fustanella, which are the tails of it, represent the lower part of the tunic; now (like the highland phillibeg or kilt) a separate piece of dress, the girdle of many folds remains. formed of leather, and serves for a pocket. The Albanian jacket is modern; but the short waistcoat is the representative of the Awódwpne, the red cap replaces the defensive helmet, the yatagan or μáxaipa replaces the tipos, still sometimes used but inconvenient for rapid movement. The cloak or capote is the same, and they sleep on rugs and sheets nyós and Xívov, or on skins, as Odysseus did on the Phaeacian ship, or as a beggar in his own vestibule on an adentov Buenv or raw bull's-hide covered with sheep-skins κώεα πόλλ' οἴων (Od. Y, 2) under a cloak χλαίνα. THE WASHING OF FEET AND HANDS. The practice of washing the hands and feet is identical with that practised now in the Albanian mountains: the description in the Odyssey equally applies, both in name and form, to the present day. In Albania it is a matter of hospitality to wash a visitor's feet, and a refusal would be considered a slight. Thus we find Euryclea, Odysseus' old wet nurse, washing his feet, and the handmaids of Kirké bathing and anointing him. In other passages the water is poured over his hands from a golden jug and received into a silver basin, by a "lady in waiting." And again, Χέρνιβα δ ̓ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα Καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος, Νίψασθαι.-(Od. O, 135-137.) Η ῥα, καὶ ἀμφίπολον ταμίην ἔτρυν' ο γεραιός Χερσὶν ὕδωρ ἐπιχεῦαι ἀκήρατον. ἡ δὲ παρέστη, Χέρνιβον ἀμφίπολος πρόχουν θ' ἅμα χερσὶν ἔχουσα. Νιψάμενος δὲ, κυπέλλον ἐδέξατο ἧς ἀλόχοιο.-(ΙΙ. Ω, 301-304.) In the same manner, in Epeiros, a handmaid brings an ewer and a basin, pouring the water from the one into the other, over the hands of the guest, an embroidered towel being on the shoulder to wipe them: the only difference is that they are, alas! of brass and not of gold and silver. THE PUTTING ASIDE OF ARMS. It was and is the custom to take the arms of a guest on place them aside. his arrival and to place them aside. Thus when Pallas Athene visits Telemachus in the similitude of Mentor the Taphian, ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος, and afterwards Ος δ ̓ ὅτε δή ῥ ̓ ἔντοσθεν ἔσαν δόμου ὑψηλοῖο Εγχε Ὀδυσσέος ταλισίφρονος ἵστατο πόλλα,(Od. A, 125-128.) placed it in the stand with the many spears of Odysseus. Thus Plutarch relates that before the feast at which Alexander killed Klitus, the weapons were put away. This was clearly in order to avoid the danger of a broil, when the guests were "in potations pottle deep," and quarrelled, as Albanians even now do, under similar circumstances. Hence even now the host receives and takes charge of the arms of his guests, lest a blood feud should arise from anyone being slain in a dispute. Thus the practice has continued among the same people from the time of Telemachus till now. REPASTS. The Homeric repasts exactly represent the Albanian feasts of the present day when in camp, or travelling, or on the hillside away from home. Nor were they much. more barbarous than the latter, or, it may be added, than a true British feast of the lower classes, showing that little or no progress has been made in civilization in this respect, in 4,000 years. There are several accounts of these dinners, with all the minute details usual in the Homeric poems. The first is in the Iliad (I, 201), where Odysseus and his deputation are hospitably received by Achilles in hist tent. Immediately on their arrival he directs Patroclos to mix the better wine in a bigger bowl, and to have drinking cups ready for each. Then he himself places a big block near the fire on which he throws the forequarters of a sheep and of a fat goat, and the hindquarters of a stall-fed NEW SERIES. VOL. VI. FF hog, which he with the assistance of Automedon cuts into junks and spits, thus combining the butcher and cook. Meanwhile Patroclos lights a great fire; and when it has burned down to embers, he places the spits over it on rocks, and throwing on salt, roasts them, making what now in Albania would be called kebab, or roast meat. This he places on rush or wicker platters, and hands round, while Patroclos serves the bread. Having cast some into the fire as a sort of practical grace or offering to the gods, they fall to, while Phoenix, the Herald, takes round the wine. Upon this Odysseus,. at a hint from Ajax, drinks Achilles' health in a speech, beginning much as at present, "Health to thee, Achilles"! (II. A, 446). Chryses' sacrifice and subsequent dinner is much the same, with a little more religious ceremony and a greater share to the gods, the entrails are reserved as a special delicacy, and a Paean to Apollo takes the place of the business-like bribery speech of Odysseus. These two are typical of all similar festivities in the Iliad; nor do they materially differ in the Odyssey— except that those given in Penelope's palace and Laertes' house are not camp but domestic entertainments. Alkinous slaughtered twelve sheep, eight swine and twooxen to entertain Odysseus (Od. 0, 59). Eumaios prepares a 5-year old stall-fed sow for Odysseus, when he appears as a stranger (Od. E, 419); and Antinoos sets a large paunch before him, filled with fat and blood-in fact a black pudding, by some supposed to have been a haggis.. (Od. Y, 163, 250: compare also for these feasts I, 455, T, 420, Y, 25, etc.) At the grand feast in Odysseus' palacewere consumed three stall-fed swine, a heifer, fat goats, and a cow; and the mode of preparation was the same as in the Iliad. The present Albanians, when travelling in the country, or in camp, disembowel a lamb, and stuffing it with thyme and other mountain herbs, skewer it by running a stake through it, and lighting a fire just as is described in the Iliad, they set up two forked sticks, and turn it over the fire till done in the skin,-wool and all. However uninviting the carbonized mass may appear, the burnt wool and skin are easily peeled off, leaving the meat quite tender and succulent. The host, leaning the spit against a tree or stone, slices off portions with his yatagan and hands them round. Whoever has witnessed that most repulsive spectaclean ox roasted whole on the coming of age of some territorial noble in England-must admit that, in matters of cookery, the peasants of Britain, who enjoy this holocaust, are not a whit more civilized in their feeding than the heroes before Troy. In fact there is no difference, save that the master of the house does not act as butcher and cook, and that ale takes the place of wine. Nor can much more be said for a Christmas dinner with its underdone beef, blood puddings, and the plum pudding abomination. GIFTS. The system of exchanging presents on all occasions of visits is equally practised by the modern Albanians. Though they be not so valuable as those of the Achaian chiefs, yet no guest ever leaves an Albanian house without some token. The Phaeacians gave splendid presents to Odysseus. (Od. N, 10-15; compare O, 445 and A, 130 and 615.) GAMES. The games performed at Phaeacia much resemble those of the present Albanians-running, leaping, throwing the quoit, wrestling, and the like; the same are recorded at the funerals of Patroklos and Hector. (I. Y, 263; xxiv, 800; Od. O, 15, 75, 106.) was as much a custom the modern Albanians. sation for cattle stolen. CATTLE-LIFTING among the Homeric heroes as with HUSBANDRY were not below the dignity of Chiefs. Eumaios states that he was of gentle birth, yet he tended swine; Laertes cultivated his orchard and vineyard; Odysseus himself yoked a bull and a horse and ploughed the seashore to feign madness, sowing salt. The DOGS of the Molossi are a large breed resembling the Esquimaux type. When the Albanians wish to keep them off, they sit down and throw stones, as Odysseus did. (Od. E, 29; 2, 105.) ARCHITECTURE. The Pelasgi were an architectural people, for they fortified Athens and the Acropolis before it could be considered Greek. The remains of their stupendous structures termed Kyklopian or gigantic are to be found all over Epeiros, in Ithaka, and even in Italy. While the beautiful temples, built 3,000 years later by the same race when civilized, have barely remained as ruins to excite the wonder of succeeding architects of all nations, the rougher Kyklopian remains of a far anterior period have defied time. ARMS were so highly prized that the manufacture of the best kind was attributed to the god, Hephaistos, who twice supplies Achilles. So with the Epeirots, arms are the most valued of possessions. The arms were inlaid with precious metals. An instance of the high consideration in which arms were held is found in Mediæval Britain, in the Heriot or Heregut-war-goods-that is arms lent to tenants, and on their death returnable to the Lord. |