،

habitants of the Highlands alone; most of meet with, they inmediately return to the
the supernatural inhabitants are in some de-light to have an examination of its qualities;
gree partakers in the general happiness. its being large or little, straight or crooked,
With the fairy community, in particular, it is prophetic of the size and shape of its
is an occasion of peculiar grandeur, as the puller's conjugal companion. If any earth
great anniversary on which they are review-adheres to the root, it indicates tocher or
ed by Auld Nick, their nominal chief poten- fortune; and the taste of the custod or
tate, in person; whilst many others of the stem, whether sour or sweet, shows the na-
classes treated of in the foregoing pages re- ture of his disposition.
gard it as a night of no ordinary pomp and
jovialty.

، They go next to the barn-yard, and pull cach a stalk of oats, and, according to the number of grains upon the stalk, the puller will have a corresponding number of children. It may be observed, that it is essential to a female's good fame, that her stalk should have the top grain attached to it.

pearance of that lady who is now before me. Oh, father! does she not strikingly resemble the late partner of your heart; she for whom you so often mourn in secret? Indeed, my son,' replied the father, the resemblance has frequently recurred to me too forcibly. Never were twin sisters more like; and, were not the thing impossible, I should even say she was my dearest departed wife;'-pronouncing her name as he spoke, and also the names of characters nearly connected to both parties. Attracted by the mention of her real name, which she had not heard repeated for a number of years before, and, attracted still more by the nature of their conversation, the lady, on strict examination of the appearance of the strangers, instantly recognised her tender husband and darling son. Natural instinct could be no longer restrained. She threw herself upon her husband's bosom; and Os-vals of war, exhibit in their mutual intersian, the son of Fingal, could not describe in course the marks of personal good will-so, adequate terms the transports of joy that in like manner, those two classes forget for prevailed at the meeting. Suffice it to say, the night all animosity, in their more laudathat the Saxon lady was again restored to ble zeal to contribute to each other's gratifiher aiectionate husband, pure and unble- cation. Nay, stern Satan himself relaxes | nished as when he lost her, and John Roy, for this night his avarice; and, alive to no A person goes privately to Tor-na-ha, gratified by the only reward he would accept other object than the promotion of universal or the kiln-pot, throws into it a clew of blue of-the pleasure of doing good." enjoyments, dispatches showers of his emis- thread, which the person winds into a new saries to the several kiln-pots, peat-stacks, clew. Towards the latter end something and barn-yards in the Highlands, to afford will hold the thread, on which the person deto those adventurers who desire it, a peep mands, "who holds ?" an answer will be reinto the secrets of futurity. turned by the agent below, by naming the Christian name and sirname of the person's future spouse.

'From the sequel of the story, it appears that some of the hordes of fairies, inhabiting the "Shian of Coir-laggack," found it conient, for purposes which may be easily Dessed at, to take a trip to the south of England,and made no scruple to kidnap this lay in the absence of her husband, and on the occasion of her accouchement. A stock

of course, deposited in her steadwhich, of course, died in a few days after and which, of course, was interred in the full persuasion of its being the lady in question, with all the splendour which her merits deserved. Thus would the perfidious fairics have enjoyed the fruits of their cunning, without even a suspicion of their knavery, were it not for the "cleverness and generosity of John Roy, wlio once lived in Glenbrown."'

But we must get out of the nursery. As we are sure that our extracts will show the elegance and interest of Mr. Swart's volume, we shall conclude, for the present at least, with an ac

unt of

'HALLOWE’EN.

FRANCES.

