge is required.

To this end I could do no better a Preface. IV than make use of the information obtained from the sources of such well-known Hungarian writers as Maurice Jokai, who justly ranks as one ofthe foremost writers in Europe, and who so ably describes Hungary and its people both from historic and other points of view ; Professors Vambe'ry and Hunfalvy, who have devoted their lives to unveiling the mystery regarding the origin of the Hungarians ; Alexander Petofi, that greatest of all Hungarian poets, who in a short poem entitled " Alfold " gives a truer idea of the Hungarian Lowlands than whole volumes could express ; Vahot Imre, Ensel Sandor, who knew so well how to describe the customs and manners of all the nationalities and races in the Kingdom of St. Stephen ; Toldy Ferencz, the author of the Magyar literature, as well as Dr. Chyzer Kornel, whose work on Hungarian watering-places is invaluable ; as well as other authors mentioned in my work.

It would be unjust were I not to express my thanks to my friend Dr. Sarmai, who has rendered me great services in accomplishing my task, and also to Dr. Jankd Janos. With such assistance at command, I trust that, if I have not succeeded in giving a complete description of Hungary and its people, my work will give at least a general idea on the subject. I wish also to impress upon the reader that the fact of my being a Hungarian has not by any means induced me to give an exaggerated account of the country and its inhabitants. I would fain that I could describe it as well as it justly deserves. Finally, I wish to add that in token of the deep love I bear to my native country, I have dedicated this work to Her Excellency Countess Deym, who so worthily and ably supports His Excellency Count Deym in his important post as Austro-Hungarian Ambassador at the Court of St. James's, and her gracious acceptance of the same is a sufficient reward to me for time and labour involved in writing this work. London, 1892. LoUIS FELBERMANN.

Chapter I

The Origin of the Hungarians. The Theories of Professors Vambery and Hunfalvy — The National Traditions — A Lapp Legend — The Lapps related to the Magyars — Julian's Adventures in the early part of the Thirteenth Century — He discovers the Ancient Home of the Magyars — His Return to Hungary pp. 1—37

CHAPTER II. Historical Hungary — The Arpad Dynasty

Almos is chosen Chief of the Magyars, and takes the Oath of Fidelity to the People — Almos succeeded by his Son Arpad, who crosses the Don, Volga, and the Carpathians — He enters Hungary at Munkacs, and claims the country as an inheritance from the Huns — He conquers Zalan, the Prince of the Slavs and Bulgars, the countries of Memrod, Gelon, Prince of the Wallachians, Gad and Svatoplok, the King of Moravia — He discovers his brethren the Szekelys in Transylvania, who were left behind by the Huns — The Magyars hold their first Assembly at Pusztaszer, and Arpad is proclaimed Prince of Hungary — Arpad a Wise Ruler — Zoltan — Luitpold and other German Princes invade Hungary, and are totally destroyed at the Battle of Pozsony — The Hungarians make incursions into Germany, Alsace-Lorraine, France, and Italy (939), and make them pay heavy tributes — Taksony — The Treachery of Conrad — The Defeat of the Hungarians at Augsburg — Lehel the Hungarian General kills Conrad with his Bugle — Spread of Christianity — Geza embraces Christianity — His Son Stephen is Baptized (994) — St. Stephen's Dream of Queen Charlotte— Kupa the Heathen Rebel — St. Stephen sends Envoys to Pope Sylvester II. — Sylvester sends him a Crown and a Bull proclaiming him and his Descendants the First State Dignitaries in Hungary with the Title of Apostolic King— Coronation of St. Stephen as King of Hungary — St. Stephen a Wise Ruler — Marriage of St. Stephen with Gizela, a Bavarian Princess — Revolt of Gyula, the Prince of Transylvania — Tran--,ylvania annexed to Hungary — St. Stephen's Death (1038) — Dissensions and Troubles in the Country— St. Ladislaus (1077) continues the good work of St. Stephen — He is chosen by Pope Gregory VII. as Leader of the Crusaders— Coloman the Book King refuses the VI Leadership qf the Crusaders— He establishes many Public Insti tutions, and "introduces Useful Laws— He annexes Croatia, Dalmatia, and Bosnia to Hungary— Turn of the Hungarian Wheel of Fortune — Stephen II. loses the greater portion of Dalmatia in a War against the Venetians— Hungary almost a Vassalage of the Byzantic Empire— Andreas II.

