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and lamentable fact, that, while the thronged population of Europe offers really no prospect but plague, battle, or famine, a beautiful, salubrious, and prolific land should be left comparatively uninhabited or forgotten. The account of the government and the missions of Spanish priests is amusing, shrewd, and even humorous; while underneath the surface is much matter for reflection and regret. The description, however, of the Indians of that part of America—a race very different from the Mexicans, the Peruvians, or, in fact, any of the other tribes either to the north or southmust be noticed more particularly.

"Like the Arabs and other wandering tribes, these people [the Indians] move about the country, and pitch their tents wherever they find a convenient place, keeping, however, within their own dis. trict.

"They cultivate no land, and subsist entirely by the chase, and upon the spontaneous produce of the earth. Acorns, of which there is great abundance in the country, constitute their principal vegetable food. In the proper season they procure a supply of these, bake them, and then bruise them between two stones into a paste, which will keep until the following season. The paste, before it is dried, is subjected to several washings in a sieve, which, they say, deprives it of the bitter taste common to the acorn. We cannot but remark the great resemblance this custom bears to the method adopted by the South Sea islanders to keep their bread-fruit; nor ought we to fail to notice the manner in which Providence points out to the different tribes the same wise means of preserving their food, and providing against a season of scarcity.

"The country inhabited by the Indians abounds in game, and the rivers in fish; and those tribes which inhabit the seacoast, make use of mussels and other shell-fish, of which the Haliotis gigantea is the most abundant. In the chase they are very expert, and avail themselves of a variety of devices to ensnare and decoy their game. The artifice of deceiving

the deer, by placing a head of the animal upon their shoulders, is very successfully practised by them. To do this, they fit the head and horns of a deer upon the head of a huntsman, the rest of his body being painted to resemble the colour of a deer. Thus disguised, the Indian sallies forth equipped with his bow and arrows, approaches the pasture of the deer, whose actions and voice he then endeavours to imitate, taking care to conceal his body

as much as possible; for which purpose he generally selects places which are overgrown with long grass. This stratagem seldom fails to entice several of the herd within reach of his arrows, which are frequently sent with unerring aim to the heart of the animal, and he falls without alarming the herd; but if the aim should fail, or only wound its intended victim, the whole herd is immediately put to flight."

Various stratagems are also detailed by which the Indians provide themselves with wild fowl; after which Captain Beechey proceeds:

"The occupation of the men consists principally in providing for their support, and in constructing the necessary implements for the chase, and for their own defence. The women attend to their domestic concerns, and work a variety of baskets and ornamental parts of their dress, some of which are very ingenious, and all extremely laborious. Their closely wove baskets are not only capable of containing water, but are used for cooking their meals. A number of small scarlet feathers of the Oriolus phoeniceus are wove in with the wood, and completely screen it from view on the outside; and to the rim are affixed small black crests of the Californian partridges, of which birds a hundred brace are required to decorate one basket-they are otherwise ornamented with beads and pieces of motherof-pearl. They also embroider belts very beautifully with feathers of different colours, and they work with remarkable neatness, making use of the young quills of the porcupine in a similar manner to the Canadian Indians; but here they manufacture a fine cloth for the ground, whereas the Canadians have only the bark of the birch-tree. They also manufacture caps and dresses for their chiefs, which are extremely beautiful; and they have a great many other feathered ornaments, which it would be stepping beyond the limits of my work to describe.

"The stature of the Indians, which we saw in the Missions, was by no means diminutive. The Alchones are of good height, and the Tuluraios were thought to be generally above the standard of Englishmen. Their complexion is much darker than that of the South-sea Islanders, and their features far inferior in beauty. In their persons, they are extremely dirty, particularly their heads, which are so thatched with wiry black hair, that it is only by separating the locks with the hand, that it can be got at for the purpose of cleanliness. Many are seen performing such acts of kindness upon their intimate friends; and, as the

readiest means of disposing of what they find, consuming it in the manner practised by the Tartars, who, according to Hakluyt, cleanse one another's heades, and ever as thei take an animal do eate her, saeing, thus will I doe to our enemies.'

