Our author relates an instance of one of these travelling priests being detained by a mother to confer baptism on her son; who was fetched from the fields, and proved to be not an infant,

but a lad of thirteen.

Mr. Koster does not forget the Indians: his character of them differs little from what is already well known: The Indian seems to be without energy or exertion; devoid of great good or great evil. Much may at the same time be said in their favour; they have been unjustly dealt with, they have been trampled upon and afterwards treated as children; they have been always subjected to those who consider themselves their superiors, and this desire to govern them has even been carried to the directions of their domestic arrangements. But no,-if they are a race of acute beings, capable of energy, of being deeply interested upon any subject, they would do more than they have doue. The priesthood is open to them, but they do not take advantage of it.* I never saw an Indian mechanic in any of the towns; there is no instance of a wealthy Indian; | rich mulattos and negroes are by no means rare. I have had many dealings with them as guides and carriers, and subsequently as labourers, and have no reason to complain, for I was never injured by any of them; but neither did I receive any par ticular good service, excepting in the instauce of Julio. For guides and carriers they are well adapted, as their usual habits lead them to the rambling life which these employments encourage. As labourers, I found that they had usually a great inclination to over-reach; but their schemes were badly made, and consequently easily discovered. I never could depend upon them for any length of time, and to advance money or cloathing to them is a certain loss. If I had any labour which was to be performed by a given time, the overseer would always reckon upon his mulatto and negro free people; but did not mention in the list of persons who were to work, any of the Indians whom I was then employing, and on my speaking of them, he answered" an Indian is only to be meutioned for the present day," meaning that no reliance is to be placed upon them.

The Negroes seem to be esteemed a superior race; and it frequently hap

I heard from good authority, that there are two instances of Indians having been ordained as secular priests, and that both these individuals died from excessive drinking.

pens that they obtain their liberty on easy terms; a kind of merit is attached to their gradual and eventual manumission. Of this Mr. K. relates an instance.

This estate was not much worked; the slaves led a most easy life, and the Great flouse was full of young children. Of these urchins several came in and out of the room, they were quite naked, and played with each other, and with some large dogs which were lying at full length upon the floor. These ebon cupids were plainly great favourites, and seemed to employ the greater part of the thoughts of the good ladies, the youngest of whom was ou the wrong side of fifty; and even the These priest laughed at their gambols. excellent women and the good priest possess a considerable number of slaves, who are their exclusive property. It is their intention eventually to emancipate all of them, and that they may be prepared for the change, several of the men have been brought up as mechanics of different descriptions; and the women have been taught needle-work, embroidery, and all branches of culinary knowledge. Thus, by the death of four individuals, who are now approaching to old age, will be set free about sixty persons, men, women, and children. As these people have been made acquainted with the intentions of their owners respecting them,, it is not surprising that the behaviour of many of them should be overbearing. To some, the deeds of manumission have been already passed conditionally, obliging them to serve as slaves until the death of the individual to whom they are subject. These papers cannot be revoked, and yet no ingratitude was feared; but among so considerable a num ber of persons, sonie instances of it cannot, I fear, fail to be experienced. The owners said that all their own immediate relations are rich, and not at all in need of assistance; and that therefore independent of other reasous connected generally with the system of slavery, these their children had no right to work for any one else. Of the slaves in question, only a few are Africans, the major part being mulattoes and creole negroes.

Where employment is wanting, the mind not unfrequently turns to religion, and what passes for religion, by way of amusement. Hence, perhaps, the processions, shews, and other diversions, which attract crowds in countries, understood to be but thinly peopled. The

inhabitants have nothing to do, and one sight is as good as another. Their time has no value: they cannot lose by indulging their dispositions to enjoy themselves, and seeing the world, as it appears around them.

being on each side of it; and the leader of the chorus sits at the back of the stage with a guitar, with which he keeps the time, and this person is sometimes assisted by a the occasion; and when the performers second guitar player. A ship is made for stepped on to the platform, the vessel apAs an instance of one of these reli-peared at a distance under full sail, coming gious! spectacles, we quote part of an entertainment given toward the end of November, on occasion of the festival of our Lady of Conception. We are to consider the whole town, as being in gala for nine evenings successively: the colours hoisted, the bon-fires blazing, the houses illuminated with lamps (made of half the rind of an orange, each containing a small quantity of oil and cotton), large crosses were also lighted up in the square: music violins and violoncellos playing, band after band, and, in short, all possible gaiety in all possible variety of forms. "I was praised, says our author, for my supe rior piety, in giving so splendid a night in honour of our Lady."