(1205) is elected Leader of the Crusaders and proceeds to Jerusalem— Troubles arising in the Country during his absence— The Golden Bull— The Tartar In vasion —Bela appeals to the People, who offer to stand by their King— The Devastation of the Tartars -The People and King take refuge in the Caves — Batu Khan leaves the Country — Hungary like a Desert— Re-building of the Towns and Villages- German Settlers invited — Re-appearance of the Tartars and their Defeat — Death of Bela III. — Stephen II. — Ladislaus IV.— Andreas III.— Death of Andreas III. — Extinction of the Arpad Dynasty pp. 3s- S2

CHAPTER III. The Anjou Dynasty

Election of a Sovereign — The Czech, German, Polish, and Italian Candidates— Charles Robert of Anjou — The Loss ofthe Crown of St. Stephen— Matthias Csak— Charles Robert's wise Rule — His Court the first in Europe— Charles Robert nominated King of Naples and Poland — Campaign with the Wallachians and Defeat of the Magyars — Louis the Great — Andrew King of Naples murdered — Louis swears revenge, and enters Italy with an army and punishes the murderers of Andrew — He defeats the Tartar invaders and the Prince of Lithuania — Louis fights the Servians and Venetians — Annexes Dalmatia to Hungary- — -Venice has to pay a tribute to Hungary — The Hungarian Court as the Centre of European Culture — Louis refuses the Crown of Germany — -Prosperity of Hungary — Sigismund — Princesses Mary and Hedwiga — Sigismund titular Emperor of Rome — Sultan Bajazet invades Hungary — Defeat of the Turks at Nicapolis — Battle at Great Nicapolis, slaughter of 60,000 Turks — Defeat of the Hungarians — The Balkan States — Hunyady Janos — Story of the Birth of Hunyady — -The King and the Raven — Hunyady destroys the Turkish forces, consisting of So,ooo, at Nicapolis — He expels Sultan Murat from the Banat, and defeats him at Belgrade — Death of King Sigismund— Uladislaus, the King of Poland, declares War against the Queen of Hungary — Hunyady defeats the Turks in Transsylvania — Sultan Murat swears revenge — The Capture of Nisch and Sofia by Hunyady — King Uladislaus returns to Buda with thirteen Captive Pashas and fifty Turkish Flags — The Sultan imploring for Peace — The Hungarians, at the request of the Pope, renew the War — Iving Uladislaus and Hunyady at Varna— Defeat of the Magyars at Varna — King Uladislaus loses his life — Hunyady captured by George Brankovich, the Woiwode of Servia — Hunyady returns to Hungary and is chosen Captain General— Mohammed II., the Serbs, Bulgars, and Wallachians offer their co-operation to Hunyady — -Defeat of Mohammed's forces — Mohammed wounded — Hunyady returns to Buda with 300 cannons captured from the Turks — Death of Hunyady — Ladislaus, the son of Hunyady, con demned to Death — Matthias a wise and good Ruler— He gets back the Crown of St. Stephen from the German Emperor — The first Hussar Regiment — Defeat of the Turks in Bosnia and Servia — The Croatian and Transylvanian Revolt — War against Bohemia — ■ The King of Poland invades Hungary — The Turks again invade Hungary — Defeat of the Turks — Peace established for eight years — Matthias captures Vienna — He establishes the first University, founds many Schools, and introduces the first Printing Press in the Country — The Library of Matthias Corvinus — A Jew Prime Minister — Matthias' death — Suleiman invades Hungary — Battle of Mohacs — Total Defeat ofthe Hungarians, in which Louis II. loses his Life — The Turks Masters of Hungary for over 150 years.

