that they should conceal it from their posterity is a matter our missionary confesses he is at a loss to account for. He heard of a rich man, who, on having the question put to him on his death bed, why he had so carefully preserved his money from his family replied, that he should have occasion for it in the country whither he was going.”. p. 283. Section XX. Of Lapland courtship and marriages. Section XXI. Of sports and amuse. ments. Section XXII. Of diseases and remedies-Of their funerals. At the end of this section we notice the following approvable custom : "It is a rule with the Laplanders, on the birth of a child, to assign a female rein deer, with all her future offspring, as a provision when the boy or girl shall be grown up, which he or she becomes entitled to, however the estate may be disposed of at the decease of the parents. By this provision, the child sometimes becomes the owner of a considerable herd." p. 293... Section XXIII. Of the gods and goddesses the Laplanders adored be fore the introduction of Christianity. Section XXIV. Of their sacrifices. Section XXV. Of the magic art practised by the Laplanders, which appears, says the author, to be happily abolished. Section XXVI. The strong attach ment of the Laplanders to their native country, instanced by example. Section XXVII. Observations relative to the climate and natural history of Lapland. The whole concluding with an Appendix, containing, 1. Specimens of Finland and Lapland Music. 2. A Diary of the Author's Journey from Stockholm to Uleaborg; thence to the NORTH CAPE; and back again. on to Section II. containing Obser vations on the Region of the Harutsch. The following short extract may enable our readers to form some idea of this region, which is stated to be seven days journey over from north to south, and five days from east to west. The rugged, broken, and altogether wild and terrific scene which this desert tract affords, leads strongly to the supposition that its surface at some period took its present convulsed form and appearance from volcanic revolution. Its inequalities of ground are no where of great altitude. The general face of the country shews continued ranges of hills, running in various directions, rising from eight to twelve feet only above the level of the intermediate ground; and between which branches, or perfect flats, and without any gradual ascent of base or fore-ground, rise up lofty insulated mountains, whose sides are exceeding steep from the very base. A mountain of this description, situated midway on the journey over this desert, and north of our caravan road, is by the Arabs termed Stres; it has the appearance of being split from the top down to the middle." p. 48, 49. Section III. Arrival at Temissa, and further Journey. This journey was accomplished in the space of sixteen days, and the road chiefly desert. As no material subject occurs in this section, we pass. The entrance into Temissa was conducted in the same manner we have already described. Temissa is a very inconsiderable place, which they soon leave and depart for Zuila. Section IV. Of Zuila. This being a place of considerable importance, on account of its being the residence, not only of many leading and wealthy men, but of relations to the family of the sultan, they halted to prepare for entering the town with due marks of respect. "They had scarcely formed their procession, when they perceived twenty horsemen mounted on white horses, with a green flag carried in their centre. It was the Shereef Hixdy, the principal man of the town, who with his eight sons and other relations was come out to meet us: at some distance followed a great number of men and boys on foot; they joined our caravan, and we passed together near the town, with huzzas and discharge of muskets, till we reached our place of encampment, and pitched our tents." p. 56. The author notices the good beha viour of the inhabitants of this place, and distinguishes the family of the Shereef for its particular complacency, and politeness of manners. Their dealings here were considerable. The place has been of considerable importance formerly, and its circumference thrice the extent of what it is now. Some ruins in this place witness its ancient magnificence. "The environs of Zuila are level, supplied with water, and fertile. The groves of date trees are of great extent, and its inhabitants appear to pay more attention to agriculture than those of adjoining places. In the evening they had further proof of the Arab hospitality of yore. A slave of the shereef's brought to each tent a dish of meat and broth, and ten small loaves; this most ancient custom the sheik of the sultan keeps up, and strictly adheres to, on arrival of each caravan; soon after he sent to each of them three small loaves, for the morrow's breakfast." p. 57, 58. Section V. Further Journey—and arrival at Mourzouk. In this journey Mr. Horneman was "first regaled with the great Fezzan dainty of locusts or grasshoppers, and a drink called lugibi." He says, "the latter is composed of the juice of date trees, and when fresh is sweet and agreeable enough to the taste, but