law will no more excuse a breach of the law in Brasil than in England.

The volume contains many amusing traits of national manners. It is very remarkable that knives and forks are not yet in general use among the Brasilians.

"They first take in their fingers a little meat (which is always so much over-done, as to be readily separated), then vegetables, and farinha; these they roll in the sauce, oil, or soup, with which their plates abound, squeezing the whole in the palm of the hand into the shape, and about the size, of a wash-ball; which, when thus prepared, they convey into their mouths at once, and whilst eating form another.

"Indelicate and disgusting as such a picture may seem, it is not overcharged; both sexes equally use this practice; and most classes; even when before strangers, if by chance they take up a knife and fork, yet they are soon tired of a mode so unusual, slow, and tedious; and they involuntarily drop it, and fall to in their old way with redoubled eager uess. It is true, that, as in the east, water is presented before and after eating; but it is by no means an apology for this barbarous and dirty custom."

"It is astonishing to see how little subordination of rank is known in this country: France, in its completest state of revolution and citizenship, never excelled it in that respect. You see here the white servant converse with his master on the most equal and friendly terms, dispute his commands, and wrangle about them if contrary to his better opinion-which the superior receives in good part, and frequently acquiesces in.

"The system does not rest here; but extends to the mulattoes; and even to the negroes. One sees no humiliation except in the patient hard working drudge, the native Indian.

"The Same licentious freedom is found in their marine and troops. On board of ship an order is seldom issued without the sailors giv ing their opinion on it, and frequently involving the whole in dispute and confusion. In consequence, each officer walks the deck with a stick of no small dimensions, as a mark of authority; to use as occasion requires, and carry on the duty of the vessel.

"The captain of the fort I am in, traverses the platform in a pair of coarse printed cotton trowsers, a jacket of the same, with a supplejack in hand, commanding his working party of artillery-men under the title of comrades. I took the liberty of remonstrating about his wooden companion; but he replied, No duty could go on without it.' At Porto Seguro, I have often seen the lieutenant, serjeant, and a private, in the same card party: even the captain (mor), and others the most re

spectable inhabitants, betting, and taking part in the game, without scruple. This unreserved freedom is productive of the most pernicious consequences; you get no command promptly

obeyed, and strangers who expect better are ever liable to insult. I attribute this promis cuous intercourse to the general ignorance that pervades the country; as no people pretend to more hauteur and reserve than the Brasilians, or really have less, in their own society."

Bleeding and clysters of human milk are the grand specifics. Mr. Lindley was called in to one poor wretch who had been bled one and twenty times in the space of nine days for a pain in the breast, and of have an extraordinary Guy Faux at Bahia. course fairly died of the doctors. They

"In my walk to the city a considerable crowd occupied the street, and I was obliged to stop till the occasion was over. This proved to be the destruction of poor Judas in effigy : when, not content with all the anathemas this day thundered against him, and the eternal torment to which he is consigned, the popu lace in different parts of the city dress up a masked figure, and erect a gibbet on which they exalt him-as do the shipping also from their yard-arms. At eleven in the morning they discharge musquets at the traitor; and set fire to rockets fastened at his back, and crackers concealed in his dress.

"In the exhibition which I witnessed, the rage of the good Catholics was not satisfied with hanging and blowing up poor Judas; but they afterwards lowered his remains, and dragged them in triumph through the street."

The sugar-works are in a state of primitive simplicity.

"The word ingenio is the Portugueze dis tinction of those who have a sugar-work :-here very simple, consisting of three rollers of ponderous wood, two feet in diameter and three in length, working horizontally in a frame: the upper part of the center roller joins a square beam that ascends through the frame work; and to which are affixed cross pieces sufficiently low for the harness of two horses, that move the whole. The side rollers work by cogs from the center one. Underneath this machine is a long trough, slanted, that receives the juice of the cane as pressed out by the rollers. The juice is thence conveyed to a shallow boiler of six feet diameter, and skimmed from all impurities; after cooling in another vessel, they add an alkali of wood ashes, suffer it to stand some days, pour off the pure liquor, convey it to the same boiler, and evaporate till the sugar is formed, the settlings, &c. being distilled to a powerful spirit. How widely different is this primitive sugar-making, from the immense works, machines, and engines, employed by our WestIndian planters!”

