An Observer in the Near East

by William Le Queux

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AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL SERVIAN PLACE-NAMES

Alexandrovatz	Chief town of the arrondissement of Koznitza, on the river of that name.
Alexinatz	Chief town of the department of the same name, at the junction of the Morawa with the Morawfitz. 6000 inhabitants. Copper mines. The monastery of Sant Stepan is in close proximity.
Alexinatz	Department with arrondissement of 30 communes.
Arangyelovatz	Chief town of Jassenitza, department of Kragooyevatz. 1000 inhabitants. Source of Boukovik mineral waters. Watering-place much frequented from May till October.
Arilie	An arrondissement of 23 communes in Oujitze, valley of the Morawa Serbe.
Arilie	Chief town of arrondissement of that name, department of Oujitze.
Azanja	Town in Jassenitza. 4500 inhabitants.
Azboukovatz	Arrondissement of 38 communes in Podrinié.
Bania	Watering-place very frequented, in the department of Alexinatz. Ruins of a Roman bath and of a feudal castle. View upon Pyramid of Rtanje, and one of the most picturesque places in Servia.
Bania	Hot-water springs an hour from Nisch.
Bania-Yoschanitza	Chief town of Yoschanitza, in Kruschevatz.
Belavia	Mineral-water springs in the arrondissement of Yagodina.
Belivnia	Chief town of the arrondissement of Prokoupatz, department of Toplitza.
Biela-Palanka	Arrondissement in Pirot of 44 communes.
Bielitza	Small tributary of the Morawa. Also name of an arrondissement.
Blato-Luznitza	Chief town of Luznitza, department of Pirot.
Bogatitch	Chief town in the arrondissement of Matchva, in Schabatz district.
Bolievatz	Chief town of an arrondissement in the department of Tzrna Reka, at foot of Mount Ratni.
Bolievatz	An arrondissement of the Zrnarjeka.
Brestovatz	Station between Nisch and Vranya.
Brza-Palanka	Chief town of an arrondissement in Kraina, on the Danube.
Brza-Palanka	Arrondissement on the Roumanian frontier with 20 communes.
Derven	Chief town of the arrondissement of Sverlichka, department of Kniajevatz. Monastery of S. Arangel in the vicinity.
Despotovatz	Arrondissement with 33 communes in Tchoupria.
Djep	Station between Nisch and Vrania.
Djunis	Station on the Morawa.
Dobra	Coal-mine on the Danube between Golubatz and Dolni Milanovatz.
Dobritsh	Arrondissement in Toplitza with 85 communes.
Dolni Duchnik	Chief town in the arrondissement of Zaplania, department of Nisch.
Dolni Milanovatz	Chief town of the arrondissement of Poreschka-Rieka, in Kraina, on the Danube. Fine forests; stone and lignite in the vicinity.
Dragatchevo	Name of an arrondissement of which Gutscha is the chief town, in Tchatchak. 55 communes.
Drina	Tributary of the Save between Bosnia and the Servian frontier. Excellent trout-fishing.
Gamsigrad	A locality near Zaitchar. Close by upon a plateau near Timok are most interesting ruins of a Roman fortress. One of the best preserved ruins in Servia.
Gledikj	A plateau south of Kragouievatz.
Golemo-Selo	Chief town of the arrondissement of Polianitza, in Vrania.
Golia	Mountains on the frontier of Novi-Bazar.
Golubatz	Arrondissement of 29 communes.
Golubatz	Mining centre on the Danube.
Golubinie	Mountains in Kraina.
Gorni-Milanovatz	Chief town of the arrondissement of Takovo and of the department of Rudnik. 3000 inhabitants. School of commerce.
Grdelitza	Station on the Nisch-Vrania railway, south of Vlatchotinza.
Greatch	Station near Alexinatz, on the Belgrade-Nisch railway.
Grotzka	Small river, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 17 communes.
Grotzka	Town on the Danube, near Belgrade.
Gruja	Tributary of the Morawa Srbska, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 63 communes.
Guberevatz	Important traces of minerals 35 kilometres from Belgrade.
Gutscha	Chief town of Dragatchevo, department of Tchatchak. Splendid pastures.
Gutschevo-Boranja	Mountains in the department of Podrinie.
Hassan-Pacha	Chief town of the arrondissement of Jassenitza, department of Semendria. 3200 inhabitants.
