Page images
PDF
EPUB

deducted from the value and interest which they possess in conjunction.

But it is not by this general survey, but by minute inspection, that we learn to enter fully into the merits of the Elgin collection. The first effect is indeed imposing, but a patient and elaborate examination can alone convey an adequate conception of the wonderful powers of that ropos dougyos, of whom Cicero was accustomed to say, "Phidia simulacris nihil perfectius.

The harmony of the proportions; the exquisite elaboration of the workmanship; the grace and severe dignity of the attitudes; the incomparable rivalship and fine adjustment of the drapery; the concinnity and majesty of the whole design; the spirited seizure of evanescent graces and muscular actions, which perish as soon as they rise, and which, therefore, it is almost impossible to embody in a substantial form,-all these are but parts of those numerous excellencies, which the study of these marbles unfolds.

ART. VIII-A Narrative of the Briton's Voyage to Pitcairn's Island; including an interesting Sketch of the present State of the Brazils, and of Spanish South America. By Lieut. J. Shillibeer, R. M. 8vo. pp. 180. Law and Whittaker. London, 1817.

THE

HE curiosity which is excited by the descriptions of newly-discovered and distant countries seems never to wear itself out. Where manners and habits differ widely from our own, we are interested by the novelty and discrepancy of these superficial circumstances; and where we trace in our fellow-men, separated from us by wide intervals, the radical resemblance which belongs to our common lot, we are still interested, and it may be, humbled, by discoveries which denote an universal partnership in sorrow, sensuality, and crime. Every science is best understood upon a wide scale of observation; and it certainly is so in respect to the study of man himself; but in this study it is so, not because by extended and accumulated observation, our knowledge increases in variety and multiplicity of particulars, but because from the variety of particulars we derive accumulated confirmation of the great characteristic sameness which pervades the moral constitution of our fallen species. Now and then, however, we meet with a narrow space in which man is seen with some recovered graces of his primeval character, under circumstances more than ordinarily favourable; and it is to these little spots, so green and refreshing, that, in the perusal of distant travels, we turn with peculiar delight. The author of this book

gives some account of one of these tranquil sojourns; and his account is very pleasing. He is not a man of any pretensions: his preface, as to all literary merit, is written in a humble strain of disavowal; and, to be sure, if there be any kind of book in which a simple, unlearned, uncoloured statement has its peculiar advantages, it is such a one as that which we have now before us. The medium through which we look at man almost in a state of nature, should be as neutral, and as devoid of all complexional tinge, as possible. We want, in such a case, to see man as he is,-not a picturesque, but a real being, in all the. actuality of his simple condition. In this view we think we can recommend this short account given us by Mr. Shillibeer to the perusal of our readers; the principal entertainment from which will be found in the details which it gives of the short but recent intercourse of our countrymen with the islanders of the southern Pacific Ocean, especially with the little happy colony of Britons and Otaheitans so singularly established in the island of Pit

cairn.

The Briton, under the command of Sir Thomas Staines, set sail in company with the Tagus, commanded by Capt. Pipon, at the latter end of December 1813. After refitting at the port of Funchall, in the island of Madeira, they steered their course to Brazil, and arrived at Rio de Janeiro on the evening of March 20th, of which Mr. Shillibeer gives the following account.

"The city of San Sebastian, the capital of the Portuguese dominions in South America, and residence of the Prince Regent, is situated on the south side of an extensive harbour, whose entrance is so exceed ingly narrow and well fortified by nature, that with the smallest assistance of art it could be rendered impregnable against any attack from the sea. The fort of Santa Cruz, and a very remarkable mountain, from its shape bearing the name of the Sugar Loaf, form the entrance at the distance of about a mile. There is a bar which runs across, but the water is at all times sufficiently deep to allow the largest ship to pass. Santa Cruz may be considered the principal fortification, and is, with the exception of two small islands commanding the channel, the only one in a tolerable state of defence. At the foot of the sugar loaf mountain, is a battery of considerable extent, but so neglected, like several others along the shore, that it is almost become useless.

