Literary Review,

Travels in the Interior of Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to Morocco, from the year 1781 to 1797, through Caffraria, the Kingdoms of Mataman, Angola, Massi, Moncmugi, Muschako, &c. likewise across the great Desart of Sahara, and the northern Parts of Barbary. Translated from the German of Christian Frederick Damberger. Illustrated by a map and coloured plates. Longman and Rees. 10s. 6d.

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FRICA, it is well known, is that quarter of the globe with which we are least acquainted. The divisions contained in geographical treatises are inaccurate, and the account of its inhabitants involved in great obscurity. Mr. Park indeed has lately thrown light on the subject, and our present author enters very fully into the business, by pointing out the boundaries, and delineating the manners of the several regions into which he penetrated. We therefore took up this work with an ardent curiosity, and we confess ourselves much gratified. There is an unaffectedness in the statement of facts that conciliates attention, and a simplicity in the general narration that affects the heart.

Mr Damberger is a native of Munster, in Germany, and having a turn for peregrination, he left his native home 1781, and reached Amsterdam, whence he embarked for the East Indies At the Cape of Good Hope, being taken ill, he was left there, and, upon his recovery, got employed by a master, who was attached to him. The wife, however, used him very unkindly, which circumstance led him to think of desertion. He even meditated a flight by land to his own country. Accordingly he set out on this apparently mad journey, and after years of peril and toil, he saw accomplished the favourite wishes of his heart. It is astonishing what the human mind is capable of performing when braced up by resolution and perseverance. Mountains disappear, and one wide level plain appears before the eyes of the resolute and undismayed Traveller. Many evils have been endured, and many dangers incurred by former pilgrims, but none seem so great and numerous as those with which Damberger combated. He is a signal example among mankind of the success by which the most daring efforts are occasionally crowned.

Though Africa be divided into districts, or kingdoms, yet the towns are inconsiderable. Indeed they consist of a few huts thrown together, which they call kraals, constructed with the rudeness peculiar to savage tribes. Knowing something of the language, he was able, by the use of signs,

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converse with most of them, and generally staid a few days amongst them. By some of the inhabitants he was used very roughly, by others as kindly; though he declares the women were uniformly kind and compassionate towards him: even when the men had beaten him almost dead with their clubs, they would come and bring him

milk, and sometimes green leaves, to heal his wounds. May this amiable trait of female excellence be remembered to their praise !—may this characteristic humanity of the fair sex in every nation under heaven be ever on our part crowned with an appropriate reward.

The sketch here given of the manners and custonis of these savage tribes is highly entertaining. The various incidents related attract and gratify curiosity. His determined perseverance, and his dexterous escapes are replete with surprize and novelty. Wr some times almost wish we had been along with him, when, upon reflection, we deem ourselves much more happily situated by our fire sides in our own native country.

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As to the translation, it appears to be well executed; there is an ease and a spirit in the style which engages and secures the attention. map is drawn with neatness, and marks the route by which our author travelled. When any doubt was entertained respecting the situation of that part of the country through which he passed, that doubt is properly explained. The plates are pleasing, giving us an idea of the dress and appearance of the Africans, which are widely different from the dress and apperance of the civilized portion of the globe to which we have been accustomed.

For a specimen of these travels we refer the readers to the body of our miscellany, where they will find an extract with which they will be entertained.—This is a plan we intend to pursue in the future prosecution of our work. Thus, we shall always have it in our power to bring forward the most engaging parts of new books, and to introduce a far greater number of the books themselves into our review. Persuaded that this will be improvement, we may also assure our subscribers that our

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sketch of new publications shall be given with candour and impartiality.

The Farmer's Boy, a Rural Poem, by Robert Bloomfield, new edition, 4s. 5s. 6d. 10s. 6d. 18s. boards. Hood.

Vernor and

PASTORAL poetry has always attracted a great of a very conciliating kind. Nature in her various beauties cannot fail of administering pleasure and faithful representations of her will, and be sure of finding the way to the heart.

ROBERT BLOOMFIELD was a lady's shoemaker, and worked in Coleman-street, where, in an obscure garret, this poem was written, with circumstances of peculiar recommendation. But the life of this extraordinary young man shall be given, with a portrait, in a future number. We shall at present confine ourselves to the poem itself, which has justly excited no small share of the public at

tention.

The writer, who was once a farmer's boy, has applied that appellation to his poem, and with great justice. A knowledge is every where shewn of rural customs and manners, which no individual could have obtained without being practically conversant with the subject. In this respect the author may in the delineation of certain articles be placed on the same shelf with the author of the Seasons. Obviousness of incident, neatness of imagery and felicity of expression, formed into easy and pleasant verse, are the leading traits in the work before us. Every page, and we had almost said every line, displays superior ability.

The poem is divided into four parts, stiled Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The general con

tents of each portion shall be enumerated. cimen will be given in our next.

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The SPRING contains invocation, seed-time, harrowing, morning walks, milking—the dairy, Suffolk cheese-Spring coming forth, sheep fond of changing, Lambs at play, the butcher, &c. Here we were particularly pleased with the milking-the satire on the Suffolk cheese, and the playing of the lambssubjects which are treated by the poet with sprightliness and delicacy.

The SUMMER presents us with turnip sowing, wheat ripening, sparrows, insects, the sky lark, reaping, harvest-field, dairy-maid, labours of the barn, the gander, night, a thunder-storm, harvestbome, reflections. We were most impressed by the sky-lark, labours of the barn, and harvest hometraits very conspicuous in all rural scenery. The reflections also alluding to the situation of the poor are of a moral and instructive tendency.

AUTUMN Consists of-Acorns, hogs in the wood, wheat sowing, the church, village girls, the mad girl, the bird's boy hut, disappointments, EustonHall, seat of the Duke of Grafton, fox-hunting, Old Trouncer, long nights, and a welcome to winter. Though many scenes are here well pourtrayed, yet the mad girl exceeds all the rest. It is drawn from an original, and hence the many affecting particulars by which it stands characterised. A note at the bottom of the page informs us that her name was Mary Rayner, and the place of her residence Ixworth Thorp. We should have been gratified, had we been favoured with some particulars of her history. It might have been placed in the appendix already attached to the work.

WINTER embraces-tenderness to cattle, frozen turnips, cow-yard, night, farm-house, fire-side, farmer's advice and instructions, nightly cares of