Herzegovina | Page 7

thus thwarted in my plans, I
made a virtue of necessity, engaged a country boat, and got under
weigh on the evening of the day on which I had landed at Gravosa. The
night was clear and starry; and as my boat glided along before a light
breeze under the romantic cliffs of the Dalmatian coast, I ceased to
regret the jolting which I should have experienced had I carried out my
first intention. Running along the shore for some ten hours in a
north-westerly direction, we reached Stagno, a town of small
importance, situated at the neck of a tongue of land in the district of
Slano, and which connects the promontory of Sabioncello with the
mainland; ten minutes' walk across the isthmus brought us again to the
sea. The luggage deposited in a boat of somewhat smaller dimensions,
and better adapted for river navigation, we once more proceeded on our
journey.
A little to the north of Stagno is the entrance to the port of Klek, a
striking instance of right constituted by might. The port, which, from its
entrance, belongs indisputably to Turkey, together with the land on the
southern side, is closed by Austria, in violation of every principle of
national law and justice.
Previous to 1852, many small vessels used to enter it for trading
purposes, and it was not until Omer Pacha in that year attempted to
establish it as an open port that Austria interfered, and stationed a
war-steamer at its mouth.
In 1860 the restriction was so far removed that Turkish vessels have

since been allowed to enter with provisions for the troops.
To the isolated condition of these provinces, coupled with the
ignorance which prevails at Constantinople relative to the affairs of the
interior, must be attributed the indifference which the Porte has as yet
manifested regarding the preservation of its just rights. The importance
to be attached to the possession by Turkey of an open port upon the
coast cannot be overrated, since through it she would receive her
imports direct from the producing countries, while her own products
could be exported without being subjected to the rules and caprices of a
foreign state. Nor are the Turkish officials in these quarters at all blind
to the injury that accrues to Turkey, from the line of policy which
Austria is now pursuing; but while they see and deplore the mildness
with which their government permits its rights to be thus violated, they
neglect to take any steps which might induce it to appeal to the
arbitration of Europe. Were this done, there could be little doubt of the
result; for, since the land on one side of the harbour, without question,
belongs to Turkey, it would appear only just that she should have
control over the half of the channel. But even were this to be accorded
(which is most improbable, since it would prove dangerous to the trade
of Trieste), the point at issue would still be far from settled. Any
concessions will be unavailing so long as the present line of
demarcation between the two countries shall exist; for while Turkey
draws the line of limit from a point near the entrance of the harbour to
the village of Dobrogna, Austria maintains the boundary to run from
that village to a point farther within the port, by which arrangement she
includes a small bluff or headland, which commands the entire harbour.
She asserts her right to this frontier, upon the grounds of its having
been the line drawn by the French during their occupation of Dalmatia.
The Turks deny the truth of this, and state that the lines occupied by the
French can still be traced from the remains of huts built for the
protection of their sentries. Moreover, since the Austrians have also
stated that the French, when in Dalmatia, did not respect the rights of
the Sultan, but occupied Suttorina and Klek, the argument that they
assume the frontier left them by the French is hardly entitled to much
consideration. That Austria is very unlikely to open Klek of her own
free will, I have already said; nor can she be blamed for the

determination, since she must be well aware that, in the event of her
doing so, English goods at a moderate price would find a far readier
market than her own high-priced and indifferent manufactures. In a
word, she would lose the monopoly of trade which she at present
possesses in these provinces. But, on the other hand, were Turkey
animated by a spirit of reprisal, she might throw such obstacles in the
path of her more powerful neighbour as would almost compel her to
abandon the system of ultra-protection.
The military road from Cattaro to Ragusa and Spalatro encroaches
upon Turkish territory, and the