rearing and educating infants to a cer- relative proportions of age between tain age, is their peculiar province; themselves and the persons whom they they are consulted in all marriages, accost. and in their blood is founded the order of succession.

"The practice of marrying a plurality of wives, is more generally prevalent among the natives of the southern, than among those of the more northern parts of America: The Hurons and the Iroquois restrict themselves to one wife; and what appears singular, polygamy, which is not permitted to the men, is extended to the women among the Tsonnonthouans, where many instances occur of one female having two husbands."

"The men, on the contrary, seem to form a distinct class amongst themselves; their children are strangers to them, and when they die, every thing they possessed is destroyed, or is deposited with their bodies in the tomb. The family and its privileges remain with the women. If males only are left in a family, and should their number, and that of their nearest male relatives be ever so great, the race beThere are some features which are comes nominally extinct. Although common to all rude and ferocious naby custom the leaders are chosen from tions. The ancient Spartans destroyanong the men, and the affairs which ed all weakly or deformed children, concern the tribe are settled by a that were born so; and in some parts council of ancients, it would yet seem of South America, if women sustain that they only represented the women, the pains of labour without fortitude, and assisted in the discussion of sub- they destroy the offspring, lest it jects which principally related to that should receive any of its mother's weakness, and thus degenerate from The

sex.

44

Among the Iroquois, marriages the courage of its ancestors. are formed in such a manner, that the same rigour also is practised towards parties leave not their relatives and those that are deformed, and the motheir cabin to have a separate dwell- ther is frequently sacrificed with the ing and family, but each remains as child.

before, and the children produced Fashion (which is only another from the inarriage, belonging to the name for custom) is every thing: yet mother, are accounted solely of her it would be long ere we should find a cabin or family. The property of the beauty, like the Caraibs, in flattened husband is kept apart from that of the foreheads sunk behind the eye-brows. wife, and the females inherit in pre- The children are not born in this ference to the males. The considera- state, but the head of the infant is tion of the children being dependant compressed into this shape, by placing entirely upon the mother, and form- upon its brow a piece of board tied ing the future hope of the nation, was with a bandage, which is allowed to the real cause, among many tribes, of remain until the bones have acquired the women having in a political sense, consistence. It ever afterwards reacquired a degree of consequence su- tains its flatness in such a degree, that perior to that of their husbands. Like without raising or bending back the the Lycians, the Iroquois and Hurons head, the eyes may be directed to obtake their family names from the wo- jects perpendicularly above them." men, who alone are charged with pre- The corporeal superiority of a saserving the race of their ancestors, by vage is well known, for being called transmission to their children, of the upon incessantly to exert every bodily name born by themselves. When a faculty, he acquires a degree of exwarrior dies, the appellation by which cellence approaching to the wonhe was distinguished is buried in his derful. grave, and is not renewed until the lapse of several years. The savages in addressing each other, seldom make use of their adopted name. They apply even to strangers the titles of kindred, such as brother, sister, uncle, nephew, and cousin, observing the distinctions of subordination, and the

"They enjoy, in a superior degree to Europeans, the perfection of the senses. In spite of the snow which dazzles their sight, and the smoke in which they are involved for nearly six months of the year, their organs of vision remain to a great age, unim paired. They possess an acuteness of

