Pastime. would be too rude and barbarous for the attendants on pleasure in the present age. The hand would tremble at the weight of the javelin; and the heart would pant upon the apprehension of personal insecurity. While these exertions of triumphant prowess continued, the sordid degeneracy of disposition, the supple baseness of temper, were unknown for the love of country, as the Roman orator has wisely observed, included all other virtues. But if we guard the palace of honour, like the brazen castle of Danaë, with every possible security, importunate corruption will be ever waiting at the gate, to seize an opportunity of intrusion. These feats of honourable contest were succeeded by the gilded banners of exhibition, and all the long train of dependents' in the interest of indolence: for the writers of these times inform us, that the soft pleasures of the stage forced the passes to public favour in the year 1391, and likewise in the year 1409; so that utility, which before stood on the right hand of pleasure, was now ordered to withdraw for a season. The drama, it seems, was attempted by set of useless and insignificant persons called parishclerks; who, because they had the knowledge of the alphabet, ignorantly presumed that this included every other species of knowledge. The subject was truly serious, the creation of the world; but the performance must have been ludicrous. It was, however, honoured with the attendance of noble personages; and royalty itself deigned to cast a favourable eye upon it, for the king and queen were present. These interludes lasted no longer than the time requisite for the former confederacy of utility and pleasure to resume its powers; as when the pliable bow by being too much bent is put out of shape, and by its elasticity recovers its former position. The lance, the shield, the ball, and the equestrian procession, came forward again, and put the dramatic usurper to flight. After this period, these objects of nerous pleasure seem to have had their audience of leave, and one general object, indeed no less manly than the former, to have filled their stations, which was archery. This had a continuance to the reign of Charles I.; for we find in many hospitals founded in that reign, among the articles of benefaction recorded upon their walls, this singular provision, arms for the boys, which signified bows and arrows.

ge

There are many places at this day, formerly resorted to, for the practice of this noble art, distinguished by appellations which indicate their ancient usage: such as Brentford Butts, Newington Butts, and many others of the like denomination. It appears from 33 Hen. VIII. that by the intrusion of other pernicious games, archery had been for a long time disused; to revive which this statute was made. It seems that the bows of the best

kind were made of yew; and that this wood might be readily obtained for this purpose, yew-trees were planted in church-yards. The sons of those only who were persons of fortune and fashion, if under 17 years of age, were permitted to use such bows. The words of the statute are singular, and ran thus: "No person under seventeen years, except he, or his father or mother, have lands or tenements to the yearly value of ten pounds, or be worth in value or moveables the sum of forty marks sterling, shall shoot with any bow of yew, which shall be bought for him, after the feast of our Lady next coming, under the pain to lose and forfeit six six shillings and eight pence." Two observations arise here upon these words. One, that the yew-wood, not being so common as other wood, might probably be soon found deficient, as it was the best wood for making bows, if not restrained in the use of it to particular ages and persons, as young people wantonly destroy what is put into their hands for useful purposes. The other observation is, that the age of 17 is by this statute distinguished as the age of discretion, when young people are more attentive and considerate in things of private concern; an age in these times which few ever arrive at, and some never. This statute makes provision of other kinds of wood for the common people in the following manner : "To the intent that every person may have bows of mean price, be it enacted, that every bowyer shall, for every bow that he maketh of yew, make four other bows, meet to shoot with, of elm, witch hasil, ash, or other wood apt for the same, under pain to lose and forfeit for every such bow so lacking the sum of three shillings and fourpence." It seems there was a species of yew at this time called elk, which wood was stronger and more pliant than the common yew mentioned in this statute, and the price of it fixed. "Moreover, no bowyer shall sell or put to sale to any of the king's subjects, any bow of yew of the tax called elk, above the price of three shillings and fourpence, under the pain to forfeit twenty shillings for every bow sold above the said price."

From these several considerations which occur in this statute, we can trace three resplendent qualities, courage, strength, and agility; which three united, inspired to more, generosity and magnanimity. Upon the decline of this and other polished (E) amusements, a savage deformity of manners sprung up, but spangled here and there with the opposite character of lazy opulence, which began now to erect her velvet standard in defiance of chaste and regular manners.