"Ye powers of darkness and of hell, Fropitious to the magic spell, Who rule in silence o'er the night, Be present now." 'Of the whole series of annual festivals, Hallowe'en forms the most important occasion in the Highlands of Scotland. The fascinating round of varied enjoyments the night presents to the young and juvenile the delightful peeps into futurity it affords to the enchanted lover-and the fond recollections it revives in old age-all conspire to render its approach more interesting, and its Celebration more joyful, than any other occasion within the compass of the year. Nor

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On this occasion of universal hilarity, the natural coldness and jealousy which generally subsist between the human species and their supernatural neighbours, are changed into perfect harmony and benevolence. Like two belligerent armies, whose 'An individual goes to the barn, opens hostility towards each other is more the off- both its doors, then takes the instrument spring of public duty than private resent- used in winnowing corn, called a wecht, and ment, and who, therefore, during the inter-goes through all the gestures of letting down corn against the wind. This is repeated three several times, and the third time an apparition will pass through the barn, in at the one door and out at the other, having a retinue emblematical of his or her station in life.

Such a display of seeming benevolence, did it proceed from any other individual than Satan, could not fail to meet with some share of applause. But heads of families, whose opinions are entitled to some respect, have been known to affirm, that Satan's affected generosity on this occasion is nothing but a mere stratagem, for inveigling the more effectually the young and unwary into his vile snares; and that he gets more game by those specious artifices than he could realize by any other means. Hence it is that the anxious parent this night, instead of extolling Satan's generosity, is so intent on magnifying his peridy; and in order the better to dissuade his offspring and family from the dangerous practices of the night, details, without qualification, his numerous

treacheries on similar occasions.

"But those ebullitions of the parent's jealousy of Satan's practices are soon subdued. The big-bellied bottle and bumper glass will have a great ellect in relaxing his heart of its illiberal suspicions. Speedily animated by the conciliating qualities of the “ bartey bree," and softened by the recollection of his own youthful frolics and manly deeds on similar occasions, he no longer regards as a crime those practices which he recently condemned; and the good-natured matron, being happy at her husband's felicity, and averse to chide, they both tacitly connive at the family's indulgence in the customary arts of divination.

- Generally the first spell they try is pulling the stock of kail. Joining hand in hand they go forth to the kail-yard, previously blind-folded, lads, lasses, and children, is the happy influence diffused by Hallow-equally anxious to have their fortunes told een confined to the human class of the in- as their seniors. Pulling the first stock they

'A person steals out unperceived to the peat-stack-sows a handful of hemp-seed, calling out something to the following effect :

"Hemp-seed I saw thee,
Hemp-seed I saw thee,
And he who is my true love
Come after me and pu' thee,"

And, on looking over his shoulder, he sees the apparition of the person invoked, in the attitude of pulling the hemp, which had immediately grown at the magic command. Or, if hemp-seed is not at hand, let the per-son take the floor-besom, which he will ride. in the manner of a witch three times round the peat-stack, and the last time the apparition will appear to him.

They go, one or more, to what is called a dead and licing ford, or, in other words, a ford which has been crossed by a funeral, and observing profound silence, dip the sleeve of their shirt in it. On returning home, they go to bed in sight of a fire, and, lying awake in bed, they will observe an upparition, being an exact similitude of the grand object in question, turn the shirtsleeves, as if to dry the other side.

'An individual goes to a public road, which branches in three several directions, (i. e. the junction of three roads,) bearing with him the cutty or three-legged stool, on which the person seats himself just on the eve of twelve o'clock; and, as the hour strikes, he hears proclaimed the names of the several persons who shall die in the parish before the next anniversary. Nota-If the person carries along with him articles of wearing-apparel, and throws an article away

These and some other out-of-door spells having been tried, the parties return to the dwelling-house to burn the nuts. Burning the nuts is a very popular charm. They name a lad and a lass to each particular nut, as they lay them in the fire, and, accordingly, as they burn quietly, or start from beside one another, so the issue of the courtship will be.

