LALLA ROOKH had, the night before, been visited by a dream which, in spite of the impending fate of poor HAFED, made her heart more than usually cheerful during the morning, and gave her cheeks all the freshened animation of a flower that the Bidmusk has

just passed over.* She fancied that she was sailing on that Eastern Ocean, where the sea-gipsies, who live for ever on the water†, enjoy a perpetual summer in

* "A wind which prevails in February, called Bidmusk, from a small and odoriferous flower of that name."-"The wind which blows these flowers commonly lasts till the end of the month."-Le Bruyn.

"The Biajús are of two races: the one is settled on Borneo, and are a rude but warlike and industrious nation, who reckon themselves the original possessors of the island of Borneo. The other is a species of sea-gipsies or itinerant fishermen, who live in small covered boats, and enjoy a perpetual summer on the eastern ocean, shifting to leward from island to island, with the variations of the monsoon. In some of their customs this singular race resemble the natives of the Maldivia islands. The Maldivians annually launch a small bark, loaded with perfumes, gums, flowers, and odoriferous wood, and turn it adrift at the mercy of winds and waves,

wandering from isle to isle, when she saw a small gilded bark approaching her. It was like one of those boats which the Maldivian islanders send adrift, at the mercy of winds and waves, loaded with perfumes, flowers, and odoriferous wood, as an offering to the Spirit whom they call King of the Sea. At first, this little bark appeared to be empty, but, on coming

nearer

She had proceeded thus far in relating the dream to her Ladies, when FERAMORZ appeared at the door of the pavilion. In his presence, of course, every thing else was forgotten, and the continuance of the story was instantly requested by all. Fresh wood of aloes

was set to burn in the cassolets;

the violet sherbets

as an offering to the Spirit of the Winds; and sometimes similar offerings are made to the spirit whom they term the King of the Sea. In like manner the Biajús perform their offering to the God of Evil, launching a small bark, loaded with all the sins and misfortunes of the nation, which are imagined to fall on the unhappy crew that may be so unlucky as first to meet with it."-Dr. Leyden on the Languages and Literature of the Indo-Chinese Nations.

* ، The sweet-scented violet is one of the plants most esteemed, particularly for its great use in Sorbet, which they make of violet sugar."-Hasselquist.

were hastily handed round, and after a short prelude on his lute, in the pathetic measure of Nava*, which is always used to express the lamentations of absent lovers, the Poet thus continued:

:

"The sherbet they most esteem, and which is drunk by the Grand Signor himself, is made of violets and sugar."— Tavernier.

* "Last of all she took a guitar, and sung a pathetic air in the measure called Nava, which is always used to express the lamentations of absent lovers."- Persian Tales.

THE day is lowering-stilly black
Sleeps the grim wave, while heaven's rack,
Dispers'd and wild, 'twixt earth and sky
Hangs like a shatter'd canopy.

There's not a cloud in that blue plain

But tells of storm to come or past;

Here, flying loosely as the mane

Of a young war-horse in the blast; There, roll'd in masses dark and swelling, As proud to be the thunder's dwelling!

While some, already burst and riven, Seem melting down the verge of heaven;

As though the infant storm had rent

The mighty womb that gave him birth,

And, having swept the firmament,

Was now in fierce career for earth.

On earth 'twas yet all calm around,
A pulseless silence, dread, profound,
More awful than the tempest's sound.

The diver steer'd for ORMUS' bowers,
And moor'd his skiff till calmer hours;

The sea-birds, with portentous screech,
Flew fast to land;
-upon the beach
The pilot oft had paus'd, with glance
Turn'd upward to that wild expanse ;
And all was boding, drear, and dark
As her own soul, when HINDA's bark
Went slowly from the Persian shore. —
No music tim'd her parting oar,*

Nor friends upon the lessening strand
Linger'd, to wave the unseen hand,
Or speak the farewell, heard no more;-
But lone, unheeded, from the bay

The vessel takes its mournful way,

Like some ill-destin'd bark that steers

In silence through the Gate of Tears.†

"The Easterns used to set out on their longer voyages with music."-Harmer.

"The Gate of Tears, the straits or passage into the Red Sea, commonly called Babelmandel. It received this name from the old Arabians, on account of the danger of the navigation, and the number of shipwrecks by which it was distinguished; which induced