fonably faid, that the Italians are 'âefcéhded from foreign nations.
Befides its affinities with the Arabick, Greek, German,
and.French languages, as obferved by Muratori and others; the
refemblence it has with the Sclavoniaa-dialedt is'Very great, tho’
nobody has hitherto endeavoured to prove that our anCefiors came
from thence.
O r i g i n ' téÇiMo&Lïgccfi} fiijfipepf foom tfa t o f the Inhabitants
.in ,yhui 9‘Ji.nndI/landp,
T he inhabitants' o f the marithiie towns', -true defcendants o f
the Roman Colonies, are no friendk to the Morlacchi, who, in
return, look iipon: them, Ss "Well aéHtBè1 inhabitants o f the ¡(lands,
with the greateft cbnte'ffipt wMch refciprbcal diflike,’ no doubt,
proceeds, in part, frbffi "ancient '-dîlcôfefbëtween the .two racés.
AMorlack bows indeed, before a gentleman o f the city, or an
advocate, o f whom he (lands in need, but loves them not ; and
treats all others, bf whom he is" independent, with the name bf
Bodolo, which, accordingtô'his rrifëaning, is an injurious term.
This puts me in mind b f the Morlack foldiër, who-is Hill remembered
in the hofpital o f Pâduà whëre he died. T he pried ap-
ppinted to affift him in his laft "moments, not knowing the force
o f the word, begun his " ëxhoriâtibfif'With “ Courage Signet
“ Bodolo!" “ Friar,1 inferrupied thé" 'dying' man, do not call me
“ Bodolo, or you will make me damn myfèlf.”
T he great difference. in ' diaiedt, drefs, difpofition, and
cuftoms, between the maritime and franfalpine inhabitants o f
Dalmatia, feems clearly to prove, that they fprung not from
the fame origin ; or, at leaft, it muff have been at very dif-
tant periods, and with circumftances capable of altering their
national
national character. Tfiere is alfo a-remarkable diverfity among
the Morlacchi themielves, in feveral diftridis;, derived, perhaps,
from the different, countries‘from whence they came. For the
inhabitants of Kotar are generally fair, with blue eyes,^ a bdoad
face, and flat nofe;. and thofe o f the plains o f Seign and Kmn,
refemble. them much ; but thofe o f Duare, and Fergoraz, have
dark coloured hair, a long face, tawny colour, and tall ftature.
T h e qualities o f their mind are alfo as different as thofe o f tne
body; for the Morlacchi of Kotar are generally mild, refpedtful
and tradable; but thofe o f Fergoraz are furly, proud, bold,
and enterprizing.. They have alfq ayery ftrong inclination to theft ;
owing, in part,, to their fituation among inacceffible and barren
mountains, where they are pftep expofed to want, but are fure
of impunity; and, perhaps, the ancient blood of, the Varali,
Ardiei, and Autariati, who were .confined among thofe mountains
by the Romans,, ilill runs in their , veins. For the mod part,
their robberies.fall- on the T u | jp ;. though,, in,cafes o f neceffity,
they are faid to ufe the fame freedom wfth the Chnftians.
Among the artful, and bold ftrokes of knavery, which they
tell o f one o£ thefe. Vergorzetnj,, %I19?yin| , ^ 1^ a£\eriillck'-
T he rogue was at a fair, and a countryman having bought a copper
kettle, laid it down,, ..together with his/'bundle, juft by his
fide; the Vergorvan, who flood hard by, took up the kettle,
while the peafant was,talking to an acquaintance, and fet it on
his head, without ftirring from his place; the other, having
finiffied his conference, turned about to take up his things,, ut
the kettle was gone, and aiking him, who had it on .his head, if
he had not feen fomebody carry it off, he was anfwered; . “ Truly,
“ Friend, I was not minding thefe things;, but.if you.had put
« your kettle on your head, as you fee f did, you would not,have
“ loft it.” Yet. notwithftanding thefe. mifchievous tricks,
\vn