The men are good shots, and skilled particularly in using the rifle, (which, of Turkish manufacture, may be bought at low prices), and by their means the markets of Kaffa, and other towns, are frequently supplied with deer, and wild boars. The flesh of the latter is not comparable with that of the home-fed pig ; and the former, though estimated by the Crimean, cannot be by those who have eaten venison in England.
As agriculturists, the Bulgarians hold also pre-eminence amongst their neighbours ; they bestow the trouble of weeding their corn, and are more careful in the description of seed they sow ; for this reason they cannot say with the Tatars, that they sow wheat till rye comes, and vice versa. Now the former may, I think, be literally the case, since they never change or clean their seed, and the proportionate rapidity of the increase of that which is evil, to the growth and progress of good, is, I fear, a fact easily established in more cases than that of a crop of corn.
Besides the common courses of grain which the Bulgarian cultivates, he raises flax enough for the purposes of his family, but seldom sows millet, or garden-seeds; for their villages being near the mountains, they have for the most part a considerable distance to go to plough. Such of them as live near the forests which are not exempted from the havoc and depredation of the axe, have made considerable profit from the burning of charcoal, for which they find ready sale at the nearest market ; it being much used to cook with, as well as in their khans, or coffee-houses.
Thus the industry and frugality of the Bulgarian, taking advantage of every circumstance that favours his independence, places him too much in ease, to send his children out into servitude ; every village finding employment, even more than enough to occupy its inhabitants.
The women are industrious and cleanly : besides the usual occupations of the household, they spin and weave their own and their husbands' clothing ; and the Bulgarian wears few articles, butwhat are either thework of his wife, or his own. Many of their domestic utensils are also their own manufacture. During hay-time, or harvest, the women likewise assist in the field ; and thus in habits of industry pass the active and cheerful lives ofthese people.
The men are in height of middle stature, thin, and sharp-faced, with high cheek-bones ; long lanky hair hanging down almost to their shoulders, and commonly very high foreheads, or bare on the crown of the head. Their dress is of coarse baize, or woollen cloth, spun and woven athome ; their woollen girdles are similar to those worn by the Tatars, &c. ; hut they are also wrought at home, and dyed with madder.
The women are much more pleasing in their general appearance; a dark complexion, and sparkling dark eyes, set off a dress, singular, if not attractive : it is composed of a fine and very white woollen cloth, edged at the bottom and around with a border of red, about two inches deep. The petticoat, which is ofthe same material, and also red, is seen below the gown, to the full depth of the border ; a broad girdle, or sash, with long ends tied behind, and commonly embroidered with silk or gold thread; and on the head a handkerchief, or veil of white muslin, with a border around, to match the rest of the dress : this is thrown carelessly over the head, and falls down the back, and, divested of the extreme formality of the Tatar veil, is much more graceful.
Formerly, the front of the dress was ornamented with pieces of gold or silver coin, and in many cases the whole of the front of the body entirely covered with them ; but as they found that this display was often viewed with an evil eye by the Turkish Aga, or Chief, who chanced to observe them, and that without necromantic skill he commonly contrived to convert the gold of others to his own immediate use, they learnt to doff their golden trimmings, and are now content to tell that they have worn them.
At their holiday festivals they dance in groups, forming each party into a circle, and dancing with much spirit, somewhat in the style of the Anatolian romaika, to the bagpipes, the drum, and sometimes the balalaika, or three-stringed fiddle.
The houses of the Bulgarians are remarkable for cleanliness and order, though objectionable from their extreme darkness ; a very small window, and a large open chimney, admit all the light they have ; yet, like the mole, they seem to have as much as they require.