"For ah! there are so many things

Recall the past to me,

The breeze upon the sunny hill,
The billows on the sea,

The rosy tints that deck the sky
Before the sun is set,-
Ay, ev'ry leaf I look upon
Forbids me to forget."

We must say we like the comic songs the least we doubt not they have had considerable success in society; but they want good singing, good humour, bright lamps and bright eyes, supper and champagne: they are not for quiet criticism. This volume is intended for private circulation; and we cannot but say that Mr. Bayly's friends are greatly indebted to

him.

able man, misled by an extraordinary preju- | Theodora, his second sister, to Hadchymir, dice, solely in this history of Andronicus. He the chief of Chalybia. He sacrificed his daugh reasons at great length, with a view to impress ter Eudoxia, by marrying her to one of the his own conviction upon his readers; and pre-emirs of the Turkomans. Tahartan, the grand tends that the emperor was actuated by a great emir of Arsinga, received from him the handidea!! After all the important measures which of another princess. These ladies were all he had adopted for the welfare of the empire, beautiful. Eudoxia, whom we have just menthere was reason to fear that on his decease tioned, became a widow, and was still so every thing would again fall into confusion, by beautiful, that the old Emperor of Constanthe neglect of the nobles, who delighted in dis- tinople, John Paleologus, after having deturbances. "To avert this evil," says the manded her for his son, was so enchanted author, "there was only one course; a course with her when she arrived in his capital, that from which little minds shrink, but which he took her for himself. In the West, the the most celebrated founders of public felicity marriages of Christian princesses with emirs among barbarous or degenerate nations have would have been considered as scandalous; but recognised as the sole efficacious plan; namely, in the East they were by no means Geschichte des Kaiserthums von Trapezunt. the amputation of the gangrenous limbs of the regarded; and it was thought lucky to purHistory of the Empire of Trebisond. By social body, or the massacre of the nobles. An- chase peace with the barbarians on such J. P. Fallmerayer, Historical Professor at dronicus resolved to establish this sad guarantee terms. On the approach of the Turks in the Lyceum of Landshut. 4to. pp. 354. for the future happiness of his subjects, by 1440, the emperor, Calo-John, hastened to Munich, 1827. destroying the greater part of the distin- give Hassan, the Turkoman Sultan of MesoTREBISOND, on the Asiatic coast of the Black guished families of Byzantium." M. Fall-potamia, his daughter Catharine, celebrated Sea, in the ancient Colchis, was governed in merayer is not aware that he is advocating in the East for her beauty; in order that he the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries by a a frightful theory, and a very convenient one might have in his son-in-law a protector fugitive branch of the imperial family of Com- for all tyrants. He is probably young, and against the Turks: but twenty years afternenus of Constantinople. The history of these has been deluded by the good qualities of this wards the Turkish sultan put an end to the emperors was but little known; and M. Fall- despot, who was anxious to murder for the poor empire of the Comneni. There were merayer, therefore, in elucidating their reign, sake of peace! Good qualities he certainly many monasteries and monks in the country has cultivated a field which had actually been possessed. He encouraged agriculture and the of Trebisond; but the army and the fleet were deserted by historians. He found at Venice useful arts; he put an end to the quarrels of in a sad condition. The inhabitants were an unpublished Greek chronicle of this empire, the monks on points of doctrine; he main- capable of disputing about points of faith; as well as a manuscript work on Trebisond, by tained rigorous justice; he abolished the ve- superstitions of all kinds were believed; astroBessarion, who was a native of that country. nality of public officers, as well as the pre- logers were consulted; legends were studied: He also acknowledges in his preface his obliga- tended right to seize shipwrecked goods: but but they were incapable of defending their tions to Messrs. Sacy and Hase, who commu- he was not on those accounts "a redeeming country; they knew not either how to govern nicated to him extracts from Arabic and Greek genius, a father of his people," as M. Fall- or how to obey. At the end of his history manuscripts in the library of Paris. After merayer terms him; since he could re-establish M. Fallmerayer has inserted a number of par. several chapters on the ancient history of Tre- tranquillity only by proscriptions en masse, ticulars with regard to the political, ecclebisond, M. Fallmerayer describes in an inter- and by rivers of blood. The branch of the siastical, and literary condition of the empire esting manner, and with many details, the re- Comneni who took refuge in Asia when Isaac of Trebisond. His commercial details are involution which, in the year 1185, broke out at Angelus was proclaimed Emperor of Constan- complete. There are in the annals of Venice Constantinople, and compelled a branch of the tinople, and who founded a throne at Tre- and Genoa mercantile records, which appear dynasty of Comnenus to fly to the Black Sea, bisond, were not much wiser than the Eu- to have escaped his notice. In other respects and to seek an asylum in Colchis. In the pe- ropean dynasty. Their empire, which was his work is carefully executed; and he has riod which immediately preceded this revolu- considerably reduced by the Turkomans and the merit of being the first historian of an tion, the various factions had deluged the the Mongols, and which perhaps reckoned two empire almost entirely forgotten. The Royal palace with blood, and filled the empire with millions of souls, and could bring into the field Society of Copenhagen has honoured him with disturbances. Andronicus, succeeding to a 25,000 troops, was governed with the same its approbation.--(From the Revue Encyclopéstrangled empress, and having in his turn weakness, and embarrassed with the same in-dique.) strangled his nephew Alexis, a youth of fif- trigues, as that of Byzantium. M. Fallmerayer teen, whom he ought to have maintained in considers the principal cause of this to have Clapperton's Second Expedition: Lander's the government, took a mad and odious reso- been the jealousy existing between the rich Journal. lution which was very justly the cause of his native families who before the arrival of the IN our review of this interesting volume we fall. To rid himself of the nobles of the em- Comneni possessed the finest parts of the ter- have only got so far as to shew that Lander, pire, whom he suspected, he condemned them ritory, and the Greek families of the court, with an intelligence above his condition, and to death in a body, under pretence of high who had accompanied or followed the Comneni a zeal and intrepidity worthy of any condition, treason. One of them, Isaac Angelus, at the from Constantinople, and who were the de- was cruelly baulked in a resolute endeavour to moment of his being arrested in order that he scendants of the soldiers of the palace, or the make his way from Soccatoo by the muchmight share the fate of the others, slew the guard of the Greek emperors. These were sought-for Niger-supposing that river to be emperor's confidant who had been sent to se- distinguished by the appellation of scholaria. the Quorra, and ultimately to fall into the sea cure him, and appealed to the people for aid. The scholarian faction made and unmade em- by Funda and Benin, under the name of the The prisons in which the nobles were confined perors. The nobles persecuted one another, Benin or Formosa River. We confess that the were burst open, and the revolt became gene- besieged one another in their strong castles, map teaches us to doubt this; for Dunrora, ral. Andronicus, having attempted in vain and ravaged the lands of their enemies, pre- whence Lander was carried back to Zegzeg, is to negotiate with the rebels, endeavoured to cisely as was done in Europe during the ex-(there) on the same degree of latitude with escape by sea; but the vessel in which he em- istence of the feudal system. The people were Funda; so that, supposing this theory to be barked was driven into port by a tempest, and as destitute of courage and energy as the true, he must have travelled nearly due south the outlawed tyrant was seized and torn to Greeks of the Lower Empire. The Turko- for seventeen days from Kano to a point from pieces. It will scarcely be believed that this mans who infested the neighbouring countries which he must have made a right angle and traAndronicus, who in other respects was about would have subdued the empire of Trebisond velled due west for a fortnight to reach his destias good as most of his predecessors, is the hero, with ease, had it not been protected by nature. nation (Funda). But as yet the mountains and par excellence, of the new historian of Trebi- To penetrate into it, it was necessary to pass rivers in this quarter seem to defy guess-work; sond. He calls him "a great man, whose narrow defiles, to attack hill-forts, to pierce and it will be more profitable to turn, and resublime qualities have not been hitherto appre- through forests, &c. The defence of a territory turn to Zegzeg with Lander, ciated." On this part of his subject, M. Fall- so fortified is easy; and the Turkoman emirs way worthy of inheriting the mantle which fell merayer says such strange things, that the were repeatedly repulsed: but nevertheless upon him from his gallant and enterprising reader is tempted to fancy him utterly defi- they laid waste the unhappy empire. Alexis master. cient in judgment, and even in common sense; the Third won the barbarians by marriages. Our countryman's guides were neither of the and it is necessary to go through the whole He gave his sister, Maria Comnenus, to Kout-most amiable, nor, as it appears, of the most work to feel satisfied that he is a learned and loubey, the chief of the white horde; and courageous character: he was so much cha

