The Eighth Tribe, 1977 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1977-09-01 / 9. szám

September, 1977

THE EIGHTH TRIBE

Page 11

by traders, for the common folk still bartered in kind. The latter — especially the wealthier families — usually hoarded these coins. In addition to using them as ornamental pieces, bridegrooms also used them to “pay” for their prospective brides. (The original version of the word vőlegény—bridegroom was vevő legény—buyer or buying groom.) Such “buying”, however, was generally preceded by an arrangement between the two families, and the consent of the two young people involved.

Although the eastern and southern trade continued to remain more important for quite a while, a few decades after their conquest of the Carpathian Basin the Magyars also began to trade with the North and the West. Thus, they often visited Prague in Bohemia. In 965, for example, the Arab traveler Ibrahim ibn Jakub met a number of Magyar traders there, whose ranks included both “Muslims” and “Jews”. They were buying slaves, zink and furs, for which goods they were paying with golden Bezants (Byzantine coins). Although food was very cheap in Prague, they bought none, which is another indication that they were producing their own foodstuff. Following the Magyar defeat at Augsburg in 955 and the subsequent cessation of tbeir military raids toward the West, they also began to trade with Western Europe. This is indicated both by the rapid spread of Carolingian tools and weapons, as well as by the transplantation of Carolingian social and political institutions.

That trade and the holding of markets was common among the Magyars even before their conquest of the Carpathian Basin is known to us from many sources. But it is also indicated by such words of Iranian origin as vásár (fair, market) and fizet (to pay), both of which came into the language before the conquest. Following the conquest of their new homeland, the Magyars established such fairs or markets next to the yurt settlements of the most important tribal and clan chiefs, and named them after the chief (e.g. Tasvásár—Tas’s Fair). The most successful of these were those that lay at important crossings and were well protected. The chiefs afforded protection to the market, but they also levied tolls on all of the traders and merchants.

Initially, in line with Muslim customs, the market day was Friday. Later Christian missionaries introduced the custom of holding the market on Saturday. But to force the newly-converted Magyars to attend church services, in the early eleventh century King St. Stephen ordered that markets must also be held on Sunday, preferably close to the

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Frederich Knefler was appointed colonel of the 79th Indiana Volunteer Regiment. Previously, he had served as adjutant to Gen. Lew Wallace, author of the famous Biblical novel Ben Hur. Colonel Knefler commanded a brigade in the division of General Wood in the battles of Nashville, Chattanooga, and Franklin, Tennessee. He was also in command of the 86th Indiana Regiment in the battle of

Missionary Ridge. At the end of the war, he was appointed brigadier general. After the war, President Hayes appointed him chief of the Pension Office. Later he became a member of a committee for erecting memorials to heroes of the Civil War.

The 22nd Volunteer Infantry Regiment of New Jersey was organized by Cornelius Főmet, who also became its first colonel. Before his appointment, he had served under General Fremont as major of engineers.

1863

Anthony Valias, who had settled at New Orleans and ventually became president of the New Orleans Academy of Sciences, lost his job as professor of mathematics and natural philosophy ^t the Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana (Louisiana State University) because of pro-Union sympathies.

Peter Paul Dobozy enlisted in the 2nd Tennessee Heavy Artillery Regiment. In the same year he became adjutant to General Asboth and commander of the 4th Colored Heavy Artillery Regiment at Fort Columbus, Kentucky. Dobozy had organized the abovementioned regiment.

Julius Stahel-Szamvald helped to organize the 8th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and became its first lieutenant colonel. His regiment protected the rear of the Union Army as it retreated after the defeat at Bull Run. Stahel-Szamwald participated bravely in many of the early battles and was promoted to brigadier in 1861 and to major general two years later. In March 1863, he was appointed commander of the cavalry defending Washington, at the personal request of President Lincoln. For his bravery in the battle of Piedmont in 1864 he received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1893. From November 1864 to January 1865, while recuperating from his war wounds, he served as president of the military court in Baltimore. Stahel-Szamwald continued to serve the country in peaceful times. He was in the foreign service of the United States for eleven years as American counsel in Japan and China.

Three sons of Emilia Kossuth served the United States with distinction. After commanding the 51st Colored Regiment, Ladislaus Zsulavsky organized the 82nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and be-