Roumania Past and Present, James Samuelson [best novels to read to improve english .txt] 📗

presents a variety arising out of the domination of the various races, but in some respects indicates the nature of that domination, and the customs have a like significance. As a general rule the Roumanian language is derived from the Latin, but there are many words of Turkish, modern Greek, Polish, and Hungarian or Magyar origin. Amongst the Latin words are the names of many localities and towns which have evidently existed since the Roman period, as witness:--

Latin Roumanian English Danubius Dunarea Danube Porata Prutu Pruth Ardiscus Argesu Ardges Alutus Oltu Olto Turris Severi Turnu-Severinu Turn Severin Nicopolis Nicopolu Nicopolis Caracalla Caracalu Caracal Dravus Drava Drave Carpates Carpati Carpathians

Then, again, amongst common names of things and qualities there are objects which could not change, such as parts of the body, well-known animals of all ages, &c., as for example:--

Latin Roumanian English[67] Aqua Apa Water Aurum Auru Gold Ferrum Fer Iron Barbatus Barbatu A (bearded) man Caput Cap Head Manus Mâna Hand Nasus Nas Nose Vena Vina Vein Os Os Bone Oculus Ochiu Eye Digitus Deget Finger Pes Picior Foot Pectus Pept Breast Canis Câne Dog Piscis Pesce Fish Dominus Domnu Lord Umbra Umbra Shade Frigidus Frigu Cold Calidus Caldu Warm Albus Alb White Niger Negru Black Casa Casa A cottage

and so on through the whole vocabulary of common things and attributes.

On the other hand, when we come to examine the words of barbarian origin, we find that they relate to the character of the dominant race and their rule over the natives. If we take, for example, the words of Magyar or Hungarian origin, we find them to denote war, conquest, mining, taxation, punishment, &c., such as baia , mine; banui , repent, rue; bereu , a wood; bicao , fetters (on the feet); * bir , poll-tax; birâu , a judge; bitangu , wandering about; bucni , to strike; buzdugány , war-club; catanie , soldiers, soldiers' habits;
cheltúi , to give or spend lavishly; fagadau , drink-shop; giulus , the Reichstag, or national assembly; hodnogiu , lieutenant (from had , war); hotar , boundary; * lantiu , chain; odorbireu , headsman; * tábara , camp, war, army; varda , watch-house; and so on.[68]

Besides these words and phrases derived from the Latin and barbarian languages, there are others relating to ecclesiastical matters imported from the Greek; indeed, an examination of the language is itself an interesting historical study, and if now we turn to the arts and customs of the Roumanians, we find the same interesting relations with her past history.

Of the music of the Laoutari we have already spoken. It is weird and plaintive, and no one who has listened attentively to the airs played by some of those bands can have failed to be struck with their 'telling' character, how they give vent alternately to feelings of joy and sorrow, of mourning and rejoicing, and, like the music of Poland, &c., call to mind the conquered condition of the people in the past. As with the music, so with the dances. A writer, to whom we shall refer later on, M. Opitz, described the 'Hora,' the national dance of the Roumanians, as being illustrative of their conquered condition, and a recent acute observer has left us his impressions on the same subject.

'I remember one dance (says he) of which I forget the name, but
which pleased me exceedingly. After the dancers had gone one or two
paces in pairs in a circle, the men separated from the women. The
latter moved singly round the men, as though they were seeking some
object dear to them. The men then drew together and moved their
feet like marching soldiers; next using their long sticks, they
made irregular springs and uttered loud cries,