Emperial Magazine; OR, COMPENDIUM OF RELIGIOUS, MORAL, & PHILOSOPHICAL KNOWLEDGE. 66 THE VALUE OF A BOOK IS TO BE ESTIMATED BY ITS USE." JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO THE [Continued from col. 503.] Monday, July 11.-Breakfasted on shore with Mr. Elder of this place, who shewed us another of those supposed Danish forts, which by fires could give or communicate the alarm to the whole chain, situated on either side of the sound-the most simple method of conveying intelligence, and the parent of that recent, though similar invention, the Telegraph. At four in the afternoon, we weighed anchor, and sailed for Glenelg, where we came-to for the evening. On the shore, we were met by Mr. M'Leod, of Ilan Reach, who gave us another instance of the hospitable disposition of the inhabitants of this country to strangers. The house is seated in a most romantic spot, amidst high towering rocks, with one side opening to the sound. A pleasant and fertile, though narrow vale, winds in among the mountains, and bears the name of Glen Beg; about a mile | up which, stand those more perfect remains of two Danish forts, described by Mr. Pennant; but it was unfortunately too late for us to take a view of them. Here, we again met with a corroborating testimony in favour of the authenticity of the poems of Ossian, in the Rev. Dr. John M'Leod, of Harris, who informed us, that in the spring of the present year, in one of the wildest parts of the island of Lewis, he had been entertained by his rustic landlord for a whole evening, with the recital of several of them in the original Gaelic. This instance must surely be sufficient, in itself, to do away that scepticism, which, without any just grounds, has of late prevailed respecting them. It certainly cannot be more difficult to conceive, that tradition might hand down these poems through remote ages, than that the same cause should have transmitted to us the popular No. 7.-VOL. I. | songs and other relics of the ancient Irish and Welsh Bards, particularly since the latter people have been long indiscriminately mixing with their southern neighbours; while the former, till within little more than a century, were looked upon as a distinct and almost an independent nation. Their customs, manners, habits, language, and internal government, may be considered as having, only since the time of the affair of Culloden, been effectually subverted. A great degree of similarity likewise prevails in the poetry of these three nations; the same beauties of imagery, the same bold simplicity, and natural energy, mark the works of each; and seem to evince their origin from a people unacquainted with foreign literature, whose poetic effusions were influenced only by the romantic wildness of their country, and those sublime effects of nature, which were ever present to their view. From this source, joined with the superstitious ideas of an unlettered people, the general similies are drawn. "The shrill spirit of the storm, that sits dim on the clouds of Gormal, and enjoys the death of the mariner;" 66 the red stars trembling between the flying clouds;" "the green meteors of death;" "the white wave, tumbling round the distant rock;" the gray mists, rising slowly from the lake," and his roaring water-falls after a stormare images that would naturally be excited in the mind of an inhabitant of such a country, particularly of one who possessed the elegant taste of an Ossian. The The similies of Homer, though nature there takes the lead, are extended to a wider field, to circumstances which were natural to a people who cultivated the refined arts of peace, as well as the ruder one of war. retired simplicity of a pastoral life, the luxury of a great city, the skilful operations of the artist, and various others, are themes from which, in common with those of war, and that 2Q fruitful source, polytheism, his imagery is derived; his acquaintance with them naturally led to their adoption. On the other hand, Ossian had no extraneous aid; most of the circumstances, and even the common objects, of improved society, seem entirely unknown to him, and are consequently never alluded to; and even the horse is throughout mentioned as the "steed of the stranger." In his efforts to raise the passions to martial glory, or sink them to the softness of sorrow, his language, his sentiments, are those of the inhabitants of a mountainous sequestered region, which afforded few objects to assist the imagination, but those of the boldest and most sublime nature. These, if they cannot be considered as presumptive proofs, must at least have their weight in the evidence of their authenticity; since, had they been the production of a modern writer, he certainly might have indulged himself in a somewhat greater latitude, without the danger of detection, at a period so remote, and, with respect to the state of society in the Highlands of Scotland, so uncertain, as that in which these Poems are said to have been composed. Raza, with a remarkable flat-topped After crossing the Loch, we sailed through the sound of Scalpa, and brought-to at the back of that island. The appearance of the mountains of Skye from this position, is very uncommon, being all of a regular pyramidal or conical figure, standing entirely detached from each other, and composed of the same reddish grit-stone beforementioned, which, from the deep fissures that run in regular and numerous lines from top to bottom, seems of a very soft and sandy nature. A wet and cold evening prevented our further observation. Wednesday, 13th.