Koprivshtitsa traders in Egypt: The Maserliyets
Копривщенци в Египет — „масърлиете“
Category: Bulgarian National Revival
Language: Bulgarian
The book traces the discovery of the Egyptian markets by the tailors and merchants of the Bulgarian town of Koprivshtitsa in the middle of the 19th century. The author explores their settlement, the struggle against competition from European goods and the gradual loss of markets, as well as their reorientation towards the dairy trade. The establishment and development over more than eighty years of a colony of dairymen from Koprivshtitsa in Cairo and Alexandria is analysed. Thousands of miles away from their birthplace and their families, the migrants in Egypt, whose Arabic name is 'musr', called 'maserliyet', were absent for two, three or more years to earn their livelihoods and provide materially for themselves and their families. There are 'maserliyets' of one, two and even three generations who have spent 40, 50 or more years in Alexandria and Cairo. The text examines the main points in the evolution of traditional seasonal workers; their social composition, property status and partnership relations.
Table of contents
Културата на гурбета
Уводни слова
Мъсърската компания
Създаване на александрийската копривщенска общност
Първо и второ поколение млекари
Общественият живот на мъсърлиите
Ежедневието и трудът на мъсърлиите
Мъсърлииските годежи, сватби и забавления
Решителни мъже
Душанчани в Александрия
Послеслов
Източници и литература