reef on which they are situated, or what refreshments might be procured from them, I considered the first as an object of some monent, as the eastern passage to China, in all probability, may be more frequented than formerly, by the Bengal shipping, should the cotton trade increase. The islands are very low; and ships falling in with them in the night would be close in, before they perceived the land; and if not acquainted with the danger, might attempt a passage with them, in which case they would unavoidably run on the reef; as they are situated upon one entire shoal, so that it is not possible for a boat to pass between the islands. The view of the reef on which they are placed, was taken from the mast head, from whence the eye could extend over the whole space of both islands and reef, therefore I can vouch for its accuracy. The natives came off in great numbers; and on approaching near the ship, performed extravagant gestures, and held forth a long harangue, which neither our Malays, nor any other person on board, understood; after which they made no scruple of coming on board, and freely parted with their ornaments of dress, aud cocoa-nuts, for pieces of iron hoops and old nails. Their dress consisted of a treble string of coral, stones, and shells, round the waist; a narrow piece of cloth up between the legs, made out of the fibres of cocoa nut; a bracelet of tortoise-shell, round the right wrist; two square pieces of mothero'-pearl, suspended round the neck, by hair, one piece hanging down the front of the body, and the other down the back; a collar round the neck, of fish teeth, and black coral, This was the dress of the men; and the only difference we perceived in that of the women was, a small mat tied round the waist, which reached as low as the kuce. The natives of these islands are particularly well proportioned and robust; their features are regular aud mauly; some of them so symmetrical, that I was astonished; having never seen any equal to them in either Asia, Africa, or America. There is not the least resemblance between them and the Malays, or the inhabitants of New Guinea; nor can 1 form the smallest conjecture, from whence these islands could have been first inhabited. Their only produce, and chief food, is the cocoa nut, (fish excepted) consequently but little refreshments can be obtained by touching at them; and water, if any is to be procured, I conceive must be brackish, from the low situation, and small extent of the islands. Anchorage there is none, as you have fifty fathoms close to the edge of the reef. A quantity of mother-o'-pearl might be collected; but I question if sufficient to induce a ship to touch for it. I am, sir, &c. ANDREW BARCLAY. July 1st, 1806. tent of coast of 2200 English miles, slaughtered for the value of their is known by the general name of hides. All the provinces, according Brazil. The Portuguese settlement to the account of Staunton, are adnaturally extending along the coast, vancing fast to opulence and imporlittle is known of the interior; for tance. They manufactured of late most of the tribes being Anthropo- several of the most pecessary articles phagi, even the missionaries have for their own consumption, and their been unwilling to penetrate further. produce was so considerable, that the The fanaticism of the Portuguese has balance of trade began to be in their always proved a strong obstacle to favour. the population of this fine region. The imports into the Brazils are Sir C. Staunton computed the whites chiefly linen, woollens, silk hats, at 200,000, and the negroes, &c. at wheat, four, rice, port wine, furni600,000. The whole may now pro- ture, oil, cheese, &c. io return for bably, be about one million; a popu- gold, sugar, tobacco, Brazil wood, Jation by no means adequate to the skins, ipecacuhana, and other drugs. extent and fertility of the country. The trade in timber is a favourite It is divided into three governments, object with Da Cunha, who prefers of which Rio Janeiro is the chief, the nagatree, the ipe, the guramirim, owing to the gold and diamond mines and sneupiora, to the best and in its neighbourhood. strongest timber in Europe. Woods Of the state of industry in the for ornamental cabinet work too, or Brazil we have no very minute ac- for the use of dyers, may be procount. After the discovery of the cured here in great perfection and mines, particular attention was paid variety. Several of the aromatic to them, from the notion then preva- plants are found here in a truly inlent, that riches consisted in gold and digenous state, such as the ginger, precious stones. Though the soil is turmeric, different species of pepper, very fertile, agriculture appears to be American coffee, capsicum, or Guinea in rather a low state. Da Cunha, pepper, and the wild cinnamon. A bishop of Fernambucco, the latest variety of medicinal plants also grow authority, of consequence, inforins here in great abundance, and such us, that the province of Rio Grande esculent plants and fruits as are comalone might supply a great part of mon to the tropical regions of AmeEurope with wheat, hemp, and other rica. Mr. Lindley's narrative, pubproducts; and yet it appears, that lished in 1805, presents some notices wheat, rice, and