is apt to produce flatulencies and diarrhea. At first I did not relish the dried locusts, but when accustomed, grew fond of them: when eaten, the legs and wings are broken off, and the inner part is scooped out, and what remains has a flavour similar to that of red herrings, but more delicious." p. 59. This section concludes with the ceremony observed on their coming to Mourzouk. "The sultan had posted himself on a rising ground, attended by a numerous court, and a multitude of his subjects. Our caravan halted, and every person of the caravan, of any importance, dismounted to salute him. With others I approached, and found the sultan seated on an old-fashioned elbow chair, covered with a cloth, striped red and green, and placed at the extremity of an oval area, round which soldiers were drawn up, of but mean appearance. The sultan him self wore the Tripolitan vest, and over it a shirt or frock embroidered with silver, in the Soudan manner. Close to him, on each side, were white Mamelukes, and Negro slaves, with drawn sabres; behind these were six banners, and black and half-naked slaves, holding lances and halberds of a fashion as old, perhaps, as the time of Saladin. We entered the circle by an opening left facing the sultan, and about the middle of the area: according to the ceremonial of his court, we pulled off our slippers, and approached barefoot to kiss his imperial hand. Each having paid his compliment, alternately passed to right or left, and seated himself behind the sultan: the merchants being thus ranged in two equal groups on either side the throne, lastly entered the sheik of the pilgrims, with his sabre drawn, and kettle drum, and green flag of Mecca borne before him. The pilgrims followed, chaunting praises to God, who had so far conducted them in safety, and continued their hymns until the sultan was pleased to dismiss their leader, with a gracious promise of sending his royal present of dates and meat to every tent. This ceremony of audience being over, the sultan remounted his horse, and rode back to the city of Mourzouk, preceded by kettle drums and banners, and amidst his lance-men and halberdiers, whilst his courtiers, joined by the Arabs of our caravan, pranced and curvetted their horses on each flank of the procession." p. 60, 61. Chap. III. Some Account of Fezzan. The extent of the cultivated part of the kingdom is stated to be about 300 miles from north to south, and the width 200 miles from east to west," and contains a hundred and one towns and villages, of which Mourzouk is the capital. "The climate is at no season temperate or agreeable. During the summer the heat is intense, and when the wind blows from the south is scarcely supportable, even by the natives. The winter might be moderate, were it not for the prevalence of a bleak and penetrating north wind during that season of the year, and which chilled and drove to the fire not only the people of the place, but even myself, the native of a northern country. f "Of the productions of this place dates may be termed the most considerable. In the western parts some senna is grown of a superior quality, and pot herbs and vegetables of the garden are plentiful. Wheat and barley are suited to the soil and climate, but from inexpertness, or difficulties attending the mode of tillage, and generally from indolence of the people and oppressions of the government, corn is not raised sufficient for the inhabitants." The commerce, government, and succession to the crown of Fezzan, are noticed in order, followed by the domestic regulations of the palace, and the ceremony of giving audience. "There is," says Mr. Horneman, "a place set apart, within the precincts of the castle, for those who attend on public business, from which a long narrow vestibule leads to a door, which opens into the principal apartment of the sultan. The opening of that door is announced by the beating of kettledrums, as a signal of audience. The door of audience is opened three times in each day. Those who, on account of respect or business, attend for introduction, are conducted by the long narrow passage hetween slaves, who incessantly repeat, may God prolong the life of the sultan On coming to the door, the sultan appears opposite, seated on an old fashioned elbow chair, raised some steps, and forming his throne. The person introduced approaches, kisses the hand of the sultan, raises it so as to touch his forehead, then quits it, and kneels before him. He is permitted to state his case, and address the sultan in ordinary and plain language; but particular attention must be given, that the expressions, God prolong thy life;' God protect thy country, &c.' be frequently intermingled; and at each presentation, it is customary to offer a small present. It is only on Fridays, or on some solemn festival, that the sultan appears without the castle walls, and then he is attended by his whole court. He goes on Fridays to the great mosque, on horseback; on other days of solemnity, or public occasion, he rides on a plain, without the town, where his courtiers prance and run their horses round him, and exhibit their