Towards the beginning of James I.'s reign, military prowess seems to have sounded a retreat (F). He, to gratify the importunity of the common people, and at

the

belonging to the pentandria class; and in the natural Pastinaca method ranking under the 45th order, Umbellatæ. See BOTANY Index.

Pastime, the same time to obviate his own fears upon a refusal, Pastinaca, published a book of sports, in which the people had been some time before usually indulged on Sunday evenings, but which had been lately prohibited. These sports consisted of dancing, singing, wrestling, church ales, and other profanations of that day.

Charles, his successor, wisely, in the very entrance of his reign, abolished these sports. The act of Charles states the several amusements in part; by which we may conjecture what was the remainder as stated in the book of sports by James. It is necessary to transcribe that part of the act relating to this subject. "Forasmuch as there is nothing more acceptable to God, than the true and sincere worship of Him, and service according to His holy will, and that the holy keeping of the Lord's day is a principal part of the service of God, which in many places of this realm hath been, and now is, prophaned and neglected by a disorderly sort of people, in exercising and frequenting bear-baiting, bull-baiting, interludes, and common-plays, and other unlawful exercises and pastimes, neglecting divine service both in their own parishes and elsewhere: Be it enacted, that from and after forty days next after the end of this session of parliament, there shall be no meetings, assemblies, or concourse of people, out of their own parishes, on the Lord's day, within this realm of England, or any the dominions thereof, for any sports or pastimes whatsoever: nor any bear-baiting, bull-baiting, interludes, common plays, or other unlawful exercises or pastimes, used by any person or persons within their own parishes: and that every person and persons offending in any of the said premises, shall forfeit for every offence the sum of three shillings and fourpence; the same to be employed and converted to the use of the poor of the parish where such offence shall be committed." All this was perhaps proper, and showed the distinguished piety of this unfortunate monarch. But in this age likewise ended the manly sports of Britons, and nothing was in troduced that could compensate for the loss.

All these lusory arts, considered as vehicles of pleasure, from the variety of their inventions, represent pleasure as a fleeting phantom: evincing at the same time the stability of happiness as springing from internal order. Even reflex acts, pregnant with future hopes of solace and social recreation, have more true feelings in expectancy than those which arise from the object in possession. Nay, pleasure is found frequently in the imagination only: for Ixion's disappointment frequently awaits us when we advance to embrace this Juno of our desires.

Upon the whole, happiness, the only thing of intrinsic value, must arise in the heart, and be something more solid than what mere amusement can possibly supply. Amusements or pastimes ought to be considered only as necessary relaxations from severer and more useful employment; and in this point of view they may be solely pursued; but they become criminal when they occupy the place of the business of life.

PASTINACA, the PARSNEP, a genus of plants

PASTOPHORI, among the ancients, were priests whose office it was to carry the images, along with the shrines of the gods, at solemn festivals, when they were to pray to them for rain, fair weather, or the like. The Greeks had a college of this order of priests in Sylla's time. The cells or apartments near the temples, where the pastophori lived, were called pastophoria. There were several lodging rooms for the priests of a similar kind in the temple of Jerusalem.

PASTORAL, in general, something that relates to shepherds: hence we say, pastoral life, manners, poetry, &c..

Pataci.

Pastoral life may be considered in three different Blair's views; either such as it now actually is; when the Lectures, state of shepherds is reduced to be a mean, servile, and vol. iii. laborious state; when their employments are become P. 117. disagreeable, and their ideas gross and low or such as we may suppose it once to have been, in the more early and simple ages, when it was a life of ease and abundance; when the wealth of men consisted chiefly in flocks and herds, and the shepherd, though unrefined in his manners, was respectable in his state; or lastly, such as it never was, and never can in reality be, when, to the ease, innocence, and simplicity of the early ages, we attempt to add the polished taste and cultivated manners of modern times. Of these three states, the first is too gross and mean, the last too refined and unnatural, to be made the groundwork of pastoral poetry. Either of these extremes is a rock upon which the poet will split, if he approach too near it. We will be disgusted if he give us too much of the servile employments and low ideas of actual peasants, as Theocritus is censured for having sometimes done; and if, like some of the French and Italian writers of pastorals, he make his shepherds discourse as if they were courtiers and scholars, he then retains the name only, but wants the spirit of pastoral poetry.