"Their bodies are, in general, very scantily clothed, and in summer many go entirely naked. The women, however, wear a deer skin, or some other covering about their loins; but skin dresses are not common among any of the tribes concerning whom we could procure any information. The women are fond of ornaments, and suspend beads and buttons about their persons, while to their ears they attach long wooden cylinders, variously carved, which serve the double purpose of ear-rings and needle-cases.

"Tattooing is practised in these tribes by both sexes, both to ornament the person, and to distinguish one clan from the other. It is remarkable that the women mark their chins precisely in the same way as the Esquimaux.

"The tribes are frequently at war with each other, often in consequence of tres. passes upon their territory and property; and weak tribes are sometimes wholly annihilated, or obliged to associate themselves with those of their conquerors; but such is their warmth of passion and desire of revenge, that very little humanity is in general shewn to those who fall into their power. Their weapons consist only of bows and arrows: neither the tomahawk nor the spear is ever seen in their hands. Their bows are elegantly and ingeniously constructed, and, if kept dry, will discharge an arrow to a considerable distance. They resemble those of the Esquimaux, being strengthened by sinews at the back of the bow, but here one sinew, the size of the wood, occupies the whole extent of the back, and embraces the ends, where they are turned back to receive the strings; the sinew is fixed to the bow while wet, and, as it becomes dry, draws it back the reverse way to that in which it is intended to be used. The Indian manner of stringing these bows is precisely similar to that practised by the lovers of archery in England; but it requires greater skill and strength, in consequence of the increased curvature of the bow, and the resistance of the sinew.

"The religion of all the tribes is idolatrous. The Olchone, who inhabit the sea-coast between San Francisco and Monterey, worship the sun, and believe in the existence of a beneficent and an evil spirit, whom they occasionally attempt to propitiate. Their ideas of a future state are very confined; when a person dies,

VOL. XXX. NO. CLXXXII.

they adorn the corpse with feathers, flowers, and beads, and place with it a bow and arrows; they then extend it upon a pile of wood, and burn it amidst the shouts of the spectators, who wish the soul a pleasant journey to its new abode, which they suppose to be a country in the direction of the setting sun. Like most other nations, these people have a tradition of the Deluge: they believe also that their tribes originally came from the north.

"The Indians in their wild state are said to be more healthy than those which have entered the missions. They have simple remedies, derived from certain medicinal herbs, with the properties of which they have previously made themselves acquainted. Some of these roots are useful as emetics, and are administered in cases of sickness of the stomach: they also apply cataplasms to diseased parts of the body, and practise phlebotomy very generally, using the right arm for the purpose when the body is affected, and the left when the limbs. But the temiscal is the grand remedy for most of their diseases.

"The very great care taken of all who are affected with any disease ought not to be allowed to escape a remark. When any of their relations are indisposed, the greatest attention is paid to their wants; and it was remarked by Padre Arroyo, that filial affection is stronger in these tribes than in any civilized nation on the globe with which he was acquainted."

From California the Blossom proceeded once more to the Sandwich Islands, and thence was obliged, by want of proper medicines and supplies, to proceed to China, where her captain and crew were subject to the usual insolence of the Chinese authorities. Loo Choo is the next point of great interest at which Captain Beechey touched; and though Captain Hall has written well and at large upon that interesting group, the visit of the Blossom will be read with infinite pleasure. The character of the Chinese, softened and ameliorated in the Loochooan, is well and ably depicted, and all the fine and amusing absurdities of a vain, weak, crafty nation, are touched with a light and masterly hand. Much valuable information also is communicated-information obtained by observation of the manners of the people, not by conversation with them, for it appears that the worthy natives of Napakang and its vicinity

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are the most egregious liars that the world ever produced. Other nearly unknown islands were still to be visited, and really nature, in forming the Bonin Isles, to which the Blossom next steered her course, seems to have drawn from all her stores with the most bountiful and

decorating hand. We can easily imagine two seamen, willingly remaining behind in such a brilliant and favoured spot, after a long and tedious voyage over the broad uncertain sea, hoping there to find that rest and peace which is the universal aspiration of all mankind. Two such men were met by Captain Beechey, on his arrival at the chief of the Bonin Islands, or Yslas del Arzobispo. The trading vessel in which they had been seamen was casually wrecked on the island, but a new ship had been constructed by their companions, who had steered back for Europe. Such, however, was the effect of the climate and the scene upon these two men, that at their own desire they were left behind, filled probably with as bright imaginations of an earthly paradise as ever dazzled the eyes of any inexperienced child, whom this schoolmaster world has never whipped from any of youth's idle dreams.