hearing, and a sense of smelling, so an evil omen, and deep affliction was strong, that they can ascertain their testified by the priests. As a substi distance from fire, long before the tute for the celestial fire, the effect smoke becomes visible. Their olfac- was produced by the friction of two tory nerves are so exquisite, that they pieces of hard wood." cannot suffer the smell of musk, or of We shall extract but one more pasany strong perfume. They assert, sage from this volume, and the reader, that they find no odour agreeable but as he peruses it, will at once admire that of food. Their imagination is the lofty heroism of the savage, and powerful and just. It is sufficient for shudder at the idea of suffering nature them to have been once in a place, to which is presented to his mind. form a correct idea of it, which ap- "The government of the natives of pears never to be effaced. They tra- Guaiana was monarchial, there being verse, without deviating from their only one chief to whom they yielded course, the vast and unfrequented fo- obedience. This personage was usu rests. In the most cloudy and obscure ally elected from among the most exweather, they will for many days fol- perienced of the nation, being requir low the course of the sun, without be ed to possess, not only the ordinary ing misled; the most perfect quadrant qualities of courage, patience, acticannot give more certain information vity, and strength, but an intimate of the course of this luminary, than knowledge of the country, and of the they are able to do by looking at the roads which led to the surrounding heavens. They seem to be born with nations. He was obliged, during nine a talent, which is neither the result of months, to observe a rigorous fast, experience nor observation. Chil- during which, his daily sustenance dren, when they depart from their vil- was no more than an handful of millage to perform their first journey, let. To carry enormous burthens, preserve the same undeviating course and to stand as sentry at night, was as they who have repeatedly traversed another part of his duty. Detachthe whole country. ments were sent on discovery, upon Those of our readers who may whose return, he set out, and endea have seen the tragi-comic-operatic voured to trace their footsteps to the spectacle of Pizarro, and admired the utmost extent of their route, without sudden whizzing of the fire that darts any previous information respecting down to the accompaniment of a the direction in which they had proclap of thunder, during the sacrifice ceeded. To accustom himself to pain the second act, may not be dis- tience under sufferings, he remained pleased to know why and where- for a considerable time buried as far fore" of the business. as the middle in hillocks, formed and "The month of June was the pe- inhabited by the large ground_ants, riod at which the great festival of the whose bite induces a fever to Eurosun was held, and on this occasion a peans. When he was thought to be large vessel of gold was by the Inca sufficiently tried in this manner, the consecrated to his honour. The cere- whole nation assembled, and went in mony was opened with sacrifices, in quest of the intended chief, who con which it was not lawful to employ any cealed himself under the leaves of fire but such as could be derived from trees, to indicate his averson to the hothe sun; and for this purpose the nour which was destined him, or as an priest caught his rays in a small con- emblem of his being elevated from a cave vessel, whose surface was smooth low station, to be placed in the highest and polished. The converging rays estate. Each of the assistants advanc were thrown upon some cotton, which ed in the attitude of dancing, and was thereby ignited, and applied for placed his foot on the head of the cankindling the great fires for burning didate for sovereignty, who being afthe oblations. A portion of this fire terwards raised from his posture of was afterwards conveyed to the tem- prostration, all the assembly knelt be ple of the sun, where it was carefully fore him, and placed their bows and preserved all the year. If, on the day arrows at his feet. The chief, in his of the festival, the sun was ob- turn, successively raised his foot upon scured by clouds, it was considered as the head of each individual present,

and was led in triumph to a cabin, ing the hut, he immerges himself into where a feast was prepared by women, a stream of water; on his coming out, who awaited him. Before he partook of it, he shot an arrow from his bow into a cup of the size of an egg, attached to the summit of his hut. He partook, with avidity, of the festival, but was, thereafter obliged to live for thirty days in the most abstemious

a blanket is thrown over him, and he is conducted to the dwelling of the chief, where he is extended on his back. With a pointed stick dipped in water mixed with gunpowder, the chief delineates on his skin, a figure, which is afterwards more durably impressed. For this purpose, an instru"The ceremony being ended, the ment, formed of a number of needles captain was considered to have full fixed in a small wooden frame, and power and authority over the whole dipt in vermilion, is used for pricking nation, which was guided by his orders the lines already traced. Where it and his movements; at his sole plea- becomes necessary to impress bolder sure it was, that war or peace were outlines, an incision is made with a made.

manner.

"The forms of adoption into the class of warriors among several of the North American Indians, consists in preparing a feast of dog's flesh, boiled in the grease of bears, to which huckle berries are added as an ingredient. Of this, all the warriors of the tribe are invited to partake. The repast being finished, a war song to the following purport, is vociferated by all who are present.

flint. The parts which have not been marked with red, are rubbed with gun-powder, and produce a variety in the colouring. To prevent the wounds from festering, they are generally seared with pink wood. Two or three days elapse before the operation is finally performed. The wounds are every morning washed with the cold infusion of an herb, named by the natives Poquesegan. The war songs are frequently repeated, and accompanied by chichicoué and other noisy instruments, which tend to stifle the groans produced by so acute a mode of torture."

