The country also has a great number of wild animals and birds. Deer and hares are very common, and there is no shortage of poultry of all kinds. Partridges and pheasants are found in large numbers, especially in wooded and open countryside areas. These animals provide food for both local people and travelers and show how rich the land is in natural life.
Sheep and Their Unique Features
Sheep are kept in great numbers throughout the region. In many places, these sheep have long spiral-shaped horns and thick, curled wool. Their wool is strong and valuable, and it is used for clothing and trade. Sheep farming plays an important role in the rural economy and supports many villages Birds Along the Rivers.
Oxen and the Meat Trade
Oxen are found in very large numbers across the land. It is commonly believed that more than one hundred thousand oxen are sent every year to Italy, Germany, and other European regions. Many people say that Hungary alone could supply beef to a large part of Europe.
These oxen are usually of a mouse-gray color. The Eastern Company in Vienna holds the special right to bring these animals into the city to supply its markets. This trade provides strong income and shows the importance of livestock to the region’s economy.
Use of Buffalo in Farming
Buffalo are also kept in many areas and are very useful for farming. Farmers use them especially for ploughing heavy and stiff ground. In such soil, five pairs of oxen might be needed to pull a plough, but fewer buffalo can do the same work Sofia Old City Tours.
One man traveling with me said that he once had to use six buffalo to pull a light carriage through difficult land. This shows both the strength of these animals and the challenging nature of some parts of the countryside.
Horses of Many Kinds
Horses are also found in great numbers, especially near the region of Etešek. Some horses are large and strong, while many are small but very fast. I once saw a thousand horses owned by peasants in the village of Senia, located on the Danube not far from Komárno. These horses were used for travel, farming, and trade.
A Unique and Isolated Language
In addition to natural wealth, the people of this country are unique in their language. Their language belongs only to them and does not closely resemble any other known tongue. I visited a church in Bicske, where the minister prayed and preached in this language.
Although I was with a skilled linguist who spoke Slavic, German, Turkish, Greek, and Italian, he could not understand a single part of it. He found no similarity between this language and any other he knew.
Examples of the Language
A sample of the Lord’s Prayer in this language was recorded by the scholar Megiser. Even written examples show how different it is. This language stood apart from the common languages of Europe and added to the mystery of the people who spoke it.
Comparison with the Albanian Language
We experienced a similar difficulty with the Albanian language in the northern part of Epirus and west of Macedonia. Some locals helped us cross the mountains and could speak a little Slavic. However, when they spoke Albanian among themselves, neither Turkish nor Christian interpreters could understand them.
They often sang, talked, and laughed in their own language as they traveled with us, while we listened without understanding. This showed again how diverse and rich the languages of this region were.
This land is rich not only in animals and farming but also in culture and language. Its livestock supported much of Europe, while its unique speech and traditions set it apart from neighboring regions. Together, these qualities made the country both valuable and fascinating to travelers.
