Albania produces scarcely enough
crops to support its inhabitants. The
population is upwarl of two millions,
divided about evenly between Chris
tians and Mohammedans. Only about
5 per cejit. ot this number is able
to read or write.
The women do all of the work.
They are veritable bt--, of burden.
In deed they compete with the ponies
and donkeys as pack carriers, but are
not considered by the men as valu
able because they cannot bear up un
der such heavy loads. In the frequent
sale of young women for wives, the
price paid often is not as high as
that given for a good horse. This se
vere life among the women shows it
self in premature old age and in
many forms of serious physical disa-
MUtjr. Fifteen per cent, of the moth
ers die in childbirth.
The men sit arounS coffee houses,
discussing; politics, or attend to the
business of repelling by gjun op sword
the frequent Serbian or Montenegrin
invaders. The hostility to the Serb
and Montenegrin never ceases. Feuds,
pistol duels and vendettas are of a
daily occurrence. The Albanian, once
he believes himself or relatives
wronged, never rests until complete
and fierce vengeance is secured. The
American Red Cross hospitals
throughout the country are constant
ly called upon to treat the -lctims of
these feuds and vendettas.
The Italians have a force of about
25.000 troops in Albania. The major
part of these are in the vicinity of
Valona. The rest are used In police
and garrison duty in various parts
of the country. Their presence has
tended to tranquilize the country and
keep down the troublesome elements
among the population. There are re
curring sporadic clashes. bov..
