And as there was no other law than their master's pleasure, so there was no other guarantee than his caprice.

They had therefore to set quickly to work; the post might be lost before its cost had been recovered.

Thus all the science of administration resolved itself into plundering as much and as quickly as possible.

To this end, the delegate of imperial power delegated in his turn, on similar conditions, other agents to seize for him and for themselves all they could lay their hands on; so that the inhabitants of the empire might be divided into three classes--those who were striving to seize everything; those who were trying to save a little; and those who, having nothing and hoping for nothing, took no interest in affairs at all.
Albania was one of the most difficult provinces to manage.

Its inhabitants were poor and brave, and the nature of the country was mountainous and inaccessible.