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devour the mangled carcases of their enemies. Certain it is, that their superstition takes a very wide range; as, in addition to local and domestic gods, with a god of anger, a god of death, a god of the elements, a god of tears and sorrow, and numerous others, many of the most indifferent transactions of life are affected by their absurd mythological opinions. Thus Mr. Nicholas observes:

"The first thing our friends did now, was to dress some potatoes, which they presented to us, and wished that we should eat them in the open air; but this we thought proper to decline, not choosing to expose ourselves to the heavy rain that was falling, and which lasted during the whole of the ensuing night. I have already informed my readers, that these people make it a rule never to take their meals in the huts appropriated for their residence, and this they not only religiously observe themselves, but enjoin strangers to do the same whenever they partake of their hospitality. Unwilling as we were to provoke their resentment, by any violation of their customs, however absurd and ridiculous, we should either have gone without the potatoes, which were now very acceptable to us, or eaten them at the expence of a good wetting, (there being no shed for that purpose), if very fortunately, a projection from the roof of the house, of about three feet, had not afforded us a shelter, where we were enabled to take our repast. However, this indulgence was not suffered without many anxious scruples on the part of our friends, as they considered our proximity on such an occasion to the tabooed place, was highly impious. They watched us the whole time with the greatest care, lest we should be guilty of any egregious profanation; and whenever we wanted to drink out of a calibash they had brought us, we were obliged to thrust out our heads from under the covering, though the rain fell in torrents." Vol. I. pp. 271, 272.

each morsel, and scrupulously careful in avoiding all contact between his hands and the food he was eating. 1 From this I knew at once that he was tabooed; and upon asking the reason of his being so, as he appeared in good health, and not afflicted with any complaint that could set him without the pale of ordinary intercourse, I found that it was because he was then building a house, and that he could not be released from the taboo till he had it finished. Being only a cookee, he had no person to wait upon him, but was obliged to submit to the distressing operation of feeding himself in the manner prescribed by the superstitions ordinance; and he was told by the tohunga, or priest, that if he presumed to put one finger to his mouth before he had completed the work he was about, the Etua would certainly punish his impious contempt, by getting into his stomach before his time, and eating him out of the world." Vol. II. pp. 173, 174.

"On going into the town, in the course of the day, I beheld several of the natives sitting round some baskets of dressed potatoes; and being invited to join them in their meal, I mingled with the group, when I observed one man stoop down with his mouth for

"Before breakfast this morning, a ceremony of a curious description took place, of which I was the principal subject, in consequence of a bargain that was to be ratified between myself and Wiveeah. Desirous to purchase of this chief the comb worn by him in his late conference with Henou, I told him on returning from the Wycaddie, to bring it with him to the vessel, and that I would give him the full value for it, which he accordingly did; and giving him on the preceding day a bill-hook in exchange for it, he was perfectly satisfied, but waited till this morning before he would deliver up the comb in return. The cause of this delay was both serious and solemn. The chief, it would ap pear, attached to the comb no ordinary degree of sacred importance; and fearful of incurring the guilt of profanation by parting with it in the same precipitate manner, as with any other article of less awful attributes, he deemed it expedient to wait a certain time, and then transmit it to my hands with proper solemnities. This indispensable cere mony being now to be celebrated, Wiveeah, attended by three chiefs, who officiated as his assistants, requested F would come into the cabin to receive the comb according to agreement. It will be necessary for me here to observe, that Wiveeah was recognized by his countrymen in the twofold character of a priest and a chief, as was the case

