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Review. Walsh's Notices of Brazil in 1828-9.

rity, and put into irons as mutineers. Others requested permission to return home, even in company with their guard, to apprise their friends and arrange their affairs. But even this was not permitted; they were all marched out of town, and sent off to the armies. This, I am told, was prac tised simultaneously in most of the towns of the Minas Geraes. The whole of the young men who attended the festivals were seized, and sent out of the province, to which they never returned.

"On the next year, the muster at S. Jose was very scanty, not more than half the usual number attended; but those who did were treated in the same manner, all arrested and sent off, and were never seen again. Among them were several cases of great distress. One was that of a widow who had five sons living with her in considerable comfort: three of them were seized on the first occasion, and the remaining two on the last. The poor woman earnestly requested the officer to permit one, at least, to stay at home to protect her and provide for her support, but he was inexorable. In her distress she immediately applied to Senhor Campos, the sargente mor of S. Jose, who is a kind of refuge to all the afflicted in that district. He lost no time in demanding the restoration of one of the widow's sons, but the officer still refused to liberate him. He, therefore, drew up a strong representation of the transaction, which he was about to send off to the emperor himself; and the officer, alarmed at the exposure of so much oppression, liberated the young man; all the rest perished."-p. 147.

With the properties and use of iron, Mr. Walsh seems to think that the Indian natives were not at all acquainted. It was known to the Portuguese Brazilians, but through some strange policy or impolicy of the government, its being manufactured was discountenanced, and expressly forbidden.

"It does not at all appear, that the native Indians were apprised of the properties of iron, or had ever applied it to use, as their fishing-hooks, and other implements, had been made of gold, a metal more obvious in its primitive state, and more easily wrought upon. It was, however, long known to the Portuguese Brazilians, who worked it up iuto some trifling implements for their own use; but the knowledge that the country possessed so valuable a metal, was for a long time carefully concealed from foreigners. To such an extent was this jealous precaution carried, that even the natives were strictly prohibited from using it. An Intelligent young man, in the Minas Geraes, who had made himself acquainted with its properties, fabricated a lock from it, and sent it to Portugal hoping to receive, as he deserved, a reward for his ingenuity; instead of which he was severely repri manded for his presumption, and forbidden to fabricate any other article. When foreigners, therefore, were first permitted to explore the country, they were astonished to find a metal, of whose existence they had not heard, and began by collecting specimens of this precious discovery, till, in a day's journey, they became so overloaded, that they cast them all away."--p. 202.

Common report has preserved a singular account of gold having been discovered in a mine, accompanied with the record of a disaster, which yet remains to be explored. The particulars of this discovery and catastrophe, Mr. Walsh thus states:

"About thirty years ago, the proprietor, Antonio Pereira, sunk a shaft ten bracas or fathoms deep: and coming suddenly on a very rich deposite, he continued eagerly to pursue it, without waiting to take precautions to secure the shaft above. On one evening they discovered a vein so rich, that in about an hour just before dark, they extracted

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from it gold, to the value of three thousand milreis ; and they looked forward to the morning to appropriate the vast treasure below. But a restless cupidity to be possessed of it at once, would not suffer them to allow a moment's delay, and the foreman with several slaves continued below, labouring all night at the golden discovery. When the proprietor hastened early in the morning to the shaft, there was no trace of it to be seen; the illsecured earth had closed over those who were undermining it below, and the treasure and the workmen were buried ten fathoms deep in the mountain. Several efforts were afterwards made to come again at this spot, and large sums of money expended by Simao Fereira, and other persons in succession, but hitherto without effect; and it remains for the Gongo Soco Company to find it. It will be a discovery of no common interest to come on this treasure again, covered up with a mass of human bodies, if they yet remain undecayed."-p. 211.

