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vated environs of Brest, the boy burst into a loud laugh, and seemed scarcely able to contain himself for joy. "Why, Aza," said the count, "what has come to you?" "Only see, master! only see!" rejoined the boy, roaring with laughter, and pointing to the fields, where a number of peasants were busy digging ditches; "the whites are at work, I declare they are working just as we do!"

Newspaper Reporting.—When the tax on newspapers, proposed by Mr. Pitt, in 1789, was under discussion in the House of Commons, Mr. Drake said that he disliked the tax, and would oppose it from a motive of gratitude, for the gentlemen concerned in writing for them had been particularly kind to him: they had made him deliver many well-shaped speeches, though he was convinced he had never spoken so well in his whole life.

A young preacher, who was holding forth in a country congregation, with rather more show, in the opinion of some, than substance; after discussing certain heads in his way, he informed his audience that he would conclude with a few reflections. An old man who

temporaries; all great thoughts have been received as strangers in the world.-Ibid.

Introducing Songs.-There was a farce called " Gretna Green," acted some fifty odd years ago at the Haymarket, in which it was judged advisable for Mr. Bannister, (we rejoice to hear that he is yet alive, and in good health,) who enacted the lover, to sing a song called "The Siege of Gibraltar." We forget the precise words, but, speaking ́of some difficulty in which he found himself, he was made to say, in complaining of it, "I declare one might almost as well have been at the Siege of Gibraltar” —up struck the orchestra, and in two minutes he was singing

J

September the 13th, proud Bourbon may mourn,

With shot

Red hot

Don Moreno was torn.

Or perhaps a better precedent for the manner in which the duet is introduced, may be found in the Duke of Buckingham's " Rehearsal," where one of the Kings of Breutford says—

"Now then, to serious counsel let's advance. And the other answers- “

Athenæum.

seemed not highly gratified, gave a signi. I do agree-but first let's have a dance.
ficant shrug of his shoulders, and said in a
low tone of voice, "Ye need na fash, there.
will be plenty of reflexions, I'se warn ye,
though ye dinna make ony yersel.",

Spanish Epitaph.-The following is a singular epitaph:-- Here lies Don Martin John Barbuda, grand-master of Alcantara, who never knew what fear was."-Charles V. of Germany, on reading the conceited lines, remarked that Don Martin had, probably, never snuffed a candle with his fingers. J. A.

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Quills are the pinions of one goose, and are sometimes used to spread the o-pinions of another.

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Duelling. At a late duel, in Kentucky, the parties discharged their pistols without effect: whereupon one of the seconds interfered, and proposed that the combatants should shake hands. To this the other second objected as unnecessary: "For," said he, "their hands have been shaking this halfhour." J. A. The Greek women of Asia are chef d'auvres of creation — imagination, grace, and voluptuousness sparkle in their eyes. The female Greeks of the Morea and the Isles have fresh-looking but hard features; and their eyes, dark and fiery, want the sweet, languishing expression which bespeaks mildness and sensibility. The eyes of the one race may be likened to ardent coals; those of the other to a lambent flame veiled by humid vapours-De Lamartine.

Novel ideas must not be judged of by the disdain with which they inspire their con

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A collector waited on a penurious person, and solicited his contribution for a public improvement ::-"I would advise you to part with what you can well spare," said the collector. "You can enable me to do that," replied the churl; 66 'your company can be very well spared."

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Franking-In May, 1784, a bill, intended to limit the privilege of franking, was sent from the Parliament of Ireland for the royal approbation. It contained a clause, that any member, who from illness or any other cause, should be unable to write, might authorize another person to frank for him, provided that, on the back of the letter so franked, the member should give a certificate, under his own hand, of his inability to write. J. A.

Several of our young men of fashion have, it is said, lately adopted the plan of having their clothes made without pockets; and, as their tailors allege, for the best possible J. A.

reason.

With the present Number,
A SUPPLEMENT
containing the

Spirit of the Annuals for 1836;
With a fine, LARGE ENGRAVING from the ORIENTAL
ANNUAL, Notices and Unique Extracts, Tales, and
Poetical Pieces, from the FORGET-ME-NOT, FRIEND-
SHIP'S OFFERING, and the LANDSCAPE ANNUAL.

Printed and published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; at 55, Rue New St. Augustin, Paris; CHARLES JUGEL, Francfort; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers,

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(Copied, by permission, from DANIELL'S ORIENTAL ANNUAL.)

PRICE 2d.