Ibar	Tributary of the Morawa Srbska.
Ivanyitza	Chief town of Moravitza, department of Oujitze. 200 inhabitants. Wheat-growing.
Jadar	Tributary of the Drina, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 40 communes. Chief town, Loznitza.
Kamenitza	Chief town of the arrondissement of Podgaratz, in Valievo.
Katscher	Arrondissement, of which the chief town is Rudnik. 38 communes.
Kladova	Chief town of the arrondissement of Kljoutscha, department of Kraina, on the Danube. 2706 inhabitants.
Klioutscha	Arrondissement, of which the chief town is Kladova, north of the Kraina.
Kniajevatz	Chief town of the department of that name at the foot of the Balkans. Growing of cereals and a school of commerce.
Kolubara	Tributary of the Save. Gives its name to two arrondissements.
Kopaonik	Mountains to the south of the Dinaric Alps.
Korman	Station ten kilometres north of Alexinatz.
Kossmay	Mountain which gives its name to an arrondissement of which the chief town is Iopot, department of Belgrade. 26 communes.
Kostlenik	Mountain in the department of Rudnik.
Kourschoumlie	Chief town of the arrondissement of Kossanitza, on the Turkish frontier. Country noted for its wines.
Koutschevo	Chief town of the arrondissement of Svidje, on the Pek. Coal mines.
Kozieritza	Chief town of the arrondissement of Tzerna Gora, department of Oujitza.
Koznitza	Watercourse and tributary of the Morawa Srbska, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 92 communes in the department of Kruschevatz.
Kragouievatz	Chief town of the department of that name, and ancient capital of Servia. Situated on the Lepnitza. 13,000 inhabitants. Contains a large library, a gun-factory, and powder-magazine. Potteries and stone quarries. Excellent wine grown here.
Kraina	Department in the north-east of Servia. Chief town, Negotin[Negotin].
Kralievo	Chief town of the arrondissement of the same name, department of Tchatchak. 4200 inhabitants. Lead and iron mines. Military school.
Kroupanie	Town in the department of Loznitza. Lead, zinc, and antimony mines.
Kruschevatz	Chief town of the arrondissement and department of that name, with 6200 inhabitants. Ancient residence of the Tzars of Servia. Vine culture.
Lapovo	Junction of the railway Belgrade-Nisch with the line to Kragouievatz.
Lebane	Chief town of the arrondissement of Yablonitza, at the junction of the Medvedja and Buguecka.
Lepenatz	A series of plateaux in the south-west, near the environs of Nisch.
Lepnitza	Tributary of the Morawa, which gives its name to the arrondissement of which Ratscha is the chief town. 40 communes.
Leskovatz	Chief town of an arrondissement of that name in the department of Nisch. Monastery of S. Radni in vicinity. Arrondissement contains 77 communes.
Lipovatscha	Small river in the arrondissement of Ratscha.
Loznitza	Chief town of the department of Podrinie. 4000 inhabitants. School of commerce.
Lubovia	Chief town of the arrondissement of Asboukovatz, upon the Drina.
Luznitza	An arrondissement with 54 communes in the department of Pirot.
Maidanpek	Important mining centre 30 kilometres from Dolni-Milanovatz, on the Danube. Iron and copper. Vast forests.
Massouritza	An arrondissement on the Bulgarian frontier, department of Vrania. 43 communes.
Matschwa	An arrondissement of 24 communes in Schabatz district, north-east of Servia.
Mionitza	Chief town of the arrondissement of Kolubara, department of Valievo.
Mlava	Tributary of the Danube which gives its name to an arrondissement of which the chief town is Petrovatz[Petrovatz]. 32 communes.
Morawa	Chief river in Servia, and by its tributary the Morawa which rises in the Yavor mountains, waters much territory in the south-east of the kingdom. There is an arrondissement of the same name in the department of Rudnik, with 38 communes.
Morawitza	Tributary of the Morawa which gives its name to two arrondissements, one of 31 communes, the chief town of which is Bania, in Alexinatz, and the other, of which Yvanitza is the chief town, in Oujitza, with 149 communes.
