=p of four hours, I was awakened by care of my affociates, who had ufed tinual friction. As foon as I re-ered my fenfes, Mr. Panow informed that we were on an island inhabited a people in a high ftate of civilizan, from whom I was about to reve a vifit; and a very fhort time af, Mr. Cruftiew acquainted me that o of the islanders were then at the trance of iny tent."

The count found, that Padre Ignatio Salis from China, had made a letment on this island; and died in

SI.

Here the count was folicited by the tives to make choice of a wife; but declined the offer, till, being at an tertainment, the propofal was again peated, and the count, as will appear - the following extract, in no condion to refuse the lady, complied with a od grace,

At the end of our meal, the juice fugar cane, which we drank, was ixed with a kind of spirit made from ce. This drink was very frong and hilarating. From one fubject to anher, our converfation at last returned the propofal made to me to choose e of their young women, which was gain urged, and at laft fo ftrongly reffed, that I could not avoid faying at I was willing to make my choice : that time, but thould referve the acomplishment of my marriage till I eturned. I had scarcely faid this, beore the chiefs arose, and the whole ompany difappeared, and left me alone ith my friend Nicholas, by whom I vas informed that the iflanders were one to nominate feven young women o be presented to me, in order that I night choose a wife from among them. n fact, we had scarcely time to take a urvey of his court-yard, his garden, ind the fmall houfes of his women,

covered, led each a young woman, cloathed from head to foot in white filk, with a blue fash; their hair flowed loose on their fhoulders, and was interwoven with flowers. When the feven young women entered the circle, my friend Nicholas led' me likewise there, and requetted me to fit down and examine thefe charming objects, in order to determine my choice. During this interval, one of the old men pronounced a difcourfe of fome length, which he ended by prefenting me with a veil, and by the mediation of Nicholas, he gave me to understand, that I was requefted to cover her with it, on whom my affections were fixed. The choice would have been rather difficult, if it had really been incumbent on me to decide; for there were three among them who might have difputed the preference with the most perfect work of living nature. But as my embar raffment was only imaginary, I asked my friend whether my choice would not offend the others, and upon his anfwering in the negative, I threw the veil over one of them. The others immediately began to dance round her, and carefs her, and at laft conducted her out of the house to the street, where she was preceded by mufical inftruments. My friend Nicholas informed me that this ceremony would laft upwards of an hour, because the young woman would be conducted to every house, to announce her own marriage, and receive prefents. In the mean time the chiefs were regaled with tea, and smoked tobacco.

"About five o'clock I faw the new married lady return, conducted by her mother, who was about four or five and thirty years of age, and they were accompanied by a refpectable old man, who was grandfather to the young woman. This old man made a speech,

daughter into my hands, and leaving her with me, they disappeared fuddenly, as did likewife the rest of the chiefs. Nicholas then acquainted me that I muft myself conduct the young lady to his houfe, in which he affifted me, by feading the way. At the door of this houfe the quitted me, and Nicholas at tended me back to the camp.

"During our walk, he informed me, that the newly married young woman was the daughter of a very devout Chriftian mother, who had been conftantly attached to father Ignatio; and as he had mentioned his grandfather to me without telling the name of his father, I queftioned him pofitively on the fubject. He at first affected concealment, but at last confeffed that feignior Dzignaro was his father, and he had likewife two elder fifters, who were among the feven prefented to me for my choice. He informed me that the young perfon I had chofen was named Tinto Volangta, (or luminous moon) and that I might certainly expect her foon at my own place of refidence. He then left me, after promifing to come again to vifit me in the morning.

As foon as I found myself alone, I informed my companions of my adventure, and feveral of them determined to pafs the night with me, in order to avoid certain embarraffments; and to anfwer this purpose more effectually, I requested all the female companions of our voyage to be prefent, to amufe thofe who might come from the village. At nine o'clock I was acquainted with the arrival of a body of young women, who came towards our camp finging. Their number amounted to twenty, and they were received and introduced by Our women. But as foon as Tinto Volangta entered my hut, the others retired, fo that I found myself under the neceffity of having a female companion. It was a fortunate circumftance that one of our lady paffengers was greatly interefted by the young iflander, and gave her much entertainment by finging and mufic; but the reft of our converfation was pantomime.

"The break of day furprised us without fleep, except the Ufmayan lady, who fell afleep about eight o'clock. When the awoke, two other young

women attended to drefs her, and afterwards ftaid with her."

It seems rather extraordinary that the conduct of Mifs Nilow, on this occafion, is filently paded over.

The count, not only procured another wife at this island, but a stock of provifions and ftores: and having fetiled a small party of his affociates in a colony, he fet fail, and foon after fell in with two Dutch hips, which he got clear from with much difficulty. Touching at a small island, they came to hoftilities with the natives; and thence proceeded to Formofa, where the count met with a Spaniard, don Hieronimo Pacheco, formerly a captain at the port of Cavith, at Manilla, from whence he fied to Formofa in a veffel manned by fix of his flaves; having, in a moment of rage, maffacred his wife, and a Dominican, whom he found in her company at an unfeafonable time.

