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and sung out the mysteries of the faith, running round the auditors, stamping his feet, clapping his hands, and copying all the tones and gesticulatious by which they were wont to be affected. Nobrega had a school near the city, where he instructed the native children, the orphans from Portugal, and the Mestizos or mixed breed, here called Mamalucos. Reading, writing, and arithmetic were taught them they were trained to as sist at mass, and to sing the church service, and frequently led in procession through the town. This had a great effect, for the natives were passionately, fond of music, so passionately that Nobrega began to hope the fable of Orpheus was a type of his mission, and that by songs he was to convert the pagans of Brazil. He usually took with him four or five of these little choristers on his preaching expeditions; when they approached an inhabited place, one carried the cruciúx before them, and they began singing the Litany. The savages, like snakes, were won by the voice of the charmer; they received him joyfully, and when he departed with the same ceremony, the children followed the music. He set the chatecism, creed, and ordinary prayers to sol fa; and the pleasure of learning to sing was such a temptation, that the little Tupis sometimes ran away from their parents to put themselves under the care of the Jesuits."

In the remainder of this volume Mr. Southey details with much minuteness the invasion of Brazil by the Dutch, in 1623, and the sanguinary wars that succeeded down to the year 1640. In the

course of these wars, the Dutch committed the most atrocious cruelties, the recital of which would scarcely command our credit, if their conduct towards the English at Amboyna did not prove them to be capable of any crime that would subserve their interest.

In a note (p. 638, 639) on a passage, which investigates the language of the Brazilian tribes, and their modes and powers of reckoning, we meet with a severe, yet not unfair critique on the celebrated historian Dr. Robertson.

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The Orinoco tribes count as far as five, then proceed to five-one, five-two, as far as two fives, and so on to four fives. This is digitary numeration. It is remarkable how far the Achaguas carry it. With them, Abacaje means five, and the fingers of one hand; Tuca macaje, ten, or all the fingers; Abacaytacay, twenty, or all the fingers and toes; Incha matacacay, forty, or two persons' complement; and so, says Gumilla, (c. 48.) they can go on to 2000, 6000, and 10,000 fingers in a jargon, which by dint of labour and attention, may be understood at last.

"In some of the South Sea islands also six is five-one, &c. Numeration naturally proceeds by fives,the number of fingers on one hand; tens,-the fingers on both; or twenties,--the fingers and toes.

"Herrera (4. 10. 4.) describes a curious mode of arithmetic in Yucatan. They count, he says, by fives, till they come to twenty, and then by twenties as far as a bundred, then to 400, and then to 8000, and from thence to infinity.-This numeration which is

not

not very clearly explained by Herrera, is founded on fives, for small numbers, scores, and five scores, or 100, then for larger numbers, they use twenties as we use tens; thus 20 times 20 is 400, 20 times 400 is 8000, and so on. A friend of mine, better acquainted with such subjects than I am, tells me it is the only specimen he has met with, of vigesimal numeration. Our score is the nearest similitude.

"When Pauw reasoned upon the ignorance of the Americans in numbers, did he suppress this remarkable fact, or was he ignorant of it? The same question is applicable to Dr. Robertson, who on this, and many other, subjects, in what he calls his History of America, is guilty of such omissions, and consequent misrepresentations, as to make it certain either that he had not read some of the most important documents to which he refers, or that he did not chuse to notice the facts which are to be found there, because they were not in conformity to his own preconceived opinions. A remarkable example occurs respecting a circulating medium; when he mention the cacao nuts, which were used as money in Mexico, and says 'this seems to be the utmost length which the Americans had advanced towards the discovery of any expedient for supplying the use of money.' Now, it is said by Cortes himself, that when he was about to make cannon, he had copper enough, but wanted tin; and having bought up all the plates and pots, which he could find among the soldiers, he began to inquire among the natives. He then found, that in the province

of Tachco, little pieces of tin, like thin coin, were used for used for money, there and in other places. And this led him to a discovery of the mines from whence it was taken. These are the words of the Spanish,-Quiso nuestro Senor, que tiene cuidado y siempre lo ha tenido, de proveer en la mayor priesa, que tope entre los Naturales de una Provincia que se dice Tachco, ciertas Pececuelas de ello, a manera de Moneda muy delgada, y procediendo por mi pesquisca halle, que en lo dicha Provincia, y aun en otras, se trataba por moneda. Carta, 4 § 17. Barcia, t. 1. p. 149.