skill in equestrian exercises, and in the art of shooting." p. 66, 67. The public revenues and expendi ture, and the administration of justice, are also noticed, and the population estimated at 70, or 75,000 souls, all, without distinction, of the Mabometan religion. As for arts and manufactures, the author says, "throughout Mourzouk I could not find one single artificer in any trade or work; indeed there are no other tradesmen but shoemakers and smiths. The lat. ter work every metal without distinction; and the same man who forges shoes for the sultan's horse, makes rings for his princesses. The women, indeed, fabricate coarse wool. en cloths, called abbes; but for the goodness or value of their manufac ture, the reader may form his own estimate, when told that the weaver's shuttle is unknown, and the wool is inserted into the warp thread by thread, and the whole worked solely by the hand." p. 70. In describing the dress of these people, the ornaments worn by the women are particularly noticed. The lady of a chief, or wealthy man of Fezzan, divides her hair into seven long curls or tresses; one of those is interbraided with long slips of gilt leather, terminating in a bow; the other six tresses are bound round by a leather strop, and at the end of each" is a peculiar trinket, of which our traveller gives a sketch, without which it cannot well be understood. "In addition to these ornaments, the Fezzan woman fastens to the top of her head silken cords, on which are strung a number of silver rings, and which hang on each side pendant to her shoulder. The ears of ladies of rank are bored in two places, and in each hole is fixed a thick silver ring. In ordinary dress they wear nine or ten rings of horn or glass on each arm, four or five of which are taken off on all great occasions, to make room for a silver armillary of four inches in breadth. They wear at the same time strong rings of brass or sit ver just above the ankle bones. The necklace consists of a silk ribband, to which are fixed ten or twelve pieces of agate, and in front a round silver plate. The meaner women wear merely a string of glass beads, and curl the hair above the forehead into large ringlets, into which severally is stuffed a paste made of lavender, carraway seeds, cloves, pepper, mastich, and laurel leaves, mixed up with oil." p. 71. Noticing their amusements, the author says, "The women of Fezzan generally have a great fondness for dancing and every amusement, and the wanton manners and public free doms, which, although Mahometans, they are permitted, astonishes the Mahometan traveller. They dance publicly in the open places of the town, not only in the day time, but even after sun set. Two or three men stand together with their tambourines; the women immediately form a circle round; the men beat a tune, and those in the circle accompany it with singing and clapping of hands; a girl then advances, dancing, towards the drummers; the men, as she approaches near, join in the dance, and press towards her; on which she makes some steps backwards, and then falls on her back, with her body and limbs stiff and perfectly straight, when the women behind catch her in the fall, a few spans from the ground, and toss her in the air, whence she descends on her feet. The men then resume their station in the centre, and a second female dancer repeats the sport, which is successively engaged in by each brisk damsel of the circle." p. 72. "Their musical instrument is called rhababe; it is an excavated hemisphere, made from a shell of the gourd kind, and covered with leather; to this a long handle is fixed, on which is stretched a string of horse hairs longitudinally closed, and compact as one cord, about the thickness of a quill. This is played upon with a bow." p. 72, 73. "The houses of Fezzan are miserably built, no tools are used in the erection but the hands of the labourer. When the walls are completely raised, the friends of the proprietor assemble, and assist him to cover them with a mortar made of a white calcareous earth. This work too is done only by the hand. The houses are all extremely low, and the light enters by the door only." p. 74. "As to diet," says Mr. Horneman, I never knew a more abstemious people than those of Fezzan. Meat, indeed, is a food they can at no time abstain from when set before them; but meat is not an article of food with the people in general: to indicate a rich man, at Mourzouk, the Immediately after the journal iş Observations on F. Horneman's De scription of the Country and Antiquities of Siwah, with References to ancient Accounts of the Oasis, and Temple of Ammon. By Sir William Young, Bart. Secretary. A postscript is also added, containing farther information of Mr. Horneman, by which we learn his servant died at Mourzouk, of the country fever. That he had proceeded to Tripoly, had returned to Mourzouk, and by letter, dated April 6, 1800, says, he was on the point of setting out with the caravan for Bournou, from whence he designed to go to Kashna. In this letter, he says, long ago, the same custom was observed at Bournou, as in ancient times at Cairo, a girl, very