It appears, however, that after Captain Beechey went away, habit, solitude, and monotony, dispelled the vision, and that they sought and found the means of returning to Europe, leaving the island stored with hogs, which the writer thinks likely to do great harm to the vegetable productions of the place,-much more valuable in those latitudes than the best pigs that ever became bacon. At the same time, plenty of animal food was to be found there already; for, in addition to manifold sorts of fowl and fish in various sandy bays, "the green turtle are sometimes so numerous that they quite hide the colour of the shore." What a punishment for a Lord Mayor's cook, who had mismanaged a dish of fins, to set him on shore on that island without his utensils for cooking!

But this long-drawn article must now be closed. A high opinion has been expressed of the merits of this book, and copious extracts have been inserted, in order to justify that opinion. The passages cited have been

taken without much selection, and instead of being choice sentences, which stand well alone, are rather injured than improved by being disjoined from the narrative. In the course of these, however, various errors of composition are observable; and did the merits of this work depend upon the accuracy of style, more than one fault would have to be remarked, which are now completely forgotten in a mass of information, interest, and amusement, such as few works of any day can boast, These faults, indeed, are noticed here only because they are of a kind which Captain Beechey could easily avoid, and would certainly have avoided, had he been more habituated to lite. rary composition. Long sentences, which for perspicuity should have been divided into two or three short ones, and the frequent heedless recurrence of the same word, and the same form of expression; these are the chief errors of style, and these might easily be altered. In the whole book there is only one brief passage-a few pages-which is in the least degree tedious. This is the chronicle of the Kings of Loo Choo. Doubtless its insertion in some part of the work was necessary, but it would have been better in the Appendix. Having said thus much, the faults-which but little influence the pleasure afforded by the book—are sufficiently noticed; but to point out all that is excellent and admirable in the work, would require far more space than any review can grant. We know of no officer that ever sailed, who has displayed greater faculties of observation than Captain Beechey. Wherever he touches, whatever he describes, all that can interest, or amuse, or benefit, is seized at once, nor does any one possess a greater power of presenting a complete picture to the mind of the reader. At the same time, his observations on what he sees are replete with that choice rare gift, good sense-and, though ventured sparingly and modestly, are firm and just. It is difficult for a commander to write a long account of an expedition conducted by himself, without some degree of egotism; but little of it is discoverable in this book; and throughout the whole, the great desire of giving full praise to his offi

cers and crew, is pleasingly apparent. A frank and gentlemanly spirit, and a kindly heart, give a sunshiny tone to the whole composition, and a strong feeling of reverence for true religion, without the slightest touch of fanaticism, is seen wherever circumstances call for the expression of any opinions on the subject.

Justice could not be done to the scientific parts of the work, except in a review set apart for that purpose. Suffice it here to say, that as nothing was left undone which could fulfil the views of the government, and benefit the country by the expedition, nothing has been omitted which could give value to the work; and while the public in general read it for entertainment, the naturalist and the philosopher will find much genuine information, and great matter for thought.

Some beautiful engravings by Finden are scattered through the volumes; but, though this is an age in

which the grown babies of society never seem satisfied, without imagination be helped out with a picture, yet Captain Beechey's descriptions are so graphic, that they require little assistance from the pencil.

To conclude, the expedition of the Blossom has been any thing but in vain. An accurate survey has been made of the greater part of the Pa cific. A more complete and general account of the islands of that sea, than ever was before obtained, has been laid before the public. A thousand important errors have been cor rected, a thousand important facts have been ascertained. In the Arctic regions, discoveries, great in themselves, and great in their consequences, have been added to those which went before; an hundred and forty-six miles alone remain untraversed; these may easily be accom plished, and certainty will be finally

won,

NOTE.

