that her mother, the widow of a rich settler, | for the hope of coming up with her. Eighwas proprietress of the place. teen centuries ago Virgil wrote

Et fugit ad salices, et se cupit ante videri. The difference between the demeanor of this girl, and that of the frolicksome but virtuous Christina of Kolara, was the same as is generally observed between the manners of the Laplanders and that of the Westroboth

nians."

Christina of Kolara was a young beauty of a fair complexion, and of Amazonian proportions and we soon perceived that her bodily strength was fully correspondent to her size. She was fond of playfulness to a certain point, but she repulsed the smallest excess, with astonishing vehemence: and never failed to celebrate her victory by bursts We find that wealth has powerful charms, of laughter. In the morning I bathed in in this remote corner of the world, as well water of the heat of 60', to have the pleaas among ourselves: the rent roll of an sure of being attended by her, for such is estate, the parchments and all the operations the custom, when a stranger desires a bath, of lawyers preparatory to a marriage, are nothe handsomest girl of the village waits on thing more than counterparts to the estimated him. Christina, lightly habited, was charmnumber of rein-deer, pieces of silver, and ing, and performed her office with a grace, other paraphernalia at which the Laplanders and easy deportment, which heightened her value their daughters. The manner of procharms. We quitted the village, directly af-viding a fortune for those daughters, with terwards, at half past nine o'clock. Christina had dressed herself extremely neatly, took a small parcel which belonged to us, under pretext of carrying it to the river's side, where we were to embark, at half a quarter of a mile from the village; she followed us sportively, and amusing herself with the effect of her charms. But at the moment of our departure, changing the expression of her countenance, she took her leave with accents and looks replete with sweetness.

As

we encreased our distance from the shore we saw the reflexion of Christina with her light hair, and her scarlet bonnet, in the watery mirror; she dropped us a graceful little curtesy, and disappeared: but I acknowledge, that I fancied I still saw her, though she was no longer there. p. 66."

Neither does the frozen zone, perpetual snows, and a half year's winter, deprive the sex of that coquetry in which some of them indulge they like to see and to be seen, to be admired, to attract notice, to gaze and be gazed on. "The Laplanders," says the Colonel," are the greatest gossips in the world they talk all day long:" and we may suppose, that if this be the character of the men, the women are not famous for silence. They talk, and they like to be talked to. I doubt not, but what this is as it ought to be: Nature has wise purposes to answer by every quality which is truly natural and has not been sophisticated by circumstances in which art unhappily predominates. Take the portrait of a Lapland lass.

"On our way, I amused myself with remarking the young Lapland girl, who gave herself all the airs of the most finished coquette; and who was incessantly occupied in ogling through a twig of birch which she carried in her hand for the purpose of driving away the flies. Sometimes, without being pursued, she seemed to be running away, but with a slowness which left full exercise

the hospitality which detains the newly inarried pair a twelvemonth in the paternal dwelling, during which time a great encrease of riches may take place, is deserving of attention. As to the assumed reluctance of the bride, it is a law of the sex; which has prevailed in all ages, and in all places, among nations the most savage, and the most refined, though it does not on all occasions require main force to drag a bride to church-among civilized and polite people.

"The marriages of the Laplanders are conducted in the following manner. The pa rents of a young man choose a spouse for him, and on these occasions riches are considered as the only merit. The father, followed by his near kindred, leads him, whether with his will, or against it, to the tent where the young woman resides whom he has fixed on for a daughter in law, and begins by offering brandy to her father. If he refuses to drink, the whole is over; but if he accepts the liquor, the proposition is made, together with the price which is intended to be paid. This usually consists in so many reindeer, and pieces of silver, &c. During this treaty the young man is bound by decorum to remain out of the hut, where he employs himself in cleaving wood, or rendering some other service to the family of his future spouse. At length he obtains permission to offer her some of the provisions which he has brought with him. At first, she declines them, as in duty bound, but at length she comes out of her tent, and the young man follows her. If she then accepts his presents, it is a mark of her consent. Often, the negotiation lasts during some years, because it is a settled custom that every visit which the youth makes to his expected father in law, he should bring brandy with hitn; and as the Laplanders are fond of this spirit, the fathers sometimes prolong their enjoyments by retarding those of the young folks. When

