Written by Petrit Latifi
In this article, we examine the German publication “Wissenschaftliche Mittheilungen aus Bosnien und der Hercegovina”, Volume 2, from 1893 describing the inhabitants of Kolashin and Rascia and their customs. When reading, it is clear that the locals of this region have very strong Albanian elements, though later slavicized, serbicized or “Bosniakification”. The strongest argument is that the Kolashin inhabitants are decribed “wearing a white felt hat” (the Albanian plis or Qeleshë).
Albanian customs among the Bosnias of Rascia
“As already mentioned above, with this exception the population in northern Rascia is purely Bosnian tribe, if they are nevertheless referred to in Bosnia as Arnauti and their area as Arnautluk, this is only an uncritical popular expression which comes from the fact that to the Bosnians many details of the Rascian population, whether in clothing or customs, appear Arnautian and are actually borrowed from their neighbours. However, these are only a few minor details which cannot make the Rascian Bosnians Arnauts. Rather, the population of Rascia in general and especially the urban population differs in no way from that of Herzegovina. They have the same costume, the same dialect, the same customs, traditions and views.”
An individuality which differs from the rest of the population due to certain peculiarities and which deserves a few words of explanation is possessed by the Bosnian tribe which settled in the district called Kolašin. This is the district between the Montenegrin border from Šiško jezero to Mojkovac and the middle course of the Tara on the one hand and the middle course of the Lim on the other, which parts of the Plevlje district and Bjelopolje and the district of Lower Kolašin.
Muslims of Kolashin emigrated after the Montenegrin occupation of 1859
“The area of the upper reaches of the Tara up to Mojkovac also belongs geographically to Kolašin and is called Gornji Kolašin Upper Kolašin Politically it has been separated since 1878 by cession to Montenegro In Gornji Kolašin lies the town of the same name on the Tara. The Muslims emigrated from this Montenegrin Kolašin partly during the temporary Montenegrin occupation in 1859 and completely after 1878.”
“Serbian geographers and the maps after them also record a district of Stari Kolašin, Old Kolašin on the upper reaches of the Ibar. However, to what extent this name is justified and whether it is known and used by the indigenous population could not be determined. The individuality of the Kolašin tribe is reflected in their character and way of thinking, their customs and traditions, and finally in their clothing and other external appearances.”
“Wild nature of the Kolašincs” (similar to those of the Albanian highlanders)
“The Kolašincs have remained the wildest tribe of all Bosnians. With their very limited needs, animal husbandry and agriculture are enough for them to live. Industry and trade, which in other parts of Bosnia are sometimes at a high level, are completely foreign to them. They procure the products of the former in the bazaars of the nearest towns of Plevlje and Bjelopolje.”
Plundering nature and non-practical muslim tendencies
“On the other hand, they love to make a living through plundering as soon as they have the opportunity to do so. The Kolašincs are fanatical Muslims, but it seems that their religiosity lacks any deeper content. Many of them disdain the consumption of brandy in their younger years and do not drink, instead, the local plum brandy šljiva in excessive quantities. There are often cases where the Kolašin Muslim is a Christian and married without demanding that she convert to Islam.”
“Even though they sometimes make a very trusting and honest impression, in general they cannot be relied upon because their greed easily leads them to deceit and betrayal. This accusation is made against them in particular by the Albanians, who themselves hold the Bessa in such high regard for the word of loyalty given. The Kolašincs have no Bessa (Besa).”
Kolashin inhabitants have adopted the customs of the Albanians
“The Kolašincs are extremely vengeful an insult perceived or an injustice committed against them is always avenged but they do not choose open combat but prefer to carry out their revenge well prepared from ambush. They have completely adopted the customary legal regulations and customs of blood feud from the Albanians.The entire Kolašincs tribe is divided into a large number of families or Pleme, as is the case with the Albanian tribes Fis in Montenegro and southern Hercegovina.”
Kolashin families with Albanian microtoponyms: Micanovic (Micani), Djurdjevic (Gjergji), Hrapovic (Harapaj?), Štroka (Shtrokajt?), Musovic (Musajt), Martinovic (Martinaj), Mekic (Meki), Kufra, Ljuca (Lucë).
“The best known are the families Micanović Djurdjević Hrapović Štroka Kraljić Mušović Martinović Mekić Kufra Tutić Ljuca and others. In their other way of life, the Kolašincs do not differ much from the Muslim Hercegovcs or even from the Crnogorcs.”
Kolashin locals wear “a round, white felt hat” (Albanian plis or Qeleshe)
“They speak the same idiom, only as they are rougher and wilder in everything, it takes on a rougher, more accentuated sound in their mouths. Their costume is characterized by a short, tight, hooded cloak open at the front, made of white-grey loden made by their women, and a round, white felt hat that fits tightly around the head.”
Reference
Balkan Academia 