-Sailed at four in the morning, with a very slight breeze, and were as usual very soon becalmed, and by noon had only got about eight miles below our last night's station. We were now abreast of Loch Port Rhea, in Skye; or, the King's Port, so called, from its having been once visited by James the Fifth of Scotland. Tuesday, 12th.-Passing the narrows of Kyle Rhea early, we found ourselves in the morning in the centre of a fine circular bason, of about two miles' diameter, in a perfect calm, and apparent- Here we took the boat, and went on ly land-locked by the high surround-shore on the island of Raza, which exing mountains; on these, the light thin mists were gently creeping, while the smoke from some kelp fires diffused itself around, and gave a beautiful variety to the whole. This sound is called Loch Duich, and communicates by a narrow passage to a higher one of the same name, the windings of which we could partly trace by the mountains that formed its sides. Having passed by a low point, on which stands the ruins of the castle of Nuchusag, or, as it is otherwise called, M'Kinnon's Castle; we enter into another lake of the same kind, but of far larger dimensions, and again seem surrounded by the circumjacent hills and islands. On the one side, the rocky mountains of Skye appearing, of a reddish grit-stone, deeply channelled, and indented from their summits; before us, lay the long hillock of Scalpa, and the longer extent of hibits a general appearance of barrenness, with small patches of vegetation. This might probably be its worst aspect, as we had passed the situation of the Laird's house, early in the morning. The houses are very few, but some shelins, or summer residences of the herds, were thinly scattered over the summit. The coast is extremely rocky, and broken into innumerable creeks, through which the long surges of the western ocean rush with great violence, and must, doubtless, in a gale from the westward, exhibit a scene at once grand and terrible. The opposite coast of Skye, which, from Lock Indaal had become more rocky and wild, here presented a bold and steep coast, whose summit was terminated by a continued wall of upright rocks. The same tedious calms delayed our progress for some time, till a gentle breeze came to our relief, and carried us abreast of the island of Rona, which, as well as the termination of Raza, appeared entirely composed of a mass of rugged rocks totally incapable of yielding the smallest degree of vegetation; yet barren as this spot appeared, we found that it produced sufficient to rear some black cattle. With respect to Skye, its appearance was magnificent beyond description; the parts we had past, shot out into bold headlands and lofty hills, whose summits were blended with the clouds. Before these, a range of high spiry pinnacles rose with alpine wildness, appearing and disappearing in quick succession through the floating mists, while the summit of the mountain was wholly invisible. The same stratum of clouds rested on the hills on the right, and sometimes gave us transient glimpses of steep and gloomy terraces of rocks surmounting each other, with castellated forms, which varied each moment with the perpetually varying lights; for that which caused these adventitious effects, was a heavy mass of clouds to the northward, which wrapped that part in midnight gloom, faintly displaying at intervals the steep sides of some rocky islands, whose rugged forms the eye of fancy could alone trace in the profound obscurity. The whole scene was such as equally to baffle the powers of the pen and the pencil, in an attempt to describe it; and of which no adequate idea can be formed, but by those who have been accustomed to the wildly grand effects of Highland scenery. From the high mountainous tracts in the north of Scotland, which attract the heavy clouds of vapour from the Western ocean, every traveller must expect, in such an excursion, to meet with many disagreeable circumstances, from the inconstancy of the weather; but this inconvenience proves an essential source of the variegated beauties which he will meet with; and, in contemplating a scene such as that above described, he will forget all trivial events which might have given rise to disquietude, and think himself fully repaid. In the evening, we found ourselves abreast of the northern end of Skye, having been delayed, from various causes, on its eastern coast for five days, in a run of eighty miles. In a picturesque view, I had seen no island which improved so gradually, and so much as this; beginning with the flat district of Slate, rising, as we advanced, to more elevated forms; and exhibiting at last all the grandeur and wildness of Alpine scenery. Passing the extremity of Skye, we stood on for Stornaway, in the island of Lewis, where we arrived by six in the