Jugo-Slavs
(yoo'go-slavz) or South-Slavs (_jugo_ means "south") to distinguish them
from the Czechs, Poles, and Russians of the north. There is, however, a
strong feeling of relationship between these two great Slavic groups.

THE BULGARS.--The Bulgars are descended from a non-Slavic race allied
to the Tatars and Finns. They came into the Balkan region on the heels
of some of the early migrations and seized the land now called Bulgaria;
there, however, they mingled with the native Slavic people whom they
conquered, and whose language they adopted. There are, besides, many
Bulgarians in the Dobrud'ja--the district lying between the lower Danube
and the Black Sea. Likewise in the province of Macedonia, the Bulgarians
form the largest element in the population.

THE ROUMANIANS.--Roumania is the old Roman province of Dacia, and the
Roumanians claim to be descendants of colonists which the Romans sent
into that province as an outpost against invasion. It is certain that
the language spoken by the Roumanians is much like Latin, but, as a
recent writer says, the language is closer to Latin than the Roumanians
are to Romans.

THE ALBANIANS.--The Albanian people are descended from the most
ancient of all the races in the Balkan peninsula; their language is the
oldest language spoken in Europe. For centuries they were nominally
subject to Turkey; but the Turks never really succeeded in conquering
them, though many of the Albanians became Mohammedans.

THE GREEKS.--Though the Greeks are descended in part from the people
who inhabited their country in ancient times, and though they speak a
modern form of the old Greek language, it is certain that the present
inhabitants are a much mixed race. They are largely Slav, but hold a
strong feeling for the great past of their country. This gives them an
unusually strong national rallying point. In many ways the Greeks are
the most progressive of the Balkan races.

RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA AS PROTECTORS OF THE BALKAN COUNTRIES.--The
struggle between the great powers as to which of them should become the
heirs of "the sick man of Europe," as the Sultan of Turkey was long ago
called, dates back about a century. Austria on account of her
geographical position and her desire to expand to the southward, and
Russia on account of her desire for Constantinople and the racial ties
connecting her with the Balkan states, each hoped to be preferred. Both
Austria and Russia, then, for more or less selfi