In this matter my thanks are greatly due to Herr Emil Sigerus, who was good enough to place at my disposal the blocks of engravings designed by himself, and belonging to the Transylvania Carpathian Society, of which he is the secretary. Likewise to Madame Kamilla Asboth, for permission to copy her life-like and characteristic photographs of Saxons, Roumanians, and gypsies. I would also at this place acknowledge the extreme courtesy with which every question of mine regarding Transylvania people and customs has been responded to by various kind acquaintances, and if some parts of my work do not meet with their entire approval, let them here take the assurance that my remarks were prompted by no unfriendly spirit, and that in each and every case I have endeavored to judge impartially according to my lights. EMILY DE LASZOWSKA-GERARD. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTORY 1 II. HISTORICAL 6 III. POLITICAL 11 IV. ARRIVAL IN TRANSYLVANIA—FIRST IMPRESSIONS 14 V. SAXON HISTORICAL FEAST—LEGEND 25 VI. THE SAXONS: CHARACTER—EDUCATION—RELIGION 31 VII. SAXON VILLAGES 39 VIII. SAXON INTERIORS—CHARACTER 50 IX. SAXON CHURCHES AND SIEGES 62 X. THE SAXON VILLAGE PASTOR 71 XI. THE SAXON BROTHERHOODS—NEIGHBORHOODS AND VILLAGE HANN 79 XII. THE SAXONS: DRESS—SPINNING AND DANCING 85 XIII. THE SAXONS: BETROTHAL 94 XIV. THE SAXONS: MARRIAGE 101 XV. THE SAXONS: BIRTH AND INFANCY 111 XVI. THE SAXONS: DEATH AND BURIAL 117 XVII. THE ROUMANIANS: THEIR ORIGIN 122 XVIII. THE ROUMANIANS: THEIR RELIGION, POPAS, AND CHURCHES 125 XIX. THE ROUMANIANS: THEIR CHARACTER 132 XX. ROUMANIAN LIFE 139 XXI. ROUMANIAN MARRIAGE AND MORALITY 146 XXII. THE ROUMANIANS: DANCING, SONGS, MUSIC, STORIES, AND PROVERBS 151 XXIII. ROUMANIAN POETRY 158 XXIV. THE ROUMANIANS: NATIONALITY AND ATROCITIES 173 XXV. THE ROUMANIANS: DEATH AND BURIAL—VAMPIRES AND WERE-WOLVES 180 XXVI. ROUMANIAN SUPERSTITION: DAYS AND HOURS 188