PASTORAL Poetry. See POETRY, Part II. sect. 4. PASTRY, that branch of cookery which is chiefly taken up in making pies, pasties, cakes, &c. See PASTE. Dr Cullen observes, that paste is very hard and indigestible without butter; and even with it, is apt to produce heartburn and acescency. Perhaps this is increased by the burned butter, from a certain sensibility in the stomach, which occasions all empyreumatic oils to be long retained, and so produce acidity.

PASTURË, or PASTURE Land, is that reserved for feeding cattle. See AGRICULTURE Index.

PATCI, in Mythology, images of gods which the Phoenicians carried on the prows of their gallies. Herodotus, lib. iv. calls them alwxo The word is Phoenician, and derived from pethica, i. e. titulus. See Bocchart's Chanaan, lib. ii, cap. 3. But Scaliger does not agree. Morin derives it from inxos, monkey, this animal having been an object of worship among the Egyptians, and hence might have been honoured by their

Pataci, their neighbours. Mr Elsner has observed, that HePatagonia rodotus does not call the patæci gods; but that they obtained this dignity from the liberality of Hesychius and Suidas, and other ancient lexicographers, who place them at the stern of ships; whereas Herodotus placed them at the prow. Scaliger, Bochart, and Selden, have taken some pains about this subject.-M. Morin has also given us a learned dissertation on this head, in the Memoires de l'Acad. des Inscript. et Belles Lettres, tom. i.; but Mr Elsner thinks it defective in point of evidence.

PATAGONIA, a country of South America, comprehending all that country extending from Chili and Paraguay to the utmost extremity of South America ; that is, from 35° almost to 54° of latitude: being surrounded by the countries just mentioned, the South and North seas, and the straits of Magellan, which separate it from the island called Terra del Fuego, and extend about 116 leagues in length from sca to sea, but only from half a league to three or four in breadth.

This country had the name of Terra Magellanica, from Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese officer in the service of the Catholic king, who is reported to have sailed through the straits that also bear his name, from the North to the South sea, in the year 1519.

The lofty mountains of the Andes, which are covered with snow a great part of the year, traversing the country from north to south, the air is said to be much colder than in the north under the same parallels of latitude. Towards the north, it is said to be covered with wood, and stored with n inexhaustible fund of large timber; whereas, to the southward, not so much as a single tree fit for any mechanical purpose is to be seen yet there is good pasture, and incredible numbers of wild horned cattle and horses, which were first brought hither by the Spaniards, and have increased amazingly. Fresh water, we are told by some writers, is very scarce; but if that were really the case, it is difficult to conceive how the present inhabitants and such multitudes of cattle could subsist. The east coast is mostly low land, with few or no good harbours: one of the best is Port St Julian.

Patagonia is inhabited by a variety of Indian tribes; as the Patagons, from which the country takes its name; the Pampas, the Cossares, &c. of whom we know very little. Only it appears, from the accounts of former voyagers, lately confirmed by Commodore Byron and his crew, and the testimonies of other navigators, that some of them are of a gigantic stature, and clothed with skins; but it would seem that there are others who go almost quite naked, notwithstanding the inclemency of the climate. Some of them also, that live about the straits, if we may credit the navigators who have passed that way into the South sea, are perfect savages: but those with whom Commodore Byron and his people conversed, are represented as of a more gentle, humane disposition; only, like other savages, they live on fish and game, and the spontaneous productions of the earth.

The Spaniards once built a fort upon the straits, and left a garrison in it, to prevent any other European nation passing that way into the South sea: but most of the men perished by famine, whence the place obtained the name of Port Famine; and no people have attempted to plant colonics here ever since.

I

About the middle of the strait is a promontory called Pata Cape Froisard, which is the most southerly on the continent of South America.

On the coasts of Patagonia lie a great number of islands, or clusters of islands. On the west coasts are the islands Madre de Dios, Santa Trinidad, Santa Cruz, the isles of the Chunians and Huillans, the Sarmientos, and many others; to the number of 80 in all, as some Of those on the south coast, the most considerable are Terra del Fuego, and Staten Land. See these articles.

say.