A person takes a candle and goes unattended to a looking glass-eats an apple before it, combing his or her hair all the while, Occasionally holding over the shoulder a table-fork with a piece of the apple upon it, and ultimately the adventurer's conjugal partner will be seen in the glass, in the attitude of taking the proffered piece of apple. These and some other spells of less note, such as dipping for the apple, groping for the clean dish, which are generally known, and, therefore, need not be particularly described, joined to each individual's relation of the sights which he saw on the present and former occasions, together with the reflections they draw froin "narrative old age," bring the well buttered sowans, or more favourite banbrishd upon the table. The sonsie kebbock is roasted at the fire, and fangs cut down from end to end. Brandered bannocks, and every other luxury that can be procured, load the hospitable board. head is bared with solemn reverence, and The welcome guests surround it; the silver the temperate feast, qualified with a few rounds of the Boght le dhu, is as much relished as if it consisted of the most delicious luxuries that crown a monarch's board. But the hours are too happy to remain long; they flee like a shadow, and call the guests to their respective homes. Each swain and damsel now repose themselves on their pillows, full of those tender emotions which the night's amusements excited, and in their midnight slumbers see those objects, whose image they so ardently wished to see in all their comeliness and beauty.'

A Statistical and Commercial History of the Kingdom of Guatemala, in Spanish America; containing important

population in 1778 amounted to no more than 797,214.

Into the details of the respective provinces we shall not follow the author, but give a few passages, selecting such as appear to us to possess the most general interest. Near St. Jago Esquipulas, the principal town in the district of Chiquimula, is the celebrated sanctuary of our Lord of Esquipulas, where there is a more celebrated crucifix:—

'This image was carved at Guatemala, in

on a scientific subject, refused, unless it
was confined within the limits of a single
octavo page. Now we are not so fasti-
dious as to brevity as Sir Joseph, on the
one hand; nor would we, on the other
hand, have prolixity made penal; and
yet we certainly should like many
bulky volumes cut down, ere they were
submitted to our censorship. We do
not make this remark in particular re-
ference to the work before us; though
we certainly think the history of Guate-
mala might have been confined to nar- 1595, by Quirio Catano, an eminent artist,
rower limits: we allude to that general and deposited in the mother-church of Es-
quipulas, where it soon obtained such re-
system of book-making, in which au-
nown by the miracles it vouchsafed to ope-
thors labour more to collect all the in-
rate in behalf of true believers, who duly
formation on any subject, than to con- paid their adorations to it, as to become
dense it. Mr. Baily has, however, famous throughout the whole country, and
done something of this, for, in translat-pious pilgrims came in multitudes to visit
ing the MS. of Don Domingo Juarros, this holy image, not from the provinces of
he has omitted many chapters princi- Guatemala only, but even from New Spain,
pally relating to religion, on which the whither its reputation had extended. The
author, who is a dignitary of the church, 15th of January is the festival of this won-
der-working effigy, and at that period a con-
had dwelt at considerable length.
course of 80,000 persons has been known
to assemble in the town, some attracted by
devotion to assist at the solemnity, and
others by the more worldly inducement of
attending the great fair, which is held about
the same time. As the old parish-church
could not, by any means, accommodate so
ed the inconvenience by erecting the exist
great an influx of visitors, Pedro Pardo de
Figueroa, Archbishop of Guatemala, reliev
ing sumptuous edifice, to which the ashes of
this venerable prelate were tranferred in
1758, with extraordinary solemnity.'

Don Juarros's situation, as secular ecclesiastic and synodal examiner of the archbishopric of Guatemala, gave him access to the records in the department of government, while the exercise of his official duties occasioned him to viafforded him every facility of making sit various parts of the country, which observations upon them; and with these advantages he has been enabled to give correct and interesting information relative to the country.

'It stood nearly in the situation that Santa Cruz now occupies, and it is presumable that the latter was one of its suburbs; it was surrounded by a deep ravine that formed a natural fosse, leaving only two very narrow roads as entrances to the city, both of which were so well defended by the casble. The centre of the city was occupied tle of Resguardo, as to render it impregnaby the houses of the nobility; the extremiby the royal palace, which was surrounded ties were inhabited by the plebeians. The streets were very narrow, but the place was so populous, as to enable the king to draw