Although we have purposely abstained from noticing the scientific parts of Captain Beechey's narrative, yet it is but fair to state, that the theories which he adVances with the modest diffidence of true genius, display an extent of views and depth of knowledge which do him the highest credit. The minute, circumstantial, and accurate account given of the drift wood at page 580, is in itself highly valuable, as illustrative of a very curious question; and the opinion to which Captain Beechey inclines, that this immense quantity of loose timber is borne down from the interior by the rivers running into Bristol Bay, Port Clarence, Norton and Kotzebue Sound, Schismar, Hotham, and Wainwright's Inlets, though not absolutely proved to be correct, has every probability in its favour.

In regard to the currents also, Captain Beechey's account is wonderfully clear and accurate, considering the difficulty of examination, while the ship was close in shore engaged in the laborious occupation of surveying, and the labour which he bestowed in ascertaining how far these currents extended below the surface-for it must be remembered that almost all currents are quite superficial-entitles him to the high est praise.

To correct a clerical error in our text, it may be as well to state here, that the precise extent of coast discovered by Captain Beechey's expedition, including the discoveries of the boat, was 126 miles.

IRELAND AND THE REFORM BILL.

WHAT a strange destiny is that of Ireland!-how incorrigible in her faults-how pitiable in her misfortunes! The whole page of her history-the whole aspect of her national character-are made up, like a German story, of combinations of the ludicrous and the terrible;-there is no calm-no resting-place of peace and comfort, upon which the mind can repose with satisfaction and thankfulness. Whether we look upon times past or present, we behold frantic exultation, fierce contention, and deep despair, following each other in rapid succession-the sounds of wild and fantastic glee seem scarcely to have died upon the echoes, till they are succeeded by the yells of savage fury, and these again give place to the hopeless wail that despondency puts forth over the dying and the dead.

The Irish seem to be utterly unteachable in the most ordinary lessons of prudence-all experience is lost upon them, and we would be almost constrained to look upon them as a doomed people-as a race foreordained to wretchedness, were it not that we know that they enjoy a great deal of happiness when potatoes are plenty, and the sun shines merrily above their heads; and when the misery they have suffered, and may suffer again, is no more thought of than the dark clouds of November, in this joyous month of June. The western shores of Ireland being open to the Atlantic ocean, the chilling storms that sweep across that vast mass of waters frequently injure, and sometimes totally destroy, the erops of the farmer, compensating him only with huge piles of seaweed, which the force of the storm tears from the inaccessible depths of the ocean, and flings upon the shore, from which it is removed for manure, or dried for burning. It might have been supposed that where such visitations were common, some habits of preparation would have grown up among the people, and that they would no longer trust entirely to the potatoe-the stock of which must be renewed every season. But there is no such thing

the peasant of Mayo, or Galway, takes as little thought of the vicissitude of the seasons, as he of Carlow or Kilkenny, whose crop almost never disappoints him. Indeed we have some doubt whether the Connaught peasant would not think it a sinful mistrust of Providence to make any unusual provision for the future; and when the torment of famine comes, he submits with melancholy resignation to what he calls "the will of God." In the places most subject to famine, there is an habitual patience of misery, which none but those who have witnessed it would deem possible

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they die, and make no sign." The author of an admirable book, descriptive of the manners and habits of the peasantry in the part of Ireland of which we speak, says that the observation, 66 sure it was too much trouble entirely," reconciles them to the smoke that darkens their little cabin, and the rain that patters through the unthatched roof; and the same feeling inclines them to lie down and die, when Providence has blasted their potatoe crop, and deprived them of the fruit of their labours. Hard as was the task, it was sometimes necessary to refuse that relief which could not be extended to all in full proportion to their wants; but never was the refusal met by a murmur or a reproach. On one such occasion, "God help us!" was the answer of the poor man, with an expressive movement of his shoulders; "God help us then; for if your honour can do nothing for us, there is no one that can. There is something peculiarly touching in this submissive patience; and clamorous and reiterated supplication is much more easily repulsed, than the "God bless you-sure it can't be helped then?"

It is among the contradictions that belong to Ireland, that while no soil in Europe is more generally rich and fertile, in no other country of Europe have there been such frequent recurrences of famine. In other countries there has been some care for provision even in war, but in Ireland all was laid waste,

and

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