by Arben N. Bushgjoka. Translation Petrit Latifi

Also known as “The Lion of the Highlands”. Once, Bajram Curri, the dragon of the mountains, had summoned all the leaders of the Gjakova Highlands to a great assembly. The high nobility had already begun to line up in that men’s room.

In front of the fireplace, as is customary, Bajram Curri himself sat. Whoever entered the room, the Beg would shake his hand without moving from his place, welcoming them with the strictness of a leader. The men sat one by one around him, waiting for him to begin speaking.

When Tunxh Miftari appeared at the door, his shadow covered the threshold. Bajram Curri, when he saw him, did not cross his legs, but got up on his knees to greet him. Tunxhi grabbed his hand, but he didn’t sit down. With a voice that roared like a mountain, he greeted him:
— “Push a little further, Beg! Because the big one in your house and the big one in mine doesn’t belong to you, just push a little and I’ll give you my place!”

The oda (mens room) was left breathless. But Bajram Curri, who knew the importance of the man, pushed and gave him his place. Tunxhi sat cross-legged, smoked a cigarette carefully, and after he exhaled the first smoke, he turned to Beg with a manly smile:

— “Come on Beg, come on, sit here now, because this is the place that belongs to you because you have done me honor and service. I simply wanted to make a little manly joke.”

This is not just a story, it is the unwritten code of our mountains. Everyone who is from those areas and is interested in history, surely knows this story. Tunxh Miftari remains a living legend of Mertur, a man who knew the power of words and the weight of the flag, and his word weighed heavier than a stone.

Reference

http://limit.al/2019/02/12/ne-shka-fajiset-skanderbegu-nga-marin-sirdani/