"The city derives but little protection from its immediate fortifications, and the island of Cobrus, notwithstanding its contiguity, is now but little calculated to render it any.

"There are wharfs and stairs for the purpose of landing at, but the most convenient is at the great square, in which the Prince resides. The palace was originally the mansion of a merchant: it is extensive, but has nothing particularly magnificent in its appearance, to indicate its being the royal residence of the illustrious house of Braganza.

"At the bottom of this square, is a very good fountain, which is

supplied with water from the adjacent mountains, and conveyed some distance by the means of an aqueduct.

"The water is not good, and on first using it, causes a swelling accompanied with pain in the abdomen. Ships may be supplied with considerable expedition."

"It is almost impossible for a person possessing the least reflection, to pass this spot without being struck by the contrast which must necessarily present itself to him.-On the one hand, he may contemplate the palace of a voluptuous prince, surrounded by courtiers and wallowing in luxury; on the other, slavery in its most refined and horrible

state.

66

Leaving the square, you enter a street of considerable length and width, in which the custom house, the residence of the British consul, &c. &c. are situated.

"The houses are generally well built, some of the streets are good, and all exceedingly filthy. The shops are well supplied with British as well as other wares, and whether the vender be English or Portuguese, he is equally unconscionable in his demand. Most of the streets are designated by the trades which occupy them.-As in Shoe-street, you will find shoe makers; in Tin-street, tin-men; in Gold-street, goldsmiths, lapidaries, &c.-Gold-street is the chief attraction, and is generally the resort of strangers, who are anxious to supply themselves with jewellery or precious stones natural to the country: but it is not always they are fortunate enough to succeed in getting them real, for since it has become the royal residence, it has drawn such a host of English, Irish, and Scotch adventurers, and the Portuguese being such apt scholars in knavery, that among them it is ten to one you are offered a piece of paste for a diamond,―among the former it is but seldom otherwise. The Inns, although better than in many places, can boast of no excellence.

"This city possesses a considerable number of churches, but they are by no means splendid, and excepting in the Chapel Royal, which is adjoining the palace, I observed nothing worthy of notice. Here may be seen a few good portraits of the Apostles. The altar piece is modern, and contains the full length figures of the prince and family kneeling before the holy virgin.

"The theatre and opera are attached also to the palace, but possess no particular elegance. The market is well supplied with every article, and is in so eligible a situation, that with a comparatively small portion of trouble, it might be kept in fine order: but the people are idolaters to filthiness, and not less slaves to it than to superstition.

"The laws of this place seem to be very deficient; without money it is impossible to obtain justice, and with it you can prevent its being administered. The murder of a lay-subject is scarcely ever punished; the least insult to the church, most rigorously.

This

"The trade with this port is very considerable, and from various countries. There is a Chinese warehouse of great extent, and at certain periods, articles from China may be procured at a low rate. establishment is propagating with the greatest assiduity the Tea-plant, and from the progress they have already made, I am authorised in

drawing a conclusion of its ultimately being of so great importance to Europe, that instead of China, the Brazils will be the grand mart for this dearly-beloved article.

"The country, for a considerable distance round, is peculiarly beautiful; the mountains high and woody; the valleys perfect gardens. Fruits of the most delicious nature are found here in great abundance, and the orange appears to be a never-failing tree; the quantity of this fruit I have seen exhibited for sale, in the orange market is astonishing, and on the same tree is often to be seen, the blossoms, the fruit in its primitive state, some half ripe, and others fit for use. The pine apple is also here, and in great perfection. In the neighbourhood there are several botanical gardens, chiefly belonging to private individuals. Many plants but rarely to be met with in England, were brought from them in the Briton." (P. 9—13.)

The cruel usage of the negro slaves in Rio de Janeiro affords a most debasing picture of the character of this people. As soon as they are judged in an irrecoverable state their bodies are cast into the street in order to evade the funeral expences, and a centinel is placed over them when dead, until the passengers become necessitated to defray the charge of interment. The following is a striking instance of individual barbarity.

