that on the water; hence the sea breeze. But this air, driven to the elevated regions in the interior becomes condensed, and thus when the source of heat is withdrawn, this air soon preponderates over that of the ocean, where a temperature nearly uniform is preserved. Hence a night wind prevails, in the mountainous countries, within the torrid zone, blowing on all sides toward the ocean. It is observable that in those islands where there are no mountains, the land breeze does not occur.

In the Indian Ocean, and along the eastern coast of Africa, the winds are chiefly periodical; blowing during nearly half the year in one direction, and most of the other half in the opposite one. These periodical winds are called the monsoons. Between 10° and 30° of south latitude, from Madagascar to New Holland, a general trade wind, nearly south east by east, prevails throughout the year. Within the same longitudes, near the equator, the winds blow in a south eastern direction from May to October; and during the rest of the year on the opposite point. This monsoon extends from about 3° to 10° of south latitude. From about three degrees of south latitude over all the Arabian and Indian seas and gulf of Bengal, from Sumatra to the coast of Africa, another monsoon prevails, blowing from October to April, from the north east; but during the rest of the year, its course is nearly on the opposite points.*

A wind from the north, called the Etesian wind, sweeps along the valley of Egypt, from April to October, and during the same time, a wind blows along the Arabian gulf, from Suez to the straits of Babelmandel, and from November to March, a wind in the opposite direction prevails. Bruce, by tracing these periodical winds in the Arabian gulf, and along the eastern shore of the African continent, and comparing their returns with the time occupied by the voyage, has endeavoured to show that the Ophir, to which the fleets of Solomon resorted, for gold and silver, must have been in that part

Halley's account of trade winds and mon

soons.

+ Bruce.

of Africa, now known by the name of Sofala.

These periodical changes are readily explained upon the principle, that when land and ocean are equally exposed to a high degree of heat, the land acquires the higher temperature, and hence, under these circumstances, the wind will blow toward the land; but when the source of heat is withdrawn, the surface of the land soon becomes colder than that of the contiguous ocean, and thence a wind, directed toward the water, must ensue. These phenomena, however, must be modified by a variety of local causes.

The tropical year has been already mentioned, as consisting of the rainy season and the dry; this, however, must be accepted with some limitations, as in some places within the torrid zone, rain is very seldom seen.

A late respectable geographer observes, "It is well known that the rainy season, which, over the whole torrid zone is synchronous with the vertical position of the sun, brings on almost continual drenching rains. The heavens, formerly burning like a flame, are transformed into a great atmospheric ocean. The copious waters which they pour down, collect on the table lands of the interior, where they form immense sheets of water or temporary lakes. When these lakes have reached a level high enough to overflow the boundaries of their basins, they suddenly send down into the rivers previously much swollen, an enormous volume of water, impregnated with the soft earth, over which it has for a time stagnated. Hence the momentary pauses and sudden renewals in the rise of the Nile. Hence the abundance of fertilizing slime, which would not be found so copious in the waters of rivers, which owe their rise to the direct influence of the rains. These phenomena, simple in their origin, only astonish persons who have observed the effects without tracing the cause." This description, in respect both to the time and the extent of these periodical inundations, is much too general for accuracy. The rainy season unquestionably depends upon the position of the sun, combin

Malte Brun.

ed with local causes. All those circumstances, by which the direction and temperature of the wind are modified, exert an influence over the periods of the rains.

The philosophic reader is aware, that the quantity of water, which can be sustained in a state of vapour, within a given space, increases with the increase of temperature; and hence when the atmosphere is charged with vapour, to the point of saturation, a reduction of temperature must produce a deposition of water in some of its forms; the rapidity of the precipitation depending on the degree of saturation, and the suddenness with which the temperature is reduced; and that the equilibrium of the electric fluid is disturbed by the evaporation or precipitation of water. Hence the most copious rains and terrible thunders, are to be expected when the atmosphere, heated by the action of a vertical sun, has passed over a body of water, and become highly charged with aqueous vapour, and then mingled with a colder air, and its temperature greatly and suddenly reduced. This effect is produced, when the air of the ocean and the plains is driven over the tops of mountains, and thus blended with the superior and colder strata. Hence it is that in most climates, mountains are supposed to attract clouds and rains, which they may more properly be said to produce.