morning. [To be continued.] POLAR EXPEDITION. [Continued from col. 529.] Other contrivances were adopted to gain an interview with these fearful people, and the following day, about ten o'clock, "We were rejoiced to see eight sledges, driven by the natives, advancing by a circuitous route towards the place where we lay. They halted about a mile from us, and the people alighting, ascended a small iceberg, as if to reconnoitre. After remaining apparently in consultation for nearly half an hour, four of them descended, and came towards the flagstaff, which, however, they did not venture to approach. In the mean time, a white flag was hoisted at the main in each ship, and John Sacheuse despatched, bearing a small white flag, with some presents, that he might endeavour, if possible, to bring them to a parley. This was a service in which he had most cheerfully volunteered, requesting leave to go unattended and unarmed-a request to which no objection could be made, as the place chosen for the meeting was within half a mile of the Isabella. It was equally advantageous to the natives, a canal or small chasm in the ice, not passable without a plank, separating the parties from each other, and preventing any possibility of an attack from these people, unless by darts. 66 In executing this service, Sacheuse displayed no less address than courage. Having placed his flag at some distance from the canal, he advanced to the edge, and taking off his hat, made friendly signs for those opposite to approach, as he did; this they partly complied with, halting at a distance of three hundred yards, where they got out of their sledges, and set up a loud simultaneous halloo, which Sacheuse answered by imitating it. They ventured to approach nearer, having nothing in their hands but the whips with which they guide their creatures these were?' pointing to the ships: to which Sacheuse replied, that they were houses made of wood.' This they seemed still to discredit, answering, 'No, they are alive, we have seen them move their wings.' Sacheuse now inquired of them what they themselves were? to which they replied, they were men, and lived in that direction, pointing to the North; that there was much water there; and they had come here to fish for sea-unicorns. It was then agreed that Sacheuse should pass the chasm to them, and he accordingly returned to the ship to make his report, and to ask for a plank. 66 During the whole of this conversation, I had been employed with a good telescope in observing their motions, and beheld the first man approach with every mark of fear and distrust, looking frequently behind to the other two, and beckoning to come on, as if for support. They occasionally retreated, then advanced again, with cautious steps, in the attitude of list dogs; and after satisfying themselves | ice there.' They again asked, 'What that the canal was impassable, one of them in particular seemed to acquire confidence. Shouts, words, and gestures, were exchanged for some time to no purpose, though each party seemed, in some degree, to recognise each other's language. Sacheuse, after a time, thought he could discover that they spoke the Humooke dialect, drawling out their words, however, to an unusual length. He immediately adopted that dialect, and, holding up the presents, called out to them, Kahkeite, Come on!' to which they answered, Naakrie, naakrieai-plaite, No, no; go away;' and other words, which he made out to mean that they hoped we were not come to destroy them. The boldest then approached to the edge of the canal, and drawing from his boot a knife, repeated, Go away; I can kill you.' Sacheuse, not intimidated, told them that he was also a man and a friend, and at the same time threw across the canal some strings of beads, and a checked shirt; but these they beheld with great dis-ening, generally keeping one hand trust and apprehension, still calling, 'Go away; don't kill us.' Sacheuse now threw them an English knife, saying. Take that.' On this they approached with caution, picked up the knife, then shouted and pulled their noses. These actions were imitated by Sacheuse, who in return called out, Heigh, yaw!' pulling his nose with the same gesture. They now pointed to the shirt, demanding what it was? and when told it was an article of clothing, asked of what skin it was made? Sacheuse replied, it was made of the hair of an animal which they had never seen; on which they picked it up with expressions of surprise. They now began to ask many questions; for by this time they found the language spoken by themselves and Sacheuse had sufficient resemblance to enable them to hold some communication. down by their knees, in readiness to pull out a knife which they had in their boots; in the other hand they held their whips with the lash coiled up; their sledges remained at a little distance, the fourth man being apparently stationed to keep them in readiness for escape. Sometimes they drew back the covering they had on their heads, as if wishing to catch the most distant sounds; at which time I could discern their features, displaying extreme terror and amazement, while every limb appeared to tremble as they moved. Sacheuse was directed to