A vast deal has been said respecting the stature of the Patagonians, by people of different nations, and on various occasions. We shall insert the following letter from Mr Charles Clarke, who was on board Byron's ship in 1764, and gave this account to Dr Maty.

"We had not got above 10 or 12 leagues into the straits of Magellan, from the Atlantic ocean, before we saw several people, some on horseback, some on foot, upon the north shore (continent), and with the help of our glasses could perceive them beckoning to us to come on shore, and at the same time, observed to each other, that they seemed to be of an extraordinary size : However, we continued to stand on, and should have passed without taking the least farther notice of them, could we have proceeded; but our breeze dying away, and the tide making against us, we were obliged to anchor; when the commodore ordered his boat of 12 oars, and another of six, to be hoisted out, manned, and armed. In the first went the commodore, in the other Mr Cummins our first lieuterrant, and myself. At our first leaving the ship, their number did not exceed 40; but as we approached the shore, we perceived them pouring down from all quarters, some galloping, others running, all making use of their utmost expedition. They collected themselves into a body just at the place we steered off for. When we had got within 12 or 14 yards of the beach, we found it a disagreeable flat shore, with very large stones, which we apprehended would injure the boats; so looked at two or three different places to find the most convenient for landing. They supposed we deferred coming on shore through apprehensions of danger from them; upon which they all threw open the skins which were over their shoulders, which was the only clothing they had, and consequently the only thing they could secret any kind of arms with, and many of them lay down close to the water's edge.-The commodore made a motion for them to go a little way from the water, that we might have room to land, which they immediately complied with, and withdrew 30 or 40 yards; we then landed, and formed each man with his musket, in case any violence should be offered. As soon as we were formed, the commodore went from us to them, then at about 20 yards distance: they seemed vastly happy at his going among them, immediately gathered round him, and made a rude kind of noise, which I believe was their method of singing; as their countenances bespoke it a species of jollity. The commodore then made a motion to them to sic down, which they did in a circle, with him in the middle, when Mr Byron took some beads and ribbons, which he had brought for that purpose, and tied about the women's necks, with which they seemed infinitely pleased. We were struck with the greatest asterisknent at the sight of people of such a gigantic stature, notwith...ading our

previous

Patagonia. previous notice with glasses from the ship. Their body was increased, by the time we got in there, to the number of 500, men, women, and children. The men and women both rode in the same manner; the women had a kind of belt to close their skins round the waist, which the men had not, as theirs were only flung over their shoulders, and tied with two little slips, cut from the skin, round the neck. At the time of the commodore's motion for them to retire farther up the beach, they all dismounted, and turned their horses loose, which were gentle, and stood very quietly. The commodore having disposed of all his presents, and satisfied his curiosity, thought proper to retire; but they were vastly anxious to have him go up into the country to eat with them. That they wanted him to go with them to eat, we could very well understand by their motions, but their language was wholly unintelligible to us.There was a very great smoke to which they pointed about a mile from us, where there must have been several fires; but some intervening hills prevented our seeing any thing but the smoke. The commodore returned the compliment, by inviting them on board the ship; but they would not favour him with their company; so we embarked, and returned to the ship. We were with them near two hours at noon-day within a very few yards, though none had the honour of shaking hands but Mr Byron and Mr Cummins; however, we were near enough, and long enough with them, to convince our senses, so far as not to be cavilled out of the very existence of those senses at that time, which some of our countrymen and friends would absolutely attempt to do. They are of a copper colour, with long black hair; and some of them are certainly nine feet, if they do not exceed it. The commodore, who is very near six feet, could but just reach the top of one of their heads, which he attempted on tip-toes, and there were several taller than the person on whom the experiment was tried. They are prodigious stout, and as well and as proportionally made as ever I saw people in my life. That they have some kind of arms among them, is, I think, indisputable, from their taking methods to convince us they had none at that time about them. The women, I think, bear much the same proportion to the men as our Europeans do; there was hardly a man there less than eight feet, most of them considerably more. The women, I believe, run from seven and a half to eight feet. Their horses were stout and bony, but not remarkably tall; they are, in my opinion, from 15 to 15 hands. They had a great number of dogs, about the size of a middling pointer, with a fox nose. They continued on the beach till we got under way, which was two hours after we got on board. I believe they had some expectations of our returning again; but as soon as they saw us getting off, they betook themselves to the country.