Of the magnificence of some of the After a few preliminary observations ancient cities of Mexico, we have a sinon the advantage of history, in the usu-gular picture in the account of the city al style, and which would apply equally of Utatlan, the court of the native Kings well to any other subject, we come to of Quiche :the first chapter, which treats of the kingdom of Guatemala in general. It received its name from the word quanhtemali, which, in the Mexican language, means a decayed log of wood, because the Mexican Indians, who accourt of the Kings of Kachiquel, an old companied Alvarado, found, near the Particulars relative to its Productions, the capital. Guatemala extends from worm-eaten tree, and gave this name to Manufactures, Customs, &c. With an Account of its Conquest by the Spathe 82d to the 95th degree of longitude niards, and a Narrative of the Princi-west of Greenwich; and from the 8th pal Events down to the present time. to the 17th degree of north latitude. It From Original Records in the Arthe most southerly lands of Costa Rica, embraces nine degrees in breadth from chives, actual Observation, and other authentic Sources. By DON DOMINGO to the most northerly part of the province of Chiapa. a native of Guatemala. The whole of the country is an alternation of mountains Translated by J. BAILY, Lieutenant, R. M. Embellished with two Maps. Svo. pp. 520. London, 1823. SIR JOSEPH BANKS, on being requestedby an author, to read a treatise in MS.

JUARROS,

* Twitched cream.

and plains, which causes a diversity of
temperature highly favourable to the
is so fertile as to yield fruits even on
productions of every climate. The soil
the mountains without cultivation, and
the air is generally salubrious, except
on the sea-coast to the northward. The

from it alone, no less than 72,000 combatniards. It contained many very sumptuous ants, to oppose the progress of the Spaedifices, the most superb of them was a seminary, where between 5 and 6000 children were educated; they were all main

tained and provided for at the charge of the royal treasury; their instruction was superintended by 70 masters and professors. The castle of the Atalaya was a remarkable high, was capable of furnishing quarters for structure, which being raised four stories a very strong garrison. The castle of Res guardo was not inferior to the other; it es

tended 188 paces in front, 230 in depth, remarkable calamities that have hap-nity as circumstances admitted of. To perand was five stories high. The grand alca-pened to the city of Guatemala, which zar, or palace of the Kings of Quiche, sur- is commenced by an observation, that passed every other edifice, and in the opi- from the time the first transgressors iron of Torquemada, it could compete in were expelled from Paradise, miseries, opulence with that of Montesuma in Mexi- misfortunes, and calamities, have formco, or that of the incas in Cuzco. The front ed a very prominent part in of this building extended from east to west tory. A few of those calamities we shall record in our journal, without, however, pledging ourselves as to their accuracy :

-

every

his

petuate the remembrance of this day of calamity and horror, it was determined in council on the 9th of September, 1542, to observe this 11th day of September, every year, as a solemn fast, with penitentiary processions from Guatemala to Ciudad Vieja, in which all the civil and religious authorities were to take part: this ceremony continued to be observed for more than twenty years.'