Among the vegetable productions of this interesting country Mr. Walsh notices a particular species of fruit, which he thus describes :

"In passing through the woods he (Patricio) had always something rare or curious to shew me. On one occasion he suddenly turned off the path, and disappeared in a dense forest. Knowing his mysterious ways, we did not mind him ; but he reappeared at some distance before us, bearing in his hand a branch loaded with the most beautiful fruit I had ever beheld. It was about the size and shape of a pear, covered with the downy skin of a peach, of the richest red and golden hue. The flesh of the fruit was a juicy pulp, of a cooling acid taste, and, with sugar, quite delicious. He called it preboora. I penetrated with him to exa. mine the tree on which it grew. It was about seven feet high, with rotund alternate leaves, slightly serrated. I wished to see another tree, if possible, to examine its fructifications, but he knew of no other in these woods than that single one. The fruit contained three large kernel seeds inside, which I tried to preserve; but I could not dry them, and they moulded and decayed."-p. 222.

Of domestic cleanliness the account is by no means flattering. A short specimen may serve as a sample for the rest.

"My two ill-looking neighbours had disappeared in the morning, and their places were supplied by two naked little black pickaninnies, the children of my host and hostess. These creatures had got bits of bamboo, which they formed into rude carts, loaded with wood; and their amusement was driving these carts, and imitating the creaking of the wheels, which they did with the most annoying accuracy, as loud and as shrill, and so persevering, that the urchins were never absent, either from my door or my window. The employment of the mother was scraping up manure before the door with her fingers, and she brought me my dinner of rancid pork in a broken dish, without washing her hands."-p. 237.

Of the habitations, morals, and humanity, of these country Brazilians, the account is far from being prepossessing. The curse of slavery is written in legible characters in the narrative which follows:

"This was a large dreary place, like a stable, kept by a woman, who lived there with five or six negroes. She was young, and rather comely; but when I entered, evidently intoxicated. She had been, I learred, a person of indifferent character, at Rio; and had two illegitimate children. She rented this rancho, and took one of her negroes as her paramour and partner. Of all the women on record who have been no ornament to their sex, this, I believe, was one of the worst.

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Review. Walsh's Notices of Brazil in 1858-9.

"After having emptied a bottle of caxas, to which, as I passed by her venda, I saw her head constantly applied, she issued forth with her face flushed, and a lash in her hand; the very personification of Tisiphone. One of her slaves was a poor boy of twelve years old, and on this child she vented all her malignant passions. Every time she met him, she attacked him with her lash, cutting him across the face and body, till she left him bleeding and moaning; and this for no reason, but in the very wantonness of cruelty. Her house was like herself-most abominable. I could get no place to rest in, but a kind of stable among the negroes; and here, in the midst of filth, my sup. per was served up. It consisted of rancid pork, sausages, and feijao. When the boy whom she so cruelly treated, was laying it on the table, he trembled so that he spilled a small portion of the sauce. She seized him by the throat, dashed him down, and trampled on him. 1 now interfered for the poor child, and took him up to protect him. There lay on the board a pointed faca, one of the deadly weapons used for stabbing. She caught it up, and striking the end of it on the table, rushed forward with an intent to wound either me or the child, when I wrenched it from her hand. Knowing quid fureus fœmina posset, and that she had several sturdy negroes at her command, I thought it right to be on my guard, and kept the little fellow by me on a mat; he moaned most piteously all night, crying out for mercy every moment in his sleep.

"I was glad to leave this fury at the dawn of day, but sorry to leave the poor child behind me, who I have no doubt will fall a victim to her intoxicated rage. If there was no other argument against a state of slavery, the incentive it applies to the indulgence of our evil passions, would be sufficient to condemn it. If this wretched woman had not this poor victim to exercise her bad temper on with impunity, on all occasions, she would learn to keep it under some control."— p. 276.

The American aloe Mr. Walsh describes in the following words :

:

"This magnificent plant, which I found in every part of the country, forms a circle of lanceolate leaves, sometimes eighteen feet in circumference, the leaves themselves being eight feet long, exceedingly strong and sharp. The flower-stem is two and a half feet in circumference at the base, and shoots up to the height of thirty feet; from this project innumerable horizontal footstalks, from whence hang myriads of campanulate blossoms, so that the form of this grand flower is that of a pinetree, for which it might be mistaken. I saw in some places when I set out, this stem beginning to sprotrude itself from the midst of the leaves, and on my return it had attained the magnitude of a pinetree of twenty years' growth. What an idea does this give of the vigour of vegetation in this country, where such a vast mass of beautifully organized vegetable matter could be formed in so short a time from one root! Its existence, however, is as short-lived as its growth is rapid already had the succulent stem begun to decay at its base; and a strong wind had prostrated many of them across the road, the dimensions of which I measured. The stems lay rotting and useless, but the leaves yield a strong fibre, which is twisted unto cordage.”p. 284.

