days' fail from Ceylon; and the com- tial ceremonies. “ In bringing home plexion, features, language, and man- the bride, the is always obliged to ners, of the Ceylonese, are so similar to march before her husband, and never those of the Maldivians, that I thould, to be out of his fight by the way. The for my part, be apt to conclude that traditionary reason for this practice is, both were of the same stock. The that a man, on such an occasion, once Ceylonese are of a middling stature, happening to walk foremost, his wife about five feet eight inches, and fairer was carried off from him before he was in complexion than the Moors and aware; a circumitance not at all unMalabars of the continent; and the likely to ppen, more than once, Candians are both fairer, better made, among a people who think lightly of and less effeminate, than the Cinglele the marriage ties.—If a young couple in the British service." find, after marriage, that their difpofiFrom the full description of the tions cannot agree, they separate with. manners and customs of the Ceylonese, out ceremony; only the woman carries given by our Author, we select one with her the portion the brouglıt, in remarkable trait, which is truly eccen- order to make her as good a match for tric, as it distinguishes them from all her next husband. Both men and woother Indian tribes, whose peculiar men often marry and divorce several cuftoms have been observed and re- times in this manner, before they have corded by the navigators and disco- found a partner with whom they can verers of different regions peopled by reconcile thenrselves to spend the revarious classes of uncivilized natives. mainder of their days." “ They are not guilty of stealing nor When treating of the variety of lying, which seem to be almost inherent diseases to which the natives of Ceylon in the nature of an Indian. They are are subject, particularly in the wet mild, and by no means captious or season, our Author makes some judi. passionate in their intercourse with each cious remarks, which ought to be taken other, though when once their anger into consideration by all persons conis roused, it is proportionally furious nected, either by commercial interests, and lasting. Their hatred is, indeed, or other relations, with the welfare of mortal; and they will frequently de the island, now likely to remain a part: stroy themselves to obtain the destruc. of the Britih dominions beyond the tion of the detelted object. One in- seas. Itance will serve to thew the extent “ The disease which particularly to which this passion is carried. If a excites their apprehension is the imall. Ceylonese cannot obtain money due pox. It is looked upon as the immeto him by another, he goes to his diate instrument of God's vengeance; debtor, ‘and threatens to kill himself, and therefore they do not venture to if he is not instantly paid. This threat, use any charms or incantations for their which is sometimes put in execution, recovery, as they are accustomed to do reduces the debtor, if it be in his in all other diseases. If any one dies power, to immediate compliance with of it, he is looked upon as accursed, the demand; as, by their law, if any and even his body is denied the rites of man causes the loss of another man's burial. It is carried out to some un. life, his own is the forfeit. “ An eye frequented place, and there left with a for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth," is few bushes, or branches of trees, thrown a proverbial expression continually in over it. It is to be hoped that u their mouths. This is, on other occa- intercourse with our countrymen will, lions, a very common mode of revenge in time, do away these glooiny notions among them; and a Ceylonese has often of fatality, and that the effect of remebeen known to kill himself in the com- dies on the Europeans will induce the pany of his enemy, that the latter natives also to adopt them. It would might suffer for it. be an object worthy the attention of Their customs with respect to the Government to caule to be introduced intercourse between the two sexes, amongst them the inoculation with the and their marriages, are, likewise, very cow-pox, which has lately been disco. fingular; but delicacy prohibits our vered for the deliverance of mankind insertion of what could not fail to give from a most fatal pestilence. The Go. offence to our chatte female readers. vernor might indist, that all the CingWe can, therefore, only notice one or lese children within our jurisdiction two curious circumitances in the nup. iho uld undergo this operation.” * Let a Let every generous friend and parent apothecary of the town, both gentle. of the rising generation throughout the men of distinguished reputation in their United Kingdom of Great Britain ac- professions; when his wife requested knowledge with gratitude, whilst read. to know if she might give bim porter, ing this account of that dreadful his favourite beverage, the answer scourge of the human race the small- was, “ Give him what you please."pox, the wisdom, care, and constant He drank a gallon in the course of four attention, of our most gracious Sove- bours, the usual distance of time allotted reign, and of the Imperial Parliament, for taking febrifuge draughts; a most in giving every encouragement to the copious perspiration was the result, introduction, and now firmly estab- and the man survived many years. lished preventive, the Vaccine Inocu. This digresion will not be dir. lation, by which their children's chil. approved by our humane readers, upon dren, to the latest posterity, will be reflecting that a few years back in. insured from a calamity which formerly oculation for the cow-pox was held distigured the brave and lovely coun- in equal abhorrence with the most tenances of our youth of both lexes, savage custom.