- a man every

grined, that he tells us he "cared not much | who would murder me as soon as he had me in It was now, by selling white-paper books
whether he lived or died;" but, after all, per- his power, for having taken presents to his and needles, &c., when required, that Lander
haps, if he had gone a day or two farther into powerful enemy: it was therefore doing me a raised funds for the expenses of his journey;
the adjacent country of his friend the King of great act of favour. Abbel Crême, iny host, and near Boussa (13th Aug.), he relates:
Jacoba, he might have fared worse, and been thought it necessary for me to give something "A man from the town, in a state of in-
made a Lander roast or stew of. As it was, he to the king's eldest son: I accordingly pre- toxication, came to my tent this evening, with
was obliged to retrace his steps northward as well sented him, shortly afterwards, with two yards a calabash of bum, and insisted, in an insolent
as his ill-health permitted. In four days he was of blue and scarlet damask, an unwritten jour-tone, that I should come out and drink with
again at Cuttup (an ominous name), and left it nal-book, half a canister of powder, a quire of him. Being busily engaged in packing up the
by another route; and in two days more at paper, and a gilt chain. The prince is a re- articles that had been put out to dry, I did not
Cokalo, a poor village, where, he says, "the markably fine and handsome young man, about choose to oblige him so far. When he found
chief had made a fetish; and, having roasted a twenty-two years of age, and was particularly I had no inclination to leave the tent, he said
dog, stewed a large snake in oil and water, and kind to me. As an especial mark of favour, he was determined to come in. Wishing to
boiled a good deal of corn, invited his people to he took me into his inner apartments to see his intimidate the fellow, I took a loaded pistol,
a feast, of which they partook freely. A small wives, fifty in number, who, on my entrance, and went to him, threatening to shoot him
bowl of boiled corn, enriched with a portion of were all sitting in the shade outside their huts, unless he immediately left the place; but this,
the reptile, and the liquid in which it had been and industriously occupied in preparing cotton, instead of having the desired effect, only ex-
dressed, was sent me from the chief's table. making thread, and weaving it into cloth. The asperated him the more; and flourishing a
Supposing it to be fish on the boiled corn, I ate prince said, I have brought the Christian to long spear he had with him over his head, as
a mouthful or two; but there being a peculiar see you.' They no sooner looked up than they quick as lightning he made a desperate thrust
and not disagreeable flavour with it, I cursorily all instantly dropped their work, and ran, or at me. Slipping a little on one side, I caught
asked a person who stood by my side, what rather flew, into their coozies, and I saw no the weapon in my hands, within an inch of my
kind of fish I was eating; but on his telling more of them. Four of these ladies reside to- breast, which saved my life. I was highly in-
me it was part of the snake, I could eat no gether in one coozie. In the course of the day censed at this violent act, and told the people
more. Pascoe, however, was not quite so fas- the prince offered me a young female slave, who stood by, and were spectators of the whole
tidious, and consumed the remainder with great named Aboudah, for a wife! I accepted of her affair, that if they did not that moment take
relish, declaring that, in his opinion, it was with gratitude, as I knew she would be ser- him from the tent, I would shoot him in ear-
much superior to dried ling." [We can well viceable to me on my journey, and I should nest: half a dozen of them accordingly dragged
suppose it: for dried ling is an abomination any also have the satisfaction of giving her her him away. Next morning the fellow returned,
where; and in Africa must be no dainty of the freedom on arriving at the sea-coast.
and throwing himself at my feet, begged I
Ude kind.]
Next day he was allowed to depart for the would not inform Sultan Magie of his con-
Next-day, June 28, the rapid and deep Coo-coast, by the more beaten way of Badagry; duct: for if it came to his ears he would lose
doonia river stopped the traveller's progress, but why should we trouble our readers with the his head. I forgave him, on condition that he
and he refused to proceed. The messengers, his names of kingdoms, such as Funda, Fellatah, should never get tipsy again”—(which condition,
police-officers as it were, thereupon left him in Bowchee, Houssa, Guarie, Tappa, Yarida, Ja- if he, like Europeans addicted to drunkenness,
dudgeon: and he says" They abused me in boo, Kotoukara, &c. &c., when it is more than forgets to fulfil, there is at least this much in
the most insolent terms, and threatened to go probable, that the next European who ventures his favour,—it is not very likely that he will
immediately and inform their king of my re- thither, will either find or give new names to again annoy any white person with his vaga-
fusal to proceed. I desired them to give my nearly them all? At Guarie, on the 29th and ries). Lander soon after cut into the route by