"The country of Patagonia is rather hilly, though not remarkably so. You have here and there a ridge of hills, but no very high ones. We lay some time at Port Desire, which is not a great way to the northward of the straits, where we traversed the country many miles round. We found fire-brands in different places, which convinced us there had been people, and we suppose them to have been the Patagonians. The soil is sandy, produces nothing but a coarse harsh grass, and a few small shrubs, of which Sir John Narborough remark

VOL. XVI. Part I.

+

ed, he could not find one of size enough to make the Patagonia. helve of a hatchet; which observation we found very just. It was some time in the winter we made this visit to our gigantic friends. I am debarred being so particular as I could wish, from the loss of my journals, which were demanded by their lordships of the admiralty immediately upon our return."

That the whole of this account is true, we cannot assert; but that the writer has been misled in some respects, and misinformed with regard to some of his facts, is at least probable for Captain Wallis, who went out to the straits of Magellan after Byron's return, gives a different turn to many of the observations; and with respect to the stature of the people, he differs very materially. We shall give the following epitome of his remarks on what occurred to him. He had three ships with him, which entered the straits on the 16th December 1766, and came to an anchor in a bay south of Cape Virgin Mary, where they were immediately accosted by a whole troop of Patagonians, who made signs for them to come on shore. The captain, having made previous dispositions for the security of his men in case of an attack, manned all the boats belonging to the three ships, and with a party of marines landed on the beach where those giants had assembled. The commanders of the three ships, and most of their officers, were of this party. On their, leaping ashore, the Indians seemed to welcome them; and being by signs desired to retreat, they all fell back, and made room for the marines to form. When they were drawn up, Captain Wallis advanced, and by signs directed the Indians to seat themselves in a semicircle, which they readily understood and obeyed. He then distributed among them knives, scissars, buttons, beads, combs, and particularly ribbons, with which he complimented the women, who received them with a mixture of pleasure and respect. He then gave them to understand that he had still more valuable articles to bestow, and showed them axes and bill-hooks; but, at the same time, pointed to some guanicoes and ostriches, intimating that he expected some of those in return : but they either did not, or would not, understand him ; so that no traffic took place.

The whole company that were assembled on this occasion, had each a horse with a saddle and bridle. The saddle had a sort of stirrups, and the bridle was made of thongs of leather very well put together, for the purpose of guiding the horses. The women, as well as the men, rode astride. The men, in general, wore each a wooden spur: but one of them had a large pair of Spanish spurs, brass stirrups, and a Spanish scimitar. Their horses were nimble and spirited, but small in proportion to their riders, seemingly not above 14 hands high. Their dogs were of the Spanish breed. The captain, having purposely provided himself with measuring rods, found that the tallest man among them measured only six feet seven inches high; several were within an inch or two as tall but the ordinary size was from five feet ten inches to six feet. It is pity that none of our voyagers thought of measuring the whole size of one of those gigantic men. They tell us, indeed, that they are well made, that they are proportionally large, and that they are robust and bony; but they give us no criterion to judge of their bulk, nor one instance of their extraordinary strength. As they are represented not only peaceable,

F

Patagonia. peaceable, but remarkably tractable, some trials might have been made of the weight they could have lifted, and how much they could exceed in that respect the strongest man in the ships. This, in a great measure, would have determined the point, which is yet left doubtful by the different relations that are given by the different voyagers who have seen these people, no two of them agreeing in the same description. All agree, however, that their hair is black, and harsh like bristles; that they are of a dark copper colour, and that their features are rather handsome than ugly; that they clothe themselves decently with the skins of guanicoes; that they paint themselves variously; and there is reason to suspect, that by that variety they distinguish their tribes. Those seen by Commodore Byron were painted round both eyes, no two of them alike; those seen by Captain Wallis had only a red circle round the left eye; and those seen by Bougainville had no circle round the eyes, but had their cheeks painted red. This may account for the different reports of voyagers concerning their stature it is not impossible, nay, it is very probable, that they may vary in this particular, according to their tribes; as is seen in the Highlands of Scotland, where one clan of the Campbells is remarkably tall, and another of the Frasers remarkably short. Were it not for some such natural discrimination, there could not be so wide a difference in the descriptions of gentlemen, who, having no ends to serve, either in falsifying one another's reports, or in imposing upon the public, cannot be supposed to mistake wilfully.

