e especially
numerous in Bulgaria and Serbia. These people are the lowest in
their standard of living and culture of all the Balkan races. All of
them speak Turkish, but their natural tongue differs from any other
Balkan dialect. Among themselves they are known as "Copts," which
would rather indicate a comparatively recent Egyptian origin.
However, as they are absolutely of no significance, either
politically or in any other sense, they need not be considered
further.

Rumania, though not properly a Balkan State, has played some part in
Balkan politics. The Danube forms not only a political, but a
natural boundary, between Bulgaria and Rumania. Along either of
their respective banks the population is solidly Bulgarian or
Rumanian; there has been comparatively little mixing. Though Rumania
boasts of a distinct cultured class, and her larger cities,
especially Bucharest, present all the physical appearances of a
higher order of civilization, on account of the longer period of
independence enjoyed from the Turk, it is doubtful if the Rumanian
people as a whole possess the hardy qualities of the Serbians and
Bulgars. At any rate the level of education among the peasantry is
much lower. In race the Rumanians are of Latin blood with some
admixture of Slavic. As has been stated elsewhere, they extend as a
people up into Transylvania and Bukowina in Austria, and into the
Russian province of Bessarabia.

As will now be seen, the Slavs, including both Bulgars and Serbs,
form the predominating element in the Balkans. Yet, in spite of the
similarity between their speech, they differ strongly in
temperament, as has already been stated. Possibly it is because of
the mixture of Asiatic blood in the Bulgars. The Bulgar, slow,
heavy, inclined to be morose and suspicious of all strangers, does
not give so pleasant a first impression. The Serb is light-hearted,
inclined to be frivolous, and is much more adaptable. Give the
Bulgar a patch of ground and he will immediately plant vegetables;
the Serb will devote at least some of it to flowers. Then will come
the Greek trader and make a fatter profit out of the product of
their toil than either of them.

But what is of especial political significance, in considering these
various Balkan peoples, is the mutual distrust and hatred that
exists between them, sown and sedulously fostered by outside powers.
For had they been able to weld themselves into one people, one
nation, they would have