best respects to his Zegzeg majesty, and told 30th, the journal is curious, as referring to the which the party had ascended from the coast
them they were at liberty to go as soon as they descent of various rivers towards the Bight to Soccatoo: the following, however, seem to
pleased. They left me in great anger, cursing of Benin; but there is nothing circumstantial us to be desirable quotations to illustrate Af-
me as they went; whilst I slowly proceeded enough to be relied upon as a certain guide. rican manners.
with my horses and asses to the village we had At the town of Beari, August 10th, the record At Wowow (August 29)-" The king sent
left in the morning. Whether the messengers tells: "Started at the same hour as yesterday, me a goat, cut up into small pieces, and a
did or did not go to Zegzeg I cannot tell; but and halted in the town of Beari at 2 P. M. large bowl of tuah, to make a sadacco for my
they did not return till the 11th July following. Instead of journeying in a south-west direc- poor master ;-a ceremony common in many
I remained all that time in the village, very ill, tion to Youri, took another road, and kept due places in the interior, on the decease of any
with nothing to eat but boiled corn, not by any south, having been informed that a party of person of consequence. The pieces of goat
means relishing their roasted dogs. The in- merchants had been plundered, and many of and the bowl of tuah are sent to the mallam, or
habitants, who came by hundreds each day to them murdered, on the road I intended taking. priest, who repeats a short prayer over them:
visit me, were destitute of apparel of any kind, The chief sent me a sheep, a Muscovy duck, a it is, however, necessary, before this can be
but, nevertheless, behaved in a modest and be- quantity of yams, and some beer made from performed, to place a gold or silver coin, or at
coming manner. The men did not appear to Indian corn. Returned him one yard of scarlet least an article made of either of those metals,
have any occupation or employment whatever, and blue silk, a scarlet cap, and four prints, on the top of the bowl. Having no coin I
and spent their time in loitering about the vil- which much delighted him. As soon as one of could part with, I put a silver pencil-case in
fage. The women were generally engaged most the head men was aware of my approach to the its stead, which was never returned me. After
of the day in manufacturing an oil from a small king's residence, he blew a shrill and loud blast the prayer has been pronounced over the tuah
black seed and the guinea nut."
through a long brass trumpet, the noise of and goat's flesh, they are sent back to the per-
Except the usual distresses of African transi- which brought all the principal male inhabit- son to whom they belong, and any who is dis-
tion, nothing particular occurred between the ants to the spot, who entered the hut, and posed comes and eats; each person, before
11th and the 22d July, when Lander entered seated themselves in a circle round their sove- tasting, repeating this pious ejaculation- God
the city of Karia, the capital of Zegzeg, through reign and myself. The chief is a fine-looking send him safe to heaven!' The goat's flesh
a beautiful country, rich and fertile, and prin- man, apparently about fifty years of age, with and tuah sent to me were soon consumed.
cipally "laid out in gardens"! The journal a noble expression of countenance, and a com- 30th. Having finished cleaning the muskets
continues:
manding air. The coozie into which I was and pistols, asked the chief permission to leave
"23d-Visited the king this morning, tak- introduced is the largest I had ever seen in Wowow. The old man, smiling, told me not
ing with me four yards of blue, and the same Africa, being not less, I should think, than half my business was done; he wanted six
quantity of scarlet damask; four yards of blue eighty yards in circumference. A man stood charms, which I alone could write. These
and scarlet silk, a gilt chain, six prints, among by the side of the chief while I remained, who charms were to be worn on his person, and to
which is one of his majesty, and another of the repeated to him what I had to say, and the possess the following virtues: 1st charm. If
duke of York, two pair of scissors, a quire of answers were returned to me by the same indi- his enemies thought of making war on him, it
paper, a scarlet cap, six yards of white muslin, vidual: this singular custom is, I believe, pe- would cause them to forget to put it in prac-
and a blank drawing-book. This present culiar to Beari, as I never observed it in any tice. 2d. If they should be on their way to
pleased him highly; and not long after my other town in Africa. The chief asked the his city, for the purpose of warring, it would
return to my lodgings, he sent me two fine usual questions about my king and country. turn them back. 3d. If they should discharge
bullocks. The chief subsequently told me that The town is surrounded by a high wall and their arrows at his people, when close to the
the reason for his ordering me to be brought a deep ditch, and contains about four thousand city walls, it would cause them to rebound in
back to Zegzeg was on account of the war be- inhabitants, some of whom had seen us before their own faces, and wound them. 4th. It was
tween Sultan Bello and the King of Funda, at Womba."
the province of this charm to prevent his guns