"The reputation of this author must rest upon his History of Scot land,-if that can support it. His other works are grievously deficient."

Such a criticism, as this of Mr. Southey, on a writer whose works have so long delighted the public, deserves to be made known, especially as Mr. S. has travelled over nearly the same ground.

From the preceding extracts, as well as from our incidental observations, the reader may easily infer our opinion of Mr. Southey's volume. The present interest, which, as a commercial nation, we take in the affairs of Portugal and of her colonies, will justify our extended account of the "History of Brazil." Though defaced by occasional quaintness of style, it combines such a variety of well selected and authentic information, that we shall be happy to resume our account of Mr. Southey's historical labors in a future volume of our register.

The

The Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan in Asia, Africa, and Europe, during the years 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, and 1803; written by himself in the Persian Language. Translated by Charles Stewart, Esq. 8vo. 2 vols.

It is not uncommon for Europeans to describe the manners, customs, productions, &c. of ori ental countries; but a genuine account of European manners, customs, and governments, by an Asiatic, is indeed rare in the annals of literature. Independently of the circumstance that the author was well known in the highest and most respectable circles during his residence in England, the work bears intrinsic marks of authenticity; and its fidelity and genuineness are further gnaranteed to us by the name and situation of the translator, who is professor of orientál languages in the hon. East India Company's college, at Hertford.

The author commences his work with an account of his family and pursuits, previously to his leaving India. At Calcutta, he embarked for England; he stopped at the Cape, afterwards at St. Helena, and proceeded to Cork; whence he departed for Dublin. In this city he continued for some time, and has given an interesting account of the metropolis of Ireland; his remarks on the Irish character are marked with much discrimination.

"The greater proportion of them ate Roman Catholics, or followers of the religion of the pope. Their churches are however built in the same form as those of the English,

whom they call dissenters or philosophers (i. e. Deists or Atheists.)

"They are not so intolerant as the English, neither have they the austerity and bigotry of the Scotch. In bravery and determination, hospitality and prodigality, freedom of speech and openheartedness, they surpass the English and Scotch, but are deficient in prudence and sound judgment; they are nevertheless witty, and quick of comprehension. Thus my landlady and her children soon comprehended my broken English; and what I could not explain by language, they understood by signs: nay, before I had been a fortnight in their house, they could even understand my disfigured translations of Persian poetry. When I was about to leave them, and proceed on my journey, many of my friends appeared much affected, and said

With your little knowledge of "the language, you will suffer "much distress in England; for "the people there will not give "themselves any trouble to com"prehend your meaning, or to "make themselves useful to you." In fact after I had resided for a whole year in England, and could speak the language a hundred times better than on my first arrival, I found much more difficulty in obtaining what I wanted, than I did in Ireland.

In Dublin, if I happend to lose my way, and inquired it of any person, he would, immediately on perceiving I was a foreigner, quit his work, and accompany me to the place where I wished to go. One night, as I was going to pay a visit at a considerable distance, I asked a man which was the road.

He

He immediatefy accompanied me'; and when we arrived at a particular spot, I knew where we were, and having thanked him for the trouble he had taken, said I was now perfectly acquainted with the remainder of the road, and begged he would not return home. He would not consent; but, after we had gone some distance further I insisfed upon his leaving me, otherwise I should relinquish my visit. He apparently complied, but I could perceive, that, from his great care of me, he still followed. Being arrived at the door of my friend's house, I waited for some time, that I might again have an opportunity of thanking him; but as soon as he saw that I had reached a place of security, he turned round, and went towards home.

