fome of them are capable of fmging extempore during the whole
entertainment; always accompanying the voice with the guzla.
There is alfo fome written poetry among them, when the memory
o f a fignal event happens to be preferved in that manner.
The whiftle, or flagelet, 'and a kind of paftoral bag-pipe, are
the common mufical inilruments among the Morlacchi. Thefe
traditional fongs contribute much to maintain the ancient cuf-
toms; hence, their rites, games, and dances are derived from
very remote originals.
Their games and diverfions almofl all confift in trials of
ftrength, or agility ; fuch as, leaping, running, or flinging a
large heavy flone. They dance to the found of the bag-pipe,
and the voices o f their fingers, a favourite dance, which they
call kola, or circle, which foon turns into Jkocci-goJi, that is,
high dancing, All the dancers, men, and women, taking hold
o f each other’s hands, form a circle, and turn flowly round, to
the harfh notes o f the inftrument. Then the circle changes its
form, fometimes into an elipfis, and fometimes a fquare, according
as the dance becomes more animated; and, at la£t,
transforms itfelf into the moil violent fprings and, leaps, in which
the women alfo join, and the whole becomes wild confufion.
T he Morlacchi have an incredible tranfport for this rude dance,
for neither the fatigues of the day, nor a long journey, nor hun-.
ger itfelf can detain them from it, or from continuing feveral
hours, with very little intermiffion, in fuch a violent exercife.
On the medical A r t among the M o rla c c -H t.
It happens frequently enough, that inflammatory fevers are
the immediate confequences o f thefe violent dances jufl mentioned
;
tioned; in which cafe, and in all others o f the like nature,
the Morlacchf do not apply to the phyfician, becaufe, happily
for them, there is none o f that profeffion among them, but cure
themfelves, after their own way. A large draught o f a fpirituous
liquor, which they call rakia, is commonly their firfl medicinal
potion ; and i f that does not effeCtuate the cure, they repeat the
dofe, together with a large infufion o f pepper, or gun powder.
After this, they cover .themfelves up, in winter; or lie down
in the hottefl rays of the fun, i f in fummer, to fweat the illnefs, as
they exprefs it. Their cure for agues, is more methodical;
the firfl and fecond day, they take a glais o f wine, in which as
much pepper as they can take up between their finger and
thumb, has been infufed for feveral; hours; and the third
and fourth day, the doze is doubled ; I and I have actually feen
more than one. Morlacco perfectly cured by this flrange febrifuge.
Their remedy for obilrudions is to lay a large flat ftone
on the fick perfon’s belly ; , and for: rheumatifms, they ufe a
moil violent fri£tion,- w h ich ,. at leafl, renders the patient’s back
quite livid, , and fometimes flrips off the /kin. . Sometimes, they
apply a red hat ftone,, wrapt in wet rags, for rheumatic pains ;
and they ufe to drink,a great quantity of vinegar, to recover
their appetite,, after a long feries of fevers. But the lafl remedy r
of a ll,. which : is taken only in defperate cafes, is fugar, when
they can find any; and they put it into the mouths o f dying
perfons,, to make them pafs into the other world with lefs bit—
ternefs.. Criptamus...and Chamepbitis are ufed for articular pains
and they frequently apply horfe leeches to the fwelled, or'aching
parts. They apply a red ochrous earth, frequently found in the
fields, as the befl remedy for excoriations, or wounds ; and the
fame ufe is made o f it in fome parts of Bohemia,. and Mifnia,
where