66

豪

豪

from bursting. 5th, was to preserve the per-king and most of the inhabitants, particularly river, and had many rivals in the affections of son who might hold the gun from receiving those who were concerned in the transaction. the Niger, who was her husband. She had a any injury, should it unfortunately explode. The remainder, fancying it was a judgment of capricious, jealous, and cruel disposition; and The 6th and last charm was to make him the the white man's God, placed every thing be- if I ventured to place myself in her power, she happiest and most successful of men.-31st. longing to the Christians in a hut, and set it would certainly swallow me up, as I had spoken Carried the charms to the king, on which I on fire.' It is not a little remarkable that it is slightingly of her. She was continually quarhad written scraps of old English ballads, which now a common saying all through the interior relling with her husband, thinking he was too made him in the best humour in the world. of Africa, Do not hurt a Christian; for if familiar with other rivers; and where they September 1st. The king still wished to detain you do, you will die like the people of Boussa.' met, they made the devil's own noise' with me longer, and insisted on my selling or giving The old man left me shortly afterwards, and I their disputes. I roared with laughter, when him my gun and pistols, the only arms I had thanked him for his information thus volun- the man had done speaking, at the loves of the left. I endeavoured to soften him by every tarily given. Niger, which made him very angry, and I had means in my power; but finding him firm in Sept. 9th. At half-past six in the morning much to do to pacify him. Being unable to his determination of having the gun, and at continued our journey, and at noon entered procure provisions of any kind in the village, least one of the pistols, and knowing resist- the city of Khiama. Went immediately to the went to the chief, and wished to know whether ance would be ridiculous, I sent them to him, king's residence, who, as soon as he saw me, he intended to starve us. The old scoundrel leaving it entirely to his generosity to give asked how I dared to come into his town had a garden in which he grew a quantity of what he thought proper. The liberal-minded without having previously sent him a messen- yams; but he refused to sell me any, asserting chief shortly afterwards returned 4,000 cowries ger to inform him of my approach. I an- that he had none for himself. I then asked (worth little more than a dollar) as a sufficient swered I had sent one of his own men, three leave for Pascoe to cut grass in his garden for remuneration for the gun and pistol, but made or four days before, to acquaint him of it. the horses, suspecting his yams might be hid me a present the next day of a beautiful little That is of no consequence,' he continued; in some part of it: this he sulkily granted. mare. 3d. Early in the morning the old chief you should have sent another this morning. In the evening Pascoe returned with a bundle desired to see me before I left, and obtained Get on horseback directly, and return an hour of grass, concealed in which were several yams from me a promise to return to him after and a half's journey the way you came: on he had had the good fortune to discover. If having visited my own country. He shewed arriving there, send me a messenger, and I this had not been the case, I really believe we me various patterns of silk for a tobe I was to will order a sufficient escort to conduct you should all have died of hunger." bring from England for him; and said, as I into the city in a manner deserving your rank At Katunga, the capital of Yariba, "The was going out of the apartment, Your coun- and respectability.' I was in the act of obey-low grounds were rendered almost impassable trymen may come here and build a town, ing this odd mandate, when he bawled after by reason of the rain, which fell in torrents. and trade up and down the Niger: we know me: I forgive you this time, Christian; but On our arrival I was put into the same house now that they are good men, but we did not never be so remiss again.' The chief is an we occupied on our journey into the interior. think so when the white men who were eccentric but friendly kind of man, and re--26th. The king would not let me wait on drowned at Boussa were in the country.' He gretted very much my father's death, which him, fearing it might wet my feet; and accordkept me with him till nine o'clock in the had been told him some days before by a mer-ingly he visited me with five hundred of his morning, when, on going to my hut, I found a chant. He had heard the Fellatas had behaved wives (out of two thousand), and the principal party of merchants waiting for me, whom the very roughly to us, and had robbed us; but inhabitants of the city. The wives welcomed kind old chief had detained, on purpose that asked what business we had at Soccatoo? I my return by singing a simple and plaintive they might accompany me to Khiama (which told him we were at Kano, on our road to Bor-air, with much pathos and feeling: their voices had been concealed from me entirely), the nou, when Sultan Bello sent for us, and we were sweet and musical; and the whole had a roads to that city being infested with bands of were obliged in consequence to visit him. He novel and pleasing effect. Nothing could be robbers. Crossed the river Auli at twelve at offered to send me safely to Bornou, and said heard but their strains, to which every one noon. The current being very rapid, we had he was tributary to the sheik. I replied, that listened with the profoundest attention until extreme difficulty in getting over; but no ac- Bello had taken the presents intended for him, the conclusion of the performance. The king cident occurred, and we fixed our tent on the and that I had none left worthy so great a expressed his sorrow for my master's death; south bank of the river. In the evening the prince, therefore could not accept his kind and questioned me very minutely on the momallam, or priest of the merchants, came to offer. My present to the chief consisted of a tives that induced us to go into the interior. my tent, and gave me the following account of silk sword-sash, three yards of scarlet and blue On telling him it was to see if there was any Mungo Park and his unfortunate companions: damask, the same quantity of blue silk, a red thing worth trading for in the country, he apYou are not, Christian, the first white man 1 cap, two pairs of scissors, and a hundred nee. peared satisfied. He was richly dressed in a have seen. I knew three of your countrymen dles. I likewise gave him my old tent, which scarlet damask tobe, and a pair of trowsers very well. They arrived at Youri at the was full of holes, and quite useless. Remained made of country cloth, scarlet ground with a fast of the Rhamadan (April). I went with at Khiama five days, during which time the blue stripe; the former ornamented with coral two of them three times to the sultan. The queen's treatment was kind and generous, sup- beads; his legs, as far as the knee, were stained person that appeared to be the head of the plying us every day with excellent provisions red with hennah; and on his feet he wore red party made the sultan a valuable present on in great abundance. The day before my de- leather sandals. A cap made of blue damask, one of his visits, which consisted of a hand-parture the king gave me a strong pony; and thickly studded with coral beads, was on his some gun, a cutlass, a large piece of scarlet observed that, if my king wished, at any fu- head; and silver rings hung round his neck, cloth, a great quantity of beads, several knives, ture period, to send any one to Bornou, he arms, and legs. I offered him the horse I had and a looking glass. He was a very tall and would conduct him there by a safe route, with-purchased at Kano, a fine animal, that had powerful man, with long arms and large out the necessity of going through the Fellata carried me the whole of the way from that hands, on which he wore leather gloves reach-country.' The king of Khiama is, without ex-city; and regretted my inability to make him ing above the elbows. Wore a white straw ception, the finest and handsomest man we had hat, long coat, full white trowsers, and red leather boots. Had black hair and eyes, with a bushy beard and mustaches of the same colour. The Sultan of Youri advised your countrymen to proceed the remainder of the way on land, as the passage by water was rendered dangerous by numerous sunken rocks in the Niger, and a cruel race of people inhabiting the towns on its banks. They refused, however, to accede to this, observing, that they were bound to proceed down the Niger to the salt water. The old mallam further observed, that as soon as the Sultan of Youri heard of their death, he was much affected; but it was out of his power to punish the people who had driven them into the water. A pestilence reaching Boussa at the time, swept off the