towards us upon wheels, which were concealed. As soon as the ship arrived near to the stage it stopped, and the perform ance.commenced. The men and boys who were to sing and to dance, were dressed in white jackets and trowsers; they had ribbons tied round their ancles and paper caps, painted of various colours. armis, and upon their heads they wore long The guitar player commenced with one of the favourite airs of the country, and the chorus followed him, dancing at the same time. The number of voices being considerable, and the evening extremely calm, the open air was rather advantageous than the contrary. The scene was striking, for the bonfires threw sufficient light to allow of our sceing the persons of the performers distinctly; but all beyond was dark, and

they seemed to be inclosed by a spacious dome; the crowd of persons who were near to the stage was great, and as the fires were stirred and the flame became brighter, more persons were seen beyond on every side; and at intervals the horses which were standing still farther off, waiting for their masters.

On the following morning every arrangement was made for the fandangos. A spacious platform was erected, in the middle of the area of the town, and in front of the vicar's dwelling, raised about three feet from the ground. In the evening four bonfires were lighted, two being on each side of the stage, and soon afterwards the per- When the chorus retired, the captain formers made their appearance. The story and other superior officers came forward, which forms the basis of this amusement is and a long and serious couversation ensued invariably the same; the parts however, upon the state of the ship and the weather. are not written, and are to be supplied by These actors were dressed in old uniforms the actors; but these from practice, know of the irregular troops of the country. more or less what they are to say. The They were succeeded by the boatswain scene is a ship at sea, which, during part of | and the two clowns; the former gave his the time is sailing regularly and gently orders, to which the two latter made so many along; but in the latter part of the voyage objections that the officer was provoked to she is in distress. The cause of the bad-strike one of them, and much coarse wit ness of the weather remains for a long time unknown; but at last the persons who are on board discover that it has arisen from the devil, who is in the ship, under the disguise of the mizen-topmast The persons represented, are

man.

The Captain,

The Pilot or Mate,
The Boatswain,

The Master,

The Chaplain,

The Raçam, or distributor

of the Rations,

Two clowns;

passed between the three. Soon after-
wards came the chaplain in his gown, and
his breviary in his hand; and he was as
much the butt of the clowns, as they were
of the rest of the performers. The most
scurrilous language was used by them to
him; he was abused, and was taxed with
almost every irregularity possible. The
jokes became at last so very indecent, as
to make the vicar order his doors to be
shut. The dancers came
on at each
change of scene, if I may so say. I went
home soon after the vicar's doors were

The Gageno da Gata, or mizen-topmast-clo-ed, and did not see the conclusion; but man, alus the Devil.

Twelve men and boys, who are dancers and singers, stand on the stage, six of them

the matter ended by throwing the devil overboard, and reaching the port in safety. The performers do not expect payment,

but rather consider themselves compli- | fowling-piece, and fired, whilst the dog mented in being sent for. They were started up, and darted towards the spot. A tradesmen of several descriptions residing jaguar rushed out, and made off; it had at Pasmado, and they attend on these occa- been partly concealed under the roek, sions to act the fandangos, if requested so which, with the dazzle of the fire had preto do; but if not, many of them would vented its body from being seen; it had most probably go to enjoy any other sport crouched, and was ready for a spring, which the festival might afford. We paid when every thing was quiet, and unpretheir expences, and gave them their food pared. during their stay; they were accompanied by their families, which were all treated in the same manner, to the number of about forty persons.

Mr. Koster himself was in danger from Jaguars; and supposed, that if he had not lost any of his men, he had, at least, lost his horses; but the wild cattle proved more tempting, and after long search he recovered his cavalry. But, not the deserts only, nor wild beasts of strength and size, are among the euemies of man; at home he is visited by a class of insects, which being more persevering, as well as insidious, teaze and molest him. Mr. Koster describes at length, the species of ants which destroy and devour the labours of human industry. This pest of the tro

Now what religion there is in all this, the reader is at liberty to guess; and how far it can be an acceptable service to our Lady of Conception, supposing she thinks proper to take any part in beholding it. Such, however, are the amusements exhibited to the people under the mask of religion: can it be wondered at that real godliness is a stranger here? The Friars, and other professors of religion, are in the utmost ill-repute, and Mr. K. describes a no-pical climates is unknown among us; vice entering on a religious profession, as a Franciscan, amid the scoffs and jeers of a whole congregation.

but those who have been in India, or have perused any of the late publications, respecting that country, well know what plagues the ants are.