going to visit his mistress the lover amuses himself by singing verses, which he composes on his way, and which express his impatience to behold the object of his affections, especially, if it happens that the choice of his parents has coincided with his own inclination. The melody is a wild strain, derived from his fancy. If the marriage does not take place, the quantity of brandy which has been drunk during the negotiation, must be returned in full; but, if the agreement is completed, the price fixed on is immediately paid to the father of the bride. On the wedding-day the bride resists with all her might, the proposed expedition to the church, and force is necessary to carry her to it. The wedding dresses are nearly the same as those for holidays. A silver crown attached to the hair, several ribbands which flow over the shoulders and adown the back, and a rose of ribbands on the bosom: are the only additional ornaments. At the return from church, the bride's father gives a repast, which is composed in part of provisions brought by the guests. The son-in-law lives the first year with the father of his wife, after which his own father fetches him away, with his wife, and all his property, which consists mostly in a herd of rein-deer. The custom is, that on the birth of a daughter, her father selects a couple of rein-deer as her property, and whatever increase these may have belong to her of right, till she quits her father's house. These two deer, if fortunate, anay increase to a numerous troop, to which the father adds, according to his ability; when his daughter leaves him he also presents her with kitchen utensils, silver goblets, spoons, &c. All her kindred, also, who have received presents from the bride, are bound to return equivalent on this occasion. In short, the young couple now procure a tent, and commence housekeeping for them

selves.

ABSENCE.

My well known friend, for ever dear!
Ah would my true love but appear!
My kisses soon should meet his lip,
Though wolves' black blood did from it drip
Though serpents did his wrist entwine
How would I clasp his hand in mine,
Hast thou no skill, thou passing wind,
No tongue to tell my love my mind,
To shew my thoughts, how true they be,
And bring his kind returns to me?
I would renounce the Cure's fare,
Rather than from my lover part;
The dresses gay his daughters wear;
He whom I strove with honest art
To snare, when Summer shot its flame,
And during Winter's frost to tanie.

Such are the simplicities of Finland affec tion, and poetry! I am yours, &c.

HERMIT.

INSTINCT OF ANIMALS: SHEEP.

[Compare Panorama, Vol. II. P. 367, 59! and 814.]

Among the speculations which occupy the intelligent, few are more generally interesting than those which relate to the manners of animals; but these can only be ascertained by familiarity with the creatures themselves, which does not usually happen to gentlemen who are accustomed to communicate their sentiments to the public; we therefore take the opportunity of extracting from works that have lately passed under our hands, such particulars as appear to us to deserve notice, in reference to that very important animal the Sheep.

The extensive mountains which form so considerable a portion of the whole county Conjugal fidelity is as scrupulously observ- of Brecknock, are covered with innumerable ed in Lapland, as in any country of Europe, flocks of sheep.-The habits and manners and what has been reported of a community of these animals and their keepers are little of women has been the mere offspring of known to the world at large, and much less invention, or made up by some traveller who to the learned part of the community. After has formed his opinion of the whole nation long hesitation and frequent doubts, courts of from the conduct of some profligate indivi-justice have at last agreed, though apparently duals. The children are brought up to labour, and are taught what may be useful in their future life."

Such are the incidents of a Lapland courtship and marriage. The Colonel tells us, that he could not recover any of the tender effusions which the Laplanders are understood to compose en passant: they are perhaps lost, dispersed in air, or having answered their purpose are forgotten. A song composed by a Finland peasant girl, has so much nature and peculiarity in it, that I have attempted to present it, in an English dress.

against their conviction, to admit, that those who have been accustomed to the care of sheep can identify their countenance, and describe with precision their general shape and make, but it is clear, that though juries give implicit credit to this kind of evidence, [yet] many gentlemen of the long robe entertain strong suspicions, either that these witnesses, are too bold, in their assertions, or else that there must be some mystery in this knowledge, which neither learning, nor great reading, can fathom. When the difference between one sheep and another in a flock is pointed

assume a

out to them, it is acknowledged for a moment,
but, say these learned sceptics" if the same
animals be shewn us a second time, at the
interval of an hour or two, we cannot recog-
nize those features with which we believed
we had formed an acquaintance."-The same
consequences would follow if an equal num-provoking the affray, may even the whole flock