376 geometrical paces, and in depth 728; it was constructed of hewn stone of different colours; its form was elegant, and altogether most magnificent: there were six 'On the 18th of February, 1651, about principal divisions, the first contained lodg- In 1532, the vicinity of the city was ra- one o'clock, afternoon, a most extraordinaings for a numerous troop of lancers, arch-vaged, and the inhabitants thrown into con- ry subterranean noise was heard, and immeers, and other well disciplined troops, con- sternation, by a lion of uncommon magni- diately followed by three violent shocks, at stituting the royal body guard; the second tude and ferocity, that descended from the very short intervals from each other, which was destined to the accommodation of the forests on the mountain called the Volcan threw down many buildings, and damaged princes, and relations of the king, who dwelt de Agua, and committed great devastation others; the tiles from the roofs of the houses in it, and were served with regal splendour, among the herds of cattle. A reward of were dispersed in all directions, like light as long as they remained unmarried; the 25 gold dollars, or 100 bushels of wheat, was straws by a gust of wind; the bells of the third was appropriated to the use of the offered by the town council to any person churches were rung by the vibrations; king, and contained distinct suits of apart-that could kill it; but the animal escaped, masses of rock were detached from the ments, for the mornings, evenings, and even from a general hunting-party of the mountains; and even the wild beasts were nights. In one of the saloons stood the whole city, with Alvarado at the head of it. soterrified, that, losing their natural instinct, throne, under four canopies of plumage, the After five or six months' continual depreda- they quitted their retreats, and sought shelter ascent to it was by several steps; in this tions he was killed on the 30th of July, by from the habitations of men. Among these, part of the palace were the treasury, the a herdsman, who received the promised re- a lion of great size and fierceness entered tribunals of the judges, the armory, the gar-ward. The next great disaster was a fire, the city, on the southern side, and advancdens, aviaries, and menageries, with all the that happened in February, 1536, and caused into the middle of it; he tore down a parequisite offices appending to each depart- ed great injury; as the houses were at that per fixed against one of the consistorial ment. The fourth and fifth divisions were time nearly all thatched with straw, a large houses, and retreated by the streets on the occupied by the queens and royal concu- portion of them was destroyed before it north side. These shocks were repeated bines; they were necessarily of great ex- could be extinguished. The accident ori- frequently until the 13th of April.' tent, from the immense number of apart-ginated in a blacksmith's shop, and to prements requisite for the accommodation of vent similar misfortune's in future, the coun89 many females, who were all maintained cil prohibited the employment of forges ia a style of sumptuous magnificence; gar- within the city. dens for their recreation, baths, and proper 'The most dreadful calamity that had as places for breeding geese, that were kept yet afflicted this unfortunate place, occurfor the sole purpose of furnishing feathers, red on the morning of September 11th, with which hangings, coverings, and other 1541. It had rained incessantly, and with similar ornamental articles were made. great violence, on the three preceding days, Contiguous to this division was the sixth particularly on the night of the 10th, when and last; this was the residence of the king's the water descended more like the torrent daughters and other females of the blood of a cataract than rain; the fury of the royal, where they were educated, and at-wind, the incessant appalling lightning, and tended in a manner suitable to their rank.'

In the province of Sacatepeques there are several remarkable volcanoes, particularly one, called the Water-Volcano, which is the most lofty in the kingdom:

dreadful thunder, were indescribable; the
general terror was increased, by eruptions
from the volcano, to such a degree, that in
this combination of horrors the inhabitants
imagined the final destruction of the world

was at hand. At two o'clock on the morn-
This mountain has been called a volca-ing of the 11th, the vibrations of the earth
no by the Spaniards with singular impropri-
ety, as there exists no tradition of its having
ever emitted fire; nor have there been
found, at any time, on its sides, or in the
vicinity of it, any calcined matter, or other
mark of volcanic eruption; the term volca-
no, therefore, cannot be justly applied. In
1511, there was a violent eruption, not of
fire; but an immense torrent of water and
stones was vomited from the crater, that
caused great havoc, and destroyed the old
city. Father Remesal, in his History of the
Province of St. Vincente, lib. iv. cap. 5, re-
lates, that on this occasion, the crown of the
mountain fell down: the height of this de-
tached part was one league, and afterward,
from the remaining summit to the plains
below, was a distance of three leagues,
which, he affirms, he measured in 1615.

There is an interesting chapter on the

In 1773 the capital was destroyed by an earthquake, and rose no more from its ruins.-The second section of this work is devoted to the history of Guatemala, and the manners and customs of

the Indians, while in a state of idolatry:

"The dresses of the noble Indians differ

ed from those of the commoners; as did those of the civilized part of the population from those of the barbarians. It is known from tradition, from ancient manuscripts, and from paintings still extant in the convents of Guatemala, that the nobles wore a dress of white cotton, dyed or stained with different colours; the use of which was prohibited to the other ranks. This vestment