Notwithstanding the rudeness of this machinery, and notwithstanding the general darkness of Mr. Lindley's colouring, it is easy to perceive that the country is in a state of improvement. He indeed says,

to render it more productive. Salt-petre mines, perhaps the first in the world, have lately been opened, and the pepper-shrub imported from India, and thriving uncommonly well. Some interesting passages relative to natural history may be selected. "I was called this morning to visit a sick planter, who chiefly cultivates mandiock, that invaluable root which forms the farinha, or bread of South America, and I had an opportunity of minutely viewing the whole process of preparation. Mandiock is a knotted shrub that runs to the height of six feet and upwards, but without branches; the root, which is the only useful part, somewhat resembles a parsnip, but is much larger. It is planted by cutting the body of the shrub into short lengths, and sticking them into the earth, when they immediately reshoot, and, after growing for about twelve months, the root is perfectly formed, but varies in size according to the fertility of the ground, from one to twenty inches in diameter, and from six inches to two feet in length. The roots being pulled up, and the exterior bark cut off, a farinaceous substance remains, milky and glutinous; this is rubbed to small pieces against a rasping wheel covered with perforated copper, and received into a trough below; it is then dried in shallow pans over a slow fire, till all moisture is evaporated, when it appears a dry granulated substance, and is ready for use. Tapioca is the juice of the root drained from the raspings, and granulated in like manner over a slow fire.

"Farinha was in use aniong the Indians of South America at the time of its discovery, and imperceptibly adopted by its conquerors, wheat not agreeing with the soil, and mandiock being cultivated at an hundredth part of the labour and expence."

The bees form nests which load the trees. They consist of a ponderous shell of clay, cemented like the martin's nest, swelling from high trees about a foot thick, and forming an oval mass full two feet in diameter. The wax within is ar

ranged in the usual manner, and the honey abundant; but little use is made of either, sugar being the growth of the spot, and wax supplied plentifully by the African colonies.

"For many days there has been an immense light of white and yellow butterflies. They never settle, and proceed in a direction from the north-west to the south-east. Neither the fort nor any other building impedes them: they steadily pursue their course; which being to the ocean (at only a small distance), they must consequently perish.

fall of rain I ever witnessed. While standing "I was caught on the beach in the severest under a shed to avoid its violence, I all at once observed the air full of a small flying insect, which the people near me called Asian tiplying their species, after which they drop; ants. This is the moment they use for mulwhen their transparent wings sticking to the leave them. The insect then appears as a moist earth, they make a violent effort and small maggot, which immediately divides, and each part seeking the porous earth soon disappears: the larger ones always leave their wings; while some smaller, after separation, regain the air. On my arrival at the fort, I heard they had there also swarmed in myriads, as just observed.

"The large ant already noticed, is also in a.state of chrysalis at this season. It is far increased in size during this change; and after continuing some time in the air, returns to the earth, shedding its wings as those which I saw yesterday: while some, unable to effect that change, lie motionless, and soon expire. A nest which I passed of these insects was opened, with some hundreds of the winged from the mouth of it; while myriads of ones (which I imagine females) taking flight ones continued uninterrupted at work." young

The natives, who are not always pacific, are formidably armed.

"The bows of these Indians are similar to the English long bow; about six feet six inches in length, strong made, of a ponderous wood, but particularly elastic, and strung with the dried sinews of an animal, or sometimes a prepared cotton cord. Their arrows are three and four feet in length, well feathered, and consist of one piece of light wood: the points of the larger sort are simply the arrow tapered, and afterwards notched for about eight shorter have a broad scoop head, about four inches, to prevent its easy extraction; the inches long, and one broad in the center part of it, tapering each way to its point, and where it joins the stem; this head is concaved to a sharp edge, and is a fatal weapon. They harden both heads in the fire; and though insufficient to pierce at any distance, yet it the whole arrow feels very light, and appears kills at nearly as great a distance as an Euro

pean musket."

"It is singular that at present no other kind

thus betrayed! A familiar of the inquisition would not have been a more dangerous, nor a more deadly companion for them. No Englishman will ever be received with kindness or confidence by a

Brasilian after the publication of this most imprudent book, and no English prisoner there must ever again expect the slightest relaxation of law, or the slightest alleviation of imprisonment.

What shall I do to be for ever known, And make the age to come my own? IS the fine question which Cowley asked of himself, and answered, not triumphantly, by his poems. The projects of Mr. Beaver's ambition were different: he once planned an excursion to the north pole; then a journey through the interior of Africa; and thirdly, to coast the world. He was at length induced by circumstances to conduct an enterprize for the colonization of Bulama.

This volume contains a narrative of all the transactions relative to that undertaking it defines the chances of success and the causes of failure: it preserves the hints and the warnings of experience, and deserves to occasion a repetition of the attempt. Mr. Beaver's personal conduct compels high admiration: he is one of those natural heroes who wanted only other followers to have founded, like Æneas, a permanent empire in a strange and savage land: he ought again to be solicited by his country to undertake a command, of which the highest recompense will be its eventual success.

The first chapter relates the proceedings of the Bulama society in England.

The second chapter contains the adventures of the colonists, from their leaving England to their arrival in the Bijuga channel on the coast of Africa.

