scure disc of the moon increased. We observed in it a few of those rectilinear rays, brighter than the rest, which have been compared with those which make up the glories of saints.' What surprised us most, however, was the difference of brilliancy which was observable in different parts of the crown. In the middle of the southeast region of the lunar disc, over an extent of at least 45 degrees, there appeared a beautiful sheaf of diverging curvilinear rays, the two last of which intercepted between their opposite curves, a spot where the light was much less intense than in any other part of the ring. Beyond this, on each side, a diffused, uniform light extended to the northeast region, near the middle of which appeared a large cone of converging luminous rays, more brilliant than the surrounding parts.

"The interior surface of the disc of the moon was of uniform obscurity, but not so intense that we could not easily observe upon it the micrometic lines of the spy-glass. We did not see on the surface of the moon any of those winding and moving flashes which were noticed in 1715 by Louville and Halley. One of us, however, distinctly saw the sudden appearance, about the middle of the total eclipse, of a brilliant point, surrounded with a bright circular scintillation. It remained fixed in the lower part of the south-southeast region, a little to the left of the vertical diameter, near the circumference of the disc, and did not disappear till just before the end of the total eclipse. Was it not the same as that observed by Ulloa, which that Spanish Admiral attributed to a long opening passing through the globe of the moon so as to give passage to the light of the sun, when masked by our satellite? Might not this light be the effect of a lunar volcano, the eruption of which precisely coincided with the moment of the eclipse, or may it not be rather attributed to the solar rays, which, reflected by a limited extent of the terrestrial waters, might have been thus concentrated on a portion of the moon's surface, to be sent back to us by a new reflection? Thus much is certain, that it did not appear to us, as to Ulloa, in the northwest region, but in one almost diametrically opposite.

"The most remarkable and unexpected phenomenon, however, which the luminous ring presented during the total eclipse, was this:

"On the upper edge of the lunar disc, extending from the vertical diameter towards the west, was an appearance as if of mountains of fire, with a perpendicular ascent on their left sides, but sloping down with sharp and broken points on the opposite side. There were three very distinct ones in this quarter, of which the first, which was the highest, had an elevation equal to one twelfth of the apparent diameter of the A little further to the right, several undulating elevations were seen on the circumference of the disc, but none so high as these. They were less distinctly marked, but quite as brilliant. Two similar peaks, lower than those of the upper side, with their sides sloping in the same direction, were shining at the same time, one on the right side, a little below the horizontal diameter, the other on the left, a little above this diameter. That on the left side was the first that we noticed.

moon.

"Words fail us to give an exact idea of these fiery mountains. They were like rocks of melted crystal, of a pale rose color, seeming to have a

sort of transparency, and shining with a calm light, without sparkling. Their forms were perfectly distinct, the edges sharply and clearly marked. They preserved throughout the same forms, the same positions, and exhibited no changes, excepting that the peaks on the upper part appeared to grow larger as the total eclipse approached its end. They enlarged, not like a body which is itself elongating, or changing its form, but as if they were elevations, of which the summits and middle parts only were at first perceptible, the bases becoming gradually visible as the veil which had covered them sunk slowly down.

"This magnificent spectacle lasted to the end of the solar eclipse. When the sun moved from behind the obscure disc of our satellite, the first ray of light appeared with a brilliant flash, much more intense than the last ray before the total occultation. At this moment, but not till then, the luminous ring which surrounded the moon, and the glowing peaks which appeared on a part of its circumference, were suddenly overpowered in the fires of the orb of day."

This last, very singular phenomenon, of course opens a wide field for speculation. The very rare occurrence of a total eclipse is the only time when it can be observed, as the epoch of such a recurrence is the only time when observations can be made on some of the facts involved in it. Messrs. Pinaud and Boisgiraud, the observers, risk the following suggestions in the memoir from which we have quoted:

"A question of great interest here presents itself. What are these peaks, these mountains of fire? It cannot be supposed that they are the mountains in the moon, for as their obscure side was turned towards the earth, they would have appeared opaque and dark. Besides, the edges of the lunar disc have never exhibited asperities of such great size. It was no phenomenon arising from refraction, or any other influence affecting the rays of light: the perfect quiescence of these luminous bodies, the sharpness of their edges, the irregularity of their position around the disc of the moon, forbid such a supposition, which, indeed, cannot be justified by any known physical phenomena.