6

seen in Africa (far superior to Bello); and,
with the exception of the king of Yariba, was
most respectably dressed.

a more valuable present; but promised, if he permitted two messengers to accompany me to the sea-coast, I would send him something else. In the evening I received a goat and a great "16th. Arrived at Mossa, a town situated on quantity of yams from the king.-27th. The the banks of a river of the same name, which king having desired me to call on some of his divides Yariba from Borgoo. The river was head men, I waited on the master of the horse, overflown, and the current strong and rapid; and two others. The former gave me a goat in consequence of which the people of the town and a bottle of honey. I remarked I was very were afraid to ferry us over. No food of any poor, and could make him no return.-30th. kind this day. 17th. Asked the king of Khia- I informed the king I was short of money, on ma's messenger why he was so much afraid of which he generously sent me a duck and four crossing the water, observing that I had myself thousand cowries (little more than a dollar). swam across many larger and more rapid rivers; The eunuch, the king's head man, begged of and among others mentioned the Niger. The me my remaining pistol, two dollars, and a man, in great trepidation, begged me, as I va- scarlet cap, which I was necessitated to give lued my life, not to mention the names of rivers him. He also wanted my ass to make a fetish, in the hearing of the Mossa, who was a female but this I refused to let him have. This even

*

*

*

ing I sent for the ass from a neighbouring pas- row: they are three deep on the other sides, which has been worn to its present surface by ture, when I found the poor animal had been and united by pointed arches, every four of the millions of touches and kisses it has reshot in the side with two poisoned arrows. I which support a small dome, plastered and ceived. It appeared to me like a lava, conhave no doubt but this cruel action was per- whitened on the outside. These domes, ac- taining several small extraneous particles of a formed at the instigation of the disappointed cording to Kotobeddyn, are one hundred and whitish and of a yellowish substance. Its coeunuch. The beast became a complete skele- fifty-two in number. Along the whole colon-lour is now a deep reddish brown, approaching ton, and after languishing for six days in great nade, on the four sides, lamps are suspended to black: it is surrounded on all sides by a agony, I desired Pascoe and Jowdie to take from the arches. Some are lighted every border, composed of a substance which I took him to a short distance, and cut his throat. night, and all during the nights of Ramadhan. to be a close cement of pitch and gravel, of a When the king heard of the circumstance, he The pillars are above twenty feet in height, similar, but not quite the same brownish colour. immediately ordered the carcass to be cut into and generally from one foot and a half to one This border serves to support its detached quarters, and conveyed to his house. After foot and three quarters in diameter; but little pieces; it is two or three inches in breadth, which he ordered the meat to be dressed, and regularity has been observed in regard to them. and rises a little above the surface of the stone. having assembled his wives and head men, Some are of white marble, granite, or porphyry, Both the border and the stone itself are encirthey regaled themselves on it with peculiar but the greater number are of common stone cled by a silver band, broader below than above satisfaction. Wishing to pay for so delicious a of the Mekka mountains. El Fasy states the and on the two sides, with a considerable swelltreat, the king sent me a goat and a thousand whole at five hundred and eighty-nine, and says ing below, as if a part of the stone were hidden cowries for the dead ass. The people of Yariba they are all of marble, excepting one hundred under it. The lower part of the border is are not very delicate in the choice of their food; and twenty-six, which are of common stone, studded with silver nails. In the south-east they eat frogs, monkeys, dogs, cats, rats, mice, and three of composition. corner of the Kaaba, or, as the Arabs call it, and various other kinds of vermin. A fat dog "Seven paved causeways lead from the co- Roken el Yemány, there is another stone, will always fetch a better price than a goat. lonnades towards the Kaaba, or holy house, in about five feet from the ground; it is one foot Locusts and black ants, just as they are able to the centre. They are of sufficient breadth to and a half in length, and two inches in breadth, take wing, are a great luxury. Caterpillars admit four or five persons to walk abreast, and placed upright, and of the common Mekka also are held in very high estimation. The they are elevated about nine inches above the stone. This the people walking round the caterpillars are stewed, and ate with yams and ground. Between these causeways, which are Kaaba touch only with the right hand: they tuah. Ants and locusts are fried in butter, covered with fine gravel or sand, grass appears do not kiss it. On the north side of the Kaaba, and are said to be delicious. I could never growing in several places, produced by the just by its door, and close to the wall, is a slight make up my mind to taste any of these rich Zemzem water oozing out of the jars, which hollow in the ground, lined