The third chapter contains a summary of the fortunes of those embarked in the Calypso, which separated rather shabbily from its companions at the outset, and which deserted the expedition, on the first pretext of difficulty, with ruinous retractation.

The fourth chapter details the proceedings of the colony from their landing to the retreat of the crew of the Calypso.

The fifth chapter preserves lieutenant Beaver's journal on the island of Bulama. By the progress of disease and desertion, he is at length reduced to the necessity of

return only one of the original colonists remained with him to the last.

Here ends the historical portion of the book. Six speculative chapters follow, which treat of the advantages to be derived from the experience collected during this attempt of the causes of failure which are stated, convincingly, not to lie in the difficulty or impracticability of the enterprize-of the geographical character of that part of the African coast between the Gambia and Rio-Grande-of the Bijuga islands, and of Bulama especially, their soil, productions, and capabilitiesand lastly of the wisest plan for a future colonization.

An appendix follows containing the public papers of the colony; nautical re marks; meteorologic journals; and other particulars worthy of preservation, which could not well be inwoven in the narrative, are here separately chronicled.

The first difficulty opposed to this effort at colonization arose from the antijacobinism of Mr. Secretary Dundas, who laid an embargo on vessels which had been purchased by voluntary subscription, and were freighted with voluntary emigrants. The constitution of government, forsooth, in which equal subscribers had equal rights of suffrage, and chose a council for the management of their affairs, had given offence. being cancelled, the ships were suffered to proceed: but whereas the colonists originally thought themselves bound to obey the governors they had elected, they now knew that there was no legal autho rity over them; thus the pedantry of Mr. Dundas bestowed a practical anarchy on the colonists, and prepared the critical return of the Calypso-party.

This

The colonists, it may be urged, should have obtained a charter. There are two plans of colonization equally practicable. The one is to go out with the connivance of the different European governments,

:

but without the specific protection of any n. w begin on a system of independence, and to preserve a strict neutrality during the wars of Europe. The other is to go out with the concurrence of a specific country, and to solicit its aid where this is the intention, the form of declaring allegiance and of promising protection, ought unquestionably to take place; in other words, a charter ought to be obtained. At the time of the Bulama subscription, the friends of the blacks were sufficiently numerous, both in France and England, to have conjointly colonized a vast tract of Africa for the purpose of cultivating cotton by free labourers. The democratic constitution of the colony was adapted to the admission of people of all kinds and countries: difficulty of any kind would always have occasioned the necessary deposit of authority with the few leading minds A colony from all nations, a North-America in Africa, free, independent, at perpetual peace, and open to the commerce of the world, might well have comprehended a larger portion of white settlers, and have attained a speedier civilization, than under the monopoly system of British intercourse.

Mr. Beaver's method of acquiring ascendancy over the negroes is thus recorded in his journal.

"Read prayers. Sent the Industry, with Mr. Scott, to Bissao. Therin. 88. Bennet sick. Employed as usual till nine o'clock, when Bellchore, with two canoes, paid us another visit. Left off work, and collected the grumetas within the block-house, which Bellchore, and two attendants only, are permitted to enter, at the gate of which they deliver up their armis, and they are returned to them when they go out again. The rest of his people, in number twenty-eight, occupy the grumetas' huts. I am now strong enough not to care for these people, they can do nothing by open force. I had intended to have reproached Bellchore for his treacherous conduct in having been here with a large armed force, with a view of attacking us; to have assured him that nothing that he had done was unknown to me; then to have flogged him, and turned him unarmed from the island; but as we were now safe, and had nothing to fear from them hereafter, I thought it more advisable, on reconsideration, to receive him in a friendly manner, and pretend ignorance of what had passed.

"In the evening, at the request of Bellchore, we fired several six-pound shot in va rious directions, to the great admiration of the Bijugas, particularly one, which I had told them, before it was fired, should come out of the water four or five times. It did so in fact ANN. REV. VOL. IV,

seven

stands, all white man witch" this, excrammed, clapping simple as it appears to us, they could by no short of witchcraft could possibly foresee that means comprehend, and thought that nothing a shot fired into the water, should come out of it again four or five times. Another shot they were told should go through a tree, distant I suppose not more than two hundred yards. It went through its centre, and they were all astonishment: but what seemed to stupify them with wonder was the accidental circumstance of my sitting upon one of these six-pounders while it was fired.