"The Irish, by reason of their liberality and prodigality, seldom have it in their power to assist their friends in pecuniary matters: they are generally in straitened circumstances themselves, and therefore cannot, or do not aim at the comforts and elegance of the English: neither do they take pains to acquire riches and honours like the Scotch, by limiting their expenses when in the receipt of good incomes, and paying attention to the Great. In consequence of this want of prudence, they seldom attain to high dignities, and but few of them, comparatively, make much progress in science.

Their great national defect, however, is excess in drinking. The rich expend a vast deal in wine; and the common people consume immense quantities of a

fiery spirit, called whisky, which is the peculiar manufacture of this country and part of Setotland.

"One evening that I dined in a large company, we sat down to table at six o'clock: the master of the house immediately commenced asking us to drink wine, and under various pretences replenished our glasses; but perceiving that I was backward in emptying mine, he called for two water glasses, and having filled them with claret, insisted upon my taking up one of thein. After the table-cloth was removed, he first drank the health of the King, then of the Queen: after which he toasted a number of beautiful young ladies with whom I was acquainted, none of which I dared to refuse. Thus the time passed till two o'clock in the morning; and we had been sitting for eight hours: he then called to bis servants to bring a fresh supply of wine. Although I was so much intoxicated that I could scarcely walk, yet on hearing this order, I was so frightened, that I arose and requested permission to retire. He said he was sorry I should think of going away so soon; that he wished I would stay supper, after which we might have a bottle or two more by ourselves. I had heard from Englishmen, that the Irish, after they get drunk at table, quarrel, and kill each other in duels; but I must declare, that I never saw them guilty of any rudeness, or of the smallest impropriety."

From Dublin, Abu Taleb crossed over to England, where he remained a considerable time, and had abundant scope for acute observation.

servation. His descriptions of the buildings, manners, customs, a musements, manufactories, &c. of London and the chief provincial town are marked with singular accuracy. We regret that our limits prohibit the extraction of some passages that are not more amusing than they are correct as delineations of the then pas-ing scenes. It would, however, be unfair to our country-women, not to mention that their beauty and accomplishments left an impression on our traveller, which no European or Asiatic beauties could efface.

The 19th and 20th chapters are appropriated to a specification of what the author deems the virtues and vices of the English. The whole passage is too long for quotation; yet we cannot withhold the following extract from our readers.

"The first and greatest defect [ ●bserved in the English, is their want of faith in religion, and their great inclination to philosophy (atheism). The effects of these principles, or rather want of principle, is very conspicuous in the lower orders of people, who are totally devoid of honesty. They are indeed cautious how they transgress against the laws, from fear of punishment; but whenever an opportunity offers of purloining any thing, without the risk of detection, they never pass it by. They are also ever on the watch to appropriate to themselves the property of the rich, who, on this acCount, are obliged constantly to keep their doors shut, and never to permit an unknown person to enter them. At present, owing to the vigilance of the magistrates, the severity of the laws, and the ho

nour of the superior classes of people, no very bad consequences are to be apprehended; but if ever such nefarious practices should become prevalent, and should creep in among the higher classes, inevitable ruin must ensue.

"The second defect, most conspicuous in the English character, is pride or insolence. Puffed up with their power and good fortune for the last fifty years, they are not apprehensive of adversity, and take no pains to avert it. Thus when the people of London, some time ago, assembled in mobs, on account of the great increase of taxes and high price of provisions, and were nearly in a state of insurrection,-although the magistrates, by their vigilance in watching them, and by causing parties of soldiers to patrole the streets day and night, to disperse all persons whom they saw assembling together, succeeded in quieting the disturbance,-yet no pains were afterwards taken to eradicate the evil. Some of the men in power said, it had been merely a plan of the artificers to obtain higher wages (an attempt frequently made by the English tradesmen); others were of opinion that no remedy could be applied; therefore no further notice was taken of the affair. All this, I say, betrays a blind confidence, which, instead of meeting the danger and endeavouring to prevent it, waits till the misfortune arrives, and then attempts to remedy it. Such was the case with the late King of France, who took no step to oppose the Revolution, till it was too late. This self-confidence is to be found more or less in every Englishman: it however differs

much

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