"Look down upon us, O great Master of Life and permit us to receive into our class a warrior, who appears to possess courage, whose arm is powerful, and who fears not to Before we conclude, we will just expose his body to the enemy. The observe, that should Mr. Heriot again noviciate is then presented with a pipe write a book, it will be well if he is of war, out of which he smokes and a little more attentive to grammar, passes it to the guests. A belt of and has fewer discords between his wampum is placed on his neck; he is nominatives and his verbs. introduced by two chiefs into a sudatory, prepared with long poles fixed in the ground, and pointed at top in the form of a cone, over which skins and blankets are thrown to exclude the air. This species of tent is sufficiently large to contain three persons. Two stones made red hot are grieved, and has appealed to the brought into it, and water is from public; but if we may judge of Mr. time to time sprinkled upon them. A Sheriff Phillips' feelings from his letprofuse perspiration is produced by ters, here published, Mr. Blore might the steam, and the pores are thereby as well have amused himself with relaxed, for the performance of an- throwing eggs against a brick wall. other part of the ceremony. Leav

Mr. BLORE's Statement of a Correspondence with RICHARD PHILLIPS, Esq. Sheriff, &c. &c. &c. respecting the Antiquary's Magazine.-Second

edition.

MR. BLORE has been grossly ag

ORIGINAL POETRY.

ON WOMAN

WHEN Nature made the lovely fair,
She gave to Man her choicest treasure;
With outward form beyond compare,
Possess'd of joys beyond all measure
UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. IX.

Whene'er intent on world'yin,

Man stoops to seize the ghed folly; The phantom flies-he finds with pain, "Tis nought but care and melancholy.

2 F

What charm can soothe his woe-worn heart, O did my heart a female know, When fortune shall of friends bereave him?

Ye shades to her, but more to Petrarch, known,

Ye happy flow'rs that once her form caress'd;

Ye scenes for ever sad, for ever blest,

Where still I wander wretched and alone,
Ye gales on which my frequent sighs
have blown,

To you my dying wish is now exprest!
O if the love which has maintain'd so long
Life's ling'ring flame, to end itself must
close

These weeping eves, O grant that here among
Scenes so belov'd I may at last repose;

And take, unsever'd in the pangs of death,
My Laura's name and my expiring breath!

THEATRICAL RECORDER.

COVENT GARDEN.

ONDAY, Feb. 22. Hamlet

to add to the minute criticism upon
this play, which we gave in our last
number, except to censure the intru-
sion of Mr. Thompson in the charac-
ter of the Ghost. A very solemn and
awful scene, perhaps the finest in the
whole piece, was spoiled by his groan-
ing monotony, which resembled no-
thing so much as the booming of a
kettle-drum in a spacious and lofty
vestibule.
Mr. Pope, we presume,
was indisposed, or he would have ap-
peared in his own character: but sure-
ly a more fit and able successor might
have been found than this Mr.Thomp-
son, who, besides his hollow lowings,
indulged us with many new readings
and pleasant omissions.

cousin, a fantastical merchant, (Mr. Liston) advances towards the table

capers; he rattles the box, smiles,and turns it down with the certainty of success: his throw is two aces! The lady therefore falls to the lot of the poet, and he is now all impatience to behold his fair bride: an old steward, rather purblind (Mr. Si mous) points to a picture over the chimney-piece, which is the portrait of the widow; but the widow herself, a few minutes before, had taken down the picture, aud hung up one of her grandmother in its stead. The poet turns his head, and looks distracted upon the winkled countenance, wry mouth, and shrivelled eyes, of his future spouse, while the old steward, not being able to see, and therefore unconscious of Thursday, Feb. 25. The Wanderer; or, the change, is expatiating upon her The Rights of Hospitality-Who Wins? blooming charms, pouting lips, and or, The Widow's Choice, 1st time. This languishing look. The poet is disin short but interesting drama was very terested: the fortune will not tempt well performed this evening, and was him to take so much ugliness, and he succeeded by a new farce from the pen sells his chance to the other cousin for of Mr. Allingham. The plot is whim- a thousand pounds; and makes love sical enough. A young and sprightly to the servant of the widow, (uncon widow (Mrs. C. Kemble) has a fortune scious that she is the real bride) and left her upon condition that she mar- solicits her hand without a dowry, ries.one of two cousins. These cou- She is pleased with this proof of disinsins are to decide their claims upon the widow's person by the throw of the dice. The widow, in order to ascertain the real affection of her suitors, disguises herself as the servant of the lady who is to be raffled for. The important moment approaches: the dice are brought: the table prepared: one of the cousins, a poet, (M". Faw. eett) throws first, deuce-ace: the other

terested affection, and, finding means to extricate herself from the sale which the poet had made of lier, marries him.

Such are the outlines of the piece, and which, being supported by some smartness of dialogue and some pretty music by Condell, was well received, We do not, however, think that the character of the poet is well drawn