with old Tarra and some others; and as he was now to act in the former capa. city, he assumed a more grave deport. ment than usual, preparing himself with a serious air for the mystical functions. He began the ceremony by desiring me to hold open the palms of my hands before him: he then put them together, and holding one of my fingers with one kand, he dipped the other into a basin of water, and crossed my right hand with it, repeating all the while, in a quick tone of voice, and with a sudden olubility, some words which I supposed to be a form of prayer; and he appeared as he proceeded, to have all his faculties completely inflamed with a glowing enthusiasm, nor could the genius of superstition have ever fouud in any individual a more ardent votary. After this he applied his spittle to his fingers, and crossed the palins of my bands with it, still talking in the same rapid accents, and seemingly absorbed in the rites he was celebrating. Having gone so far in these momentous formalities, his next step was to take a piece of dried fish, which having slightly touched my hands with, he applied it immediately after to the mouths of the three officiating chiefs, each of whom bit a small piece off; and this part of the ceremony was repeated three times successively. Now came the conclud. ing form which was to put me in possession of this venerated treasure: and one of the chiefs approaching Wiveeah in a solemn pace, took the comb from his head, and delivered it over to me without attering a word. Thus ended this singular ceremony, without which it would have been impossible for me to obtain the comb, as the chief would never have disposed of it under the ordinary forms. I was now going to deposit the revered curiosity in my sea-chest, but Wiveeah told me I must not put it there by any means; and when I atTempted it, would not permit me, but desiring me to wrap it up very carefally in some paper, poiuted to a locker that was over my bed-place, and charged me to lay it there, and no where else." Vol. II. pp. 119–121.

Two of their traditions Mr. Nicholas mentions as remarkable; the one for its similarity to the absurd English legend of the Man in the Moon; the other appearing to be derived from the sacred records of antiquity.

"They believe the first man to have been created by three gods, Mowhee rangaranga, or Toopoonah, or grandfather, Mowheermooha, and Mowheebotakee; but give the greatest share în the business to the first-mentioned of these deities. They likewise believe, which is more curious than all, that the first woman was made of one of the man's ribs; and to add still more to this strange coincidence, their general term for bone is Heree, which, for aught we know, may be a corruption of the name of our first parent, communicated to them, perhaps, originally, by some means or other, and preserved without being much disfigured, among the records of ignorance. I shall not, however, positively defend this opinion; though I think it extremely probable, that these islands may have been first colonized from some parts of the East, and that the original settlers may have brought with them some knowledge of the true account of the creation; but which knowledge, their posterity, degenerating into barbarism and darkness, were not able to preserve." Vol. I. pp. 59, 60.

To this we might add the following:

"The New Zealanders make it an invariable practice, when a child is born among them, to take it to the Tohunga, or priest, who sprinkles it on the face with water, from a certain leaf which he holds in his hand for that purpose; and they believe that this ceremony is not only beneficial to the infant, but that the neglect of it would be attended with the most baneful consequences. In the latter case, they consider the child as either doomed to immediate

death, or that, if allowed to live, it will grow up with a most perverse and wicked disposition. Now, that this is a kind of baptismal ceremony, no one I think will dispute; but how it came to be introduced among them, I am wholly at a loss to determine; nor shall 1, in this place, venture to hazard any opinion of my own upon it." Vol. I. pp. 61, 62.

Of the missionary labours of the settlers, we have said little or nothing, partly because the sources of information respecting them are readily accessible, and partly because we shall shortly have occa sion to notice the last Report of the

Church Missionary Society, in which the intelligence is brought down to the date of the most recent advices. The willing attentions of the natives to assist in building suitable houses for the missionaries, and their readiness to sell them land for the purposes of their esta blishment, are proofs how fully the jealous fears at first excited had been allayed by the prudent and peaceable conduct of these benevolent settlers. Indeed, a pledge was given that the ship Active might enter with safety into seas, in which the natives frankly confessed that they would give no such promise respecting other vessels. Passing over, therefore, several interesting topics, for which we refer our readers to Mr. Nicholas's volumes, we shall conclude our extracts with a few of the author's remarks relative to the propriety and advantages of colonizing New Zealand.

"Should an extensive settlement be ever formed in New Zealand by our people, and the Bay of Islands fixed apon as the principal harbour, the neighbourhood of this lake would form an admirable situation for the seat of government, and chief town of the colony. The extensive forests that line one side of it would afford an immense quantity of timber, that might at a trifling expense be floated to the opposite bank, where, the ground being cleared to a considerable extent, the town might be built, and lands inclosed both for pasturage and husbandry. The soil here being luxuriant in the extreme, would produce the most abundant crops, and the labours of the industrious cultivator would be sure to be requited by a plentiful harvest. According to the natives, a river has its source in this lake, which, after traversing the whole breadth of the island, takes a western course, and discharges its waters into the sea. Whe ther this is navigable or not, it was impossible for me to ascertain, not having an opportunity of seeing it; but as the natives asserted that canoes were constantly plying upon it, I should think it probable that boats at least, if not small vessels, might effect a passage upon it to some distance. A communication being thus kept up with the interior of the island, the advantages to the back 341 10 deq 3* Jest ; T

