There are many signs of Mahomet Ali’s love for his birthplace in Kavala. He rebuilt the large aqueduct, providing water to the entire town inside the walls. However, the Christians living outside the walls face high costs to get water, as the water supply was redirected away from them. Additionally, Mahomet Ali left a large sum of money in his will to reduce the taxes of those living within the walls. As a result, people outside the walls, including many Christians, pay higher taxes. This has not helped improve the relationship between Muslims and Christians in the area Dividing the Macedonian Population .
Tobacco Industry and Strikes
The main industry in Kavala is the export of tobacco. In the warehouses, many girls work sorting and packing the tobacco leaves. During the busy season, labor is in high demand. But at other times, there is less work, and people face hardship. Just before my visit, Kavala had experienced a strike by tobacco workers who wanted higher wages. When their request was denied, they refused to work and began rioting, smashing factory windows. The authorities quickly ended the strike by arresting the leaders and putting them in prison.
The Condition of Macedonia
Different Groups in Macedonia
Macedonia is a place with many different groups of people. There is no single “Macedonian” race. The population is roughly 2 million people. About a third of them are Turks. For the rest, there are different opinions about who is in the majority. Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, says most people are Bulgarians. Athens, the capital of Greece, claims that the majority are Greeks. Meanwhile, Belgrade and Bucharest, the capitals of Serbia and Romania, also claim that Serbs and Romanians are the largest groups Istanbul Day Tours.
