My plea, then, is for a friendly hand to Bulgaria. She has purged herself. She aspires to better things. There is much that is admirable in her people. She has courageous leaders with high ideals and proved motives, who deserve confidence. Surely we should now cease to carp and sneer and extend, instead, the encouraging hand of friendship?
There can be no doubt that in many of his political judgements, statements and actions Swire can be accused of naivety and hot-headedness. His admiration of Velchev was so intense that it prevented the asking of some important questions, more especially as to the degree of support Velchev enjoyed amongst the masses; the Aegean scheme was impossible given British interests in Keeping Cyprus.
And British diplomacy in Bulgaria, though unadventurous and lacking in imagination, was more rational than Swire would admit. Nevertheless, there would be few who would want to reject his plea for the extending of the hand of friendship and it is the hope of this author that his own contribution to this volume will help to do that, at least in the world of historical scholarship.
IN AMERICAN TRAVEL ACCOUNTS
PHILIP SHASHKO (USA)
Scholars have not yet ascertained when the first mention and writings on Bulgaria and the Bulgarians were published in the New World. It is known, however, that books and articles exist written by Americans before the nineteenth century dealing with the Balkans in general and Bulgaria in particular. Americans interested in the fate of the Balkan peoples always had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with Southeastern Europe.
The special linguistic, socio-political and cultural relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom facilitated the continuous flow and exchange of books and ideas across the Atlantic. Many early English publications found their way in American homes and private and public institutions and libraries. These writings, together with those of American authors, formed the bases for the American reading public to acquire some knowledge about medieval Bulgaria as well as Bulgaria under Ottoman rule.
This essay presents American images of nineteenth-century Bulgarian history and culture as they were portrayed in a few typical travel accounts published during the nineteenth century. Although the books examined here did not deal exclusively with Bulgaria, they contain enough varied and sufficient material to render a portrait of the American representation of Bulgaria and the Bulgarians.
Scholarly historical, geographical books and articles as well as the writings of American missionaries, diplomats and well-known journalists whose writings form the bulk of works on Bulgaria are not examined in this paper. Travel accounts published in newspapers and journals are also not considered here.
Historical Ottoman 