[graphic]

SPIRIT OF THE ANNUALS FOR 1836.

The Oriental Annual.

[THIS Volume completes the first series of the work, describing Scenes in India. It is, in every particular, equal to its predecessors: the engravings have rather advanced than retrograded, and the letter-press abounds with entertaining, descriptive variety. Of the former we are enabled, by permission of the publishers, to present the reader with a specimen on the prefixed page.

The Illustrations are twenty-two in number, as heretofore, from drawings by Daniell. Five of them have been engraved by Brandard, two by John Page, and the remainder by the best engravers employed on the former. We will endeavour to characterize them; though their delicate execution and high finish must be seen to be appreciated-as the Harbour of Mascat, with its horseshoe range of rocks; Fort Jellali, and its beautiful Hindoo masonry; the Adjutant on a Mangrove, an exquisite vignette; the Rich Mahomedan, smoking his hookah in a veranda of his princely, magnificent mansion; the Choultry at Madara, the most remarkable structure of its kind in Hindostan; the Temple at Trilchengur, one of the most elegant specimens of Hindoo architecture in this part of the peninsula; the venerable Brahminee Bulls, with their loads of consecrated flesh, sleek and fat to excess; the young, superbly dressed Hindoo woman of high caste; the Banks of the Baliapatam River, with the palace of a native chieftain on a romantic hill; a delightful seclusion on the Coast of Malabar, with its tall trees and mirroring water; the Coorg Rajah's park, with Ceylonese or Moose Deer, and a gigantic pine-apple; the terrific Fight between a Buffalo and Lion, the former larger than a Durham ox; the Monkey and Crow; the Mountain Shore near Mascat, its curious, conical rock and Mahratta pirate-boats; Bombay Harbour, with its graceful cocoa-nut trees in the foreground, and the town clearly seen; the Tomb of the Patan Chief at Delhi, with its ample dome; other Patan Tombs, with domes and minarets, the caparisoned Elephant, and attendants; the colossal Elephant, hewn out of a rock" at Elephanta; the celebrated Cave there; and the stupendous Caves at Salsette. These note lines may convey some idea of the varied picturesqueness and striking interest of the Engravings, which altogether form one of the finest collections yet presented to the patrons of the graphic art.

NAUTCH GIRLS.

The two principal were extremely pretty, with figures of the most delicate symmetry. They wore silk trousers of a pale scarlet, gathered round the ankles, below which a thin, gold bangle embraced the small, delicate leg. From these were suspended minute, silver bells, that kept a gentle and by no means disagreeable tinkling, as these oriental figurantes went through the various evolutions of their native dances. Upon the upper part of their persons they wore white jackets closely fitted to the shape, terminating in a short skirt, which descended loosely over the hip, but was left open in front, so as to expose the trousers; under this jacket a transparent petticoat hung as far as the knee. Over the head and shoulders was thrown a veil of beautiful, thin gauze, which crossed the bosom, and, when spread open, was made occasionally to hide the entire figure of the dancer; at each corner was a rich tassel of gold or silver bullion. This veil the nautch girls manage with great grace and skill in their dances, one while peeping from beneath it with an arch expression of unequivocal meaning, at another exposing the whole countenance, beaming with a radiance that only makes the beholder regret that so much beauty should be allied to so much depravity. The eye is usually lit up with earnest animation, every feature being refulgent with expression, that, but for the revolting leaven of sensuality which appears to give it life, would be entrancing to gaze and to dwell upon.

Nothing can exceed the transcendent beauty, both in form and lineament, of these degraded women, whose lives are as aban doned as their persons are frequently enchanting. Although generally accompanied by the most debauched of their sex, they are, nevertheless, continually engaged at large entertainments, even by Europeans, for the purpose of amusing their wives and daughters, as well as the wives and daughters of their guests. It must be confessed, however, that when they are admitted into houses to perform before persons of character, they never, in the slightest degree, offend against propriety; upon these especial occasions, nothing can be more modest than their dress and demeanour, while the gentle grace of their movements and attitudes is often unrivalled. Their dances, generally speaking, are much more decent than those encouraged in the theatres of Europe, which young and innocent girls are permitted to behold and applaud without a blush.

