notice of the approach of any enemy, and particularly of the Turks, who formerly made irruptions into this province. The fires lighted here were preceded, or attended, by the explosion of several mortars placed upon the aforesaid heaps of wood, in order the more effectually and expeditiously to alarm the country, and draw together the people, either to defend themselves, or make their escape from the enemy. These places are stiled by the Carnioleze Kreutt, or Creutzfeuer. This region is very mountainous, and therefore more capable of affording such early intelligence to the natives of an enemy's approach. The established religion here is the Roman Catholic, though the Usgoki, or Usgoks, observe the rites and ceremonies of the Greek church. The men among the Usgoks esteem it honourable to defer the consummation of marriage four or five years; which they frequently do. Some of them attain to an extreme old age, of which Valvasor mentions one, who died a little before the year 1689, aged 124 years. But he was much younger than a Turk, who died in the castle of Perussich about 1684, and compleated his 190th year. Usgok in the Sclavonian language signifies a fugitive, or deserter, this people having fled from Turkey into Carniola near two-hundred years ago. Carniola is watered by several rivers, and some of note, of which the principal is the Save. These abound with fish of various kinds, particularly pikes, or jacks, and river crabs. Of the former several weigh twenty, thirty, and even forty pounds; and of the latter many are fifteen or sixteen inches long. They also produce a fish called Pfrillen, so extremely small, that twenty or thirty of them may be swallowed at once; and trouts of a purple colour, often twenty-five pounds weight. As for the woods in this province; they are large and numerous, and harbour a great variety of animals; of which at present we shall mention only two or three species. There are some vipers here as thick as a lusty man's arm, though not above three spans long. Scorpions are found under the large stones in these woods, and particularly those on the Carnian Alps, in such vast numbers, that incredible quantities of them are exported from hence into foreign countries. The bramble-bushes also are frequently in a manner covered with a small lucid worm, about an inch and half long, and as thick as a goose-quill, emitting light in the night time from its whole body, and not from one particular part only, as glow-worms do. There is, besides, an animal that lives in woods, particularly those consisting chiefly of beech trees, peculiar to this country, called by the Germans Pilich, or Bilch, and by the Carnioleze Pouh. It is a little bigger than a dormouse, of an ash colour, and not unlike a squirrel. It lives under ground all the winter season, and has no other nourishment, whilst in that situation, than what it receives by licking a certain stone. But, in summer, some thousands of these animals issue fre quently out of one hole. The vulgar think that they are drove out from thence in these numbers by the devil to feed, who for this purpose makes use either of the sound of a whip or a whistle; and that chiefly on sabbath days, and other holidays, in the evening. It is likewise said, that this infernal shepherd, at their first appearance, makes an incision in one of their ears, in order to mark them. Be that as it will, it is certain such an incision is visible in every one of these creatures, after

it has been some time out of its hole; whereas all the young ones takeД in the hole, though full grown and advult, have nothing of that kind discernible upon them. Most of the Carnioleze use them for food, the fat with which they abound, when rightly seasoned with salt, rendering them very elegant and delicious; but several will not touch them, on account of the vulgar notion above mentioned. They likewise make use of their skins or furs to line the garments which they wear in cold weather. They cover these with a preparation made of chalk or lime, in such a manner, that they appear full of black spots, and extremely beautiful. And of these furs they sell vast numbers to the Dalmatians, Turks, Croats, and neighbouring Germans. The bears, stags, and wild boars, in the woods of Carniola, are said to be larger than those met with in any other part of Europe; and the eagles, many of which birds are found here, according to some, are of such an enormous size, that they will carry in their talons through the air a full grown sheep. There are likewise here numerous flocks of pigeons that lie concealed, all the winter, in the caverns of the mountains, but at the first appearance of the spring fly from thence by myriads, and disperse themselves all over the country. Many of the stones called by naturalists glossopetræ are produced in four districts of Carniola, as well as the island of Malta, of different sizes, the smallest weighing about the eighth part of an ounce, and the largest ten ounces. Considerable quantities also of petrified cockles, oysters, &c. occur in several places. Valvasor relates, that there are in this region thirteen sorts of marble, of different colours, some of which are finely variegated; but several of the natives increase this number. Many of the glossopetræ abovementioned perfectly resemble a viper's tongue, and some of them, especially the largest, are esteemed as great curiosities. The iron mines here it will be sufficient just to mention; amongst those of quicksilver, or mercury, the most famous is that at Idria, described by Dr. Pope, Dr. Brown, and Baron Valvasor, which was first discovered in the year 1497. For a description of the famous Lake of Circkniz, or Circknitz, the Palus Lugea of Strabo, we shall beg leave to refer our curious readers to M. Schönleben, and Baron Valvasor; and in the mean time observe, that the subterraneous fountains and rivers in the neighbourhood of the place, together with the stormy and tempestuous weather abovementioned, will enable us to account sufficiently for the wonderful phænomena of that lake. Sometimes it has been known to appear and disappear several times in a year; and at other times, though rarely, to remain one, two, three, four, or even five years together, as in the year 1655, &c. The town, from which it derives its name, stands about six German miles from Laubach, and was plundered four times by the Turks, between the years 1522 and 1560.