The insects, Mr. Walsh represents as of a gigantic size. The spider must stand as a specimen for the rest.

"Among the insects is an enormous spider, which I did not observe elsewhere. In passing through an opening between some trees, I felt my head entangled in some obstructions, and on withdrawing it, my light straw hat remained behind. When I looked up, I saw it suspended in the air, entangled in the meshes of an immense cobweb, which was drawn like a veil of gauze across the opening, and was expanded from branch to branch

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of the opposite trees, as large as a sheet, ten or twelve feet in diameter. The whole of this space was covered with spiders of the same species, but of different sizes; some of them, when their legs were expanded, forming a circle of six or seven inches in circumference. They were particularly distinguished by bright spots. The cords composing the web were a glossy yellow, like the fibres of silk-worms, and equally strong. I wound off several on a card, and they extended to the length of three or four yards."-p. 301.

The serpents of Brazil claim a share in the magnificent works of nature, but among these the boa constrictor holds the most conspicuous rank.

"The boa constrictor was once an inhabitant of these woods, but he has now retired far from the haunts of men, into the remoter forests of the Mato Grosso. His skin, however, is frequently used; it is tanned, and forms a hide nearly as thick as that of an ox. I have often seen boots and saddles made of its leather. Notwithstanding the quantity of serpents which still exist in the country, and the venomous quality of some of them, it is very rare to meet with a person who has suffered from their bite. I scarcely passed a day, at any distance from Rio, without meeting with one crossing, or by the side of the road, and the negroes enter the places where they are known to abound, with bare feet; yet I never could hear of one who had suffered from their poison."-p. 378.

The ship, called the Northern Star, in which Mr. Walsh embarked on leaving the Brazils, he has thought worthy of particular notice, and his account of the living inmates, may amuse the reader, without inducing him to wish that he had been on board.

"The Northern Star had been three years on the coast of Africa, and she was stowed with all manner of African produce; between decks was a perfect menagery, with different kinds of monkeys, parrots, and paroquets, which every one was bringing home to his friends; and I was awoke in the morning by such a concert of chattering and screaming as made me think myself in Exeter 'Change, on a visit to Pidcock. But besides these larger animals, the ship swarmed with others that were not so agreeable. Myriads of ants, of a smaller size, but of a tougher consistence, and much harder to be killed than those at Rio, abounded in every direction, and devoured every animal and vegetable substance they could come at; they appeared to have destroyed all the fleas and bugs, but they then occupied their places, taking possession of our beds, and giving us no rest at night. Next came the cockroaches, of a size almost incredible. When I first saw them flying across my cabin, I thought they were some small African birds; for they moved with a force, and evinced a strength and activity, altogether superior to what I could imagine of any of the insect tribe. They formed a nidus in every cavity and whenever a fold of cloth or linen was opened, it was covered with their eggs or progeny in different stages.

"Another, and much more serious annoyance, were centipedes. These venomous creatures, sometimes four or five inches long, took refuge behind every projection that afforded them a retreat; and whenever a box, or even a book, was removed in my cabin, one or more of these monsters was seen gliding along, with his multitude of feet, and threatening every one that approached him with his venomous fangs.

"To encounter these plagues, Captain Arabin told me of a very singular device he had adopted. There is on the coast of Africa a very large and ravenous spider, resembling a tarantula, which feeds on all other insects, particularly the roach; and ships sometimes encourage

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Discourses on the Being and Attributes of God.

board to prey upon the other insects, as cats are taken to destroy rats and mice. With this view, he said, he had actually taken six on board, and found them of considerable service. I had no mode

of judging how far the other insects had compatively lessened, but certainly these spider cats had enormously increased. In every angle of the timbers, in my cabin, a huge one had taken up his abode, his body nearly as large as a walnut, and his legs radiating from it in a circumference of seven or eight inches. They were not furnished with papulae, and formed no webs. I adopted what I thought a more effectual method of abating the nuisance. 1 procured a bottle of rum, which I directed my servant to hang up in the cabin, and immerse in it every crawling thing he could catch; in a very short time he filled it with all manner of mishapen and hideous objects.

