Original scientific paper
SENJ, THE USKOKS AND THE BURA IN THE TRAVELOGUE OF SIR THOMAS GRAHAM JACKSON AT THE END OF THE 19th CENTURY
JURAJ LOKMER
Abstract
During the 19th century there was especially increased interest in the eastern Adriatic coastline by English travel writers. Their motives for travelling varied: from getting to know ‘exotic’ regions, discovering unknown European culture heritage, even to recording the conditions and relations of political forces after the collapse of the neighbouring Ottoman Empire and the strengthening of selfconsciousness of the Slavic peoples within the Austro-Hungary monarchy. Especially interesting for them was the history of the Uskoks, they came to Senj, where with luck they found the locations connected to the events. British architect, historian, conservator and writer Sir Thomas Graham Jackson (1835-1924) travelled, many times (1882, 1884 and 1885) to the eastern Adriatic coast from Boka Kotorska and Cetinje, and in 1885 he was in Senj. Jackson wrote with documentary precision about the people and river regions and with pictures, he noted architectonic monuments, historical events and natural phenomena. He published this is his work: Dalmatia, the Quarnero and Istria with Cetigne in Montenegro and the Island of Grado, which was printed in Oxford in 1887. Jackson's description of Senj and the Velebit coast to Karlobag is scant, especially in comparison with the descriptions of the Dalmatian towns and islands of Kvarner. His interest in Senj is based on some historical sources of Senj’s Uskoks, primarily those of Venice, and his travelogue description of Senj in the shadow of the great stories about the history of the Uskoks which does not bring anything new, only refreshing and updating the old arguments and positions, and now it is all in the new function of the eastern policy of the British Empire. However, his descriptions, if you reject the historical-political comments, do contain valuable Information and testimony about those regions and the people. Therewith to get an insight into the views and opinions of others or strangers. This is the documentation that with the authority of Jackson's extraordinary personality shaped public opinion of English-speaking areas and beyond. Today, these attitudes and opinions of many, perhaps strange, some incomprehensible, largely historically unfounded and partly objectionable, but these are attitudes that are significantly influenced by the political decisions of Great Britain and
the United States at the end of 19th during the 20th century, which can be recognised today in the policies and procedures of these countries. This paper provides the translation parts of Jackson's
travelogue, which is related to Kvarner, Velebit, the town of Senj and the coast all the way to Karlobag (without the islands of Kvarner) and the history of Senj’s Uskoks and review of all economic, political and cultural relations and the situation in Senj and Croatia that could be
conditioned by the attitudes and claims that Jackson has in his travelogue. It is also the view of the era and circumstances of this travelogue as well as comments and explanations of Jackson’s certain
points of view, claims and animosity, enabling a better understanding of not only this but his actions and the history of the Uskoks in the light of recent historical evaluation and research. It attempts with an objective critique and historical facts to refute some of the biased and historically unsubstantiated opinions, but also understands Jackson, and give objective reasons for such. This is an opportunity to give an overview of the local history and heritage, which, unfortunately, is little known and is under valued not only in the Croatian but also in the European context.
Keywords
Senj; Jablanac; Karlobag; Velebit canal; Senj Uskoks; bura; T.G. Jackson
Hrčak ID:
57604
URI
Publication date:
19.12.2009.
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