-" What! give my and consigned thousands to untimely child a disease from a bealt !” exa graves! And may the few remaining claimed many a mother and nurse. selfish, or obstinate, medical opposers of Neither was this detestation of the this beneficial, nacional inftrument of practice confined to the fears and health and domestic felicity to millions prejudices of the weaker sex; it spread of families! hide their diminished heads, like wildfire through the kingdom; and retire from the press with con. and, but for the perseverance of intelscious Thune! for their publications, ligent and unprejudiced minds, one of in future, will not attract the regard of the greatest discoveries that has benefited an enlightened people! mankind in modern times would have For other diseases the Ceylonese are been blafted in the bud. Whether, their own physicians, and the mode of then, a plaitter of cow-dung, flakes of cure practised is, of course, very simple. ice, or a gallon of porter, prove the • A plaitter of herbs, or of cow-dung, means of laving the life of a fellowis universally applied to the part affect- creature, the object is the same, and ed; and I have seen the same remedy merits attention, as opening the door applied to a man in a high fever, when to new experiments, the utility and his whole body was daubed over with success of which experience alone can this ointment.” However disgusting confirm. and lavage such kind of treatment may The language of the Ceylonese is the appear to us, it is still matter of surprise next fubječt of our ingenious Author's that experiments even of the strangelt investigation; and it tends to corrobo. nature are not tried in those extremi. rate his opinions that they derive their ties when physicians give their patients origin from the Maldivians. “ The over! they are tried, with success, in hyperbolical strain of compliment and other civilized countries. The writer adulation which is common to all the of this review was well-informed of an Afiatic nations, is found no where in instance of a young English lady, the greater perfection than in Ceylon. hope of a respectable family, given over There is here a degree of punetilious by an English physician at Liibon, at minuteness with which the phraseology the crisis of a raging fever and deli- employed is exactly adjuted to the rium; when a Portuguese empiric, rank of the perfon addressed, that commonly called a Quack Doctor, altogether astonishes an European. ordered, that the apparently dying There is no impropriety which a man boily thould be put into a large iheet can be guilty of more unpardonable filled with thin Hakes of ice, with only in their eyes than addresing a superior the head uncovered, and as the ice in language that is only fit for an equal, melted with the unnatural heat of the or an inferior. body; fo did the young lady recover, The differtation on the state of the and was finally, by nroper additional liberal and mechanic arts in Ceylon means, restored to perfect health. A is remarkably curious and enterisine haru-l baring the ing, and would he suglicient, of it'eif, Tymes, miny vers ago refiling at to fix the character of a work which Twickenham, wij likewir: given over, merits a piace in every public and priin a bigh fever, by the phylician and vate library throughout the kingdon, warerman on a if the subjects of the remaining chap. tinent of India, and this difference ; ters did not equally entitle it to ge- affords our author an opportunity to neral recommendation. They make entertain his readers with an account use of the Arabic character in writing, of the Elephant hunt in this island. which is performed on the leaves of of animals applied to domestic purpothe Taliput tree, with a fine pointed' ses, Ceylon produces but few. Bufe steel pencil, like a bodkin, let in a faloes being much larger and Itronger wouden or ivory handle according to than their oxen, are inuch more fre. the tate of the owner; and they are quently employed in drawing. bur. fond of rich ornaments in the binding thens. They are found in great num. of their Taiipot nooks or files.--" In bers on the island, both in a wild and thule letters or dispatches which were tame state." The following particufent by the Candian king to the lars respecting this animal are equally Durch government, that monarch fingular and curious.