"Another effect of an African climate was that produced on the biscuit. It was taken on board at Sierra Leone, and in the passage to Rio, the larvæ in the flour had generated living insects, which burrowed in the bread, and filled it with curculios and different animalcule; it was literally 'instinct with life;' so that, when a piece of it was laid on the table, it began to move by its own internal living machinery. It was necessary to consume this on board, before fresh could be served out; but the providence of the captain had laid in a stock of flour at Rio, and we had fresh bread baked every day."-p. 471.

During their voyage homeward the ship was surrounded by sharks, which Mr. Walsh describes as both numerous and voracious, and several instances are given of their strength and boldness. Referring

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destroyer of human life, the other distinguished as its most intrepid preserver.”—p. 497.

We have now gone through these very interesting volumes, and if the reader's views are in unison with our own, we shall not regret having transcribed so largely from the author's pages. Mr. Walsh has proved himself both an observing and an intelligent traveller. His work abounds with lively descriptions, and animated sketches, similar to those we have so copiously given. Numerous anecdotes are interspersed, and characteristic incidents arise in every stage of his journey. But it is useless to multiply remarks on a publication where censure would be misapplied, and even praise would be super

fluous.

REVIEW.-Discourses on various Subjects relating to the Being and Attributes of God and his Works, in Creation, Providence, and Grace. By Adam Clarke, LL.D.F.R.S. Vol. III. 8vo. pp. 408. Mason, London. 1830.

THESE discourses belong to a series, of which this is the third volume. The two

to the coast of Africa, where these destroy-former, which have already passed under

ers of human life abound, he records some

acts of daring intrepidity in the conduct of an Irish sailor, and with these we must finish our extracts.

"There was, however, one man on board, who had, on various occasions, shewed the most extraordinary intrepidity among sharks; he was an Irishman of the name of Burke. He was a careless fellow, and had been sent from Maidstone as worthless and incorrigible.

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Captain Arabin discerned something more in his character; found him a person of light and frolicsome humour, but a good sailor, and, moreover, a man of the kindest heart, and the most intrepid humanity. This he evinced on the coast of Africa on several occasions. Whenever a man fell overboard, Burke leaped after him, and saved him before a boat could be lowered.

On

"The river Bonny was full of the most ravenous sharks. On one occasion, a boat's crew were bringing the corpse of their captain on shore, to be buried. His feet projected over the gunwale, and a shark seized them. In trying to save the body the boat upset, and the whole crew were devoured by them except one, whom Burke saved, by leaping fearlessly into the sea, and supporting him till they were taken up by another boat. another occasion, in the river of Sierra Leone, where it was full of sharks, a sailor fell overboard from the commodore's ship. None of his shipmates had courage to attempt to save him; but Burke, who saw the man struggling in the water at some distance, immediately leaped from the deck of the North Star, swam to him through these ferocious fish, and supported him till they were both taken up by a boat. Commodore Collier, who was looking on, was affected even to tears at this extraordinary instance of magnanimous philanthropy, and sent him some dollars.

"Had he lived in the days of the ancient Romans, his fellow-citizens would have presented him with a rostral or civic crown, and erected a statue to his memory. The name of Burke seems destined to dénote the extremes of evil and good. One man who bore it, is stigmatized as a fearful

our notice, contain some of the fundamental truths which lie at the basis of our holy religion; and we are happy to find that this is not inferior to its predecessors.

In a short advertisement, the author informs us, that "several of the discourses in this volume were printed some years ago as separate pamphlets, and had passed through three or four editions." These are now united, and bear their part in the series to which they seem naturally to belong; but having in their detached form obtained an extensive circulation, their titles and contents will be familiar to many readers.