Negotin	A town of 6000 inhabitants, in Kraina[Kraina], East Servia. Noted for its wines.
Nischava	Tributary of the Morawa, which gives its name to the arrondissement of which Pirot is the chief town. 65 communes.
Novi Han	Chief town of the arrondissement of Timok, in the Tchiprovatz Mountains, on the Bulgarian frontier.
Obrenovatz	Chief town of the arrondissement of Possava, department of Valievo, on the Tamnava, near its confluence with the Danube. 3000 inhabitants.
Omolje	Mountains. Highest, 3500 metres, in the department of Pojarevatz.
Oratscha	A town in Semendria, upon the small river Rallya. Also the name of an arrondissement of 14 communes.
Oropsi	Mineral springs near Belgrade.
Oub	Chief town of the arrondissement of Tamnava, in Valievo.
Oujitze	Town of 8000 inhabitants in the department of the same name. Wine and school of commerce.
Ovtschar	Mountains near Tchatchak. Sulphur baths.
Paratchin	Chief town of an arrondissement of that name on the Zanitza, department of Tchoupria. The monastery of S. Pelka is not far distant.
Petchenikotza	Town at the confluence of the Jablonitza and the Morawa.
Petrovatz	Chief town of the arrondissement of Mlava, in Pojarewatz.
Pirot	Chief town of the department of that name in the south-east of Servia. 14,000 inhabitants.
Podgoratz	Mines of iron, copper, and lead, in Valievo. Lithographic stone is quarried.
Podgorie	Arrondissement of 29 communes in Valievo.
Podrinye	A department in the west of Servia. Chief town, Loznitza.
Podunavlye[Podunavlye]	Arrondissement of 25 communes in Smederevo.
Pojarevatz	Chief town of an arrondissement of that name. 13,000 inhabitants. Mining centre. School of agriculture. The scene of the famous Congress of 1718.
Pojega	Chief town of an arrondissement of that name, department of Oujitza. The arrondissement contains 52 communes.
Polyanitza	An arrondissement on the Turkish frontier, department of Vrania.
Poreschka	Tributary of the Danube in a deep valley between the Pekska and the Misosch mountains. It gives its name to an arrondissement of 11 communes, in Kraina.
Portes de Fer (Gyerdap)	“The Iron Gates” of the Danube, or passage between the Balkans at the point where the river leaves Servia. There is also a small town of 3000 inhabitants. In the mountains in the vicinity the wild cherry is found. It is very rare, and is much sought after for the manufactory of expensive furniture.
Possava	An arrondissement of 27 communes in Belgrade. Also one in the department of Valievo.
Possavo-Tamnava	Arrondissement of 54 communes in the department of Schabatz.
Potserie	Arrondissement of 34 communes, of which the chief town is Schabatz.
Prechilovatz	Chief town of an arrondissement of that name in Alexinatz.
Preillina	Chief town of the arrondissement of the Morawa, a few kilometres from Tchatchak.
Priboi	Town on the railway Nisch-Vrania.
Prilika	Mineral springs in the arrondissement of Oujitze.
Prokoupatz	Arrondissement of 104 communes in department of Toplitza.
Prokouplie	Chief town of Toplitza and of the arrondissement of Dobritsch.
Pschinie	An arrondissement of 89 communes in Vrania.
Radjevina	Chief town of Radjevo, in Podrinie, on the Bosnian frontier. Lead mines.
Radjevo	Arrondissement of 32 communes.
Radouyevatz	A town on the Danube at the point where the right bank ceases to be in Servia.
Rajan	Chief town of the arrondissement of that name, in Alexinatz. The Monastery of S. Roman is in the vicinity.
Rallya	Station on the Belgrade-Nisch line. Important mining centre. Also the name of a small river.
Rama	Arrondissement of 31 communes, of which Veliko Graditcha is the chief town.
Raschka	Chief town in the arrondissement of Stoudenitza, department of Tchatchak, at the foot of Mount Golia.
Ratscha	Chief town of the arrondissement of Lepnitza, in Kragouievatz. Also the name of an arrondissement of 28 communes in Oujitze.
Rekovatz	Chief town of the arrondissement of Levatch, in Yagodina.
