Pasvan Oglou, who both engaged in the profession of Haiduks, were bound together by the ties of Pobratimi.

Leaving Imoschi, we crossed the plain in a N.W. direction, by the bridge over the Verlicca, and thence towards the west end of the lake of Proloxaz celebrated for its eels, which are considered superior even to those of the Narenta, and are sent to different places, for the benefit of gourmands. We passed the village of Proloxaz, a short distance to our right, near the mouth of a bold ravine, once commanded, and defended, by a castle upon the height, now a ruin; and such was the importance of this position, that the Romans made it a military post; as is proved by the many tombs of legionary soldiers, found in the neighbourhood.†

Crossing the bridge, called Súmet Most, built over a winter torrent, we ascended the hills, a little to the north of the straggling village of Poglizza, which is about three miles from Imoschi. The road commands a fine view over the lake of Proloxaz, and the Yesaro beyond it; and after winding for a mile and a half, through a wood of birch, oak, and alder, we came to the tombs of DrenoSome are of the usual sarcophagus shape, others merely slabs. A rude representation of a horse with a high saddle, some whimsical devices, and an arabesque scroll pattern§, (of better style

vaz.

* Prolojatz.

Marked Figs. 3, 4, 5.

† See above, p. 150.
§ Fig. 6.

than usual); the crescent, and one or more stars, or rosettes, are their principal ornaments; and on one I observed a cross. Among the devices is the Gammadion*, which occurs on two of the tombs. It was used in early Christian times, in England, and other countries, among ornamental devices, in MSS., on tombs, and on church vestments, from about the year 1011 to 1400; after which it is not met with in England. It is very common on monumental crosses of the fourteenth century; and was a favourite ornament in the Greek church, whence it probably came into western Europe; and it is known in heraldic language as a Fylfot.

Other tombs are found a short distance beyond; and about a mile further are those of Loquicich. They are very like those of Drenovaz; but one of them, a large thick slab, bears the crescent, with a sword and shield, twice repeated†, presenting a more than ordinary resemblance to armorial bearings. Another, with an arm holding a sword, has also the character of an heraldic device. The rope frequently occurs among the ornaments, and borders of the panels, as on the tomb at Dogliane §; the crescent, with the horns placed upwards, down

* Marked Fig. 2.

† Fig. 8.

Figs. 7. 11. This is similar to the arm and sword on the escutcheon of the "Primordia-Kumaniæ," and was the crest of the Harvoyevich-Vukich family.

§ Fig. 1. See above, p. 33.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 11.

At Cisto.

Fig. 12.

Fig. 13.

wards, or sideways, is found on most of them, as well as men on horseback, deer, and numerous fantastical devices; and on some few are both the crescent and the cross.

The union of the two emblems of Christianity and Islám is remarkable, and gives an additional interest to these unknown sepulchres; but it is scarcely necessary to observe, that the crescent establishes no connexion with the Moslems; that emblem having been used by the Christians, as well as Pagans, at a very early time, and being only adopted by the Turks. It is found, with a star, on engraved stones of ancient Greece; it is on coins of Athens, and of Carrhæ, as well as on those of Tiberius and other Roman emperors; the escutcheons of Bosnia and Illyria have both the crescent and the star; and many Slavonian families bear them in their arms. And though the crescent, and the cross, on the fountains of Germany, and in other places, may be of late time, there is no doubt that the former is an

old Byzantine emblem, copied by the Moslems, on their invasion of the provinces of the Empire." *

It is difficult to decide upon the exact date of these tombs; but there is little reason to doubt that they were of the Christians, who occupied these countries previous to the Turkish invasion, during the rule of Bosnian, and other Slavonian princes; and from the absence of regular armorial bearings (on the same monuments where certain symbols appear, which have the character of an early attempt at their introduction), it is reasonable to suppose that many of them date long before the fifteenth century.† The use of the bow, and spear, in the chase, indicate an early date, and the cross suffices to show them to be the burial places of Christians; and if it is singular that the latter should occur so rarely, we may conclude that those which bear it are subsequent to the Turkish arrival in Europe, when there was more reason to introduce the distinguishing emblem of Christianity. This seems to be confirmed by the appearance of a tomb at Lovrich, and another in Herzegóvina, where a large stone cross stands at the head of a horizontal slab;

* It was chosen, because Byzantium was saved from a night attack of Philip, by the moon coming out, and revealing the approach of the enemy. Our Richard I. adopted it, in the royal seal, after his wars in Palestine against the Moslems.

† Armorial bearings, properly so called, were first used about the middle of the twelfth century; and they became hereditary about the beginning of the thirteenth.