rally be considered to be comprehended within the time of the year when the violence of the heat is somewhat mitigated, and during the absence of the periodical rains. A sudden exposure to either extreme often proves fatal to the stranger, and should, if possible, be cautiously avoided. The night dews which at most seasons are very prolific, are not less baneful; and until the sun has gained some ascendancy to disperse the unwholesome vapours these create, the morning in many situations has little healthful or agreeable to recommend it. Under the head of precaution, therefore, a proper adaptation of clothing to meet the vicissitudes alluded to, should, it is presumed, engage a due share of regard. This is a matter, however, that observation may have discovered to be less considered by the people of our own coun try than by those of any other. An Englishman in this respect is most pertinacious, and would perhaps rather surrender some portion of his health and convenience than any part of his accustomed habit. Not so the Frenchman, the Spaniard, or even the inflexible Dutchman, who, within the tropics, finds occasion for fewer pairs of breeches than he had in the Texel.

"The doctrine of temperance has seldom obtained admission in the warmer regions, nor have the advocates for it in such situations often been regarded with extraordinary deference. Yet it is quite probable, that few could be found, even in the indulgence of an opposite system, who would not afford assent to a theory although

at some variance with their prac

tice. With regard to living, therefore little can be said; indeed it would be useless to say much on a subject in which inclination has been discovered so much too powerful for suggestion. And as it becomes in some shape unavoidable, to use a familiar phrase, to live well, the meaning of which might possibly be found in its opposite, even in this respect some direction may be salutary. To avoid all repasts but such as are denominated regular, for the ap. petite participating in the share of languor brought on the system by the effect of climate, may be too much disposed, if not early restrained, to seek its gratification at unequal intervals, a matter in which health is more concerned than at first may be conceived, and that at once leads to the consideration of another thing which is closely attendant on it. prefer at all times the use of wine to that of spirits, and if the latter must be taken, on no account to omit a scrupulous adherence to three things-namely, time, quantity, and quality. Of the first it may certainly be pronounced, that any inattention towards it commonly involves an indifference with regard to the rest; and the indiscriminate or early drinking has, without question, contributed quite as powerfully as the climate, or any other cause, to render the greater part of our colonies uncongenial to the existence of Europeans.

To

"Before quitting this subject, it may not be wholly irrelevant to offer a new further remarks, from which it is conjectured some advantage may likewise be derived. First, to fortify the mind as strongly as possible against impressions

of

of the interruption health may sustain in the change that has been undertaken. And, although regarding the recital of many of the feats of Death as tales for the nursery, not to indulge a belief by a too emboldened conduct, that no such personage stalks the earth. Secondly, no circumstance being more evident, than that the body is greatly dependant on the mind for the share of health it enjoys

Mens sana in corpore sano

to consider, if this maxim holds generally, that it will be found to apply with increased force in remote and unheadby countries; where much is new, and to many, where all is unpromising; where habits and association become entirely dissimilar, and which are seldom found, with all the novelty they possess, sufficiently powerful to obliterate the anxiety and regret that is felt for that which has been resigned. This is the Promethean vulture that must not fasten on its victim if the force of philosophy can prevent it.

"It is, possibly, from the indulgence of feelings like the above -from a sensibility which broods gloomily on the past-that much arises to embitter the present; and that, in its despondent effects, will seldom allow any thing to be placed on the future. This is the last and most dangerous state of this mental affection, which not unfrequently fixes the sufferer in a confirmed state of hypochondria, a tedium vite, that no relief but sudden change of situation and restoration to former scenes, can ever reach."

The amusements of this settlement are few..

VOL. LII.

Christmas, however, is the season that in this country usually brings all ranks together; the bond and thefree; and the hilarity which prevails amongst the former order cannot possibly be more largely partaken of by any beings in the world. The young, the old, even the maimed, and the decrepit, all unite in contributing to render this period joyous and happy; it may be added, and noisy!

"The morning of Christmas-day is invariably ushered in by the discharging of small-arms in every direction, every thing now from established custom being free and unrestrained; and the master's house (where the festivity commences, and whatever it contains, is now open to all. The members of the several African tribes, again met together after a long separation, now form themselves into different groups, and nothing can more forcibly denote their respective casts of national character than their mu sic, songs, and dances. The convulsive rapid movements of some, and the affectedly reluctant steps of others, appear inconceivably ludicrous; whilst the cocasional bursts of loud chorus, with which all are animated, con- ' tribute greatly to heighten the singularity of the entertainment.