with marble, and insects; Pascoe, however, is particularly fond are placed in the ground in long rows during sufficiently large to admit of three persons sitof them, and calls them land-shrimps. It is a the day. ting. Here it is thought meritorious to pray: custom in Katunga, when the king dies, for "The Kaaba is an oblong massive structure, the spot is called El Madjen, and supposed to his eldest son, first wife, and all the head men eighteen paces in length, fourteen in breadth, be that where Abraham and his son Ismayl of the kingdom, to drink poison over his grave, and from thirty-five to forty feet in height. I kneaded the chalk and mud which they used in and are afterwards buried with him. None of took the bearing of one of its longest sides, and building the Kaaba; and near this Madjen the king's sons ever come to the throne. After found it to be N.N.W. W. It is constructed the former is said to have placed the large stone the king's death, his successor is chosen from of the gray Mekka stone, in large blocks of upon which he stood while working at the among the wisest persons of the country; an different sizes, joined together in a very rough masonry. On the basis of the Kaaba, just over elderly man is generally preferred. Remained manner, and with bad cement. It was entirely the Madjen, is an ancient Cufic inscription; at Katunga till the 21st of October, when the rebuilt as it now stands in A.D. 1627: the but this I was unable to decipher, and had no king gave me 4000 cowries, and some trona to torrent, in the preceding year, had thrown opportunity of copying it. I do not find it sell on the road. He ordered his head mes- down three of its sides; and preparatory to its mentioned by any of the historians. On the sengers to accompany me, with a desire they re-erection, the fourth side was, according to west side of the Kaaba, about two feet below should command the chiefs of every town Asamy, pulled down, after the olemas, or learn- its summit, is the famous Myzab, or waterthrough which we were to pass, to contribute, ed divines, had been consulted on the question, spout, through which the rain-water collected according to their means, to our support." whether mortals might be permitted to destroy on the roof of the building is discharged, so as any part of the holy edifice without incurring to fall upon the ground; it is about four feet the charge of sacrilege and infidelity. The in length, and six inches in breadth, as well as Kaaba stands upon a base two feet in height, I could judge from below, with borders equal which presents a sharp inclined plane; its roof in height to its breadth. At the mouth hangs being flat, it has at a distance the appearance what is called the beard of the Myzab, a gilt of a perfect cube. The only door which affords board, over which the water falls. This spout entrance, and which is opened but two or three was sent hither from Constantinople in A.H. times in the year, is on the north side, and 981, and is reported to be of pure gold. The about seven feet above the ground. In enter- pavement round the Kaaba, below the Myzab, ing it, therefore, wooden steps are used-of was laid down in A.H. 826, and consists of them I shall speak hereafter. In the first various-coloured stones, forming a very handperiods of Islam, however, when it was rebuilt some specimen of mosaic. There are two large in A.H. 64, by Ibn Zebeyr, chief of Mekka, slabs of fine verde-antico in the centre, which, the nephew of Aysha, it had two doors even according to Makrizi, were sent thither as prewith the ground floor of the mosque. The sents from Cairo, in A.H. 241. This is the present door (which, according to Azraky, was spot where, according to Mohammedan tradibrought hither from Constantinople in 1633,) tion, Ismayl, the son of Ibrahim, or Abraham, is wholly coated with silver, and has several and his mother Hagar, are buried; and here it gilt ornaments. Upon its threshold are placed is meritorious for the pilgrim to recite a prayer every night various small lighted wax candles, of two rikats. On this west side is a semiand perfuming-pans, filled with musk, aloewood, &c. At the north-east corner of the Kaaba, near the door, is the famous Black Stone;' it forms a part of the sharp angle of the building, at four or five feet above the ground. It is an irregular oval, about seven "The four sides of the Kaaba are covered inches in diameter, with an undulated surface, with a black silk stuff, hanging down, and "The Kaaba stands in an oblong square, composed of about a dozen smaller stones of leaving the roof bare. This curtain, or veil, is two hundred and fifty paces long, and two hun- different sizes and shapes, well joined together called kesoua, and renewed annually at the dred broad, none of the sides of which run quite with a small quantity of cement, and perfectly time of the Hadj, being brought from Cairo, in a straight line, though at first sight the smoothed: it looks as if the whole had been where it is manufactured at the grand seignior's whole appears to be of a regular shape. This broken into many pieces by a violent blow, and expense. On it are various prayers interwoven open square is enclosed on the eastern side by then united again. It is very difficult to de- in the same colour as the stuff, and it is, therea colonnade: the pillars stand in a quadruple termine accurately the quality of this stone, fore, extremely difficult to read them. A little