It must not, however, be supposed, that this want of primitive originality will in anywise detract from their merit. Their claims to patronage have already undergone the ordeal of public opinion; and this has long since decided in favour of their intrinsic excellence. It is a maxim among lawyers, that legal investigation strengthens the title which passes honourably through examination, and that the property thereby secured derives an additional value from the rigour of the scrutiny. This principle applied to the discourses before us, places them on elevated ground, where the truths developed, and the talents of the author, appear to their mutual advantage.

The first discourse on "the corruption that is in the world through lust," contains an able epitome of this important doctrine. It places human degeneracy in a truly scrip

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Review.-India's Cries to British Humanity.

tural light, and points out in a masterly manner the nature, the necessity, and the all-sufficiency of human redemption through Christ.

The second discourse on "Divine revelation" furnishes an historical synopsis of the popular evidence on which Christianity is founded. It imbodies a considerable range of thought on this groundwork of our faith, and occasionally enters deeply into some of those classical and critical branches of the subject, with which the learned author has been long familiar.

In the third sermon, "The love of God to a lost world," is placed in an amiable and a commanding light. For the doctrine of general redemption Dr. Clarke has always shewn himself a zealous advocate; and in these pages we find abundant proof that his abilities to defend it, are not inferior to his

zeal.

"The nature and design of the holy Eucharist," appears to be a laboured production, and, as a sermon, is rather out of place. It has been long before the public as a distinct treatise, and this seems to be its proper character. On the importance and necessity of receiving the eucharist, considerable stress is laid; and all that learning, criticism, extensive reading, and the vigorous efforts of a mighty mind, can supply, are brought to bear in favour of this Christian rite. Its observance is viewed as every thing but essential to salvation.

The Christian prophet and his work," when first published excited a considerable degree of attention; and although several years have elapsed since that period, it has stood its ground, and is well known among the author's detached discourses.

"The rights of God and Cæsar" is still more extensively known. From its title it obtains a political countenance, and its contents in some measure sanction the name it bears. It first appeared when the public mind was in a state of considerable ferment, during the French revolution, and was not without its influence on vast multitudes, who had caught the contagion of the day.

On "The origin and end of civil government," we made some observations in our number for March last, without then expecting so soon to find it assuming a more permanent form. We then remarked, "that the tide of public opinion, political ferment having subsided, was now favourable for dispassionate investigation, and to all who wished for much information within a narrow compass, we would recommend this lecture." In its present station it has no alliance with either Whig or Tory; and it is only on this neutral ground, that its reason

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ings can be fairly weighed, and its merits fully appreciated.

On the other discourses in this volume, similar observations might be made, but we have neither time nor room to extend them. The subjects investigated are of considerable moment, though in general they are not of that fundamental character which distinguished those of the preceding volumes. They have, however, a strong bearing on man, whether we view him in his moral, his social, or his civil relations. In these, his duties and his rights are defined, under the sanctions of scriptural authority; and every well-regulated mind will be glad to learn, that despotism and anarchy are alike excluded from the politics of Christianity.

REVIEW.-India's Cries to British Humanity relative to the Suttee, Infanticide, &c. &c. By J. Peggs. 8vo. pp. 528. Second Edition. Seeley, London.

1830.

WHEN this work first appeared, we noticed it with much respect in our review department. Since that time, the author, with commendable industry, humanity, and zeal, has made some very considerable additions, and rendered it an interesting, well-timed, and valuable publication. On the melancholy subjects of which it treats, the information communicated is both varied and important, and in its present state, it is a book which ranks highly in our estimation.

Mr. Peggs, who has been a missionary in India, proves, from indisputable authority, that the horrid practice of burning widows, and destroying infants, might be easily abolished, without in the least endangering the tranquillity of our Asiatic possessions. It appears also, that even the natives would feel but little repugnance to an edict, that should prohibit a custom at which human nature revolts, although it has been sanctioned by immemorial usage.