by their young, they appear to
courage, which is almost ludicrous, when
we know how short lived it is likely to be.
The dam (placing her offspring in the rear)
turus round, looks at the barking cur, stamps
with her foot, as if challenging an attack and

ber of men were assembled, we'll suppose,
at a fair or market, and they would be much
more certain, if as many soldiers or persons
in the same dress were drawn up in a line;
if any two, or three, were pointed out at
random, who had no striking, or uncommon,
peculiarity of features, and the beholder could
be spun round like a top, it is ten to one that
when the rotatory motion ceased, he would
not be able to identify them a second time;
but that there is as great variety in feature,
in shape, and in make, as well as in disposi-
tion, in the brute creation, as there is in the
human form and mind, will be as clear and
as evident on minute investigation, as any
problem in geometry. The shepherd who
has been accustomed to follow his flocks, to
watch them late and early, and to study their
habits and manners, preserves the perfect re-
collection of them; without scientific, or
systematic, order, it is true, but with uner-
ring accuracy. He is competent not only to
mark their physiognomy, but to discriminate
their voices, and even to develope their cha-
racters. He describes one as active, another
as slothful, a third as thievish, another
honest, one is domestic, another given to
straying: nay though their disposition be in
general gregarious, some are more sociable
than others; some are frequently seen grazing
at a distance though in sight of the flock, as
if courting the protection of their neighbours
in the hour of danger, though shy of their
company, in their general demeanor and
habits.

If there can be any doubt, of the intimate knowledge which this class of men possess on the subject, let an experiment be made, from which no skilful shepherd will ever flinch. Let a flock be driven from the mountains or their pastures, with their lambs; let them be divided, the dams placed in one fold, and the young in another, out of the sight and hearing of each other, and then det the shepherd be introduced, for the first time, and he will instantly select the dam and her young one, or vice versa, and bring them together, without erring cace in a hundred times. The most skilful physiognomist will hesitate before he tries the same experiment with mankind.

Nor are these animals themselves, without talents, or without peculiarities: their general characteristic is, an amiable mildness, which submits, without complaint, to every injury they may sustain from either man or the brute creation. When they are accompanied

on

to correct.

form something like niartial array, and put
"a swaggering outside;" but, the mo-
ment the eneiny charges, they disperse in all
directions, seek their safety in flight, and
become the same defenceless creatures as they
are during the greatest part of their lives.
Their dispositions however, vary in different
parts of the kingdom.-In England they are
docile and domestic, they may there be confi-
ned by inclosures, and are patient of controul,
they are driven into their nightly folds, with-
out difficulty, and are collected without labour
by the shepherd, while ours in Wales resem-
ble their aboriginal masters, in manners, and
in their mode of life. While they are depas-
tured in fields and low lands, and boundaries
are prescribed to them, they have a mischie-
vous activity, which baffles human ingenuity
on
Place them a mountain,
where they are apparently free, and may roam
whither they please, and they stick to a
favourite spot, as if they were surrounded by
a wall. Here again the lawyer stumbles
when he hears that a sheep is stolen from a
hill; he cannot be persuaded to believe that
they can be localized in such a wild and open
country; but the fact is, that after they have
been accustomed to graze upon a particular
part of a mountain, if they are not disturbed
when at rest at nights, they are prisoners by
choice, and cannot be removed from thence
without difficulty. This is perfectly well
understood, by proprietors of sheep in this
country, who sometimes avail themselves of
their knowledge in a very artful manner.
When there is a right of intercommoning,
which is frequently the case here, the shep-
herd who wishes to prevent a new flock from
depasturing on the same bank, or hill, with
those called the old settlers, comes at the
dusk, or in the middle of the night, rattles
some stones which he carries in his pockets,
throws up his hat, or takes up clods and
throws them about him, in all directions.
This, one would suppose, disturbs his own
sheep, as well as his neighbours: it is, in-
deed, particularly disagreeable and unpleasant
to both, but the new settlers not being so
much accustomed, and of course not so
much attached, to the spot, give up the walk,
and leave it in the sole possession of the old
occupiers.