richly dressed, was thrown into the river Niger'." p. 103. not Another paper now presents itself, consisting of intelligence concerning the interior part of North Africa, divided into seven sections. Section I. Describes the country of the Tibbo, which lies to the westward from Fezzan, and to the south and south west. The persons, clothing, manner of life, and religion of this people are described. It is said, their religion is the Mahometan, but that they hold it very cheap. Section II. gives an account of the Tuarick, a mighty people, who live to the west and south of Fezzan; these are not all Mahometans. Section III. extends the information to Tombuctoo, which lies behind the countries before named, and is the most remarkable town in the interior of Africa. Sections V, VI, VII. give some brief information of countries lying more to the eastward, and this part of the work is thus concluded. "If I do not perish in my undertaking, I hope in five years I shall be able to make the society better acquainted with the people of whom I have given this short description.” p. 116. Some extracts from a letter accom panying the above-mentioned information is then given, dated Tripoly, 19 August, 1799. The next subject is geographical illustrations of Mr. Horneman's route, and additions to the general geography of Africa, by Major Kennel, divided into four chapters. The first chapter describes the position of the countries in Mr. Horneman's route; the second, general remarks on these countries; the third contains improvements in the general geography of North Africa.-Remote sources of the Nile, and termination of the Niger-and Lake of Fithe, or Kauga. This chapter is accompanied by a large map, shewing the progress of discovery and improvement in the geography of North Africa. Compiled by J. Rennel, 1798. Corrected in 1802. The subjects of the fourth chapter are concerning the tribes that occupy the habitable parts of the great desert.-Tibbo and Tuarick.-Empires of Bournu, Ashen, and Houssa.-Ċoncluding with general observations. The last paper contains Observations on the Language of Siwah. By William Marsden, Esq. F. R. S. in a letter to the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. A List of the Society closes the work, which contains 195 pages. CXXVIII. AN ESSAY, intended to establish a new Universal System of Arithmetic; Division of the Year, Circle, and Hour; System of Standard Measures, Weights, and Coins; Division of the Mariner's Compass, and Scale of the Barometer, and Thermometer; and on making some necessary Alterations in the Form and Construction of the Scale (or Gammut) of Music. In which is also contain ed, a concise Account of the new Measure, Weights, and Coins; Division of the Circle, Astronomical Day, and Calendar; and Era of the French Republic with Critical Remarks thereon. By JOHN KING. HOUGH this work is but a pamphlet in size, the magnitude of the object, which is no less than to introduce a new system in mathematics, may excite the curio 2 sity of our readers: we shall therefore endeavour to give them an idea of the proposed alteration in our established systems. (Art. 3.) that in the present received "5. It was before observed, unity or one, and ascend (by units) system of numeration, we begin with to the number called ten; when we begin again, as it were, and go on to ten times ten, which we call a hun dred; and so on to ten times a hundred, which we call a thousand; then to ten times a thousand, which we call ten thousand, &c. ad infinitum. "6. Now according to prior observation, (Art. 3). as the number now called ten, is not a multiple of either of the fractions }, (— of 4), 4, and 4, and consequently cannot be divided by either of them without leaving a remainder; and the fractions,,, and, being the most familiar and useful in every kind of calculation, commerce, and trade, wherein num-· bers are concerned; it readily appears, that before a system of measures, weights, and coins, possessing every necessary and possible advantage can be established, it will be absolutely necessary to adopt a new system of numeration, or art of numbering. "7. If, therefore, in numbering, we were to begin with unity, or one, and ascend to the number of eight units only, and call that number ten; and 8 times that number a 100; 8 times new system would be = 8 of the old; that a 1000; &c. so that 10 of such 100 of the new 64 of the old; 1000 of the new = 512 of the old; 10,000 = 4096; 100,000=32,768; 1000,000 = 4 &c. then we should have a very easy =262,144; 10,000,000 = 209,7152; tion; and the }, (= of 4), the 4, b and convenient system of numeraand of ten, and its multiples, might be had in whole numbers. In this of the numbers, and their characters new system of numbering, the names be one, 1; two, 2; three, 3; four, 4; or figures, beginning with unity, may five, 5; six, 6; seven, 7; ten, 10, eleven, 11; twelve, 12; thirteen, 13; seventeen, 17; twenty, 20; twentyfourteen, 14; fifteen, 15; sixteen, 16; one, 21; twenty-two, 22; and so on; the names and figures of eight, &; nine, 9; eighteen, 18; nineteen, 19; &c. being entirely laid aside. |