consisted of a shirt and white breeches, decorated with fringes; over these was drawn were so violent, that the people were una- another pair of breeches, reaching to the ble to stand; the shoeks were accompanied knees, and ornamented with a species of by a terrible subterranean noise, which embroidery; the legs were bare; the feet spread universal dismay: shortly afterward, protected by sandals, fastened over the inan immense torrent of water rushed down step, and at the heel, by thongs of leather; from the summit of the mountain, forcing the sleeves of the shirt were looped above away with it enormous fragments of rocks the elbow, with a blue or red band; the and large trees; which, descending upon hair was worn long, and tressed behind with the ill-fated town, overwhelmed and de-a cord of the colour used upon the sleeves, stroyed almost all the houses, and buried a and terminating in a tassel, which was a disgreat number of the inhabitants under the tinction peculiar to the great captains; the ruins; among the many, Dona Beatrice de waist was girded with a piece of cloth of vala Cuebra, the widow of Pedro de Alvarado rious colours, fastened in a knot before, over lost her life. When day dawned on the the shoulders was thrown a white mantle, 11th, those who had escaped unhurt from ornamented with figures of birds, lions, and this scourge, rendered all the assistance in other decorations of cords and fringe. The their power to their less fortunate neigh-ears and lower lip were pierced, to receive bours, who were maimed or wounded; they star-shaped pendants of gold or silver; the collected the bodies of the dead, and in the insignia of office or dignity were carried in evening buried then, with as much solem- the hand. The Indians of modern times

differ from the ancients only in wearing the
hair short, the sleeves loose, and by the
omission of ear-rings and lip-ornaments.
"The civilized natives dress with great
decency; they wear a species of petticoat,
that descends from the middle of the body
to the ancles, and a robe over the shoulders,
reaching to the knees; this was formerly
worked with thread of different colours, but
is now embroidered with silk. The hair is
formed into tresses, with cords of various
hues; and they wear ornaments in the ears
and nether lip.

"The habit of the Mazaguales is simple, and very poor; they are not permitted the use of cotton, and substitute for it cloth made of pita*. The dress is simply a long shirt, the flaps of which are drawn between the legs, and fastened; a piece of the same stuff is tied round the waist, and a similar piece forms a covering for the head. Some of the Indians of the southern coast wear

this dress; but generally, in the warm districts, they go naked, with the exception of the maztiate, or piece of cloth worn round the middle, for the sake of decency.

forage, which they call sacat, or to carry some further remarks on Russian po-
home little bundles of wood. As they in- etry, a subject which he treated with so
crease in years, the boys are taught, by their much ability in his preceding work.
fathers, to hunt, fish, and till the ground, He says he has done violence to his
the use of the bow, and other similar arts:
the mothers instruct the girls, from their feelings, by translating many of the mi-
tenderest years, to grind corn, procuring litary and warlike productions of the
for them small stones, suitable to their ma- Russian poets: we fear there is a spice
nagement, and in the other employments of affectation in this; for, although
peculiar to their sex, such as dressing and many of them have, as he states, a mix-
spinning cotton and pita, and to weave the ture of hatred and malevolence in them,
different sorts of cloth. They are accus- yet, when the circumstances which calí-
tomed to bathe very frequently, twice ored them forth are considered, we can
even three times a day. The mothers are ex-
tremely suspicious, and will not suffer their scarcely blame the poet, who, ́in rous-
daughters to be absent from them scarcely ing the indignation of his countrymen
a minute. The young men live at the ex- against invasion, excites feelings of deep
pense of their fathers; but whatever they resentment. A large portion of the
gain by labour is delivered into the parent's present volume consists of national
hands In this manner they are maintained
songs. These,' says Mr. Bowring,
until they marry.
are the poetry of the people; these
never raised from the darkness of obli-
are the fragments, whose authors are