The great charm of the Indian dances conWe shall next quote a few extracts, anec- sists almost wholly in those elegant attitudes dotic and descriptive, as specimens of the which they allow the dancer to display. You information and amusement of the volume,see no prodigious springs, no vehement pirouedited, as before, by the Rev. H. Caunter, B.D. At a splendid entertainment at Tanore, were introduced several]

ettes, no painful tension of the muscles, or extravagant contortions of the limbs; none of that exquisite precision of step and pedal

dexterity which constitute the chief charm of European artists. You see no violent sawing of the arms, no unnatural curving of the limbs, no bringing of the legs at right angles with the trunk; no violent hops, and jerks, and dizzy gyrations. The nautch girl advances gracefully before her audience, her arms moving in unison with her tiny, naked feet, which, although not like snow in hue, still "fall on earth as mute," gliding through the evolutions of a simple figure, without any of that exertion inseparable from European dances as exhibited before public audiences, She occasionally turns quickly round, by which the loose folds of her thin petticoat are expanded, and the heavy, silk border with which it is trimmed opens into a circle round her, showing for an instant the beautiful outline of her form, draped with the most becoming and judicious taste. Although in description the perfections of this style of dancing may appear but negative, their effects are, nevertheless, positive upon the beholder. The ornaments worn by these women are often of considerable value. Their throats are usually encircled with several necklaces, sometimes composed of pearls, sometimes of gold curiously wrought. A large jewel hangs from the right nostril, suspended by a plain, gold ring. On the forehead, just between the eyebrows, they always wear an ornament, which has, no doubt, given rise to the Sevigné now almost universally worn by European ladies. The most unpleasant part of the nautch is the dissonant music with which it is accompanied, and in which the dancers themselves every now and then join with voices as shrill and unmusical as the note of the peacock.

BURYING ALIVE.

It is the custom, when a woman of the weaver caste sacrifices herself to the manes of her husband, to descend with his body alive into the grave, which is dug near some sacred river; but if the parties dwell at a distance from any holy stream, then the grave is prepared near the most sacred spot in the vicinity. It is dug very deep and large; and, after a number of initiatory rites, as unintelligible as they are fantastical, the widow takes a formal leave of her friends, who are always present upon these melancholy occasions, and descends into the chamber of death. It frequently happens that she is so stupified with opium as to be scarcely conscious of what she is about, but goes through the necessary forms with mere mechanical insensibility. As soon as she reaches the bottom of the pit, to which she descends by a rude ladder, the latter is withdrawn, and she is left alone with the body of her deceased husband, generally in a revolting state of decay this she embraces, clasping it to her bosom without the slightest expression of

disturbance at the effluvia it emifs. Having finished her disgusting caresses, she places it upon her lap, and gives the signal for the last act of this shocking scene to commence, which is even more dreadful than immola. tion upon the funeral pile. The earth is now deliberately thrown upon her, while two persons descend into the grave to trample it tightly round the self-devoted sacrificant. During this tardy but terrible process, the doomed woman sits an unconcerned spectator, occasionally caressing the corpse, and looking with an expression of almost sublime triumph, as the earth embraces her body, at the anticipated honours which await her in the paradise of her god. The hands of her own children are perhaps at that very moment heaping around her the cold dust into which she is so soon to be resolved. At length, all but her head is covered, when the pit is hurriedly filled in, and her nearest relatives dance over her inhumed body with those frantic gestures which, whether they betoken ecstacy or madness, it is difficult on witnessing them to decide.

THE TIGER HUNT. (See the Engraving.)

During our stay at Madura, we joined a party of sportsmen in pursuit of small game in a jungle about six or seven miles' distance. The officers of the garrison made up the party, in order to give us some idea of the sport which the neighbourhood afforded, and we started soon after daylight for the jungle. Several natives of rank, belonging to the Nawaub of Arcot's court, joined us on their elephants; while ours were hired from a sort of jobbing merchant in the town, who was accustomed to lend them by the day for a tolerably extravagant remuneration. The ride before we came to the place where we had agreed to meet the native sportsmen who were to join us was extremely pleasant. The morning was fresh, and the face of the country beautiful, rising gradually as we advanced, and at every turn of the road opening before us into an extensive view of the distant plains which sloped towards the coast, and then swelled into lofty hills towards Cape Comorin. The elephants moved on at a brisk pace, and we were at the ground before the sun was much above the horizon. At first we found the jungles so inconveniently thick, that I began to fear we should lose all chance of obtaining a haunch of venison or the chiue of a wild hog, both of which we expected to secure, as there were several of our party who were reputed excellent shots.