ACCOUNT OF A SHOOTING EXCURSION IN THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA.

The excursion which we are about to exhibit, took place in what may be called the romantic scenery of Jamaica. It is well known that this island is intersected by a chain of lofty mountains, which traverse it from east to west. But these mountains, though striking on account of their height and the irregularity of their summits, afford no forests, wherewith to give variety to the eye, or shade or shelter to the wanderer. It is that large portion of the interior of the island, called St. Anne's, St. James's, and Trelawny, which is most diversified by wood. Here you have continued hills and valleys; here the rocks, though not so VOL. I.-4

high as those in the chain before mentioned, are abrupt and precipitous : here the interstices among the cliffs exhibit the most luxuriant vegetation. They are filled with close woods and deciduous plants, intermingled with a great variety of shrubs, vines, and briars. The hollows are nourished by the rich earth washed down from the rocks by the rain. It was amongst such fastnesses of the cliffs and woods, adjoining to such fertile soils in the valleys, that, about fourteen years ago, a dozen negroes, with a few women, all of whom had escaped from slavery, had concealed themselves. But, alas! this little band had not long seated themselves there, before their haunts were discovered. Shooting parties were sent out to destroy them. Three of them were killed, and their heads brought to and exposed at Falmouth. The rest directly changed their habitations, and found, in the back districts of Trelawny, a place similar to that which they had left.

We have heard it said, that while they were in their former haunts, they wandered about too freely; and that they were seen in communication with some of the negroes on the neighbouring estates, from which they persuaded one or two women to go and live with them. But if this was the case in their first settlement, it was not so in that which they now chose. They determined to change their policy, and to live together on the principle, that, if they kept themselves at home, they could not be discovered; or, in other words, if they did not meddle with others, others could not meddle with them. Feeling themselves secure under this notion, they went to work cheerfully, and built a town, consisting of a few houses. Here, it appears, they displayed much ingenuity and good workmanship. Under the same cheering notion of security, they formed schemes of extensive cultivation. Day after day they awakened the silence of the forests by their industry, till at length they had brought nearly two hundred acres of land into profitable bearing, and had afforded an example of good farming, their land being described as thickly planted with provisions, and in the finest condition. In this way they were going on, living

peaceably, industriously, and comfortably, when, after quiet possession for eleven years, it became known, that such a people was in existence in the back districts of Trelawny. This was enough. The alarm was sounded, and conciliate these poor people not to give them the praise due to them for their industry and the simplicity of their lives, but to take them as prisoners, or to kill or maim them, and to destroy their habitations, and to root them from the face of the earth.

It appears, from several public papers of the day, that this excursion took place October 26, 1824. We learn also, that "several young men volunteered their services, and proceeded from Pembroke estate, accompanied by a number of armed confidential negroes, in search of runaways. The whole number engaged in the expedition, appears to have been about thirty. It appears that "the whole of the arrangements for the excursion, were made at least a week previous to setting out." Thus strong in point of number, and thus prepared, "the party reached the Provision Mountain belonging to Pembroke estate, distant about twelve miles to the southward, at eleven o'clock, in the morning. After resting there a short time, they pursued their route for the rendezvous of the runaways, supposed to be about six miles distant from the mountain, and had traversed nearly an hour over a mountainous and rocky way, when, in a narrow pass, through which they could only advance in single file, they were fired on from an ambush by the runaways, who had been apprized of the intended attack. Mr. Sutherland, the overseer of Pembroke estate, who had the command of, and was leading the party, was mortally wounded by the second shot, and fell. The remainder were panic struck and took to flight. Mr. Gallimore, a book-keeper of Bounty-hall estate, was wounded, and left behind upon the retreat of his companions. An armed negro, belonging to Good Hope Estate, was also wounded dangerously. The flight || of the party put into the possession of the runaways, about fifteen stands of arms, and a quantity of ammunition." Thus ended this excursion, which had