We must not omit observing here, that our landlord seemed to pay some regard to what Baron Valvasor has related of the Vampyres, said to infest some parts of this country. These Vampyres are supposed to be the bodies of deceased persons, animated by evil spirits, which come out of the graves, in the night time, suck the blood of many of the living, • See likewise Philos. Trensact. Num. 191. where a full and ample account of this surprizing

Lake is given.

and thereby destroy them. Such a notion will, probably, be looked upon as fabulous and exploded, by many people in England; however, it is not only countenanced by Baron Valvasor, and many Carnioleze noblemen, gentlemen, &c. as we were informed, but likewise actually embraced by some writers of good authority. M. Jo. Henr Zopfius, director of the Gymnafium of Essen, a person of great erudition, has published a dissertation upon them, which is extremely learned and curious, from whence we shall beg leave to transcribe the following paragraph: "The Vampyres, which come out of the graves in the "night-time, rush upon people sleeping in their beds, suck out all their "blood, and destroy them. They attack men, women, and children, sparing neither age nor sex. The people attacked by them complain "of suffocation, and a great interception of spirits; after which, they "soon expire. Some of them, being asked, at the point of death, what "is the matter with them, say they suffer in the manner just related "from people lately dead, or rather the spectres of those people; upon "which, their bodies, from the description given of them, by the sick

person, being dug out of the graves, appear in all parts, as the nos "trils, cheeks, breast, mouth, &c. turgid and full of blood. Their "countenances are fresh and ruddy; and their nails, as well as hair, very much grown. And, though they have been much longer dead "than many other bodies, which are perfectly putrified, not the least "mark of corruption is visible upon them. Those who are destroyed

ແ

by them, after their death, become Vampyres; so that, to prevent "so spreading an evil, it is found requisite to drive a stake through "the dead body, from whence, on this occasion, the blood flows as if "the person was alive. Sometimes the body is dug out of the grave, " and burnt to ashes; upon which, all disturbances cease. The Hungarians call these spectres Pamgri, and the Servians Vampyres; but the etymon, or reason of these names, is not known." Vid. Dissert. de Vampyris Serviensibus quam Suprem. Numin. Auspic. Præsid. M. Joan, Henr. Zopfio Gymnas. Assind. Direct. publicè defend. &c. Christ. Frid. Van Dalen Emmericens. &c. p. 6, 7. Duisburgi ad Rhenum, Typis Johannis Sas, Academiæ Typographi, Anno MDCCXXXIII.

These spectres are reported to have infested several districts of Servia, and the bannat of Temeswaer, in the year 1725, and for seven or eight years afterwards, particularly those of Mevadia, or Meadia, and Parakin, near the Morava. In 1732, we had a relation of some of their feats in the neighbourhood of Cassovia; and the publick prints took notice of the tragedies they acted in the bannat of Temeswaer, in the year 1738. Father Gabriel Rzaczynski, in his natural history of the kingdom of Poland, and the great duchy of Lithuania, published at Sendomir, in 1721, affirms, that in Russia, Poland, and the great

• Essen is an Imperial city in the dutchy of Bergue, that enjoys many privileges granted it by the Emperor Charles V. in 1523. Here is a noble and rich nunnery, founded by St. Alfrid, Bishop of Hildersheim, about the year 877: to which at present belongs the greatest part of the town, together with several large manours in the neighbourhood. The revenues were at first settled for the maintenance of fifty-two nuns and twenty canons; but these numbers have since been retrenched. Some time since, scarce any girls were admitted into the nunnery, but the daughters of barons, and other superior nobility. These ladies are at liberty to marry, when they please. Here is also a fine Gymnasium for the liberal education of youth."

dutchy of Lithuania, dead bodies, actuated by infernal spirits, sometimes enter people's houses in the night, fall upon men, women, and children, and attempt to suffocate them; and that of such diabolical facts his countrymen have several very authentic relations. The Poles call a man's body thus informed Upier, and that of a woman Upierzyca, i. e. a winged or feathered creature; which name seems to be deduced from the surprising lightness and activity of these incarnate demons. If we remember right, an account of them also, from Poland, is to be met with, in some of the news-papers for 1693, perfectly agreeing with those of the Servian Vampyres given us by M. Zopfius. In fine, the notion of such pestiferous beings has prevailed from time immemorial over a great part of Hungary, Servia, Carniola, Poland, &c. as is evinced by several authors in conjunction with the aforesaid M. Zopfius. To which we shall beg leave to add, that the antient Greeks also seem to have been firmly persuaded, that dead bodies were sometimes acted by evil spirits, as appears from a fragment of Phlegon t. Neither is this opinion, however it may be ridiculed by many people, altogether without foundation; since the Supreme Being may make wicked spirits his instruments of punishment here, as well as plagues, wars, famines, &c. and, that he actually has done so, is sufficiently apparent from scripture, to omit what has been said on this head by some of the most eminent profane authors.

