The only towns in the province worthy of mention, besides Mostar, are Fochia and Taschlijeh.  They each contain about 10,000 inhabitants.  The other towns are nothing more than large villages, with a bazaar.  They are the seats of the district governments, such as Stolatz, Trebigne, Konitza, Niksich, Duvno, Chainitza, and others.  The houses in these are not conspicuous for cleanliness, while those in the smaller villages are still less desirable as residences.  They generally consist of some scores of huts, built of rough stones, without windows or chimneys, and roofed with boards, which are again covered with straw.  They seldom contain more than one room, which the family occupies, in conjunction with the poultry and domestic animals.  The furniture of these luxurious abodes consists of a hand-loom, two or three iron pots, a few earthen vessels, and some wooden spoons.  The bedding is a coarse woollen blanket, which serves as a cloak in rainy or wet weather, and as a mattress and coverlet for the whole family, without distinction of sex.

The population of the Herzegovina amounts to about 182,000, divided as follows:—­

Catholics 52,000
Greek Church 70,000
Mussulmans 60,000

Originally these were all of the same stock; and their present divisions, while constituting an element of safety for Turkey, are most prejudicial to the well-being of the country.  The Greek faith predominates in the southern and eastern parts of the province.  Its adherents are distinguished for their activity and cunning,—­qualities which have rendered them far wealthier than their brethren of the Catholic communion.  The possession of comparative wealth, and the consciousness of the moral support granted them by Russia, has made them presumptuous and over-bearing, hating alike all sects and creeds which differ from their own.  Their ignorance is only equalled by the fanaticism which often results therefrom; and so bitter is their detestation of the Roman Catholics, that more than one instance has been known of its leading to foul acts of murder.  Unoffending peasants have been taken in the revolted districts, and ordered to kneel and make the sign of the cross, to prove the truth of their assertions that they were not Mussulmans.  The wretched creatures confidently did so in accordance with the Roman Catholic form, and their lives were unceremoniously forfeited to the bigotry and ferocity of their unrelenting judges.  Nor are either tolerance or humanity in any way advocated by the priests, who are generally as illiterate and narrow-minded as their flocks, and whose influence, which is very great, is generally employed for evil.  The priesthood are divided into Archimandrite, Igumens (chiefs of monasteries), Monks, and Priests, all of whom are natives of the province, where their whole lives have been passed.  Of late years, however, many have been sent to receive their education in Russia.  Some