When sheep are first driven to the hills from the low grounds, the old sheep with that affection (which is, however, not peculiar to this animal) mount to the highest eminence, and leave, or rather confine, the

wearlings and youngest, to the lowest part of
ahe hill, shewing them by their conduct,
perhaps informing them in their language,
that they are not so capable of enduring cold,
as those which have been accustomed to a more
bleak and elevated situation. It is very cer-
tain, also, that Providence has implanted in
them for the preservation of their species a
presentiment of the approach of hard
weather, particularly of snow, (sometimes so
tfatal to thein): a day or two before it falls they
are observed to avoid the ditches and other
situations where drifts are likely to be formed,
and sometimes (though seldom) they have
been known to quit the hills intirely, to over-
Ecap all enclosures, and to come down into
he vales a day before a storm commenced.
-There is also a peculiarity (as it is said) in
the sheep bred in Glamorganshire, when sold
and delivered into Breconshire, which is
very remarkable; but incredible as it appears,
it is attested by the universal voice of those
who are conversant in this species of traffic.
They assert positively, that if a lot of sheep
be brought from the former country into the
Matter, the purchaser is obliged to watch them
for a considerable time, more narrowly, and
with greater care, than the other part of his
Hocks.
They say, that when the wind is
from the South, they smell it, and, as if
recognizing their native air, they instantly
eneditate an escape. It is certain, (whatever
amay be the cause) that they may be descried
sometimes standing on the highest eminence,
turning up their noses, and apparently suuf-
fing up the gale; here they remain, as it were
raminating for some time, and then if no
impediment occurs they scower with impe-
tuosity along the waste, and never stop, until
they reach their former homes.-Jones's His-
tory of Brecknockshire, p. 320, c.

of individuals of a flock often go quite blind for months together, very few of them will stray from their own walk. Nay, unless when they lose themselves during the first three days, they are as sure to be found at home as any of the parcel. Their necessity teaches them a wonderful sagacity, in following the rest of the flock by the scent; and a friend generally attaches itself to the sufferer, waiting on it with the most tender assiduity, and by its bleating calls it back from dan ger, and from going astray.

Coarse whale oil drives away flies, although they have settled on sheep, and torment the whole fold. Hogg on Sheep.

CURE FOR THE GOUT.

To the Editor of the Literary Panorama. Sir, The information imparted to the public by Mr. Stuart on the cure of consumption, communicated in your first volume, p. 573, leads me to hope that you will insert the following case of the great Swedish naturalist, who cured himself of the gout by eating strawberries. It is extracted from Maton's Yours, C. W. Pulteney's Linnæus.

"Linnæus derived great benefit, under the attacks of the gout to which he was subject, from the use of strawberries. It appears, that about the end of June, 1750, he experienced so violent an attack, as to be unable to take either nourishment or repose for a fortnight; and he could not even keep his feet quiet two minutes at a time. The com plaint passed from one foot to the other, into his hands, and also to other joints, affecting them with redness, swelling, and all the usual appearances. A plate of strawberries having been accidentally brought to him, while he was in this afflicted state, they prov Let the farmer take the ewes of each dis-ed to be the only article that was at all gratetinct hill, hop, or ridge, and, about the mid-ful to his palate, and after eating them he dle of July, select from each of these divisions of the best lambs, a number sufficient to replace the aged, infirm, and eild of that certain department. Let these be kept in a parcel by themselves, or with the eild sheep, until the milk is gone from the ewes, and then turn them again at large to pasture, with the old sheep, each on his own native hill all the rest of their lives; for no sooner are they set at liberty, than they draw to their respective places, and commonly again join their dam and former acquaintances. Thus, in a few years, every little department of the farm becomes stocked with a distinct clan of friends, who will in nowise separate; and though they be ever so thoroughly mixed with other claus during the day, they will all sunder voluntaridy, and draw to their own layers at even.

It is very wonderful, that though a number

slept some hours, the only time during the whole fourteen days of his illness. When he awoke, he ate more strawberries; and, having again good sleep from midnight until the next morning, he found himself well enough to leave his bed, and in fact, experienced no pain whatever, though the disease had of course debilitated him extremely. The following year, the gout came on again, about the same period; and our invalid being then at Drottningholm, his pale, sickly countenance struck the Queen, who very condescendingly inquired, what he would take?Linnæus, replied, "Strawberries," which were not to be procured. Her Majesty, however, ordered a plate of this fruit to be brought, and having eaten that quantity, he found himself well enough the next morning to go to court. The gout returned the third year;

569]

but in a much slighter degree than before, and was again cured by strawberries; and, on its access the fourth and fifth times, at the same season in the succeeding years, the same occurrences took place, and they were remedied by the same means. The attacks gradually became less violent, and, by perseve ring in the use of this fruit every suminer, they did not recur at all for nearly twenty years; indeed, we do not find that Linnæus experienced a return of gout even after that interval.