flour, are consider- that may be of use in the deficiency able articles of importation into Ba- of materials on this subject. He hia, which was the most comniercial says that the bitter, or Seville city of the Brazils, till the discovery orange, is a native of America. of the mines gave the superior im- There are great unwrought mines of portance to Rio Janeiro. Several nitre near Bahia. No vessels, he districts produce cotton, indigo, cof- observes, ought to approach the fee, chocolate, rice, pepper, and the coast on the south of Bahia within noted Brazilian tobacco. The num- half a degree, as all our charts are ber of cattle in some of the provinces very imperfect in that part. The is prodigious, and they are ofteu Rio Grande and the adjoining Pativa supply excellent timber for the they considered as administered with royal docks--one kind resembling too much insolence and contempt of the teak of India; while Brazil- other nations. The youth, in partiwood, log-wood, mahogany, rose- cular, were inbued with republican wood, and others also abound. notions, and ridiculed their own sub The principal commercial city at jection to Portugal -a report conpresent is Rio Janeiro. The harbour firmed by Staunton. Mr. Lindley is capacious and excellent; the sur- also states, that they wish much to rounding country is fertile, and get rid of their dependence on Great abounds in cattle and sheep. The Britain, to which they bear considershops are full of Manchester goods able enmity. and English prints, and there are The most curious circumstances manufactures of sugar, rum, and relating to the state of manners in cochineal. It may be of some im- Brazil, is the conduct of a set of portance to state, that though the miscreants, called Paulists-a*soprovince of Rio Grande is the richest ciety of freebooters in the Southof the Brazils, the river is little navi. ern part of the country. United by gable on account of the shoals. The equal want of religion and morals, adjoining province of San Catarina, the first inhabitants of the town of therefore, serves as a mart for the St. Paul formed a republic, like productions of Rio Grande, by its that of robbers in a cavern. Maleexcellent harbour, which is the best factors of all nations and colours in the country after that of Rio formed about a hundred families, Janeiro. which gradually rose to a thousand. With respect to the European set- The Paulists declared themselves a tlers, they are described as gay and free people. All strangers who did fond of pleasure. They eat without not bring certificates of having been kvives or forks, and roll the meat regular thieves were refused admitand vegetables into balls; the ladies tance into the colony. The first without ceremony search for vermin trial of a citizen was to make an exin each other's hair, and their usual cursion and bring in two Indians dress is a single petticoat over a che- as prisoners. Virtuous actions were mise. It is acknowledged by the carefully punished with death. Sup. Portuguese themselves, that Brazil, plied with fire-arms from unknown considering the number of years it quarters, they carried devastation has been colonized, the space which into the Spanish possessions. Where it occupies, and the inhabitants it they suspected that force would not contains, exhibits the greatest defi- avail , they assumed the gowns of the ciency of genius and curiosity of any jesuits, and preached with the most quarter of the globe.” There is a re- holy fervour to the Iudians, on the markable want of subordination, espe- advantages of religion, and the heincially among the white servants, so as ous offences of murder and robbery, not to be exceeded by the jacobin particularly warning them against epoch of France. They admired the those devils the Paulists. Having French generals and conquests, and, gained the confidence of the Indians, according to Mr. Lindley's account, they inveigled them into places where entertained an antipathy against the they could easily seize them as primaritime power of England, which soners. At last, however, the state 3 N4 was was corrupted by the introduction of a few virtues, and the city was yielded to the Portuguese monarchy. Da Cunha contradicts the theory of Montesquieu, on the effects of climate, and asserts, that the Indigenes of the Brazils are capable of great mental and corporeal exertion, of which he gives some instances. This writer states a circumstance which sets in a strong light the narrow policy of the Portuguese government in the vicinity of the mines, salt is necessary, not only for man but for the cattle; and yet this article is farmed to an individual, aud a vast commerce of fish, which swarm on the coast of Brazil, is thus interdicted. The country, upon the whole, seems to have improved very slowly, notwithstanding its natural advantages. But when the government shall have, adopted a more liberal policy, and industry is left unfettered, it may soon become a rich and powerful empire. who had been destined by his uncle for his successor, was, on the 13th of April, 1789, solemnly begirt with the hattechian, or sword of Mahomet, in the Mosque of Eyoub, as the 27th monarch of the race of Osman. Never did any sultan manifest greater ardour and impetuosity, or