settlements would be very considerable; as it would afford them at all times an easy conveyance for their produce to the principal market, while they migh bring back in the same manner what ever necessaries they required. But besides this consideration, there are others which, in the event of the island being colonized, might recommend this place as the most suitable for erecting the town upon. Its convenient and central situation, the peculiar richness of its soil, the proximity of all the neces saries for building; these, and several

other local advantages, would conspire

to render it the most eligible spot that could be selected. I might also add, that the forests, while affording the most excellent timber for building, could easily be converted into wellcultivated fields and gardens; and the lake, yielding an abundant supply of fish, with water of the best quality, would be rendered doubly valuable to the inhabitants. The distance of this

place from the harbour would form no material objection; this being only fifteen miles, a road might easily be con structed from the head of the cove, and over level ground the whole way, if we except three hills of such inconsiderable height as to offer no obstacle worth rés garding. From the entrance of the harbour to the head of the cove, may be estimated at about twenty miles; and shipping can proceed up fifteen or sixteen miles, and find secure anchorage. The land carriage therefore would be very trifling; and the necessity of it might be ultimately superseded by a junction of the lake with the Tecaddiecaddie, which passes within five miles of it, and could be made navigable for small craft to the head of the cove. A settlement thus advantageously situated, and under a mild and equitable govern ment, would very soon become flourish ing, and be enabled to supply itself in abundance, not only with the necessaries of life, but even with many of its luxuries. The advantages too resulting from such a colony to the natives themselves, must be obvious. A spirit of civilized industry would be diffused all over the country, and they would be gradually initiated into all our pursuits; while being protected in their persons and property by the wholesome laws of our inestimable constitution, they would have nothing to apprehend; and providing for their wants in conscious security, their physical comforts would always

keep pace with their moral improve ment. Should the event, which I can now only speak of as contingent, be ever realized, this consideration will not fail to have its proper weight with the political economist. But I would by no

means have the colonists composed of such characters as form the European population of New South Wales. The convicts there are the most profligate and abandoned description of people in existence, and those crimes and vices for which they have been expatriated, adhere to them in their exile with pertinacious delinquency. Such men would rather defeat than promote the object in view, by introducing a factitious contamination of morals among the natives, and instructing them in the most de praved practices by their own example." Vol. I. pp. 344-347.

We have only to remark, in conclusion, what must have already sufficiently appeared from the fore going observations and extracts, that these volumes are extremely well worth perusal as an authentic narrative of a voyage to a country of which very little has been hitherto known to the European world. The author's chief failure is where he intends to be ornate

or sentimental, and forsakes the simple narrative style, for the didactic or pathetic. In two or three instances also, he relates with a kind of flippancy or pleasantry, what, if related at all, should have been clothed in a style of the most severe gravity, in order to render its introduction admissible into the winter evening family party. We should not, perhaps, have noticed this in an ordinary traveller: nor do we mean to intimate, that Mr. Nicholas is any great offender in this way; but the narrator of a missionary voyage ought to be peculiarly careful, that in a nar rative intended for miscellaneousperusal, not a single passage should occur, in which gross vice is exposed to our laughter rather than our abhorrence. As this observation is applicable to the present volumes in only a very limited degree, and even this evidently unintended by the author, whose aim throughout is highly benevolent and virtuous, we shall conclude with recommending the work to the attention of our readers.

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE,

&c. &c.

