CHAPTER XII.
THE BUKOWINA.
TRANSFER OF THE COUNTRY TO AUSTRIA—EXTENT—POPULATION—COSTUMES.
Bukowina, formerly part of Moldavia, was subdued in 1769 by the Russians, but restored to the Ottoman Porte at the peace concluded in 1774. In the same year Austria took military possession of this province, and by the convention of the 12th of May, 1776, it was formally ceded to that power. It derives its name from the numerous forests of beech which it contains, that tree being called in the Slavonian language buk. Its greatest length is about 150 miles, and its extreme breadth 80. The soil is fertile, especially between the rivers Pruth and Dniester, and in the valley of Szucsawa; and the mountainous parts are interspersed with rich and extensive pasture-grounds; but on account of the early frosts and the long duration of the winter, the only crops that can be raised there are oats, barley, and potatoes.
At the time of the occupation of this province by Austria in 1776, it contained no more than eleven or twelve thousand families. The conscription of 1817 exhibited a total of nearly forty-two thousand families, and upwards of two hundred thousand souls. These are composed of Moldavians, or original inhabitants, Ruthenians, Germans, of whom there are eighteen colonies, Hungarians Armenians, Lipowanians, or Philippowanians, Gipsies and Jews.
A BOYAR, or GENTLEMAN OF THE BUKOWINA.
In the Bukowina every gentleman or proprietor of land is called Boyar. The usual dress of this class is faithfully represented in the opposite plate. A long blue pelisse, with short sleeves, covers the under-garments, which consist of wide red trowsers, a blue striped shirt, and a broad belt, in which a knife is stuck, and from which hangs a handkerchief. The head is covered with a red Servian cloth cap.
The Boyar here represented, is an inhabitant of the town of Szered; he is supposed to have just quitted his house, and appears in a contemplative attitude.
A PEASANT OF THE BUKOWINA.
The usual costume of the peasants of the Bukowina, consists of white or red trowsers, a shirt, the wide, open sleeves of which are embroidered at the wrist, and over that an open waistcoat bordered with fur. With a pouch slung over his shoulder, and a long handled hatchet, which supplies the place of a stick, in his hand, he usually proceeds to his work in the fields and woods.
