BULL FIGHTS IN SPAIN.

MONG the remains of barbarism in Europe is the

A practice of fighting bulls for public amusement.

On certain days, a sort of theater is erected in the open air, with seats and boxes for the accommodation of a great multitude of spectators, arranged round a spacious plain where the combat is to be exhibited. The bulls intended for the combat are selected and fed for the purpose, as horses are for the races in this country.

2. When the time of exhibition has arrived, the cham pions who are to engage the bulls, first appear, and walk in a kind of procession round the square; then two officers on horseback, dressed in wigs and black robes, gravely advance to the president of the combat, to ask for an order to begin, and the signal is immediately given.

3. A bull is suddenly turned out of an enclosure, and received with loud acclamations, by the populace. At first he is attacked by the horsemen, dressed in the ancient Spanish manner, and armed with lances. With these they wound and proveke him he sometimes attempts to escape -the horsemen pursue and goad him, till grown furious, he turns and fiercely repels their attacks.

4. When the bull flies or falls without much opposition, he is hissed like a bad player on a stage; when he boldly returns the charged threatens the horse or his rider with instant death, ectators redouble their shouts.The utmost joy is set when the enraged animal gores a horse and compets her to seek safety by flight.

5. Sometimes great dogs are let loose upon the bull; these dog's scize him by the neck and ears; the angry bull makes at them with fury, and with his horns throws his enemies, yelping, in the air; they fall stunned and lacerated but quickly return to the charge, and often lay the huge bull bellowing on the ground. If he perishes ignobly, he is hissed as a coward. If he sustains the combat with courage, when he falls, he falls covered with glory, and the air resounds with his praises.

6. When the bull has the good fortune to gore a horse and dismount the rider, he will often pursue him, and impelled by rage, will leap over the fence among the spectators. Then terrible is the alarm, and to avoid his fury, crouds rush on crouds, and pressing to places of safety, trample great numbers under their feet.

7. If the champion does not succeed in killing his antagonist, the poor animal, after being tormented to the satisfaction of the spectators, is slain by a person appointed for the purpose. Cruel as this diversion is, it is one of the most popular entertainments in Spain. The days are appointed, and the names of the combatants are announced previously in the public prints, in the manner the English advertise the horses which are to run for a purse or plate. On each day, six bulls sacrificed constitute the entertainment of the morning, and twelve that of the afternoon.

1.

S

THE MANNER OF FEEDING SHEEP IN SPAIN. PAIN has always been celebrated for the temperature of its climate, and for rearing some of the best animals of particular species. Among these are its sheep, whose wool is the finest of any that is known, and forms a considerable part of the materials of the best French and English broadcloths.

2. But the manner of subsisting the sheep, is a still greater singularity. The sheep are owned by a few great proprietors, and a great company, called the Mesta, composed of the grandees, who have particular privileges.Some of the sheep are kept in stationary flocks-but some millions of them are driven every autumn from the mountainous regions of Old Castile, to winter on the more temperate plains of Andalusia and Estramadura.

3. The number of sheep there driven is from three to five millions; and it is remarkable that the owners have the right of pasturage for these sheep, on every common upon the road, to the distance of ninety varas, or about two hundred and forty feet from the highway. Spain feeds from twelve to fifteen millions of sheep, including travelling and stationary flocks, each of which produces about five pounds of wool on an average. But a considerable part of this wool, instead of giving employment to her own people, is exported to France and England.

1.

Remarkable instance of FASTING, from the Philosophical
Transactions.

N Scotland about forty years ago, lived a woman in
Posting, who subsisted many years almost wholly

without food. When fifteen years of age, she had an epileptic fit and after an interval of four years of health, a

second fit of long duration, which occasioned a fever that lasted for several weeks, and deprived her of the use of her eye-lids.

2. She continued in tolerable health for some years, and then had another fit, which was succeeded by a fever. Before her recovery, she stole out of the house and bound some sheaves of corn in a field, which occasioned an indisposition, that confined her to her bed for five years. During this time she seldom spoke, and took scarcely food enough to sustain an infant, and this not without compulsion.

3. At last she refused every kind of food or drink-her jaw was locked, so that her father could only open her mouth a little, to inject a little water or gruel, and this she appeared not to swallow. At one time they gave her a litthe water from a medicinal spring, which seemed to revive her, and she spoke intelligibly, calling for more water, which was given her.

4. She spoke no more intelligibly for a year, and continued without drink or food-when making some signs, her sister forced her teeth apart, and she drank a pint of water. She then spoke, and on being asked why she did not make signs for what she wanted, she replied, "Why should I, when I have no desire?" It was now supposed she had regained the use of speech, but she soon became silent again.

5. She now continued speechless, and without food or drink for four years-attempts were made to force some liquid into her mouth but it ran out again, and nothing like swallowing could be perceived. Notwithstanding this want of food, she was not greatly emaciated; she slept much, and in sleep was quiet; but when awake made a constant whimpering like an infant, and appeared to have her senses.

6. At length she began to recover, and took a little food and drink; when her parents returning one day from their labors in the field, were surprised to find her setting on her hams, at her mother's wheel, spinning. In this condition she took a little food in this manner--she broke a piece of oatmeal cake in her hand, in small crumbs as persons would to feed chickens, and put these crumbs into an opening made by the loss of two teeth, which had been forced out, in attempting to open her mouth.

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7. After her effort to spin, she became pale and euraM

ciated in her whole body, and her physician advised to keepher confined. In this state she continued for some years, taking a little food every day, but not without extreme re Juctance and even cries. But to the astonishment of all who knew her, she slowly recovered.

1.

ANNUAL FLOOD IN THE NILE.

N Egypt there is no rain in summer, and the fertility

Nile. This great river, which is nearly half a mile in width, has its sources in the mountains of Abyssinia, called mountains of the moon. The rise of its waters is owing to the abundant rains, which fall annually in spring within the tropics.

2. The Nile begins to rise in Egypt about the middle of June or a few days later; the plague, if ever so general and destructive, then ceases suddenly, and joy and health are diffused through Egypt. The water rises till September, then gradually subsides, and in October and November the ground is fit for sowing. The whole rise of water, is from fourteen to eighteen cubits.

3. As the overflowing of this river is essential to the crops in Egypt, and as the river must rise to about sixteen cubits to overflow the cultivated grounds, it is a law of Egypt that no tax or tribute for the Grand Senior can be laid upon the people, unless the water rises to that height. If the flood falls much short of that altitude, a famine follows. If the water rises to eighteen cubits, a scarcity is the consequence, as the ground is not dry in season for sowing. But this seldom happens.

4. The great importance of the annual flood in the Nile, has rendered it necessary to ascertain precisely the rise of the water. Accordingly, on an island opposite to Cairo, is placed a mark, in which is a bason communicating with the Nile. In this stands a pillar, called Mikias, which is a nilometer, on which is marked the exact rise of water every day. After the water has risen six cubits, a cryer is employed to make proclamation daily of the rise of the water.

5. When the river has swelled to sixteen cubits, as marked on the nilometer, the people become liable to pay the public tax, as a good crop is insured. And then is performed the ceremony of cutting the mound of the great mal a Cairo, to let in the water. This is attended with

much solemnity. The bashaw gives the first stroke, in presence of his officers, and a crowd of spectators; and the ceremony is accompanied with music, bonfires, illuminations and every demonstration of joy.

THE

PRESENT STATE OF JERUSALEM.

THE celebrated city of Jerusalem stands about thirty miles east of the Mediterranean, on a rocky mountain, with steep ascents on all sides, except on the north.--It does not occupy the same ground as the ancient city, for the hill of Sion which used to be included, is now without the city, and Mount Calvary, which was formerly without the city, became so much reverenced after the crucifixion of our Savior, as gradually to draw the inhabitants and pilgrims around it, and it is now near the centre of the city.

2. Jerusalem was formerly much larger than at present. It is now about three miles in circumference, inclosed with walls of no great strength, and having six gates. The private buiklings are poor, the streets narrow and crooked, and containing the ruins of ancient edifices. The whole is thinly inhabited, and it contains much uncccupied ground.

3. A Turkish officer resides in the city to collect a tribute, protect the pilgrims, and preserve peace. Great num. bers of pilgrims resort annually to this city, to perform their devotions at the holy sepulcher. This is upon Mount Cálvary, where a church is erected for the accommodation of pilgrims. The Latins have the exclusive right to say mass in the holy sepulcher, but other christians have the privilege of entering it for their private devotions.

4. The sepulcher was formerly under ground, but the rock is hewed away at the sides, so as to leave the sepulcher in the form of a little chapel, above ground. It is a sort of grotto, hewn out of solid rock, about eight feet square, and lined with white marble. The entrance is by an opening of three feet high and two wide. From regard to the sanctity of the place, every person who enters, must be barefooted. In this tomb, lanips are kept continually burning. On the outside, the chapel is surrounded by ten beautiful pillars of white marble, adjoining the wall and sustaining a cor

nish.

5. Jerusalem stands on a rugged, barren soil, remote from any seaport or great road, and is almost destitute of water The present inhabitants are estimated at about fourt