been deliberately resolved upon, as has been already noticed, by a few private individuals, consisting of overseers and book-keepers, a week beforehand, and undertaken without consulting the governor of the island, or the magistracy tasily imagine, that We may easily the news of such a disaster would quickly spread, and that steps would be instantly taken to retaliate. We find, accordingly, that on the very next day, a meeting of magistrates was held, and that these sent an express to captain Smith, of Accompong, (a Maroon town,) requiring the assistance of the Maroons, to dislodge this formidable horde. To carry their point more effectually, six companies of the Trelawny militia were mustered at Dromilly estate, out of which one hundred and twenty men were drafted, and put under the command of lieutenant colonel Scott. On the 31st, the men so drafted met the Maroons just mentioned, and took post together on Hampden Mountain; and on November 1st, they moved, at daylight, consisting altogether of 270 men, (in which baggage negroes and pioneers were included,) into the woods. About 4 o'clock, on the same evening, the party entered the little town belonging to the fugitives, when they were fired upon by them, but without effect. The fire was returned by the militia, when two of the runaways fell, and another was taken prisoner, and the remainder dispersed. The town contained fourteen houses, one of them 70 feet long, another 40, and few under 25. They were well built, shingled and floored. The name assigned to it by its possessors, was "me no sen, you no come." The inhabitants appear to have been taken by surprise, as the women and children, eight of the former and four of the latter, had just left the town, before the arrival of the militia and Maroons, and their culinary utensils were on the fire, preparing their dinners. These provisions were immediately seized upon by the assailants. During the skir mish, a woman was observed by some of the party and fired at, but without the intended effect. The expedition was employed during the following day, in scouring the woods round the

town, in search of the fugitives, but without success, and on the next the militia returned, leaving the Maroons in possession of the town. There

were, by estimation, from one to two hundred acres of land, thickly planted with provisions, in the finest condition, in the vicinity of the town. In this were included from thirty to forty acres of beautiful coffee, and a large field of canes. They were also pos sessed of an abundance of poultry and hogs.

Shortly after the return of the militia, one hundred and fifty negroes were sent to dig up and destroy the provisions, and raze the buildings, and thus reduce this flourishing settlement to a desert, previously to the departure of the Maroons.

This narrative furnishes an instance

of a small company of negroes, just emerging from a state of slavery, adopting at once a course of regular and efficient industry, converting the forest into a fruitful field, and supplying themselves not only with the necessaries, but the luxuries of life. It appears they had commenced a traffic with a few of their brethren in bonds, by means of which, the produce of their fields had served to replenish the markets of the neighbouring towns, in exchange for some of the luxuries which the ocean supplies. They appear, even from the accounts of their invaders, to have been quite inoffensive to their neighbours, and chargeable with no crime except that of withdrawing themselves from a state of servitude, and applying to their own comfortable support, amidst the wilds of the desert, a tract of unappropriated land. Upon what principle then, of moral right or political expediency, could their white neighbours have acted, in thus systematically applying their superior force in reducing their peaceful dwellings to utter desolation, and endeavouring totally to extirpate their race and name?

DOMESTIC SLAVE TRADE.

The following extracts from the proceedings of Congress during their late session, furnish a forcible appeal to the humanity of the people of the United States. They may very justly

inquire whether the officers of the general government ought to be made the instruments of a traffic, within our own borders, which in many of its features, bears a strong resemblance to that which Congress, in 1820, denounced as piratical.