The water on board being in a putrid ftate, the Spaniard pointed out a place where a fresh-fupply might be obtained, and Meffrs. Panow and Loginow, with a fmall party, were dispatched for that purpose.

"Monday, Auguft the 29th. At anchor in port Maurice. Don Hieronimo remarked, that as the watering place was fo near, he was furprised that our people did not return; and he begged me to fend the fhallop upon difcovery. Mr. Kuzneczow immediately went with eight men, and returned about two, P. M. with the canoe and periagua in tow. As foon as I perceived them at a diftance, I was furprised to fee that fome of them were covered with blood, and had arrows ticking in their bodies; and as I did not fee either Mr. Panow or Mr. Loginow, I began to fear the worst. When the fhallop came on board, Mr. Kuzneczow informed me, that Mr. Panow and Mr. Loginow were mor tally wounded; and that John Popow was the first flain. After having re Ceived Meffis. Panow and Loginow, in order to give them every affiftance, I enquired concerning the fact; and was informed, that Mr. Panow having vi fited the environs, and discovered no figns of any perfon being near, had been defirous of bathing, while the affociates

wers

them could have efcaped, if Volinsky d Andre had not fired at the inlandfrom the canoe, into which they had ired. They added, that they dared t to return on board and abandon Mr. now, who from time to time gave [ns of life, as well as Mr Loginow. hey were in this fituation when the allop came to their relief.

"After this information, I ran to y friend Panow, around whom I und all the company affembled; but I was defirous of hearing what he id, without interrupting him, I did come forward. The following ere the words of this invaluable friend, hich will ever be prefent in my me

ot

ory.

"My brothers, said he to his comanions, inform my friend, our com. ander, that my only regret at quitting fe is, that I fhall no longer be able to cond and fupport his labours. Alas! e is very far from feeing their conclu on. Tell him, that I love him as my fe; and that I fhould die contented, I could have seen his merit and virue recompenfed. Intreat him in my ame, not to revenge my death; but ontent himself with informing my rother of this misfortune. Take exmple, my friends, by me; if I had ollowed the advice of our chief and riend, I had till lived. Refpect and bey him as a father; and thou, unappy friend, Stephanow, lay afide thy naughtiness, and that hatred which is concealed in the bottom of thy heart, gainft this worthy friend.-Supply my place by thy fidelity to him. At thefe words I came forward;-but my God, what a fight! He feemed to have ecovered all his powers. He grafped my hand, wept, and embraced me, but was unable to fpeak for a long time. At length, he exclaimed, Alas, dear

friend! I fall foon be no more

"Loginow had paid the debt of nature a few inftants before. I determined to bury them immediately; but as I was defirous of providing, that their bodies might not be difturbed, I beg ged don Hieronimo, to speak with his friends, the iflanders, and request permiffion to bury them on their territory. To this they readily confented, and we performed their funerals with the greateft order. I fired twenty-one guns on this occafion, and ordered Andreanow to engrave the following words on a tone.

Here lies Vafili Panow, a Ruffian gentleman of illuftrious birth and merit, the faithful friend of Mauritius Benyowfky, who was treacherously flain, with two other companions, John Loginow and John Popow, by the inhabitants of this ifland, on the 29th of Auguft 1771.

After the burial, don Hieronimo declared to me, that his friends had determined to avenge the death of my companions; and that, confequently, they would proceed to attack their neighbours. My affociates joined in this propofal for vengeance, which had already began by the maffacre of our three Indian prifoners*. While I was thus urged to come to a determination, the Spaniard informed me, that the canoe we faw rowing towards us, was filled with our enemies. My affo ciates waited for no orders, but rushed on board the boats, and attacked them. Their first discharge flew thirteen, and the others they immediately brought on board, and hung at the yard-arm. I reprefented to them that this execution was enough, and that it was prudent to terminate our warfare here; but, alas! I preached to the deaf. They perfifted in their determination to go in queft of the Indians, and make them feel their

vengeance. As I saw I could make no impreffion on the minds of thefe enraged men, I was forced to promise to direct their proceedings, that they might not expofe their lives to no purpose. "My refolution being once made, I entered feriously into the bufinefs. For this reafon, I requested the Spaniard to guide my people towards the principal refidence of the nation, who had given fo bad a reception to us; and as he promifed to accompany us, I gave him a good carabine. He requested leave to bring with him a couple of hundred of his Indian friends; in answer to which I reprefented, that thefe poor people might become the victims of their good intentions, and be flain by my comrades for want of knowing them. How ever, he removed my objection, by propofing, that every one of our party fhould wear a piece of white cloth on his left arm. This precaution appearing to me to be fufficient, I acquiefced in his demand, and he immediately went on fhore to make his neceffary preparations for the attack, which was appointed to be made at day break.