One remarkable observation made by our voyagers must not be omitted; and that is, that though our people could distinguish but one word of their language, which the English pronounce chewow, and the French shawa, yet the Patagonians could repeat whole sentences after our men more distinctly than almost any European foreigner of what nation soever. This appears the more singular, as, among the islanders between the tropics, it was hardly possible to make them articulate any of our words. Sydney Parkinson, in a specimen he has given us, says, that though the English remained at Otaheite three months, the nearest the natives could approach the sound of Cook was Toote; Banks, Opane; Solander, Tolano; Gore, Towara; Monkhouse, Mata; and so of the rest whereas the Patagonians presently got by heart this sentence of invitation, Come ashore, Englishmen which they showed they well understood, by repeating it afterwards whenever the ships came so near the shore as to be within call.

Another very remarkable particular is, that they had none of the characters of a ferocious people; there was no offensive weapon among them, except the scimitar already mentioned. The men, indeed, had a kind of sling, which they use in hunting, consisting of two round stones of about a pound weight each, connected together by a thong. These stones were fastened to the extremities of the thong; and, when they threw them, they held one stone in the hand, and swung the other about the head. "They are so expert in the management of this double-headed shot (says the writer of the voyage), that they will hit a mark not bigger than a shilling with both these stones at the distance of fifteen yards; but their method of availing themselves of their dexterity against the guanicoe and ostrich is, to sling the stanes

so as to entangle their legs, by which means they are retarded in their flight, and easily overtaken. Bougainville speaks of these slings as common among other In- ! dian nations in South America; but we do not remember to have seen this assertion confirmed by any other voyager.

These people certainly dress differently as well as paint differently; for the dress described by Bougainville is very unlike the dress of those seen by the English voyagers, Captain Wallis invited some of them on board his ship: but, among all the wonders that were shown them, none seemed to attract their notice so much as the looking-glasses: they looked in the glasses and at each other; they laughed and gazed, and gazed again and laughed; in short, there was no end to their merriment when in possession of this article of curiosity. They ate whatever was given them, but would drink nothing but water. In this they differ from all the tribes of Indians in North America, who are immoderately fond of spirituous liquors. They admired the European sheep, hogs, and poultry; but did not seem over-desirous of any thing they saw except clothes. When the marines were exercised to entertain them, they appeared disconcerted; an old man among them made signs, by striking his breast, and tumbling down and lying as if he had been dead upon deck, that he knew the effect of their guns; and none of them seemed easy till the firing was over. When the captain had satisfied his own curiosity, and, as he imagined, theirs, he gave them to understand, that he was going to sail, and that they must depart; which they were very unwilling to do. However, having given each of them a canvas bag, with some needles ready threaded, a knife, a pair of scissars, a few beads, a comb, and a looking-glass, he dismissed them, with great reluctance on their part, particularly on that of the old man's, who by very significant signs expressed his desire to stay till sunset.

PATAGONULA, in Botany, a genus of plants belonging to the pentandria class. See BOTANY Index.

PATAN, a kingdom of Asia, in the East Indies, and in the peninsula of Malacca, and on the eastern coast between the kingdoms of Siam and Paha. The inhabitants are partly Mahometans and partly Gentoos ; but they are all very voluptuous. The air is wholesome, though very hot; and they have no seasons but the winter and summer. The former is more properly the rainy season; and contains the months of November, December, and January. The woods are full of elephants and many wild animals. Some voyagers pretend that this country is governed by a queen, who never marries, but may have as many gallants as she pleases. They have some trade with the Chinese; and the principal town is of the same name, which is one of the strongest in these parts, having a well defended harbour,

PATAN, a town of Hindoostan, in the valley of Nepaul, about a mile and a half from Katmandoo, the ca pital. E. Long. 85. 40. N. Lat. 27. 30.

PATAVINITY, among critics, denotes a peculiarity of Livy's diction; derived from Patavium or Padua, the place of his nativity; but wherein this patavinity consists, they are by no means agreed.

Asinius Pollio, according to Quintilian, taxed Livy with patavinity. But what he meant by this censure

we