PP- 53—70

CHAPTER IV. The Hapsburg Dynasty

Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, claims the crown as an inheritance of his wife's — He is crowned as King— Zapolya Janos the rival King — The Turkish Invasion — The Capture of Buda — The Division of the Country into fifteen departments, and ruled by Pashas — Heroic Defence of Losonczy at Temesvar — The heroic self-sacrifice of Szondy Gyorgy — Attack of Eger by Ali Pasha — Heroic deeds of Dobd and the Women of Eger — Heroic Defence of Szigetvar by Zrinyi Miklos — The Death ofthe Sultan at Szigetvar — The fall of Szigetvar — Sigismund Bathory defeats the Turks — The Woiwode of Wallachia and Hospodar of Moldau pursue the Turks to Roumania and defeat them there — Palfiy Miklos attacks the Turks, and drives them away from the various forts — He bombards Buda and takes the Pasha a prisoner — Rudolph's Reign — The Protestant persecutions — Rising of the Hungarians, under Bathory and Bethlen Gabor — Leopold I. abuses the privileges of the Hungarians — Revolt of the Hungarians — Defeat of the Revolutionists — Severe treatment of the Hungarians — Thokoli, with the assistance of the Turks, rises against the King of Hungary — Vienna Bombarded — Prince Charles of Lothringen and John Sobieszky drive the Turksaway from Vienna— Retreat of Mustapha Pasha to Buda— Heroic Defence of Munkacs by Zrinyi Ilona— Attack of the Turks at Buda — Buda recaptured — -Hungarian flag hoisted on the Castle of Buda — The flight ofthe Turks — Grand processions at Buda — Battle of Mohacs, total defeat of the Turks — Restoration of Transsylvania to Hungary — Recapture of the Banat, Bosnia, Servia, Macedonia, Herzegovina and Roumelia from the Turks by Prince Charles — The Turks surrender all the forts in Hungary, keeping only the Banat — Thokoli's Invasion in Hungary — Rakoczy II. bombards Vienna — Leopold's Misrule of Hungary — Joseph I. offers to grant freedom to Hungary — Rakoczy elected King os Hungary — The Defeat of Rakoczy by the Emperor's troops — The Pragmatic Sanction, Maria Theresia menaced, almost by the whole of Europe — Maria Theresia accepts the Challenge of her enemies— Her Defeat — Her Appeal to the Hungarians and their promise to die for her — The Hungarians defeat the enemies of the Empire — Maria Theresia crowns herself Queen of Bohemia — The Hungarian Troops drive the French Troops across the Rhine — They occupy Alsace, defeht Frederick the Great, and occupy Berlin — The Enemies of Maria Theresia implore for peace — Maria Theresia a wise ruler — Joseph II. does not crown himself as King of Hungary — He abolishes the Peasant Serfdom in Hungary and imposes taxes on the Magnates — Leopold II. re-establishes the Hungarian Rights — Francis I. — The Hungarians deprived of their Rights and the official use of their Language — Austrian Misrule — Foundation of the Academy of Science by Count Szechenyi. pp. 71— S9

CHAPTER V. The Hungarian War of Independence (1848-49)