"If these bodies did not belong to the moon; if they were not appearances produced by the eclipse itself; the most natural hypothesis is that which places them in the sun.

"This supposition is so new, that we hazard it with great hesitation. It is not, however, impossible; for we may suppose that these solar mountains, if they exist, are only a small fraction of the whole mass of the sun, and send to the earth a light incomparably less than that emitted from the whole globe. On this supposition they would necessarily disappear in the brilliant light which comes to us from its disc, particularly when that light is dimmed by the interposition of dark glasses. We may here observe, that these fiery mountains, as well as the luminous ring in which they were enveloped, were entirely invisible when searched for with a telescope fitted with a colored glass. They could only be seen through instruments with transparent glasses. We will add, that the perceptible increase in height, which we noticed in the peaks on the upper side, accorded, in our opinion, with the gradual progress of the moon before the sun."

THE KHOUDS, IN INDIA.

THE late London journals have given some account of a race of people in India, professing a peculiar religious faith, hitherto little known; namely, the Khouds. One of these papers gives the following account of this singular form of superstition. It purports to be founded on the report of an officer, Lieutenant Macpherson, who was deputed by the government for the purpose of observing the peculiarities of this people. This inquiry was set on foot for the ultimate purpose of abolishing the practice of human sacrifice, to which the race is inveterately addicted. These Khouds, it seems, occupy the mountainous region of the Gangam and Cuttack districts, and have maintained their independence amid every change of dynasty in India, while at the same time they are connected with the Hindoo Zemindarees in their vicinity, to whom they render a sort of allegiance, promising them military aid. The patriarch of each tribe attends at stated periods on a Hindoo Rajah, and receives from him a dress of honor. This sort of investiture does not appear consistent with their attribute of freedom, but they seem to set off one homage against another, since they send to the Zemindars a similar robe of homage on their accession to their estates. The government of the Khouds is entirely patriarchal, and the patriarch of each tribe is chosen from the members of a particular family. He is scarcely a ruler, nor is he particularly distinguished from the rest in any other respect than being a kind of head man in a village. There is, however, a federal patriarch of all the tribes in one district, who, while he is paramount over the rest, is at the same time an agent of the Zemindars. All the Khouds are allodial proprietors of the soil, both renters and hired laborers being unknown among them. They conduct their agricultural operations with great skill, and they are honorably distinguished for their hospitality. Their villages cannot be entered without an invitation, but when a stranger is invited, he remains as long as he pleases, and cannot be turned away. Indeed, life and honor are pledged for the safety of a guest, who is considered even before a child. Their fidelity to their engagements is also remarkable, and to bind themselves by an oath, they swear upon the skin of a tiger. So far, the race appears virtuous enough; but it is the prevalence of human sacrifice, not from motives of vengeance, but from purely religious grounds, that renders them an object of attention. According to their theology, the "Bera Pennoo," or Earth-god, holds the preeminence among the national deities. The earth having originally been an unstable mass, unfit for cultivation, this Earthgod ordered that human blood should be spilled before him. The soil then became firm and productive, and the deity of the Khouds commanded the repetition of the sacrifice as necessary to existence. Carrying out the principles of this creed, the Khoud thinks that every field must be enriched with human blood when the principal crops are sowed; another oblation of the same kind is required at harvest time; and in case of any incidental calamity, such as an epidemic disorder, an attack of wild beasts, &c., the wrath of the Earth-god must be appeased by this

barbarous sacrifice. The victims are Hindoos purchased for the purpose, and are treated as sacred persons till their time for immolation comes, when amid the most elaborate ceremonies they are torn to pieces, yet living, by the crowd. To stop these barbarous proceedings the government of India feels that it is morally bound, but the means of effecting the desired reformation are not at all obvious, as the Khouds consider the sacrifice as absolutely necessary to their existence, and would struggle hard to maintain it, while they are scattered over so wide an expanse of country, and the climate is so unwholesome, that military occupation would be almost impossible.

REAL PROPERTY IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

ACCORDING to a return made to an order of the House of Commons last session, it appears that the total annual value of real property assessed to the poor-rates in England is 59,685,4127.; of which 30,448,9917. consisted of landed property, 22,991,4727. of dwelling-houses, and 6,244,9407. of all other kinds of property.