Resnik	Station on the Belgrade-Nisch railway.
Ressava	Tributary of the Morawa which gives its name to an arrondissement of 24 communes in Tchoupria.
Ripanie	Station and mine on the line Belgrade-Nisch.
Rtanie	A pyramidical mountain of 3900 metres in the arrondissement of Alexinatz.
Rudnik	Chief town of the arrondissement of Kastcher, department of Rudnik; also the name of a range of mountains in the centre of Servia.
Rybar	Mineral springs in Kruschevatz.
Sava	A tributary of the Danube which joins the latter at Belgrade.
Schabatz	A town of 11,000 inhabitants upon the Save, capital of a department of that name.
Schornik	A plateaux to the west of Oujitze.
Schumadia	A vast forest extending through the departments of Belgrade and Rudnik.
Semendria	Chief town of a department of that name, situated on the Danube, with 7500 inhabitants. Vine culture.
Sikiritza	A station between Belgrade and Nisch. Lignite is known to exist here in large quantities.
Sikolie	A mining centre in the Kraina.
Slatibor	A chain of mountains forming part of the Dinaric Alps separating Servia and Rascie (Novi Bazar). Also the name of an arrondissement of 30 communes in Oujitze.
Smrdan-Bara	Excellent sulphur springs at the confluence of the Drina and the Save in Loznitza. Very picturesque.
Sopot	Chief town on the arrondissement of Kossmai, department of Belgrade.
Stalatz	The junction of the railway Kruschevatz-Oujitze and the line Belgrade-Nisch.
Stanischitza	High plateaux in Kruschevatz.
Stig	An arrondissement of 13 communes in Pojarevatz, the chief town being Koutschevo.
Studenitza	Tributary of the Ibar, which joins it between the mountains Iakowo and Radotschewo. It gives its name to an arrondissement of 144 communes in Tchatchak. The chief town is Ratschka, near which is the celebrated monastery of Tsarska Lavra, built in the twelfth century by the orders of Krale Stefan Nemania, who became a monk under the name of Simeon. The monastery, in the Slavonic style, Orthodox and Byzantine, is entirely constructed of white marble, and is of marvellous beauty.
Sverlichka	Arrondissement of 40 communes, the chief town of which is Derven, in Kniajevatz.
Svilainatz	Chief town of Ressava, upon the river of that name in the department of Tchoupria.
Takovo	Arrondissement of 43 communes in Rudnik.
Tamnava	A tributary of the Save which gives its name to an arrondissement of 42 communes in Valievo.
Tchaitina	Chief town of the arrondissement of Slatibor, near the Bosnian frontier, twenty kilometres from Mokragora.
Tchatchak	Chief town of a department of that name, situated upon the Morawa Serbe. 4200 inhabitants.
Tchopitz	Chief town of Kolubara, department of Belgrade.
Tchoupria	Chief town of a department of that name, situated upon the Morawa at its confluence with the Kamenitza. 5200 inhabitants. Lignite.
Temnitch	A department with capital of the same name.
Temnitchka	Mountains in the south of Yagodina which give their names to an arrondissement of 43 communes.
Timok	A river which rises near Biela Palanka, runs to the north, and falls into the Danube a little below Radouyevatz, after serving as frontier to Servia and Bulgaria for 50 kilometres. The name also of an arrondissement of 20 communes of which Novi-Han is the chief town, in the department of Kniajevatz.
Toplitza	A river rising in the Kopaonik mountains, and falls into the Morawa near Nisch. It also gives its name to a department of which Prokouplie is the chief town.
Topola	A small town in Kragouievatz. 3100 inhabitants.
Topschider	First station on the line Belgrade-Nisch. Royal villa and gardens. Also mining centre. The name of a small river falling into the Save.
Trnava	An arrondissement of 29 communes, the chief town of which is Tchatchak.
Trstenik	A town of 2000 inhabitants, situated on the Morawa Srbska, in Kruschevatz. Manufacture of millstones. Also the name of an arrondissement of 38 communes.
Tzernagora	A mountain which gives its name to an arrondissement of 126 communes in Oujitze.