Ferdinand V. brings in many Reforms into Hungary — He introduces the Hungarian Language as the Official Language for the Country — The Hungarians claim the Re-establishment ofthe Constitutional Rights — Wesselenyi, who stirs up the people, is thrown into prison — Louis Kossuth comes to the front — He is prosecuted by the Government and thrown into prison — He is released, arid becomes Editor of the Pesti Hirlap, the first Liberal Paper sanctioned by the Government — He advocates the Emancipation of the Peasants, the Equality of Citizens before the La%v — Kossuth the Leader of the Liberal Party — Alexander Petofi inspires the People with patriotic Poems — The Liberal Party claim the Free Press and a Responsible Ministry at Pest, the Annual Assembly of Parliament, and the Emancipation of the People — Enthusiasm of the Students — Meeting at the Town Hall at Budapest — Performance of a Revolutionary Piece at the National Theatre — The people form a National Guard, they ask for guns, and threaten to attack the Arsenal — Budapest illuminated, and Hungarian Flags hoisted in place of Austrian — The Hungarian Diet send their Resolution to Ferdinand — Ferdinand appoints a Hungarian Ministry — The Hungarian Assembly refuse to send 40,000 men to Italy and to contribute a heavy sum towards the Austrian National Debt — The Austrians incite the Ban of Croatia against Hungary — The Hungarian Parliament votes 200,000 Soldiers for the National Defence — Ferdinand changes his attitude towards the Hungarians — Jellachich, the Ban of Croatia invades Hungary — Austria sends an Imperial Commissioner to Hungary, who is lynched by the People — Jellachich's Forces defeated by the Hungarians — Austria sends Troops to Hungary under Prince Windischgratz — Occupation of Buda by the Austrian Troops — The Hungarian Parliament is removed to Debreczen — Austrian Defeat — The Proclamation of the Hungarian Independence— The Russians invade the Country — Surrender of the Hungarians — Cruel Persecution — The Country in a State of Siege from 1849 to 1854 — The Country is deprived of all its Rights — The Hungarians do not recognize Francis Joseph as King — -Amnesty to the Political Offenders in 1856 — Further Concessions to the Hungarians in 1859 — The Hungarian Consti tution restored in 1861 — Re-opening ofthe Hungarian Parliament — Hungary claims perfect Autonomy — Opening of the Hungarian Parliament in 1865 — The Emperor assents to Self-government in Hungary — War with Prussia and Italy — Reconciliation between Austria and Hungary — Formation ofthe Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy — Francis Deak — Count Beust — Coronation of Francis Joseph as King of Hungary 186S — Perfect Harmony existing between the Austrians and Hungarians — Francis Joseph the Most Noble and Wisest of Rulers .... pp. 90 — 106

Chapter VI. Hungary And Its People

Pozsony (Pressburg), the Ancient Capital of Hungary — From Pozsony (Pressburg) to Budapest on the Danube — Gyor — Komarom — Esztergom — Impressions of Budapest and its Surroundings — Ancient Buda — The Suspension Bridge — The Margit Island — Life at Budapest— Magyarism — Contrast between Buda and Pest ■ — Society at Budapest — The English great favourites with the Hungarians pp. 107— 118

Chapter VII. The Magyars And The Alfold

(THE LOWLANDS). The Alfold (Lowlands)— The Magyars— The Puszta (Plains)— Great Monotony of the Puszta — The Csarda — The Betyar — The Great Expanse of the Puszta — The Puszta compared to an Ocean — The Story of the Shepherds — Alexander Petofi's Description of the Lowlands — Professor Hunfalvy 's Description of the Alfold — Towns in the Alfold — Kecskemet — Nagy Koros — Szolnok — Alpar — Szabadka — Hdd-Mezo-Vasarhely — -Szentes — Csaba — Szeged — Alfold Villages— The C'sikos — A Rural Picture — Magyar Peasants — Prosperity of the Peasants— Industrious Peasants — National Songs— Hungarian Family Life — National Hungarian Music — The Tilinkd— The Duda — The Czimbalom — Hungarian Dances — Hungarian Composers — Hungarian Magnates and their Style of Living — Mode of living of the Magyar Peasantry — The Village Priests and Curates — The Kondas — The Csardas — The Arendas — General Character ofthe Hungarians — Hungarian Hospitality pp. 119 — X