"About seven in the evening, I caufed the boats to tow our veffel to the river of the maffacre, where I anchored. At three, I ordered forty-fix companions on fhore, commanded by Meff. Cruftiew, Kuzneczow, Baturin, Wyndbladth, and Stephanow; and we only waited for don Hieronimo, who arrived at four. They then proceeded inland, and we heard nothing till about three quarters after fix, when the noife of the mufquetry convinced me that the action had began. Soon after I faw a number of islanders retiring towards a teep mountain; and then it was that my companions on board directed their pieces at them, and made a dreadful laughter. Thefe unhappy men, feeing themselves preffed on ne fide by my troops, and on the other by the iflanders, under the conduct of the Spaniard, threw themselves proftrate upon the ground. I was then forced to declare to my whole party, that I would fire upon them if they continued the maffacre. On this meffage, the parties contented themselves with making prifoners, the number of whom amounted to fix hundred and forty-three. The killed were reckoned, and proved to be

eleven hundred and fifty-fix. What furprifed me the most was, that among the wounded and prifoners there were a great number of women armed in the fame manner as the men."

We shall extract the count's defcription of the island of Formofa, as containing matter not yet incorporated in any fyftem of geography.

"The inland of Form:ofa is called by the Chinefe, Touaiouai; and by the natives Paccahimba. It is one of the fineft and richest islands in the known world. The foil, in an infinity of places, produces two harvests of rice and other grain, with a great variety of trees, fruits, plants, animals, and birds. Cattle, fheep, goats, and poultry, are very abundant here. This island is interfected by great rivers, lakes, and waters, abounding with fish. It has many commodious harbours, bays, and founds on its coafts. Its mountains produce gold, filver, cinnabar, white and brown copper; and likewife pitcoal.

"The island of Formofa is divided into eight principalities, three of which, fituated on the western fide, are governed by the Chinese, and peopled by the fame nation. Every year an am baffador arrives from China, to receive tribute from these three provinces, which is raised by a poll tax; and the emperor of China keeps five hundred veffels for the purpofe of annually exporting this tribute, which confifts of a large quantity of rice, wheat, millet, falt, beans, raw filk, cotton, gold, filver and mercury. The governors of thefe three provinces continually extend their poffeffions, either by alliance or intrigue, in fuch a manner, that they have obtained feveral towns and dil tricts from their neighbours.

"The inhabitants of the island are civilized, except thofe who live on the eaftern coafts. They are of an effeminate difpofition, without any marks of courage; given to indolence, and are indebted to the goodness of the climate for their prefervation, as the foil fupports them with very little labour. If we except the three Chinese provinces, the mines on the island are no where worked. They are contented to wash the fand to extract gold out of it; and if they find pearls in the thells,

d reeds, and are divided or feparated om each other by rows of pallifadoes; ir moveables are nothing more than at neceffity has rendered indifpenle. In the houfes of men of rank, ere are advanced rooms, in which they t, receive strangers, and divert them ves. The apartments of the women e always feparate, and apart from the pufe. Though they are built within e court, no one is permitted to apoach them. In this country there e no inns for travellers; but thofe ho are on a journey fit themselves own near the first house they come to, nd the mafter of the house foon after eceives them, and entertains them with ce and some flesh meat, with tobacco

nd tea.

"The only commerce of the inhabiants of Formofa is with fome Japanese arks, who touch here, and with the Chinese.

"In each province there are five or Ex towns, which have eftablishments or inftructing youth in reading and vriting. Their characters of writing, and for the expreffion of numbers, are as difficult as thofe of the Chinese, Their pronunciation is fometimes quick and elevated, and at other times flow and grave. They obtain their books from China. There are forcerers or diviners here, who have a great in flu ence over the people. Their religion confifts in adoring one God, and in the performance of good offices to their neighbours. The provinces which are not conquered, are governed by princes or kings, who have an abfolute power over their subjects. None of thefe laft, without any exception of the great men, has any property in the lands. They receive the advantages of their lands, fubject to the good pleasure of the prince, as well as the gains they derive

The ancient foldiers are employed in the command of towns or villages; for there is no village in Formofa which is not commanded by a foldier, and each commander is obliged to prefent annually to his fuperior, a list of the people under his jurifdiction. Formofa being furrounded by the fea, these princes conftantly maintain a certain number of veffels, each of which has two mafts and twenty-four oars; they do not ufe cannon, but make great use of artificial fire works."

After the maffacre at Formosa, a treaty of alliance was formed with prince Huapo and the natives, to affift them in driving out the Chinefe, for which a province was ceded to the count and his party, who in confequence formed a plan for the eítablishment of a colony on the island. Here he left fome of the affociates; and with the remainder fet fail on the 12th of September; and, paffing through the Ladrones, arrived at Macao, where the agents of the English, the French, and Dutch companies, made the most advantageous offers to the count, on condition that he would deliver them his manufcript, and inform them of his difcoveries.

The following fhort paragraph clofes the hiftory and the life of the infatuated and unfortunate Mifs Nilow, in whole fate our readers must be interested.

"On the 25th, Miss Aphanasia paid the debt of nature. Her premature death affected me greatly, and more especially as it deprived me of the fatif. faction of repaying her attachment, by her marriage with the young Popow, fon of the archimandrite, to whom I had given the furname of my family.”

The count, during his stay at Macao, was much difturbed by plots which were formed by Stephanow, and in which he engaged several of the associates.