-" It is always see.ned particularly anxious to display dangerous to meet with these animals, his magnificence in the richness anú especially for an European, to whose fplendour with which they were exe. complexion or drefs they have the cuted. The writing was enclosed in greateit antipathy. A scarlet coat is leaves of beaten gold in the shape of a the chief object of their resentment, Cocoa-tree leat; this was rolled up in and renders them perfectly outraa cover richly ornamented, and almuit geous. This unaccountable' averfion hid in a profution of pearls and other to red is extremely vexatious to miliprecious itones. The whole was en- tary men. I have myself frequently closed in a box of silver or ivory, experienced it, and been obliged to which was sealed with the king's great escape as fait as I could from theit seal. The iame tplendour has been fury: at one time, I was saved only by observed in the letters sent to gover- the spirit of my horse. Their fierce. nor North, since we have bad poifel. ness iurpalles that of almost any wild fion of the island." beast, as it can never be totally sub. The religion of the Ceylonese is the dued either by gentle usage, or the fubject of Chapter IX. and it exhibits fense of fear." altonishing examples of the influence The liberality of sentiment fo con: of fuperititious tears. In the next spicuous in many parts of our auChapter, the author traces the cir. thor's work, will induce him to pardon cumitances which distinguish the Cin- one more trespass on his rich itore of glese from the Candians, and this leads information, in favour of our readers, to a general defcription of the king of by copying his curious account of the Candia's dominions in Chapter XI. Indian “ Ichneumon, a small creature, The civil and military estabiithments in appearance between the Weazel and of his kingdom follow of courle in the Munguose." It is of infinite use to Chapter XII. A curious account of a the natives, from its inveterate enmity fingular part of the inhabitants of Cey- to Snakes, which would otherwise renlon called Bednbs, or Vaddahs, who live der every footitep of the traveller dan. in a solitary retirement in the deepest gerous. The proofs of fagacity which recesses of the Ceylonele forelts, and I have seen in this little animal are åre quite lavage in their nature and truly surprising, and afford a beautiful conduct, amules the reader agreeably instance of the wisdom with which Pro. in Chapter XIII. vidence has fitted the powers of every The natural history of the island animal to its particular situation on the opens with a description of the ani- globe. This diminutive creature, on mals---Chapter XIV. " at the head of seeing a Snake ever fo large, will inthe clats of quadrupeds, and superior itantly dart on it and seize it by the to thote of the fame species found in throat, provided he finds himself in an any other part of the world, are the open place where he has an opportuElephants of Ceylon. The number of nity of running to a certain lierb, theie noble aninials produced there is which he knows instinctively to be an very great, and no where else are they anridote against the poiton of the bite, fund so docile, or so excellent in their if he thould bappen to receive one, hape and appearance. The manner I was present at an experiment tried o catching them is conliderably dif- at Columbo to ascertain the reality of ferent from that practised on the con- this circumitance. The Ichneuman pro. cured VOL. XLIII. APRIL 1803. وه cured for the purpose was first shewn Chapter XVII. contains general ob. the Snake in a close room. On being servations. The present state of the let down to the ground, he did not illand,--the improvements of which it discover any inclination to attack his is susceptible, —its revenues, its civil enemy, but ran prying about the room and military establithments prior to, to discover any hole or aperture by and since the arrival of governor North, which he might get out. On finding and of the commander in chief of the none he returned hastily to his malter, British forces on the island, and re. and placing himself in his bofom, could marks on the advantages to be derived not by any means be induced to quit from it to the mother country. it, or face the Snake. On being car The journal of the embally sent by ried out of the house, however, and governor North to the king of Candy Jaid near his antagonist in an open in 1800, throws considerable light on place, he initantly Hew at the Snake, the interior of the country, and it is and soon destroyed it. He then sud- proportionably as interesting as the ac. denly disappeared for a few minutes, count of Lord Macartney's embally to and again returned as soon as he had the emperor of China. The conclufound the herb and ate it. This use. fon confifts of tables of the roads in ful instinct impels the animal to have Ceylon, as they were ascertained by a recourse to the herb on all occasions, survey very lately made by the post when it is engaged with a Snake, whe- master of the island. They include ther poisonous or not. The one em- the road from Columbo to Candy, ployed in this experiment was of the taken by general Macdowal, com. harmless kind, and procured on pure mander in chief of the forces who was pose. appointed by the governor to this em. The continuation of the Natural bally. An accurate Map of the iiland, History carries the reader on through reduced from a drawing in the posrela Three chapters more, and comprizes fion of the right honourable, the comdescriptions of the vegetables, the mi. millioners for the affairs of India, by nerals, the plants, and trees; and dir. A. Arrowsinith, is prefixed to the votinguishes the Cinnamon as the Itaple lume, illustrative of the different commodity for foreign commerce. places described in it, M. The Poetical Works of the late Thomas Atances might have been spared. The Warton, B. D., Fellow of Trinity College memoirs of the Author have the merit Oxford, and Poct Laureate, 5th Edition, of elegance, perfpicuity, and impar , Corre&tex and Enlarged. To which are tiality. now addeil, Inscriptionum Romanarum Deleclus, and an Inaugural Speech as Sermons selected and abridged chiefly from Cumden Profejjor of History, never before minor Authors, adapted generally to the published ; together