The population of this district is of Slovak nationality. As far as the sun and climate will permit, they devote themselves to agriculture and fruit-growing (chiefly apples), and in the mountains, to the breeding of sheep. They make also good cheeses, which are sold in almost all the towns of Hungary. Nevertheless, as this part of Upper Hungary's rather arid, and very poor, a great number of Slovaks emigrate, and gain their living as artisans or itinerant pedlars, and sometimes even as labourers. With main ups and downs some arrive in far distant lands, but, at the end of five or ten years, they always return to their villages, and share with their families the little stock of savings, which by dint of world and privations they have hoarded up.

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Adapted from Illustrated Description of Hungary and its Capital