Chapter VIII. Peasant Customs And Festivities

National Costumes — Peasant Costumes — The Dolmany — The Gatya — The Szur — The Bunda and its Origin — Peasant Women — The Csarda— The Csardas — Peasant Costumes and Festivals — Courtship — The Fonoda — Proposal of Marriage — Betrothal — The Kissing Feasts — Peasant Wedding — Christening of Children — TheKomam Uram — The Komam Asszony — Peasant Customs — Festivals — Harvest Festivals— Disznotor — Burial of Christmastide — Easter — May Day — The Whitsuntide King . . . pp. 185 — 207

Chapter IX. The Carpathians

The Carpathians — The Slovaks — General Character of the Slovaks — Their Mode of Living — Slovak Costumes — Courtship — Marriage —The Staro Sta— The Jenfare— The Starsi Drusba— A Slovak Funeral — Social Dance — Christmas — Easter — The Zips — The Germans — The Free Cities of Lo'cse — Kesmark and Iglo — Mode of Living ofthe Saxons in the Zips Country — The Jews as divided in Three Classes — The Vag Railway— Postyen — Trencsen-Teplitz — The Castles of Trencsen, Lipto, Arva — Poprad — The Three Tatra Fiireds — The Peaks of Lomnitz, Krivan — The Csorba Lake— The Pribitni Lake— The Green Lake (Zold to)— The Felka Lake— The Fish Lake (Hal to)— The Frog Lake (Beka to)— The Black Lake (Fekete to) — The Legend of a Fairy Prince and Princess — The Hidden Treasures and the Mountain Spirits — Cave of Demenyfalu — Great Ice Cave of Aggtelek — The County of Gomor — The Ruins of Murany, Rozsnyo, Csetnek-Eger — Szliacs — Koritnicza pp. 208 — 239

Chapter X. From Poprad To

KA-rSA (KASCHAU). From Poprad to Kassa (Kaschau) and the North East of Hungary — The County of Saros — Eperjes — Birth-place of Rakoczy — Thokoli — Bartfa and its Surroundings — The Ruins of Zboro — The Hundred Lime Trees — The County of Abauj — Kassa (Kaschau) the Capital of Upper Hungary — Rank Herlany — The Marvellous Artesian Well — The County of Zemplen — S. A. Ujhely — Count Julius Andrassy — Louis Kossuth — The Tokaj Wine-growing District — The History of the Tokaj Wine — The Counties of Borsod, Szabolcs, and Hajdu and their Inhabitants- — Miskolcz — Nyiregyhaza — The Towns of Nanas, Dorog, and Bdszbrmeny — Debreczen — The Fair of Debreczen — The Hortobagy Puszta .... pp. 240 —

Chapter XI. The Verchovinia

Rural Life — Inundation, Ungvar — Szobrancz — Munkacs — Zrinyi Ilona — Harsfalva— The Verchovinians — The Ruthenes — Ruthen Wedding — Spring Nights — Harvest Ruthen Festivals — Terra Incognita — The Maramaros District — Nagy Szollos — The Fort of Huszt — Visk — Maramaros Sziget — The Salt Mines orSzlatina — The Tisza (Theiss) and its origin — Tartar Relics— Szatmar — Nagyvarad (Grossvardein) — St. Ladislaus' Grave — Puspokfiirdo [Bishopsbath] pp. 263—275

Chapter XII. Transsylvania

Transsylvania — Kolozsvar— Torda — Nagy Enyed — The Legend about St. Ladislaus-Keresztesmezo — Fehervar — The Tombs of Hunyady Janos— Kenyermezo — The Mining District— Abrudbanya—The Cave of Csetatye— The Detonata— The Village of Vidra— The Wallachians and their mode of living— Wallachians very superstitious and story-tellers — The Szekelys and their descent from the Huns — Hospitality of the Szekelys— Glorious Scenery — Budavar the Palace of Attila — The Cave of Almos — Transylvanian Watering-places — Borszek — Elopatak — Tusnad — The Lake of St. Anne — Noah's Ark — The Phosphate Cave — Szekely Costumes — Kalaka — Easter Custom of visiting the Boundaries — Szekely Courtship — Marriage and Funerals — Wallach Costumes — Weddings— Funerals The Cziganys — Rakoczy March — The Nagyidai Enek — The Czigany Emancipation — The Czigany Ways and Manners — Arad — Vilagos — Gorgei pp. 276 — 311