We threaded the forest for some time, but neither hog nor deer was roused. As we advanced, and the elephant on which I rode was making its way through a thick tuft of jungle-grass, out started seven or eight little pigs, squeaking and running in all directions between the elephant's legs, preceded by the

mother, which escaped into the thicket before any of the party had time to take a deliberate aim at her. Her little family expeditiously followed her, except one, upon which the elephant had trodden in their first unexpected eruption, and crushed every bone in its skin. The underwood was too close and tangled to attempt pursuing the mother of the brood; we therefore took the more practicable part of the jungle, which soon opened into a large space comparatively clear of wood. Upon one side there was an abrupt ascent thinly scattered with trees, and on the top were a few native huts, composing a small picturesque hamlet in the heart of an extensive forest. While the beaters were in the thicket shouting to scare the game into the open vista, an old elephant upon which one of the officers rode, accompanied by a wealthy na. tive, was seen to fix its eye upon a spot where there was a tolerably thick growth of high grass and underwood. In a short time something was seen to move on this spot, when the elephant, cautiously retreating, forced its body among the bushes of a thorny tree which grew with great luxuriance just on the edge of the vista. A moment after, springing violently forward, its riders were dismounted by the shock, and lodged, together with the Mahoot, among the boughs of the prickly canopy. The sagacious creature having reached the place whence it had previously retreated. with a sudden, sharp cry plunged its head into the grass. In a few minutes it raised itself; a tiger crawled from the covert, and lay panting against a bank with two terrific wounds through its body. The elephant, now seeing that no further danger was to be apprehended, went back to the tree, thrust its body among the branches as before, allowed its disconcerted riders to remount, then advanced once more towards its dying enemy, and repeated the infliction; at the same moment a shikarry terminated the tiger's sufferings by shooting it through the head. Having skinned the beautiful beast, we returned with this trophy of our success, and with several fine deer, which we had the good fortune to encounter on our way. Thus, upon the whole, we had reason to be satisfied with our day's sport.

JEWS AT BOMBAY.

The scene upon the esplanade during our stay was usually animated, and frequently reminded us of a far disant, but far dearer land. The cadets, who lived in a small inclosed encampment without the fort, used to play at cricket every afternoon towards sunset, and the game was often contested with great spirit and skill. One morning a Jew ventured within the inclosure occupied by these young men, and offered for sale some bottles

of atar of roses. He had already presented himself at the door of my tent, showing me

his perfume as an extraordinary bargain; and I had purchased a small bottle from him for which I paid him a rupee, a very trifling sum considering the value of the perfume. He, however, stated, that having obtained it from an Arab ship wrecked near Cochin, he was enabled to sell it for a mere trifle. I had not the slightest suspicion that I was not purchasing genuine atar, though I was dealing with a Jew. Shortly after he left me I opened the bottle and found in it nothing but cocoa-nut oil, the cork having been scented to disguise the imposture.

The Jews at Bombay are just as practised in deceptions of this kind and in the art of chaffering as their brethren of Rosemary-lane or Monmouth-street in the other hemisphere. In the present instance, the imposter did not escape with impunity; for the moment he had sold one bottle within the cadet encampment, it was opened, and the deception detected. A hue and cry was instantly raised, and the Jew seized by a dozen strong, young men just fresh from Europe. He was tried upon the spot by a sort of drum-head courtmartial, and unanimously sentenced to be tossed in a blanket. He petitioned loudly to be released, fell upon his knees, shed tears, poked his broad forehead into the palm of his hand, and supplicated with abject entreaties that he might be allowed to depart. When asked to return the money for his counterfeit perfume, he solemnly swore he was the most ill-used man in the world, as the Sahibs had taken his oil but forgotten to pay him for it. He would rather have parted with his heart's blood than with the rupees.

No blanket being at hand, as such a thing is not commonly used in that warm country, a carpet was taken up from one of the tents, the Jew tumbled into it neck over heels, and the next moment he was tossed as if from a bull's horns by the hearty exertions of eighteen youths, who felt they were administering summary justice upon a scoundrel who had been guilty of a daring and audacious fraud. It was ridiculous to see the unhappy Jew darting into the air, sometimes with his head uppermost, at others with his feet,—now describing a broken arch, then so many crooked lines, and roaring all the while like a gored ox. This well-deserved punishment was continued for about five minutes; he was then rolled out of the carpet, without having sustained the slightest injury. No sooner did he feel the ground, than he was on his legs in an instant, and darted from the scene of his disgrace with the agility of a greyhound.

excellence as in previous years: the freighted [The binding is of the same characteristic elephant, the serpents, and the cocoa-nut-tree bearing the label, are ingeniously designed.]

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