"It is no wonder, therefore, that the writer of this dissertation pronounces strawberries preferable to any inedicine hitherto discovered for the cure of arthritic disorders."

"Two cases are mentioned, shewing, that wholesome as strawberries are universally considered, they will, notwithstanding, act as a poison on some persons. They occasioned syncope, succeeded by a petechial efflores

cence on the skin."

CADENHAM OAK.

(To the Editor of the Literary Panorama.)

Sir, I shall not pretend to answer the difficulties connected with unique trees. But as in your comments on the Bohon Upas, you mention that you shall be happy to receive accounts of other unique trees, permit me to lay before your readers Mr Gilpin's description (in his forest Scenery) of the Cadenham oak, that seems to claim the title.

Having often heard of this oak," says Mr. G. “I took a ride to see it on the 29th of December 1781. It is a tall straight plant, of no great age, and apparently vigorous; except that its top has been injured; from which several branches issue in the form of pollard shoots. It was entirely bare of leaves, as far as I could discern, when I saw it; and undistinguishable from the other oaks in its neighbourhood; except that its bark seemed rather smoother; occasioned, I apprehended, only by frequent climbing. Having had the account of its early budding confirmed on the spot, I engaged one Mr. Lawrence, who kept the White Hart, a small alehouse in the neighbourhood, to send me some of the leaves to Vicar's hill, as soon as they should appear. The man, who had not the least doubt about the matter, kept his word; and sent me several twigs, on the morning of the 5th of January, 1782; a few hours after they had been gathered. The leaves were fairly expanded, and about an inch in length. From some of the buds two leaves had unsheathed themselves; but in general only one.

Through what power in nature this strange, premature vegetation is occasioned, I believe

no naturalist can explain. I sent some of the leaves to one of the ablest botanists we have, Mr. Lightfoot, author of the Flora Scotica; and was in hopes of hearing something satisfactory on the subject. But he is one of those philosophers, who is not ashamed of ignorance, where attempts at knowledge are mere conjecture. He assured me, that he neither could account for it in any way; nor did he know of any other instance of prema. ture vegetation, except the Glastonbury

thom.

The Philosophers of the forest, in the mean time, account for the thing at once, through the influence of old Christmas-day; univetsally believing that the oak buds on that day, and that only. The same opinion is held with regard to the Glastonbury thorn, by the common people of the west of England. But, without doubt, the germination there is gradual; and forwarded, or retarded by the the mildness, or severity of the weather. One of its progeny, which grew in the gardens at Bulstrode, had its flower-buds perfectly formed so early as the 21st of December, 1781; which is fifteen days earlier than it ought to flower, according to the vulgar prejudice.This early spring, however of the Cadenham oak is of very short duration. after unfolding themselves, make no further progress; but immediately shrink from the season, and die. The tree continues torpid, like other deciduous trees, during the remainder of the winter, and vegetates again` in the spring, at the usual season.

The buds,

I have been informed, that another tree with the same property of early germination, has lately been found near the spot, where Rufus's monument stands. If this be the case, it seems in some degree to authenticate' the account which Camden gives us of the scene of that prince's death: for he speaks of the premature vegetation of that very tree, on which the arrow of Tyrrel glanced; and the tree I now speak of, if it really exist, though I have no sufficient authority for it, might have been a descendant of the old oak, and have inherited its virtues."

Cadenham is a village, about three miles from Lyndhurst.-Mr.G. gives also, a curious account of the groaning-tree of Badesly; to which I must refer the inquisitive.

I am, Sir, yours,

A COTTAGER.

Our readers will, no doubt, acknowledge the same obligation to our worthy correspondent as we ourselves feel for this communication: others of a like nature, or marked by equal peculiarities, will be acceptable.