"It has ever been my custom, since the departure of the Hankey, to fire a morning and evening gun, that is, one at dawn of day, and one at sunset. When the latter is fired the drum is beat, the colonists retire to the block-house, which is then locked, and the after that time, go in or out without my perkey put under my pillow, and no one can, mission. We had for some time left off firing to amuse the Bijugas, when, it being just sunset, I was sitting upon the gun that was to be fired, talking to Bellchore: as the boy ap proached with the match, Bellchore ran away, for though they are highly delighted with the noise of a cannon, they keep at a very respectful distance, while it is fired; and notwithstanding they have so often seen my little boy, not more than twelve years of age, fire one, I suppose no consideration could induce one of these people to do so. As before observed, I was accidentally sitting upon the gun when the boy came to fire it: Bellchore immedi ately ran away-I remained-the boy fired, and I verily believe they expected to see me dead.

They had before a great idea of the power which I possessed in common with all white men, of performing miracles, or rather of being a magician, and they now believed me invulnerable-a belief that I was at no pains to undeceive them in. Therm. 86. Bennet sick.

"As we did no work while Bellchore was here, in the morning I amused him and his people, as well as myself, in shewing them many things which riveted their faith in my magic power, and which they at last believed to be unlimited.

"I made them femark the north point of my circumferenter, and then, desiring them to turn it several times round, or put it in any other position, observe that they had not the power of moving that point, because I had ordered it to remain where it was. They saw that it was so, and could not comprehend why it was, unless by my power, fixed to that point. The bubble m the spirit level of my theodolite, they thought alive; and the distinctness with which they viewed distant objects, through a good telescope, encreased their belief in my inagic. But there was one thing yet to shew them, which would fully convince them that nothing was to me im possible. It was near noon, and I was regu fating my watch by the sun. The watch had

D

for some finie taken up motion which they thought, as well as the spirit level, was alive: particularly after, (for at first they would not believe that the minute hand had motion, which is too slow to be readily perceived by the eye) I had made one of them hold a pin, five minutes before the minute hand, and then explained to him, that in a certain time that hand would go to the pin, and then pass it; for instance, whilst another walked to a certain tree and back again. This they all perceived; but, wonderful as it was to them, it ceased instantly, as well as every thing else, to occupy any of their attention, 'when I played off my last trick. With my quadrant I brought the sun down upon the top of the block-house, and then desired Bellchore to look at it, which he did, and then, one after another, all his people; when, placing one of his men before me, I told him that I would put the sun upon his head. The poor Bijuga at first was frightened, and unwilling to stand where I desired him; but, on my repeated assurances that no harin should come to him, he consented, and I shewed to his astonished countryinen the sun upon his head.

"In the evening Bellchore left me. He had been much struck with the strength and magnitude of our building, and will never, hereafter, I am confident, attempt any thing against us. Besides, what can he expect to atchieve against a man who can sit upon a cannon," against which there is no gris-gris" while it is fired; and can put the sun upon another man's head? The Industry returned this evening from Bissao with six new gru

metas."

The result of Mr. Beaver's interesting experience, which constitutes a sura of knowledge worth the expence at which it has been purchased, is thus very modestly summed up.

"What did we propose to ascertain? "First-Whether we could cultivate the tropical productions on the Island of Bulama and the adjacent shores?

"Second-Whether we could do so by the means of free natives?

“Third-Whether by cultication and

*No. 15..

commerce we might not introduce among

"The first of these queries is proved be. yond a doubt, not only by what I cultivated on the island; but froin all tropical productions growing wild on it, or in its vicinity.

*

"Now then for the second, which is by far the most important. It will appear by the list of grumetas in the Appendix that in about one year I employed on the island 196 of them. These gruinetas were not all of one nation: neither were they only of two; but they were of three, of four, of tive, and even of six,† and they were all free. Had it been prudent, with my reduced force, to have employed more, I could easily at all times have doubled or trebled their numbers. These grumetas cleared all the ground that was cleared, they made the inclosures, and worked hard and willingly, generally speaking, at whatever task was assigned to them. I have no hesitation therefore in declaring that the second also is proved: and the third will necessarily follow-for COMMERCE will follow CULTIVATION, and CIVILIZATION will result from them both.

"When the peculiar disadvantages enumerated in the former part of this chapter, are added to those arising from the general character of the settlers, and of some of the grumetas, as well as from the smallness of our force for the last year, our having been able to command respect, and to accomplish what we did, must remove from the mind, I think, of all unbiassed persons, every doubt as to the practicability of accomplishing all which we had promised ourselves, had the expedition been planned with more wisdom, or executed with more energy. And although we were obliged to quit the island at the moment when we had shelter and protection for more settrust that our labour has not been altogether tlers, and fields ready for the plough, yet I fruitless, but that we have been paying the way for some more fortunate enterprize. And though in this undertaking our mortality has been great, nay dreadful indeed, yet have we the satisfaction to say that no one ever fell by the hand of an enemy; that we never had any quarrel with the natives; and that the English character which we found considered by them as sordid, base and cowardly, we left