Mr. Miner, of Pennsylvania, offered several resolutions, the object of which was, to inquire into the expediency of the gradual abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia; and submitted the following observations and facts:

"It was, in fact, the case, that owing to the painful excitement growing out of any motion on the subject of slavery here, it had been utterly neglected; gentlemen from neither section of the Union liked to take any step in relation to it; the consequence was, that there had been no melioration of the laws growing out of the system of slavery here, for the thirty years the District had been under the jurisdiction of the general government. In other States improvements had been made-their codes had been meliorated; here, from the cause alluded to, they had been entirely neglected, and all the corruptions growing out of that neglect, and the cupidity of those who looked only to their private interest, were severely felt. From a paper in his hand, which he stated to be official, Mr. Miner read an account of the persons imprisoned in the jail, as follows:

Runaway negroes committed to the jail of Washington county, District of Columbia, from the 1st day of December, 1823, to November 30, 1824, included,

52

For safe keeping by their masters, from Dec. 1st, 1823, to November 30th, 1824, 81 Runaway negroes committed from December 1st, 1824, to November 30, 1825, 58 For safe keeping by their masters, from December 1st, 1824, to Nov. 30, 1825, 124 Fifteen of the above that were committed as runaways, proved to be free, and one of them sold for his jail fees and other expenses,

White and black criminals-the following number committed for offences, from December 1st, 1823, to November 30th, 1824, 125 And about the same number for the year following.

[Signed by the Jailer.]

Of the eighty-one, and one hundred and twenty-four, in jail for safe keeping, he observed, that he understood they were placed there for sale-that the Federal prisons, and their keepers, were extensively used for the purpose of carrying on the Domestic Slave Trade. I presume that gentlemen have no proper idea of the situation of this matter; if they had, it would seem as if the sentiment must be general, that legislative interference is proper. Last winter I went through the cells of the prison, and I will mention an instance of its occupation, that was presented to me. There was a woman in a cell, with three children, one an infant, all for sale. I was afterwards informed that she was the wife of a free man, who had by her, nine children. As they grew to an age to be profitable in market, the children were sold; now the woman had arrived at a time of life to be no longer valuable as a breeder, she and her children were separated from her husband, and sent to your prison for sale -your officer who keeps it, being employed as the agent. Another instance was stated to him yesterday, in a way that seemed entitled to creditthat a free coloured man was taken up under the law, and imprisoned. Ignorant, poor, friendless, he found it difficult to prove his freedom, and lay in jail, in so miserable a situation, that his legs were so frozen, that, when liberated, he had to walk on his knees, being a cripple for life.

He mentioned those circumstances to show that evils existed, of a nature, and to an extent, which gentlemen were not probably apprised of, and which he was sure they would not approve. In addition to all this, Mr. Miner said, that there were places in the District, by some called Pens, where the slave dealers gather together gangs of slaves, and then fasten them by a long chain, running between the pairs, and to this they are handcuffed, right and left, and so driven

off, ten, twenty, and thirty in a drove. The number passing the Bridge in a year, was said to have amounted to hundreds. It was, in truth, the case, that, owing to the total neglect of this subject, by the only power having authority to remedy the evils, this had become the head-quarters of the Domestic Slave Trade.

NATIONAL GRATITUDE.

Great efforts are made in the Richmond papers to stimulate the Legislature of Virginia to follow the excellent example of South Carolina, in bestowing ten thousand dollars on the daughter of Mr. Jefferson. A writer in the Richmond Enquirer says—

"It is reduced to a moral certainty, that the lottery in consequence of Mr. Jefferson's death, will not be drawn, and the consequence will be, that his dutiful child, and her family, will be reduced to great inconvenience, if not distress.

"I have been informed that his negroes, to the amount of one hundred and seventy, are to be sold; if they shall average $200 each, will amount to only $34,000; that his lands if sold, would not bring more than about $40,000. Improvements are seldom considered by the purchaser. Total amount $74,000."

Mr. Jefferson was one of the best of masters towards his slaves. God grant that they may fall into hands as lenient and bountiful.-Nat. Gaz.

These negroes, it appears, are since sold; into what sort of hands they have fallen, I am not informed. Considering the acknowledged character of their late owner, it is obvious that common slavery must be to them, emphatically, a bitter draught, from its contrast with their former condition. It is devoutly to be wished, that a portion of national sympathy might extend to this part of the Jefferson family. Is not the national character involved in the question, whether the author of the Declaration of Independence shall be branded, by the enemies of our government,