with Memoirs of bis Epistle Gospel, or First Leijons, or to the l'e and Writi 'gs, and Notes, critical and several Seasons of the Pear. For the explanatory. By Richard Mant, M. A. Use of Families. By the Rev. Samuel 2 Vols. 8vo. Ciaphum, M. A. Vol. I. 8vo. This publication of the poetical This collection, consisting of fixtyworks of the late Laureate will be three sermons, is intended for those higlily acceptable to his friends, and to who from indisposition, distance, or se. the public at large. It contains a col- verity of weather, are often prevented lection of such pieces as do credit to from attending in person the worship the Author, and such as will always of Almighty God, being present at the be read with pleasure by every man of same time in heart and mind; with that taite. Whether serious or gay, the part of the day to be employed in readAuthor engages attention, and exhi ing an illustration of some portions of bits a cultivated mind and brilliant the service. The Sermons selected are imagination, even in the lealt import. by Shelton, Scattergood, Peters, Ellant of his compositions. The Editor mere, Calcott, Lawson, Richmond, has abundantly commented on his Au- Riddoch, Pearce, Newlin, Goddard, thor, and traced his iinitarions with a Muscut, Tucker, Gilbert, Powell, degree of minuteness, that in fome in. Mụnton, Conybeare, Brooke, St. John, Izmo. and one anonymous. Part of each A Sermon, predched in the Cathedral Church fermon is omitted ; and the design of of St. Paul, London, on Thursday, June 3, the whole is declared to be not intel- 1802, before the Society of Patrons of the lectual improvement in the closet, but Anniversary of the Charity Schools. By spiritual edification in the family. In John Pridden, M.A. F.S.A. One of the that point of view, the selection is judi. Minor Canons of that Cathedral. Pub. cious, and promises to be useful. lished at the Request, and for the Benefit, of the Society. With an Appendix. conThe Afiatic Register ; or, A View of the taining a Brief Account of the Society. History of Hindustan, and of the Politics, 4to. pp. 30. From the Dedication prefixed, we learn that Mr. P.'s Sermon was comCrescit eundo may be said of this publi- poled at a very short notice: this might cation, which improves as it proceeds, be an apology for an indifferent proand truly exhibits a valuable collection duction; but, in the present instance, of documents relating to that import- it serves only to evince the laudable ant part of the empire in the Eatt Indies. zeal and promptitude of the Preacher The literary part of the work is some- in an excellent cause. what contracted, for which the Editor makes an apology. The discourse is a plain, practical, yet animated illustration of an allegoriA Short Grammar of the English Lan cal text taken from Solomon's Song, guage, in Two Parts, fimplified to the Chap. II. ver. 10, 11, 12, expressive of Capacities of Children, with Notes, and the love and unity of Christ and his a great Variety of entertaining and useful Church. In it, the Preacher impres. Exercises , upon a Plan entirely new. By fively inculcates the duty of submision, Sobn Hornsey, Schoolmaster, Scarborough humility, and fidelity, in the creature, as a return for the goodness and for bearance of the Creator under all our “ This work is not offered to the provocations. He then glances at the Public' as entirely new: it is princi- late strides made by Philosophism and pally compiled from the writings of Infidelity; enlarges on the vast and Lowth, Ward, Johnson, Blair, Harris, important benefits arising to mankind Coote, &c." So says the Compiler, from the Christian revelation; and whose work will not disgrace the strongly urges the duty of extending, authors from whom it is taken. The by charitable endowments, the bleflings grammatical rules are brief and per, of religious precept and example to the Ipicuous, the arrangement simple, and unfriended, poor, and needy, of the the exercises and illustrations well rising generation. His appeal in behalf adapted to the age of the persons for of the thousands of charity.children whom they are intended: in short, it is around him, who had been hymning a performance deserving both praise and praises to their God, ranks among the encouragement, and has already met with due respect. molt persuasive pulpit addresses that we remember to have read. Impregnation; being the Substance of a the Use of Schools. By Mrs. Pilkington. 8vo. pp.411. The voluminous original of this 1799. By Jobn Pulley, of Bedford work has been long known and highly 4to. etteemed: but many parts of it are, On the subject of this Essay, which is for obvious reasons, improper to be not calculated for the discuslion of a indiscriminately perused by very young literary journal, the Author takes occa- persons, more efpecially of the tender sion, very ably, to combat the opinions fex. " While the Naturalist (lays of Dr. Darwin and Dr. Haighton, “the Mrs. P.) mult admire Goldsmith's former phyfiologilt deluding by the descriptions, the delicate mother may brilliancy of his fanciful ideas, and the think them 100 replete, and fear that latter by the plausibility of bis experie the young mind might be incited to mental speculations.” To those who investigate what ought only to be exmay wish to consider the subject more plained in maturer years. at large, the prelent performance will The abridgment has been made with furnish ample materials for reflection, due care, evincing a constant attention |