Middlesex, although the smallest county but one, namely, Rutland, comprising as it does the greater part of London, is, as might be expected, the richest county of the kingdom; its total annual value of real property assessed amounting to no less than 7,293,3697. This sum is thus distributed Landed property, 304,6537.; dwelling-houses, 6,680,2021. ; all other kinds of property, 308,5147.

Yorkshire ranks next to Middlesex in point of wealth, its total annual value of assessed property being 5,448,4947., distributed as follows: Landed property, 3,865,4967.; dwelling-houses, 1,817,7397.; all other kinds of property, 575,2591.

Lancashire comes next. The total annual value of real property assessed in the county of Lancashire is 5,266,6067., made up as follows: Landed property, 1,402,208.; dwelling-houses, 2,449,1967.; all other kinds of property, 1,415,2027.

Rutland, as it is the smallest, so is it also the least wealthy county; its total annual value of real property being only 119,1347., composed as follows: Landed property, 106,1197.; dwelling-houses, 9,1047.; all other kinds of property, 3,9117.

Westmoreland is the next least wealthy county; the total annual value of its real property assessed being 266,3357.; made up of real property, 221,0547.; dwelling-houses, 37,3741.; all other kinds of property, 7,9077.

Huntingdon is next, the total annual value of its real property assessed being 317,7187., made up as follows: Landed property, 236,633l. ; dwelling-houses, 71,2217.; all other kinds of property, 9,8647.

The sum levied for poor-rates in England for the year ending Ladyday, 1841, was 6,009,5647. The rate in the pound on the annual value of real property assessed in 1841 was, for the whole of England, 2s.

It is a circumstance worthy of notice, that the rates are highest in those parts of the country which we are not accustomed to refer to as the most distressed. The highest rated county is Wilts, in which the rate amounts to 3s. in the pound. In Sussex the rate is only one penny in the pound less than in Wiltshire, namely, 2s. 11d. In Buckinghamshire, Suffolk, and Surrey, the rate is 2s. 9d. in the pound; in Essex, Dorset, Gloucester, and Southampton, it is 2s. 8d.; whilst in Yorkshire it is only Is. 11d., and in Lancashire, 1s. 8d.

The rate per head of annual value of real property is, for the whole kingdom, 37. 19s. 7d. The rate per head is highest in Herefordshire, namely, 57. 19s. 1d., and lowest in Cornwall, namely, 27. 13s. 4d. The area of England in English statute acres, is 31,770,615. The average annual value per acre for the whole kingdom is 19s. 2d. Middlesex is the county in which the value reaches the highest point; the average value there is 17. 14s. per acre. In Leicestershire the annual value per acre is 11. 7s., and in Lancashire 11. 5s. The county in which land is of the lowest value is Westmoreland, where the average annual value per acre is only 9s. 1d.; in Northumberland it is 12s. 9d., and in Sussex it is 13s. 6d.

The total annual value of real property in Wales assessed to the poorrates is 2,854,618., of which 2,206,1467. consist of landed property, 394,9297. of dwelling-houses, and 253,5437, of all other kinds of property.

The total sum levied in Wales for poor rates for the year ended Ladyday, 1841, was 342,2647. The average rate in the pound for the whole country is higher than in England, it being 2s. in the latter, and 2s. 5d. in Wales. The poor-rates are highest in Carnarvonshire, namely, 3s. 2d. in the pound, and lowest in Brecon, 1s. 7d.

The area of Wales in English statute acres is 4,752,000. rage annual value per acre for the whole country is 9s. 3d. most valuable in Anglesea, where the average value is 19s.; valuable in Merionethshire, where the average value is 4s. 8d.

The aveLand is and least

THE HOSPITAL OF INVALIDS, OF PARIS.

On the 21st of October, Marshal Oudinot, Duke of Reggio, was appointed Governor of the Hospital of Invalids, which has been for some time vacant, in consequence of the death of the Duke of Cornegliano. The officers and residents of this institution are the following, namely: 1 governor, 1 lieutenant-general, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 2 military sub-intendants, 1 head-physician, 1 head-surgeon, 1 head-pharmacien, 1 assistant-surgeon, 3 sub-assistant surgeons, 1 assistant-pharmacien, (aide major,) 5 infirmary-assistants, 25 sisters of charity, and 260 servants of all kinds, I almoner and 2 chaplains, 1 treasurer (archiviste), 1 architect, 1 controller of works, and 1 piqueur of the Ponts