When a marriage is to be celebrated, on the appointed day, the priest of the village, the principal cacique, and the relations on both sides, assemble at the house of the cal-vion-these are the joy and the study pal to whom the bride and bridegroom be- of the peasantry, their consolation in 'The barbarians, or unreclaimed Indians, long. The priest then desires the young man the dreariness of their wintry dwellings, of Guatemala, unlike those of Sinaloa, who to confess to him all the sins of his past life: conveyed from tongue to tongue through go in a state of perfect nudity, wear a cloth the same is then required of the bride. Af many a generation. These are no subround the middle, and passing between the ter having separately told all their mis-jects for criticism, for criticism cannot fork. This covering, among the chiefs, is of deeds, the relations are admitted, with the reach them-it cannot abstract one white cotton; but the common people make presents they intend to make, and with voice from the chorus, nor persuade the it of a piece of baik; which, after being which the young couple are decorated. Afsoaked for some days in a river, and then ter this, they are carried upon the shoulders village youths and maidens that the well beaten, resembles tine shamois leather, of those who assist at the ceremony, to the measure is false, or the music is disof a buff colour. They always paint them- house intended for them; where they are cordant. The forms of versification, selves black, rather for the purpose of de-placed in bed, and the door fastened the though some of them are rude and irrefence against mosquitoes than for ornament; marriage ceremony is then complete.' gular, I have endeavoured to preserve, a strip of white cotton is bound round the as a part of their original charm. I head, and in it are stuck some red feathers. have heard them sung in the wooden Green feathers are the distinguishing marks huts of the cottagers; and have been of their chiefs and nobles. The hair flows cheered by them when the boor has loose upon the shoulders; the lower lip and nose are decorated with rings; they carry a ex-whirled me in his uncouth sledge over bow and arrow in their hands, and have a the frozen snow. The rude melody, quiver suspended from the shoulder. often gentle and plaintive, in which they found utterance, still vibrates in Specimens of the Russian Poets, with In- my ear. I ask for them no admiration troductory Remarks. Part the Second.they are the delight of millions. The By JOHN BOWRING, F. L. S. and fame of the Iliad is nothing to theirs!' Honorary Member of several Foreign Societies. 12mo. pp. 271. London,

'In the care and education of their chil

dren, they resemble the Lacedæmonians, Spartans, Cretans, and the most polished nations of the orld. They had schools in all their principal towns, both for boys and girls; these were under the superintendance of elderly experienced persons.-(Torquemada, part 2, chap. 28) These seminaries, indeed, no longer exist; but the fathers take great care in the education of their sons. The women suckle their children until they have completed the third year, without an instance being known of trusting them to the care of another person: they carry them slung at their backs; and wash, grind corn, or perform any other labours, with them in this situation; they never protect them from the inclemencies of the weather, air, sun, cold, or water; they seldom have any other cradle than the bare ground, and, at the best, nothing more than a little hammock. As soon as they begin to run alone, they are made to carry little burdens, proportioned to their strength. At five or six years of age, they are taken into the fields to cut

*Pita is the fibres of a plant twisted into thread, resembling that made from hemp.'

As South America is every year rising in interest and importance, the ample details in this volume of one of its kingdoms must be considered valuable for future reference, and we think our tracts will show that they may afford some gratification in the perusal.

1823.

Many of the pieces in this volume are by poets, of whose genius specimens were given in the first part of the RusTHE Flood of Thessaly,' and other sian Anthology; other authors are, torrents equally powerful, so over- however, introduced, as well as the whelmed us last week, that we were un-national poems and songs of several able to notice Mr. Bowring's Speci- unknown bards. We have before quot mens of the Russian Poets' and yet ed a short poem by Dmitriev : the few works have a stronger claim to at- same poet has another production, entitention. When Mr. Bowring published tled Moskva Rescued. In our last the first volume of his Russian Antho- number, we gave a description of the logy,' and thawed the genius which fire of Moscow, from the Age of had so long been congealed in that Bronze,' and we now quote the Russian frightful country, as Napoleon called it, poet on the same subject, though the we were the first to render its merits whole is rather too long for us:more generally known, and to do justice And where is Russia's saviour-where?both to the Russian bards and their able Stand up-arouse thee-in thy might! and elegant translator.

Moskva alarm'd-surrounded there
And clouded, as a winter's night.

Mr. Bowring's second volume is pre-Look! she awakes-she knows no fear, ceded by an introduction, containing And young and old, and prince and slave;—