The Photo Collection of Edith Durham

Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo, 1903 - 1913

ED013_RAI 400.13171 Albania. Bzheta. Men of the Shkreli tribe at the feast of Saint Nicholas at Bzheta in Shkreli territory (Photo: Edith Durham, 10 May 1908). “Etiquette demanded that the Skreli people, being the hosts, should not wear their best clothes, it is for the guests to do all the peacocking. And peacock they did. Many carried splendid silver- mounted weapons, and even though wearing revolvers, thrust great silver ramrods in their belts, for “swagger.” Snow-white headwraps dazzled in the sun – crimson and gold djemadans and jeleks, the short black ghurdi, and the splendidly decorative black braiding of the tight-fitting chakshir (trousers), and the heavy silver watch and pistol chains – set lavishly with the false rubies and turquoise loved of the mountain man – set off the lean supple figures to the greatest advantage.” (Edith Durham, High Albania, 1909).