If we should transcribe our author's accounts of their exploits, by which not only roofs of houses, beams of timber, and other solid substances were consum

Mr. Koster has not been an inattententive observer of Natural History.We conjecture, indeed, that some acquaintance with this science is absolutely necessary. An Englishman accustomed to the safeties of his own country, would be completely taken by surprize, by an incident like the follow-pass for fabulous, were it not beyond ing, which certainly is not singular in

the deserts of Pernambuco.

ed, but houses themselves were undermined and endangered, it might almost

They also destroy growing vegetables;, all possibility of doubt or hesitation.

and recourse must be had to a "bonfire" Our friend, the saddler, among other of leaves, in order to expel them. The stories, mentioned having passed over the different species of ants (black and same ground which we had traversed from red) are enemies to each other;-the St. Luzia, only a short time before us. He black is sought after, and encouraged was in company with another man and a to build upon orange and other fruit boy, and had also a dog with him; they trees, which are liable to destruction bad put up for the night under shelter of one of the rocks, in the vicinity of the from the large red ant: and they effeclake of which I have spoken. His com-tually defend their appointed posts, if time panion had taken the horses to some little distance to graze; the boy and the dog remained with him; he had made a fire, and was in the act of preparing some dried meat to be cooked, when the boy called out "where is the dog?"-the man answered "here he is, why what is the matter?" the boy said, "what eyes, then, are those?" pointing, at the same time, to the corner of the rock; the man looked, and saw the eyes, for nothing else was to be seen; he called to the dog, took up his

has been allowed for their numbers to be equal to the task. They sometimes also attack the citadels of the red ants, and the field of battle is covered with the slain of both parties; but chiefly of the red.

Treacle is offensive to these creatures, and disturbs their operations. Some kinds of timber are more acceptable to them thau others. The choice of timber in building a house is therefore of the

utmost importance to the duration of the building. We have already said that fire of smoking leaves (or brimstone) is the most effectual remedy known, against the increase of these insects: not the all die; but that the colony, generally speaking, becomes stupified, and may easily be destroyed.

A curious incident occurred to our author, while engaged on one of these slaughtering expeditions.

The vegetable tribes did not escape our Author: His Appendix is chiefly formed from a Dissertation on the plants of Brazil from which fibrous substances may be obtained, adapted to various uses in Society, and to supply the place of hemp, by Dr. Manoel Arruda da Camara, published at Rio Jaueiro in 1810, This, certainly, is not the least valuable part of the work; and it raises a wish that Dr. Camara's original were better known among us. But, what can be expected from a work published in a province so distant, and which only finds its way to Europe in a few copies as presents? Mr. K. has done a service by the Specimen he translates.

In laying open the aut-hill which I have above-mentioned, we discovered a couple of the cobras de duas cabeças, or two-headed saakes or worms; each of them was rolled up in one of the nests. These snakes are about eighteen inches in length, and about the thickness of the little finger of a child of four or five years of age. Both extreWe do not mean to infer, that Mr. K. mities of the snake appear to be exactly si-has not valuable remarks which origimilar to each other; and when the rep-nated from personal reflection and obtile is touched, both of these are raised, and servation. We suspect, that the French form a circle or hoop to strike that which have long meditated the acquisition of has molested it. They appear to be per- the useful as well as the curious trees fectly blind, for they never alter their which are afforded by various parts of course to avoid any object until they come in contact with it, and then without turn-Wax-tree, &c. and among others, we prethe Globe; as the Tallow-tree, the ing about they crawl away in an opposite direction. The colour is grey inclining to sume; for we do not speak from our white, and they are said to be venomous. own knowledge-the Soap-tree. Our This species of snake is often found in ant-Author gives this account of what he hills, and I have likewise killed them in my observed, respecting this tree. house; they frequent dung-hills and places in which vegetable matter has been allowed to remain for a length of time unremoved.

being small and growing very close to each the size of a sinal plum; when this is put other. The receptacle of the seed is about into water, and rubbed with some violence, it produces the same effect as that which is caused by soap in water, and it has the same property of cleansing.