Peti

By recent accounts from India it would appear, that government is turning its attention, in a serious manner, to the cries of victims devoted to immolation, that some preliminary steps have been already taken, and that others may be expected, which will speedily wipe away this bloody_dishonour from our national character. tions to parliament on the occasion may tend very much to facilitate this desirable object. Many have already been presented, and the circulation of this volume can hardly fail to produce many more. places idolatry, and its associate cruelties and abominations, in a proper light; and few will envy the feelings of that person,

It

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Review.-Jones's Lectures on the Apocalypse.

who can peruse its pages, without becom. | ing a convert to the claims of humanity.

In several places this book has created a powerful sensation: and, by its instrumentality, called into existence, societies now in active operation to promote the abolition at which it aims. We feel much pleased to find that it has reached a second edition, and are highly gratified with its respectable appearance; but our chief de. light arises from the detestation of idolatrous murders which it excites, and the animating hope it inspires, that the triumphs of humanity and justice cannot be remote.

1830.

REVIEW.-Lectures on the Apocalypse.— By William Jones, M.A. 8vo. pp. 626. Holdsworth, London. UNFULFILLED prophecy is a profound abyss, to the bottom of which no human plummet has ever yet descended. Innumerable attempts have been made to fathom | its depths, and unveil its hidden recesses; but the great arcanum still lies involved in the shadows of futurity, and until these are removed by the flight of time, and the actual appearance of events, the best concerted schemes, and fairest wrought systems of those who "venture down the dark descent," are little better than plausible conjectures.

This volume comprises forty-five lectures, delivered to the Scotch Baptist Church, assembling for worship in Aldermanbury, London, to whom it is dedicated. Mr. Jones begins with the commencement of the Apocalypse, and proceeds regularly through all its chapters in consecutive order, selecting for the subjects of his lectures the various passages as they arise in succession. It is a series of discourses bearing the name of lectures on the whole book of the Revelation.

In delivering these lectures, the author does not appear to be indissolubly attached to any preconceived hypothesis. He founds his theory on what he conceives to be the obvious import of the passages under consideration, and the undeniable inferences to which they lead, the whole of which he combines in one harmonious system of interpretation.

In prosecuting his work, Mr. Jones carefully avoids those local events which started up during the French Revolution, in which many of our writers fancied they saw an application of prophetic language displayed in its clearest development. He has, also, in general cautiously omitted to assign any definite period for the accomplishment of scriptural predictions; and when the subject

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seemed to demand some specific avowal, the times are mentioned with caution, and placed at a more prudent distance than may prove gratifying to the impetuosity of undeliberating zeal.

To the belief that Christ will personally reign on earth a thousand years, which with some writers of the present day is a favourite topic, Mr. Jones is by no means a convert he finds no second coming of the Redeemer, but when he shall appear in glory to raise the dead and judge the world. The first resurrection he is not disposed to admit in its literal sense, but as denoting a revival of genuine Christianity; and to nearly all the passages in the Apocalypse, which, if taken literally, cannot be viewed without amazement, he gives a spiritual interpretation. He considers them as figurative, bold, and metaphorical, susceptible of a fair and consistent meaning when surveyed in this light, but liable to insuperable objections, and big with absurdities, when deprived of their spiritual appli'cation.

The millennium, Mr. Jones views as an exalted state of the Church of Christ, as an improved condition of the civil and moral world, which includes the following particulars:-A remarkable effusion of the Holy Spirit, similar to what took place on the day of Pentecost; An universal spread of the gospel, diffusing the knowledge of the Lord throughout the world, in a more extensive and effectual manner, than at any former period; the purity of church communion; the divine special presence and residence; universal peace and tranquillity; civil rulers and judges distinguished for the righteous and peaceable administration of their respective offices; and finally, the righteousness of all the true subjects of the Messiah's kingdom.

Without attempting either to controvert or to advocate the views which Mr. Jones entertains on these momentous subjects, we feel disposed to assert, that his theory is far more rational, and more analogous to the physical nature of things, than any literal interpretation which has hitherto been presented to our notice. In what he has advanced we discover nothing visionary-nothing unscriptural; the order of heaven and earth is not disturbed, and the great events predicted of old appear in their solemn grandeur and placid beauty, without any elementary commotion, or disruption of nature's laws.

From the preceding observations the reader will be able to form a tolerably correct idea of the principles on which this work is founded; but the manner in which

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