Before we take leave of the city of Laubach, it will be proper to observe, that, though the bulk of the people there speak the Carniolian or Sclavonian tongue, and have some customs peculiar to themselves, they agree in most points with the other Germans. All the people of fashion and distinction speak German fluently and purely.-Laubach was taken by Ottocar, King of Bohemia, in 1269; and attacked ineffectually by the Turks in 1472 and 1484. Albert, Archduke of Austria, likewise failed in his attempt upon it, in 1441. The streets are not very broad, nor the houses grand; though, every thing considered, it may be esteemed a fine city. Here we lay, for the first time, betwixt two feather beds; which threw the writer of this account into so violent a sweat, that he had scarce any rest all night, and found himself extremely faint the next morning. Many of the Germans, however, like this sort of lodging; though it is very disagreeable, for the most part, to gentlemen of other nations.

Many authors might here be produced, but we shall content ourselves with the two following. P. Gengell, S. I. in Evers. Atheism. & P. Gabr. Rzaczynski, in Hist. Nat. Curios. Regn. Polon. magn. Ducat. Lituan. annexarumque Provinciar. in Tract. 20 divis. p. 365. Sandomiriæ, 1721.

+ Phlegon. Trallian. de Reb. admirabil. cap. 1.

See Calmet's Dissertation upon good and bad Angels, prefixed to his Comment, on St. Luke; as also his Biblical Dictionary, at the words Angels, Demon, Devil, Diabolus, Satan, &c. Many texts might be produced on this occasion; but the following will be sufficient to prove what is here advanced. Psalm lxxviii. v. 49. Job, chap. i. Matth. chap. xii. v. 22-32. Mark, chap. iii. v. 82—31. Luke, chap. xi. v. 14-31. Chap. xii. v. 16. Acts, chap. xix.

7.13-17.

Journey from Laubach, or Lubiana, to Gratz, the Metropolis of the

Dutchy of Stiria.

MS.

NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.

SECT. III.

THE post-horses we took at Laubach carried us to a village called by the natives, Puotpoiz, and by the Germans, Podbetsch. This seems to be the Popetsch of Mercator; and if so, that author has placed it too near the Save. About a German mile from Laubach, we passed the Save, at Porator, over a very large wooden bridge. Porator is a place of so little note, that it is not to be met with in any of the maps of Carniola. About half a German mile from Porator we also passed the river Feistricz, which has its source in a neighbouring ridge of mountains that seems to separate Carniola from Carinthia. These mountains we take to be the same with those called by Baron Valvasor the mountains of Feistricz, which, according to him, are the highest in Carniola. Some of them he affirms to be ten thousand two hundred and seventy-four geometrical feet high. The most famous mountains of Carniola taken notice of by the antients were Carvanca, Carusadius, Cetius, Ocra, Albius, Phlygadius, Alpius, and Picis, whose respective situations are determined with great accuracy by Valvasor. Cetius in particular, according to him, is a long chain of mountains extending from Laubach to Vienna; though the distance between these two cities is above fifty German miles, of which Mount Kalenberg is a part. The country between Laubach and Podbetsch was pleasant enough, several species of flowers appearing in some parts of it, as forerunners of the spring. It may not be improper to observe on this occasion, that a vast variety of flowers is found in Carniola; that region producing at least thirty-five different species of anemone's, eighteen or twenty of ranunculus's, and above seventy of hyacinths. We paid for passing the Save and the Feistricz about half a forin. Podbetsch is near two German miles and a half from Laubach, and a place that makes no great figure. Here we staid about an hour, greased our chaises wheels, took fresh horses, and then set out for San Osgualdo, the next post-town.

Nothing curious or remarkable presented itself to our view this post. We were drawn up the hill of San Osgualdo, which is very high and steep, by oxen. This cost us fifteen grosse, and pretty much fatigued us. The Emperor's postiglioni here, as well as in the other hereditary dominions of the House of Austria, have strings going over their shoulders, to which their horns are fastened, striped with black and yellow. They are all in this country extremely strong and hail

• Carniola belonged to Sclavonia, before it was annexed to the dominions of the House of Austria; and even at this day the language of that country is a dialect of the Sclavonian, and the Carnioleze in almost all points resemble the Sclavonians much more than the Germans. For which reason we hcre distinguish between the Carnioleze and the Germans.