entice them to the ship, and two men were now sent with a plank, which was accordingly placed across the chasm. They appeared still much alarmed, and requested that Sacheuse only should come over; he accordingly passed to the opposite side, on which they earnestly besought him not to touch them, as, if he did, they should certainly die. After he had used many arguments to persuade them that he was flesh and blood, the native who had shown most courage ventured to touch his hand, then pulling himself by the nose, set up a shout, in which he was joined by Sacheuse, and the other three. The presents were then distributed, consisting of two or three articles of clothing, and a few strings of beads; after which Sacheuse ex-| in the snow, and went on with the changed a knife for one of theirs." The impression on the minds of these ignorant beings, that if touched by any of these supposed spirits they should die, arose from a superstition not peculiar to themselves; and though this apprehension was afterwards dispelled by more tangible feeling, a similar notion, that death would be the consequence of their eating any thing belonging to the wondrous strangers, was not so easily destroyed; for Capt. Sabine says, they could not be prevailed on to do more than put biscuit in their mouth; they would wait till unobserved, and then throw it away. sledge; by which we were convinced that he knew he was doing wrong. The seaman, on finding the hammer, left off the pursuit, and returned; while he went off, and was seen no more that day." Those which remained " were noW conducted to the gun-room, and afterwards round the ship, but without appearing to distinguish any thing particularly, except the wood in her construction, stamping on the deck, as if in evident surprise at the quantity of this valuable material. In hopes of amusing them, the violin was sent for, and some tunes played; they, however, paid no attention to this, seemed quite unconcerned, either about the sounds or the performer-a sufficient proof that the love of music is an acquired taste, and that it requires experience to distinguish between that and other similar noises. A flute was afterwards sounded for them, which seemed to excite somewhat more attention; probably from resembling more nearly in shape the objects to which they were accustomed; one of them put it to his mouth and blew it, but immediately threw it away." They have no knowledge of depicting any visible object, for on being shewn prints of the natives of Otaheite, they attempted to grasp them. Their knowledge of the powers of numbers is not less contracted. After much persuasion, they were prevailed on to come on board the ship; but when on board, that which most surprised them was, the size of the timber, their country producing no tree or shrub thicker than a finger. “Their knowledge of wood seemed to be limited to some heath of a dwarfish growth, with stems no thicker than the finger, and accordingly they knew not what to think of the timber they saw on board. Not being aware of its weight, two or three of them, successively, seized on the spare top-mast, evidently with the view of carrying it off; and as soon as they became fami- | liar with the people around them, they shewed that desire of possessing what they admired, which is so universal among savages. The only thing they looked on with contempt was a little By directing their attention to "the terrier dog, judging, no doubt, that it pieces of ice that surrounded the was too small for drawing a sledge: vessel, Captain Ross endeavoured to but they shrunk back, as if in terror, ascertain how far they could calculate, from a pig, whose pricked cars and for the purpose of estimating the poferocious aspect, being of the Shetland pulation of their tribe.” “We found, breed, presented a somewhat formid- however, says he, they could only able appearance. This animal hap- reckon to ten, and on inquiring if their pening to grunt, one of them was so country possessed as many inhabitants terrified, that he became from that as there were pieces of ice, they remoment uneasy, and appeared impa-plied, many more;' a thousand fragtient to get out of the ship. In carry-ments were perhaps then floating round ing his purpose into effect, however, the ship." They have no definitive he did not lose his propensity to thiev- methods of marking the progress of ing, as he seized and endeavoured to time, and therefore knew not what carry off the smith's anvil; finding that he could not remove it, he laid hold of the large hammer, threw it on the ice, and following it himself, deli- | berately set it on his sledge, and made off. As this was an article I could not spare, I sent a person to recover it, who followed him, hallooing, and soon got pretty near him. Seeing that he must be overtaken, he artfully sunk it ་ to-morrow' meant, but expressed their crude conception by intimating, that they would eat and sleep in the mean while. As an apology for their deficiency in the science of Horology, it should be remembered, that they have little more than one day and one night in the year; and their entire unacquaintance with mechanical contrivances precludes their adoption of any |