Chapter XIII. The Banat

The Banat— Carpet and Weaving Industry — Temesvar — Servian Costumes — The Kolo Dance — Dodola — A Bulgarian Wedding — Mehadia — Mohacs — Baja — Kalocsa — Budapest — The Balaton District — Szekes Fehervar— The Balaton Lake District — Kisfaludy — Michael Ujlaki — Kupa's Residence — Balaton-Fiired — Tihany — Keszthely — Szigliget — The Bakony Forest — Budapest and the lovely Blue Danube— Fiume . . -pp. 312 — 337

Chapter XIV

Hungarian Agriculture, Cattle Breeding, and Industry — Hungarian Commerce — Imports and Exports, 1888-89— Hungarian Enterprises — Railway Communication — Post Offices, &c. — River Navigation pp. 338—360

Chapter XV

Political Status of Hungary— The Honveds — The Finances of Hungary — Education — Hungarian Language and Literature — Art and Science at Budapest — Routes to Hungary . . pp. 361—380 Index . . LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE His Majesty Francis Joseph I., Apostolic King of Hungary . I Arpad takes possession of Hungary 16 The Coronation of St. Stephen 42 View of Pozsony ( Pressburg) 109 View of Budapest I 12 Royal Castle of Buda 116 Bird's-eye View of Budapest ....... 118 A Puszta (Farm-house) in the Winter 122 At Rest 124 At the Well 128 A Tanya (Farm) 134 Courtyard of an Alfold Peasant 158 Type of a Hungarian Beauty 16S The Csardas 1S0 A Peasant Betrothal 1 88 A Peasant Wedding 194 Slovak Peasants .... 208 Hungarian Peasants 24t Market Square at Debreczen ....... 252 Peasant Women in the Tisza (Theiss) District .... 25S The Return from Market 26S Transsylvanian Peasants '........ 276 A Group of Peasants (various Nationalities) .... 284 A Peasant Girl from the Banat 312 Peasants in the Bakony District ....... 330 Fiu me ........... 336 Map of Hungary HUNGARY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Chapter I. The Origin Of The Hungarians

The happiest time in life is childhood, when the mind is not troubled with either the past, present, or future. When you take leave of your boyhood you think slightly of the past ; but what occupies your thoughts principally is the future. It is that uncertain future which hurries you forward ; it is the wave of ambition that carries you towards the future ; it is the point of realization that you are longing for. When one attains a ripe age it is not the present or the future that occupies the mind any longer, but the past alone. It is the past only that makes you think ; you look back with varied pleasure and regret to the past. You would like to remember every epoch in Li . Hungary and its People. 2 your past life, but the sweetest recollections are those of your childhood. You would like to remember every episode of that period ; you think of your playmates, of the trees you climbed, of every bird you heard sing, of every inch of ground on which you used to play.

It is the same with nations, who, having left their cradle-country and emigrated to a new soil, would like to know everything about the country which was once occupied by their ancestors. Those who have been in Hungary, and have seen the wild and picturesque scenery of the Carpathian districts, the extensive plains of the Alfold, and the people inhabiting it, who are still living in a primitive style, and are different in customs, manners, and language to any other European nation, could hardly believe, were it not proved by historic facts and dates, that the country has been inhabited by its present owners for nearly a thousand years. Yes ! it is nearly a thousand years since the Hungarians crossed the Carpathian mountains and conquered Swatoplok, the King of Moravia, and the lands of the Avars and Bulgars.