It must be very inconvenient to place old persons on the throne, seeing that the poisoning ceremony at their death is likely to deprive the country of all its head men. Were such the custom in England, what changes in the house of peers and in the ministry would be frequent! it might however have the effect of lessening the love of, and struggle for, high places. At Badagry the Portuguese traders tried to poison poor Lander, but he escaped. We notice the fact, as a clue to much of the jealousy and cruelty which this expedition experienced at the hands of the natives. The slave dealers at least succeeded in poisoning the minds of the Africans; and thus we have to record, independently of climate, the very fatal issue of the

mission.

MEKKA.

Burckhardt's Travels in Arabia. CONTINUING the review from our last, and the account given of the curiosities of Mekka, we must confine ourselves to a portion of what relates to the Kaaba, which stands in the middle of the great mosque Beitullah, or El Haram, remarkable only on account of the avorshipped object which it encloses.

circular wall, the two extremities of which are in a line with the sides of the Kaaba, and distant from it three or four feet, leaving an opening which leads to the burying-place of Ismayl.

*

The Life and Times of William Laud, D.D., Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. By J. Par. ker Lawson, M.A. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1829. Rivingtons.

ments.

above the middle, and running round the minute, and adapt his features to his purpose | twenty years in London before he ventures to whole building, is a line of similar inscriptions, in the most skilful manner. He was a native describe it in any part. We do not believe worked in gold thread. That part of the ke- of Brusa, and amassed a considerable sum of this author had seen its outside half a year soua which covers the door is richly embroi- money. Near the gate of the mosque called before he thought he could lift all its veils. dered with silver. Openings are left for the Bab-es'-Salam, a few Arab sheikhs daily take Black Stone, and the other in the south-east their seat, with their ink-stand and paper, corner, which thus remain uncovered. The ready to write, for any applicant, letters, ackesoua is always of the same form and pattern. counts, contracts, or any similar document. The black colour of the kesoua, They also deal in written charms, like those covering a large cube in the midst of a vast current in the black countries, such as amu- THE immense quantity that has been written square, gives to the Kaaba, at first sight, a very lets, and love-receipts, called Kotob muhbat and published about Laud, is a sufficient proof singular and imposing appearance; as it is o kuboul.' They are principally employed by of the vast importance of his character and not fastened down tightly, the slightest breeze Bedouins, and demand an exorbitant remu- deeds to English history. We have therefore causes it to move in slow undulations, which neration. Winding-sheets (keffen), and other been surprised to find a very brilliant critic in are hailed with prayers by the congregation linen washed in the waters of Zemzem, are the Edinburgh Review endeavouring to repreassembled around the building, as a sign of the constantly seen hanging to dry between the sent him as an imbecile, pusillanimous, and presence of its guardian angels, whose wings, columns. Many hadjys purchase at Mekka feeble personage: -the man who performed so by their motion, are supposed to be the cause the shroud in which they wish to be buried, high a part, must have had superior endowof the waving of the covering. Seventy thou- and wash it themselves at the well of Zemzem, At the same time, we are ready to sand angels have the Kaaba in their holy care, supposing that, if the corpse be wrapped in allow that Laud was a zealot, if not a bigot, and are ordered to transport it to Paradise linen which has been wetted with this holy narrow in his principles, and harsh and cruel when the trumpet of the last judgment shall water, the peace of the soul after death will in his disposition. It is of the nature of relibe sounded. The clothing of the Kaaba was an be more effectually secured. Some hadjys make gious contention and of political struggle, to ancient custom of the Pagan Arabs." harden the hearts and exasperate the feelings rally, but the mosque in particular, abounds of all concerned in them: and looking at this with flocks of wild pigeons, which are con- period with impartiality, it must be confessed, sidered to be the inviolable property of the that oppression, tyranny, and persecution, on temple, and are called the Pigeons of the the one hand, was encountered by hatred, barBeitullah. Nobody dares to kill any of them, barity, and ruthless revenge, on the other. "It is only during the hours of prayer that even when they enter the private houses. In Laud has been identified with the high church the great mosques of these countries partake of the square of the mosque several small stone and state party, and consequently assailed by the sanctity of prayer, or in any degree seem basins are regularly filled with water for their dissenters and whigs; but the church ought to to be regarded as consecrated places. In El use; here also Arab women expose to sale, be independent of such a supporter, and the Azhar, the first mosque at Cairo, I have seen upon small straw mats, corn and durra, which state dissociated from such an ally-though boys crying pancakes for sale, barbers shaving the pilgrims purchase and throw to the pigeons. Laud and Stafford were, in bad times, obliged to their customers, and many of the lower orders I have seen some of the public women take be sacrificed, before the altar and the throne eating their dinners, where, during prayers, this mode of exhibiting themselves, and of bar- could be overturned. The present work is one not the slightest motion, nor even whisper, gaining with the pilgrims, under pretence of of laborious partisanship, which may be upheld diverts the attention of the congregation. Not selling them corn for the sacred pigeons." by ultra principles, and assailed by the opposite a sound but the voice of the imam is heard There are also many pigeons which do not spirit, as a politico-polemical publication; but fly; but of these, under the name of pilgrims, it can never take its place as authentic history. &c., we have already extracted an account: we We could wish to see a good volume on the will leave the scene of hypocrisy, credulity, and literary portion of Laud's life, in which he was human absurdity, with one other quotation; truly great, and respecting which, much that is but cannot find space for it till our next No. new and interesting might be procured.

