Jugoslovenski Rotar

so sudden, so quick and so astounding as in the Prokletija mountains at the south-western frontier of Yugoslavia. Above the picturesque godforsaken villages of Playa and Gusinje in the basin of the Lim, rise up steep massive limestone mountains. Bjeli¢é, Trojan, Vezirova Brada, Cokiste, Maja Jezerce and other massifs of the Prokletija are exceedingly rich in all the possible Karst formations. Here we have perpendicular cliffs broken up by huge chasms, inaccessible rocks, smooth white slabs of stone, chiselled needles, dark ravines and snow fields. And all this is the thirsty Karst, without a drop of running water, a horrid desert of stone. All this makes a still more powerful impression on the tourist when he emerges from the inhospitable Karst and finds himself unexpectedly in the green region of Djerovica, on its wide meadows stretching over round slopes and curved lines, where amidst silent forests lies the little known lake Ridsko Jezero. But the Prokletija mountains are not yet easily accessible. These wild mountains wait to be conquered and subdued by the new generations.

Further down to the south-east of Prokletija the conformation of the soil is changed. There are no more unbroken chains of mountains. Instead of them mighty massifs appear, bulky mountains interspersed with broad plains in which normal rivers run. These are tectonic vales, abundantly watered and enjoying a mild climate influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. The soil is also different here: instead of the earlier geologic formation the older material of the so called Rodope Massif is predominant, and the bottom of these valleys is covered with a thick layer of good earth. As a result these vales are true agricultural regions with strong old agglomerates on their rivers. These geographic conditions are prevalent all over the southern part of our country. An excellent use of artificial irrigation is a distinguishing feature of agriculture in these southern regions of Yugoslavia. The art of cultivating the soil in these parts, as well as in the rest of the Balkan Peninsula, follows in the wake of the old agricultural traditions of the eastern Mediterranean basin, and is noted for its excellent methods of irrigation and its intensive culture of subtropical and continental plants.

As an example of such a region let us take the valley of Metohija at the eastern foot of the Prokletija mountains. Here the crops mature early and the harvest is early. Already in May the heat becomes unbearable and the stubbles in the fields are dried to dust. It is necessary to water copiously the maize fields, orchard and other green crops. Then in the warm nights men sit by the whirlpools and brooks carefully watching lest anybody should abduct the precious tream and thus lay waste the crop of their fields. How pleasant it is to flee from the hot sun of Metohija at noon into the green shady slopes of the Prokletija mountains!

This was known in old days to those who, with a refined taste, raised and endowed churches and monasteries along the edge of the valley of Metohija. The medieval monasteries erected by members and relatives of the ruling family of the Nemanji¢i were not meant only to serve as churches and holy places. To these rulers they were also their regal estates and favourite dwellings, centres of cultural life, similar in this respect to the feudal palaces and mansions of western

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