The Carpathian mountains are still there, and, if they could speak, would bear testimony that across them the Magyars reached Pannonia nearly a thousand years ago ; and if that is not sufficient, you have only to turn your eyes towards Pusztaszer, where you will see a hill, at the top of which the Magyars, whilst still Pagans, had their altars, and it was there on that very hill that they proclaimed themselves as a nation, and elected Arpad as their prince. Should this fact not satisfy you, unveil this hill, and you will find there thousands of skulls. They are the heads of the poor Avars, who have been having an undisturbed sleep of nearly a thousand years. Happy Avars, who do not live and see their country inhabited by other people ! If you want other proof still, go along the lovely Danube, where you will see many ancient castles and ruins, which will vouch for the truthfulness of the story ; and they are also witnesses of the heroic deeds of the Magyars, and the difficulties they had to contend with in safe-guarding their soil, to which they are so much attached.

A thousand years ! What an age ! How many kingdoms have been established and overthrown in thattime ! " A thousand years," says J6kai, " is too long an age even for a star to live ; in a B thousand years even the comet made its journey three times round the sun ; but still, this is the age of the Hungarian kingdom." It is therefore not surprising that the time has arrived when the Magyars would like to know who their ancestors were, and whence they came prior to their occupying Pannonia. Whilst the origin of almost every other country is established, the Hungarians are still ignorant as to their parentage, and the exact spot whence their ancestors came. The ancient historians and travellers, such as Abbe Regino (889), Ibn Daszta (913), Leo Grammaticos (1010), Baron Sigismund Herber stein (1516), Johann Eberhard Fischer (176S), Augustus Ludwig Schlotzer (1771), and many others, all differ as to the origin of the Magy ars.

Some describe them as Huns, Turks, and others as Ugors, Ungors, or Hungers. The most recent authorities, however, are Professors Hunfalvy and Vambery, the most eminent historians and philologists in Hungary. Pro fessor Hunfalvy, who devoted his whole life to solving the question, maintains that the Magyars belong to the Finn-Ugor branch of the Ural- Altaic family, to which belong also the Finns, Lapps, Estth, Morvin, Cheremiss, Permian, Votjak, Vogul, and Ostjaks, and designates the country inhabited by the last two tribes as the cradle-country of the Magyars. He discredits the idea that the Magyars are related to the Huns, whose origin is not known. Professor Vambery, on the other hand, holds that the Magyars are of Turki-Tartar origin, intermixed with the Finn-Ugor branch of the Ural-Altaic family with whom they came in contact, and that they are the descendants of the Huns.

This theory is the most popular one in Hungary, as it is in accordance with the traditions of the nation, who claim their descent from the Huns. In the presence of such authorities it would be difficult to express any decided opinion ; one thing, however, is certain and beyond dispute, that the Magyars came from Central Asia. And this can be proved by the fact that the ancient Hungarian language had many such appellations as were not known to the inhabitants of the north-east of Europe, who in common with the Germans had subsequently to borrow them from the Latin. Such were tenger (sea), teve (camel), orossldu (lion), ssolo (grapes), dinnye (melons), bor (wine), kortvel (pears), baraczk (peaches), alma (apples). On the other hand, the Magyars had to borrow from the Slavs many words that were common in the north of Europe, such as medve (bear), ablak (window), asztal (table), etc., etc.

It is therefore evident that the Magyars came from a country where the former things were to be seen and the latter unknown ; and that country would be Central Asia. It is also owing to the affinity of the ancient Hungarian language with that spoken by the Szekelys, a remnant tribe of the Huns in Transylvania, that the Magyars prefer to side with Professor Vambery in his theory that they are descendants of the Turks. But if we put the language aside and trace the origin of the Hungarians from a physiog nomical point of view, we encounter many difficulties ; for, whilst we meet with types of Hungarians who by their oval-shaped faces, their profiles, foreheads and mouths, resemble the Caucasian races, we find that the people of the Alfold — the purest type of the Hungarian race — still approach by their thick dark hair, beards and moustaches, their reddish-brown faces, the narrow black eyebrows, the open eagle eyes, and the regular form of the mouth, the Tcherkess and the Persian type more than that of the north European.