GREAT BRITAIN. PREPARING for publication:-Letters from the Honourable Horace Walpole to George Montague, Esq.;-An overland Journey from India, by LieutenantColonel Johnson;-Statistical Account of the principal Shores of the Pacific Ocean, by Captain M'Konochie-Essay on the Prolongation of Life and Conservation of Health, by Dr. James Johnson; -Tasso's Jerusalem, translated by J. H. Hunt; A Journey to Rome, &c., by H. Sass;-Original Letters from Baxter, Prior, Bolingbroke, Pope, &c., edited by Mrs. Warner;-A Guide to Families; or Sacred Truth Unfolded for their Use; in a Course of Practical Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of Christianity, and the Relative Duties of Life; with appropriate Family Prayers

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A monthly periodical work is projected at Paris, to be entitled "Archives duChristianisme au DixnenvièmeSiècle." It is intended to comprise essays on Christian doctrines and morals, short dissertations upon Ecclesiastical History, Biblical criticism, and Oriental antiquities; critical and analytical notices of new religious works; reports of religions societies throughout the world; with religious biography and poetry. The importance and necessity of such a work in France is very great; and we sincerely hope the intended publication may be conducted in such a manner as to secure a re

spectable degree of patronage, and thus to answer the high ends which such a work, if well executed, may be expect ed to attain. The publication will be assisted by subscriptions, which will be received by "M. Viault, Notaire, Rue d'Antin," Letters and communications may be addressed to "M. Juillerat Chasseur, Pasteur, Rue de Tournon,

No. 10."

Cambridge. The following subjects are proposed for the Chancellor's Prizes, for the ensuing year:-For LatinVerses; "Titus Hierosolymam expugnans."-For an English Essay; "Biography."-For a Latin Essay; "Quam Vim in Moribus Populi conformandis exhibeant Rerum publicarum subitæ Mutationes?"-Sir Roger Newdigate's Prize; for the best composition in English Verse, not containing more than fifty lines, by any Under-graduate who has not exceeded four years from the time of his matriculation; "The Coliseum."

A patent has been obtained for a new mode of expelling molasses from sugar, by means of atmospherical pressure. This is performed either by withdraw ing the air from the under surface of the sugar, or compressing the air on the upper surface. When done by the former method, a trough or box is employed open at the top; and containing at a few inches from the bottom, a partition made of sheet copper, or any other proper material, and thickly perforated with small holes. On this partition is laid a cloth or web, made of hair or other fit material, and over it is spread the sugar, previously moistened with water or lime-water. The air under the partition is then partially exhausted by means of an air pump, in consequence of which the pressure of the atmosphere, and its passage through the sugar, in CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 192.

order to supply the vacuum, expel the molasses, which passing, through the web and the perforated partition, is conducted by a pipe into a receiver below. The operation of pumping the air con. tinues till the molasses is sufficiently expelled from the sugar. The second method is upon the same principle, only instead of atmospheric pressure, the air is compressed by means of a forcing pump or bellows for the purpose, which avoids the necessity for producing a

vacuum.

The original diamond ring of Mary, Queen of Scots, upon which are engraved the arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, quartered, and which was produced in ́evidence at the trial of the unfortunate Mary, as a proof of her pretensions to the crown of England, was in the possession of the late Mr. Blachford, one of the lords of the Admiralty, at the time of his death.-The history of this fatal ring is curious. It descended from Mary to her grandson Charles I., who gave it, on the scaffold, to Archbishop Juxon, for his son Charles II., who, in his troubles, pledged it in Holland for 3001., where it was bought by Governor Yale, and sold at his sale for 3201. it is supposed for the Pretender. Afterwards it came into possession of the Earl of Ila, Duke of Argyle, and probably from him to the family of Mr. Blachford. At the late sale of his effects, it was said to have been purchased for the Prince Regent.

Mr. McLeod, in his Narrative of a Voyage to the Yellow Sea, lately published, gives the following particulars respecting the habits of a Boa Constrictor, which died on board the Cæsar, on the passage to England:-During its stay at Ryswick it is said to have usually consumed a goat every three or four weeks, with occasionally a duck or fowl. The live stock provided for its use during the passage consisted of six goats; five being considered a fair allowance for as many months. At an early period of the voyage one of the goats was thrust into its cage. The piercing cries and agonies of the unfortunate animal were dreadful; yet amidst all his terrors he began instinctively butting at the serpent, who fixing a deadlysa“ and malignant eye on his victim, darted out his forked tongue, and seizing the goat by the leg encircled it in his hor->{ rid folds. The act was so instantaneous that it was impossible for the eye to follow the convolutions of the serpent's is 5 P

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