a more warlike spirit, than Selim III. on his accession to the throne. He was then only in his 28th year, being born on the 24th of December, 1761; so that age cannot even be supposed to have diminished his energy. His vivacity was probably nothing more than illusion, a mere disguise assumed from motives of prudence, because at that time the people, as well as the highest personages at Constantinople, clamoured for the most vigorous prosecution of the war; and it was not unknown, that the pacific disposition of Abdul Hamid had contributed to his sudden death. The grandecs of the empire concealed their sentiments, in silent ad Anecdotes of the Grand Signior, miration; while the people loudly Selim III. Sultan Selim III. Gihandari, the present ruler of the once-formidable Ottoman empire, is the son of the emperor Mustapha III. distinguished by the surname of the Glorious, and nephew to the last Turkish monarch Abdul Hamid, who died very suddenly on the 7th of April, 1789, in the 64th year of his age, after taking a cup of indigestible coffee, leaving two male heirs, sultan Mustapha and sultan Mahmud. Conformably with the Turkish system of policy, (which, to obviate the inconveniences liable to result from the government of a minor, calls to the throne the oldest prince of the reigning family,) Selim, congratulated themselves on the accession of such a spirited sovereign, who manifested, in all his actions, so decided an inclinatiou for the continuance of the war. When some one represented to him the state of the empire, and the dangers with which it was menaced, especially as France and Spain might possibly be induced to side with the two imperial courts, he listened with attention to what he had to say, and at length replied: "It is, nevertheless, my pleasure to prosecute the war;" and issued the most positive orders to this effect. In the very first night of his reign, Selim fixed himself firmly on the throne, and in the affections of the people. people. A fire broke out in the ar- took place the same year with the senal.---Selim resolved to repair to empress Catherine II. after the treaty the spot, according to the custom of concluded at Szistowe, on the 4th the sultans, that he might the more of August, had reconciled Austria speedily check, by his orders, the and the Porte. In August, 1791, progress of the flames. He was preliminaries of peace were signed told, that it was unusual for the sul- at St. Petersburgh, and were suca tans to appear in public previous to ceeded by the definitive treaty, ratheir solemo inauguration, which tified on the 29th of December, at. consists in being girt with the sword the congress of Jassy. of Mahomet. Selini's answer was Since that period, Selim III. has accompanied with a look of asperity; lived in relations of amity with his and he gave orders to prepare im- formidable north-eastern neighbour; mediately for his departure from the and seven years afterwards, when seraglio. The people, among whom France attempted to ravish Egypt he ordered money to be distributed, from his sceptre, these were still to encourage them to exert them. more closely cemented, by means selves in extinguishing the confla- of a defensive alliance between Rusgration, accompanied him on his sia and the Porte. The political return to the seraglio, with the storms which shook the Turkish enloudest acclamations; so that no pire at the conclusion of the 18th, person durst hazard any attempt and the beginning of the 19th cenagainst Selim, which otherwise might tury, demanded a skilful hand to probably have been the case. The gnide the helm of the state. Interceremony of girding on the sword nal energy was wanting to preserve had usually been accompanied with the shattered vessel. With all the great musical entertainments and resources which the Porte has at its dancing. Selim would not celebrate disposal, it has not even been able it with any festivities of that kind; to quell the insurrections of rebelbut gave a tournament, which he lious Pachas, and to secure the inthought better suited to the circum- ternal tranquillity of the empire stances of the tinies. against the numerous hordes of Though fortune was far from banditti which overrun its provinces. smiling on Selin's arms, yet he During the late war with France, resolved not to lay them down. Selini was involved in continuat soliIn 1791, when the empress-mother, citude, which crippled the execution or sultana Valide, for whom he en- of very decisive measure. Hence tertained the higbest veneration, Egypt, though cleared of foreign would not desist (in spite of his ad- enemies, remained in a state of inmonitions not to intermeddle with surrection; the audacious Paswan state affairs) from importuning him Oglou defied bin at Widdin; and to make peace with Russia, he at the bold Czerni George successfully length lost all patience, and re- asserted the claims of the Servian moved his so-peaceably-disposed insurgents against the troops of the mother for a time from his palace, grand signior. to the old Seraglio, where the wo- At such a crisis as the present, men of the deceased monarch are irresolution is the most dangerous usually kept. Nevertheless, a peace quality of a sovereign, especially at Constantinople. |