Umka	A town on the Save, department of Belgrade.
Valievo	Chief town of the department and arrondissement (of 62 communes) of the same name. 7500 inhabitants. Lithographic stone. Town lit by electricity by an English concessionaire, Mr. J. R. Finney.
Varvarin	A town in the department of Yagodina. Stalatz station.
Velika-Lukania	A town at the foot of Mount Radotschina, department of Pirot. The monastery of S. Aranghel is near.
Velika-Plana	The junction of railways between Belgrade-Nisch and Semendria.
Veliki-Popovitch	Chief town of the arrondissement of Despotovatz, situated on the Retsava.
Veliko-Gradishte	A town at the confluence of the Pek and Danube. 4016 inhabitants. Wheat-growing.
Verschka-Tchouka	Mountain between Novi-Han and Zaitchar. Rich coal mines.
Vizzotschka	An arrondissement in Pirot containing 26 communes.
Vladimirtsi	Chief town of the arrondissement of Possavo-Tamnava, in Schabatz.
Vladitchin-Han	Small station on the Nisch-Vrania line.
Vlaschka	Fifth station from Belgrade, towards Nisch.
Vlassina	Chief town of the arrondissement of Mazouritza, in Vrania, on the Bosnian frontier.
Vlassotinze	A town situate on the Vlassina-Vignes, in Nisch. Also the name of an arrondissement of 51 communes.
Vrania	Chief town of a department of that name in South Servia, on the Nisch-Uskub line. Vine culture. At Bania, in the vicinity, mineral springs.
Vratchar	Arrondissement of 20 communes in the department of Belgrade.
Wratarnitza	A plateau to the east of Zrna-Rieka, Bulgarian frontier.
Wrntze	Excellent mineral springs upon the road from Kralievo to Trstenik, in the arrondissement of Kruschevatz.
Yabar	Chief town in the arrondissement of Morawa. Abundant lignite.
Yablanitza	A river falling into the Morawa at Brestovatz-Tchetina, and giving its name to an arrondissement of 58 communes, department of Toplitza.
Yadar	A tributary of the Drina which gives its name to an arrondissement of 40 communes in Podrinie.
Yagodina	Chief town of the department of that name and of the arrondissement of Bielitza, upon the Constantinople road. 5000 inhabitants. Station on the Belgrade-Nisch line.
Yassenitza	A tributary of the Morawa, which gives its name to an arrondissement of 27 communes in Kragouievatz. Also a small tributary of the Medjloudje and the name of an arrondissement of 15 communes in Semendria.
Yavor	Mountains on the western frontier of Servia.
Ybar	Tributary of the Morawa Serbe, which it joins near Kralievo.
Yoschanitza	Small tributary of the Ibar which gives its name to an arrondissement of 71 communes in Kruschevatz.
Yvanitza	Chief town of the arrondissement of Morawitza, in Oujitze. 2000 inhabitants. Cereals.
Zaglav	An arrondissement of 51 communes, of which Kniajevatz is the chief town.
Zagoubitza	Chief town of the arrondissement of Omolje, upon the Mlava. The celebrated monastery of S. Giorgiak is in the vicinity.
Zaitchar	One of the arrondissements of the Zrna Rieka. 25 communes. Also name of the capital of the department. 7000 inhabitants. Coal mines.
Zaplanie	An arrondissement of 55 communes in the department of Nisch.

BULGARIA

His Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria.

CHAPTER I
SOFIA OF TO-DAY

At the Bulgarian frontier—A chat with M. Etienne, French ex-Minister of War—Evening in Sofia—A city of rapid progress—Engaging peasants for Earl’s Court Exhibition—Amusing episodes—Social life in Sofia—The diplomats’ club—The Bulgarian Government grant me special facilities for investigation.

The Orient Express—that train of dusty wagons-lits which three days a week gives communication between Ostend and the East—had just passed the Bulgarian frontier at Tzaribrod, and my passport had been examined and stamped by a keen-eyed little man in black.

I was sitting in the dining-car with a very distinguished French statesman, M. Etienne, ex-Minister of War, and we had been chatting for several hours as the train wound through the defiles of the Servian mountains.