I had frequently seen the saboeiro or soap tree, which is to be chiefly found in these districts. It is a large shrub, which puts forth numerous branches in every di We desire better acquaintance with rection, so that when it is in full leaf, it has the manners of this snake; and its spe- somewhat the appearance of trees that have cies: Mr. K. describes these as grey been clipped, (as was formerly practised in inclining to white; others, we believe,gardens,) which is increased by the leaves ave found of a beautiful piuk colour, and probably there are other varieties. Dissection would shew whether these snakes have really two heads; and if two heads, two orifices for receiving food, two stomachs to contain and digest it, and what is more wonderful, Now, we could have been glad had still, two sets of bowels, or two means Mr. K. stated the results of any experi of access to the same system of bowels, ments made by him, with this conve for distributing the nourishment afforded nient vegetable. Does it render linen and prepared, over the whole body-white? Does it keep linen white, which It has been objected to the figure of the Centaur, half man half horse, that his internal structure violated all the rules of anatomy; he must have two sets of lungs, two hearts, two stomachs, &c.; have these double-headed snakes, really all these, in consequence of having two heads?

has been already bleached? Above all, does it preserve cotton goods from that dingy hue, which after a while they are almost inevitably doomed to assume? In that case, it would prove invaluable to our economical dames, and the man who introduced it would deserve to be

mentioned with universal and perpetual | from the mind of the sex than cherished honour. -as it must be, in order to do it justice in description.

Our readers will perceive, that this Volume is the genuine fruit of observation. It does not contain Travels throughout Brazil; but, the writer fairly records what he saw and experienced. It is a faithful picture of the people, the country, its productions, its advantages, and its disadvantages. There are several coloured plates inserted, some of which display novel scenes and effect. The Author's journies should have been marked on the map, which is imperfect without them.

Margaret of Anjou. A Poem, in Ten Cantos. By Miss Holford. 4to. Price £2 2s. Murray. London.

1816.

It is then to the honour of Miss Holford, if we consider her as having failed in the Poem before us, so far as it relates to military affairs. A few phrases thrown in on the parts of the casque, or the action of the beaver, are very distinct from that intimate familiarity with the Article itself, which would qualify a writer to introduce allusions gracefully, or to gain credit equally for ease as for accuracy. Should we add, that the savage barbarity of those manners, which anciently sought refuge from the law in the recesses of our extensive woods, cannot be conceived of, cannot be felt, by a' modern lady of polite education, we should but approach the truth, as in the IT is difficult to thwart the intention present instance. Alas! for the poets' of nature. Whatever is decidedly fixed of modern times, who need a robber, or by her appointment, is with difficulty deer-stealer, or moss-trooper, of ancient counteracted, and never gracefully. It days. The woods and hiding places is difficult to bring the mind into a train are destroyed: the deer are emparked, of thinking on subjects not naturally and protected daily and nightly the suited to its disposition and genuine bordering lands are lost-undistinguishcharacter. It is still more difficult to able through lapse of time, and were qualify the mind to describe actions it not a few historical ballads extant, by never saw, with inventions, implements, which the memory of certain exploits manners, to which it is an utter stran- have been preserved, the exploits themger, and has a natural aversion. It is selves, with the men who performed true we read of Amazons in ancient them, would be as absolutely unknown story; but it is also true, that by exci- as the ages before the flood. The nearsion of the right breast, they were unest approach of modern days, or rather sexed, they were denaturalized, as the nights, to the worthies alluded to, are fashionable mode of forming privatives the Poachers of our times; but, what would now express it, they were dis- would Miss Holford say to the imputaqualified from performing offices to tion of keeping company with Poachwhich they were destined by nature,ers? Now, if she cannot adequately deoffices of affection, in order to enable them to perform exploits never intended to come under their notice. The Poets have been sparing of their heroines, their Camillas, their Clorindas, and they have armed them rather with the lighter weapons of the bow and arrows, then with the heavier maces of men at arms. The clank of rattling armour as it formerly echoed whenever a knight trod, should have no charms for ladies fair, and the bloody scenes of battle and murder, and military execution, destruction of families, burning of towns, with all the horrors of war, especially of civil war, should rather be banished

VOL. V. No. 28. Lit. Pan. N. §. Jan. 1.

scribe a modern Poacher, whom she may see and converse with, can we wonder if her features fail of depicting an ancient robber?

The Knights of this Poem profess too great a share of the manners of gentlemen, to convince us that they lived in the midst of civil war-the most savage of all war-the ferocity of their character is softened. The argument of blood, which during the struggle between the roses, is the most cruel of any part of our history, is moderated, softened, abated; not so; it could not be. The barbarity of the period was exces sive; and each party, as it alternately

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