"The endurance of the negroes during the period of their holidays, which üsually last a week, is incredible. Few of them are known to take any portion of rest for the whole time; and for the same space they seldom know an interval of sobriety. It is the single season of relaxation granted to their condition; that it should be partaken of immoderately

3 B

rately may therefore appear not altogether so extraordinary.

"At this season water sports are also common, and Dory racing affords a very general amusement, and on these occasions largesumsare freely betted both by owners and slaves. This species of diversion bas no small share of utility at tached to it, as it contributes to render the latter highly expert in a kind of exercise that is insepa. rably connected with the labour in which they are principally engaged.

"The Dory is usually formed of mabogany or cedar, genera'ly from a solid piece; its length is from 25 to 50 feet; and so buoyant and safe is this sort of vessel found, that persons accustomed to the management of it often fearlessly venture out to sea in it, and in weather when it twight be unsafe to trust to vessels of much larger kind. It is worked with paddles instead of oars, and the fastest and best manned rowing boats have universally failed in a competition with it, and the negro paddlers of Honduras.

tition

hung round with curtains to defend the passenger from the sun by day and the dews of night; precautions that are extremely necessary; for in journeying to the distant mahogany works, an abode for some time must frequently be taken up in them, and when any exposure in an unhealthy climate might be attended with evil consequences."

In giving the natural history of this settlement, Captain Henderson has evinced uncommon minuteness and accuracy; and the naturalist will meet with numerous interesting varieties in the different kingdoms. The remainder of the volume is occupied with an account of the manners, customs, and country of the Mosquito Indians, and terminates with meteorological table kept at Balize in the bay of Honduras.

We have dwelt the longer on this little volume, not merely on account of the importance of t the British settlement to which it relates, but also because it brings before the English reader a vari ety of curious and valuable infor mation, in an unassuming, yet agreeable manner. We cordially recommend the work to the atten tion of our readers.

as

It is

011

bottomed, the Dory round. Much taste is displayed by all orders in fitting out both these conveyances; and they afford the only opportunities of u travelling in this country, every expedienti is resorted to to render them pleasant and commodious. They are are commonly furnished with capacious awnings,

1

Southey, Part 1. Ato.

provinces ces in li terature, e, which Mr. Southey has not successfully invaded: of his poetical talents our present vo volume contains some brilliant specimens, and most of our readers, we apprehend, are well acquainted with the

the versatile powers of his creative fancy. We have to consider him as the historian of an interesting portion of the globe, concerning which we have hitherto received but little authentic information.

Although Mr. Southey's work professes to be a History of Brazil, "something more than the tide promises, is comprised in the present work. It relates the foundation and progress of the adjacent Spanish provinces, the affairs of which are in latter times inseparably connected with those of Brazil. The subject may therefore be considered as including the whole tract of country between the rivers Plata, Paraguay, and Ore lane, or the Amazons, and extending eastward towards Peru, as far as the Portugueze have extended their settlements or their discoveries."

Before we proceed in an account of this volume, it may be proper to observe that Mr. S. has diligently availed himself of every authentic information which he could procure; and, by a careful comparison of his materials, has produced a highly interesting publication.

Mr. Southey thus states the nature of his undertaking: The history of Brazil is less beautiful than that of the mother country, and less splendid than that of the Portugueze in Asia; but it is not less important than either. Its materials differ from those of other histories: here are no tangles of crooked policy to unravel, no mysteries of state iniquity to elucidate, no revolutions to record, nor victories to celebrate, the fame of which remains among us long af ter their effects have past away.

Discovered by chance, and long left to chance, it is by individual industry and enterprize, and by the operation of the common laws of nature and society, that this empire has risen and flourished, extensive as it now is, and mighty as it must one day become. In the course of its annals, disgust and anger will oftener be felt than those exalted feelings, which it is more grateful for the historian to excite. I have to speak of savages so barbarous that little sympathy can be felt for any sufferings which they endured, and of colonists in whose triumphs no joy will be taken, because they added avarice to barbarity; ignob e men, carrying on an obscure warfare, the consequences of which have been greater than were produced by the conquests of Alexander or Charlemagne, and will be far more lasting. Even the few higher characters which appear have obtained no faine beyond the limits of their own re'igion, scarcely beyond those of their language. Yet has the subject its advantages: the discovery of extensive regions, the manners and superstitions of uncivilized tribes; the efforts of missionaries, in whom zeal the most fanatical was directed by the coolest policy; the rise and the overthow of the extraordinary dominion which they established; and the progress of Brazil from its feeble beginnings, to the importance which it now possesses, these are to topics of no ordinary interest."

Brazil was accidentaly disor vered seven years after the first voyage of Columbus, Vicente Yanez Pinzon, who had accompanied