In this article we continue to examine the assimilation of the Albanians of modern day Montenegro in the regions of Primorje, Rumija, Kunja and Dedici as documented by ethnologist Antonio Baldacci in the 1900s.

Albanians of Primorje and Antivari are predominant over the Slavic group

“There are two main races in Primorje. The Albanian group is
overwhelmingly predominant over the Slavic group, and just a few kilometers from Antivari, to the south, the former is already in its purest form. Here, it is necessary to repeat the ethnic value of these two races, even if considered according to religion—and there are three: Catholic, Muslim, and Orthodox. Let’s now go on an excursion and better see, on-site, the entirety of this local language.”

The once Albanian inhabited village of Mount Rurnija (Rumija)

“It is a major draw for the people of Krajna, especially Muric, Livari, and Sestani, and when it comes to undermining, as has often happened (it also last year collapsed, and it was a wealthy man who had it restored), relations with the sea become very difficult. In just over an hour, over schistose or calcareous schistose terrain, you reach the small Christian village of Mali Mikulic, beneath the peaks that crown the highest cone of Mount Rurnija. The inhabitants of this village speak Serbian and a few words of Albanian.”

The assimilated Albanians of Kunja

“Here and there are groups of houses, to the right and left, among dense, narrow clumps of olive trees. To the right, the rocky, sinuous coast of the calm, blue sea; to the left, behind, the mass of Lisinj; and the undulating system of hills that close together and disappear against the long, steep ridge of the Muzura plain; this is the view that dominates from the top of Pecurica, from the square in front of the school entrance. Pecurica is the last predominantly Slavic island to the south: after another hour of walking, we are near the first houses of Kunja, the first predominantly Muslim Albanian island to the north, this way. Slavic is understood by few, and very few speak it. Kunja is a scattered village in relatively fertile territory, with sinkholes with a humus-rich bottom”.

The Albanian language on the other side of Muznica Pass

“At the Muznica Pass lies the border between the two languages; on the Adriatic side, Serbian dominates, on the side of Lake Scutari, Albanian”.

Albanians of Dedici (Dedaj)

“The village of Dedici has about twenty families, all Albanian and Catholic, dependent on the parish priest of Shestani. These people understand a few phrases of Serbian, which is natural, given the proximity of Cerminica”.

Reference

Nel Montenegro Sud-Orientale. Conferenza del Sccio dott. A. BALDACCI. 1900