The following are also remarkable particulars; and,-considering that Mekka has never been painted by a Christian or renegade or impostor hand, that we are aware of,-possessing more than common interest.

this linen an article of traffic. Mekka

SIGHTS OF BOOKS.

gene

during prayers in the great mosque at Mekka,
which at other times is the place of meeting
for men of business to converse on their affairs,
and is sometimes so full of poor hadjys, or of
diseased persons lying about under the colon-
nade, in the midst of their miserable baggage,
as to have the appearance of an hospital rather
than a temple. Boys play in the great square, A Second Judgment of Babylon the Great; or,
and servants carry luggage across it, to pass by more Men and Things in the British Capital.
the nearest route from one part of the town to By the Author of "Babylon the Great."
the other. In these respects the temple of 2 vols. London, 1829. H. Colburn.
Mekka resembles the other great mosques of THIS is book-manufacturing, wholesale, and
the East. But the holy Kaaba is rendered the not book-writing. The first Babylon was the
scene of such indecencies and criminal acts, as production of a shrewd, observant person, who
cannot with propriety be more particularly knew nothing of the interior and finer charac-
noticed. They are not only practised here teristics of the immense city about which he
with impunity, but, it may be said, almost made a three-volumed work: his knowledge
publicly; and my indignation has often been went not beyond the newspaper and the maga-
excited, on witnessing abominations which zine-publications laudable in their way, but
called forth from other passing spectators no- by no means lights to the real illumination of
thing more than a laugh or a slight reprimand. society. Yet the talent of the author enabled
In several parts of the colonnade public schools him to produce one of those publications which
are held, where young children are taught to have their readers and their day, and are for-
spell and read: they form most noisy groups, gotten. Their merits entitle them to no se-
and the schoolmaster's stick is in constant quel, and they ought to have none; and they
action. Some learned men of Mekka deliver would have none, unless book-making were a
lectures on religious subjects every afternoon trade in which routine and system usurped the
under the colonnade, but the auditors are prerogatives of intelligence and genius. The vo-
seldom numerous.
On Fridays, after prayer, lumes now before us are wearisome common-
some Turkish olemas explain to their country-places about the law, and the Stock Exchange,
men assembled around them a few chapters of and banking, and gaming-houses, and theatres,
the Koran, after which each of the audience and Jews, and vestries, and other topics which
kisses the hand of the expositor, and drops are discussed in every journal that issues from
money into his cap. I particularly admired the press. There is good sense enough in
the fluency of speech of one of these olemas, stringing these things together; but neither ori-
although I did not understand him, the lecture ginality of observation, depth of thought, nor
being delivered in the Turkish language. His pointedness of language, to render them more
gesticulations, and the inflexions of his voice, engaging in this dully-laborious concoction.
were most expressive; but, like an actor on We cannot select one extract that could amuse
the stage, he would laugh and cry in the same or inform our readers. An author should live

January 27th, 1829.

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. THE ball given by son altesse la Duchesse de Berri has, in some degree, given a variety to conversation; and instead of being asked, "Is it not very cold?"-" What horrid weather!" one hears a detailed account of the costume worn by her royal highness, the number of quadrilles she danced, who appeared her favourite cavaliers (for princesses are allowed a plurality), the name of the gentleman who leaned over her chair at supper, the colour of his hair, the form of his moustache, how his cravat was tied, the exact measure of his waist, the words he addressed to the duchess, her reply, and a thousand anecdotes suited to fashionable gossip. The fête was most brilliant. The walls of the palace were decorated with the richest tapestry, and the corridors lined with orange trees laden with their fruit, ever-greens, roses, and even lilies, in blossom; so that January and May were united. L'homme le plus aimable was his Majesty Charles X.; he, however, only remained until half-past eleven: French ladies pretend that no one is si charmant, si galant; for that he always forgets the king, and only remembers the courtier, when he is in society. A supper of eighteen hundred covers was served at one, and lasted until five o'clock in the morning. The entertainment, I understand, cost eighty thousand francs. The duchess sent ten thousand francs to the poor on the following day.

There are at present few decided mendi