"A man possessing a few slaves may be considered of good property, particularly, if he bought them when young and has brought them up to trades. With a man of this kind I am acquainted, who is as barbarous and remorseless a wretch as can be conceived, he has several slaves, and as they have all been taught some trade or other, he sends them forth to earn, according to their occupations, certain sums and their food, which must be completed under a penalty (which is seldom remitted even to the most industrious or lucky) of a severe flogging. One of those (continued he) was a barber, and for a considerable period shaved me every morning: he was a quiet man, and of great industry, and, as far as came under my observation, always on the alert for his master's interest. For several days I observed he bore a gloomy and melancholy appearance. I asked him the reason, and was informed he had been unsuccessful, and could not render to his master the sum required;. that he had little hopes of being able to raise it, and as little doubt of being punished. I gave him something towards it. When he came again, he informed me, that out of thirteen or fourteen, he alone had escaped the lash; but, if he did not make up the deficiency, his would be of greater severity than had been inflicted on his companions.

"As the time approached when he must render to his master an account, he became greatly distressed, and despaired of accomplishing his promise. He went with tears in his eyes, tendered what he had gained, and assured him of having used every means to raise the specific sum, and implored a remission of punishment, or a suspension until the following Monday, which at length was granted him, but not without threats of many additional stripes in case of failure. The time fast approached, when he must return. He was still deficient. He reached

the door of his master's house, when, in despair of being forgiven, and dreading the ordeal he had to undergo, he took from his pocket a razor, and with a desperate hand nearly severed his head from his body. I saw him, several days after, lying in this mangled state near the place where he had perpetrated it. This horrid deed had no other effect on the master, than to increase his severity towards the others, on whom he imposed heavier burthens, to recompense him for the loss he had so recently sustained." (P. 16-18.)

After doubling Cape Horn, they coasted along Chili, and soon arrived at Valparisso, where they found that the United States frigate Essex, the object of the voyage, was already the prize of the Phoebe and Cherub two of his Majesty's vessels. They made a short stay at the port of Callao, and from thence proceeded to the town of Paita, which bears a miserable appearance, being composed of mud and bamboo huts, for the most part devoid of roofs, and the best provided only with a coarse matting. From Paita the Briton sailed for those islands known under the name of Gallipagos, in which there is nothing remarkable except some crags called the Kicker rocks, one of which bears a near resemblance to a church spire, standing detached in the water. Thence they steered for the Marquesas, and anchored off the island of Nooaheevah, of which there is the following description.

"This island, as I have already said, is not only more extensive than the others, but also of greater fertility. It is divided into several districts or valleys, each containing from 1500 to 2000 people, with an he reditary King attached to each. These Tribes or Nations are frequently at war with each other, but I believe their battles are neither general nor sanguinary; still the mode they pursue may be productive of greater calamity than the loss of a few slain. They frequently go by night into a neighbouring district, and destroy the bark from every bread-fruit, or cocoa-nut tree they meet with, which being their general food, a ravage of this kind is certain to involve the unfortunate district in want for several subsequent years; insomuch that its inhabitants become dependant on the adjoining villages for subsistence. In the several kingdoms of the Pytees, Haupaws, and Typees, I saw a number of trees which had undergone this barbarous operation, and from whence many of the inhabitants had not only been obliged to remove, but to solicit the aid of their neighbours.

"Port Anna Maria, or the bay of Tuhuouy, forms one of the most considerable districts, of which the natives call themselves Pytees-beyond the mountains are the Haupaws, and those inhabiting the Valley in Comptroller's Bay, are called Typees, who are said to be the most warlike in the Island, as well as being a species of the Anthropophagi, but I am yet to learn, how they gained this unnatural reputation, for when I made an incursion into the interior of their country, I could not perceive the least trace of cannibality among them, or aught, to authorize my drawing so horrible a conclusion. The manners and customs

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »