The commerce of Bulgaria was long in the hands of the Ragusians, who had large establishments at Runic]. jiouk, and Sophia, and several other places. These esta blishments, however, have almost entirely disappeared ; and the few Ragusian houses that remain, seem to have very little trade. They were succeeded by the French. who, within these last thirty years, had extended their merchandise over the whole province. Four or five French houses established at Adrianople, received direct from Alarseilles the manufactures of France, for which they returned the productions of Bulgaria by the ports of Enos and Rodosto. This trade, however, has suffered greatly by the present war ; and the communication with France by sea has been almost entirely destroyed.
The inhabitants of this province, who were formerly distinguished for their military achievements, are now dispirited by oppression, and sunk in i:_snorance, indo lence, and filth. Its political state is now that of the worst state of the feudal system ; its numerous lord, hold their estates from the paella or governor, and they arc bound to bring so many armed men into the field. whenever summoned by the in chief.
Agriculture is here very imperfect ; and this c(,untiy is indebted for its excellent productions, more to the fit tints- of the soil, than the exertions of its inhabitant-. Their towns, in general, cover a great extent of ground. and consist of miserable cottages, each surrounded with a large garden : and their streets exhibit nothing but desolation and dirtiness. The Bulgarian ladies are ( x tremelv fond of ornaments. particularly of small pieces of coin, which some wear strung together like fish scales, and plated upon shreds of gold thread. tied in bunches ; and others interlace them with the ir braids of hair. Ac cording to the account of an intelligent traveller who lately visited that country, they have many of gold ; and it is asserted, the more rare of the imperial or ancient Greek coins have been frequently discovered by travel lers so applied, and as having been transmitted from the remotest generations. They wear them, too. sewn on rib
bands appendant to their head-dress. and hanging clown 11 to their heels. They cherish, as a very \ uuritc orna ment, broad clasps of silver gilt, fastened about two thirds round each arm, as bracelets. So religiously are their coins preserved, that no rank of life is scarcely so mean as to be deprived of them ; and it is not uncommon to see even children, naked and hungry, decorated with these pieces of money, the value of which would clothe and feed them for a year." The mountains are the retreats of numerous banditti, who infest the whole country, and seize all they can meet with as plunder ; and such is the perpetual alarm which they excite, that the shepherd and husbandman seldom venture into the field without a pis tol and dagger at their girdle. The Bulgarians are mostly Cristians of the Greek church, but they are ignorant and superstitious. They have one patriarch and three arch bishops, subject to the patriarch of Constantinople. In the hills south of Sophia, are the ruins of an ancient gate, consisting of two stone pillars, NS ith an arch over them, which is said to have been consructed by the Emperor Trajan, in commemoration of his having marched his army along a road formed by himself through steep rocks and precipices, before impervious ; and throughout the whole of the country, sepulchral tumuli arc to be seen, which mark the slaughter of the inhabitants, and the pro gress of the Turkish victories. See Peuchet Diction naire, &c. ; An Itinerary from London to Constantinople, p. 60, in Philip's Coll. of Voyages, &c. vol. i. ; Gibbon's Roman Empire, 1'01. yin. ix. X. xi. ; and ?m% Un. Hist.
vol. xix. (10