foreigners, it would be utterly despoiled of its divine communicative power."-Ibid. [The Charake Prophet's Carbuncle.] "A CHARAKE prophet who lived in Tymahse had a carbuncle near as big as an egg, which they said he found where a great rattlesnake lay dead; and that it sparkled with such surprizing lustre, as to illuminate his dark winter house, like strong flashes of continued lightning, to the great terror of the weak, who durst not upon any account approach the dreadful fire-darting place, for fear of sudden death. When he died it was buried with him according to custom."-Ibid. [War Pole of the North American Indians.] "THEIR law compels the widow, through the long term of her weeds, to refrain all public company and diversions, at the penalty of an adultress, and likewise to go with flowing hair, without the privilege of oil to anoint it. The nearest kinsmen of the de ceased husband keep a very watchful eye over her conduct in this respect. The place of interment is also calculated to wake the widow's grief, for he is intombed in the house under her bed; and if he was a war leader, she is obliged for the first moon to sit in the day time under his mourning warpole, which is decked with all his martial trophies, and must be heard to cry with bewailing notes. But none of them are fond of that month's supposed religious duty; it chills, or sweats, and wastes them so exceedingly; for they are allowed no shade or shelter. 1 "By the door Bare of its bark, the head and branches shorn, Stood a young tree with many a weapon hung, Her husband's war-pole, and his monument. There had his quiver moulder'd, his stone-axe, Had there grown green with moss, his bowstring there Sang as it cut the wind." Madoc in Wales.-Erillyab, vi. Poems, p. 326. "The war-pole is a small peeled tree painted red, the top and boughs cut off short. It is fixt in the ground opposite to his door, and all his implements of war are hung on the short boughs of it till they rot." -Ibid. m [The Spirits of their Dead.] "THOUGH they imagine the report of guns will send off the ghosts of their kindred that died at home to their quiet place, yet they firmly believe that the spirits of those who are killed by the enemy, without equal revenge of blood, find no rest; and at night haunt the houses of the tribe to which they belonged; but when that kindred duty of retaliation is justly executed, they immediately get ease, and power to fly away."—Ibid. wwwww [The White Circle.] "THE Indians use the same ceremonies to the bones of their dead as if they were covered with their former skin, flesh, and ligaments. It is but a few days since I saw some return with the bones of nine of their people, who had been two months before killed by the enemy. They were tied in white deer-skins separately; and, when carried by the door of one of the houses of their family, they were laid down opposite to it till the female relations convened with flowing hair, and wept over them about half an hour. Then they carried them home to their friendly magazines of mortality, wept over them again, and then buried The them with the usual solemnities. chieftain carried twelve short sticks tied together, in the form of a quadrangle, so that each square consisted of three. The sticks were only peeled, without any painting; but there were swan feathers tied to each corner. They called that frame the 2 "Soon the mountaineers White Circle, and placed it over the door while the women were weeping over the bones."-Ibid. Interment of their Kindred's Bones. "WHEN any of them die at a distance, if the company be not driven and pursued by the enemy, they place the corpse on a scaffold, covered with notched logs to secure it from being torn by wild beasts or birds of prey. When they imagine the flesh is consumed, and the bones are thoroughly dried, they return to the place, bring them home, and inter them in a very solemn manner."-Ibid. [North American Indians' Funeral.] "THEY laid the corpse in his tomb in a sitting posture, with his feet towards the east, his head anointed with bear's oil, and his face painted red, but not streaked with black, because that is a constant emblem of war and death. He was drest in his finest apparel, having his gun, and pouch, and trusty hiccory bow, with a young panther's skin full of arrows, along side of him, and every other useful thing he had been possessed of, that when he rises again they may serve him in that track of land which pleased him best before he went to take his long sleep. His tomb was firm and clean inside; they covered it with thick logs, so as to bear several tiers of cypress bark, and such a quantity of clay as would confine the putrid smell, and be on a level with the rest of the floor. They often sleep over those tombs, which with the loud wailing of the women at the dusk of the evening and dawn of the day, on benches close by the tombs, must awake the memory of their relations very often. And if they were killed by an enemy, it helps to irritate and set on such revengeful tempers to retaliate blood for blood."―A. [The Warrior's Rejoicing Day.] "In the time of their rejoicings they fix a certain day for the warriors to be crowned, for they cannot sleep sound or easy under an old title while a new or higher one is due. On that long wished for day they all appear on the field of parade, as fine and cheerful as the birds in spring. Their martial drums beat, their bloody colours are displayed, and most of the young people are dancing, and rejoicing for the present success of their nation, and the safe return and preferment of their friends and relations. Every expectant warrior on that joyful day wears deer-skin maccaseenes painted red, his body is anointed with bear's oil, a young softened otter-skin is tied on each leg, a long collar of fine swan feathers hangs round his neck, and his face is painted with the various streaks of the rainbow. Thus they appear, when two of the old magi come forth, holding as many white wands and crowns as there are warriors to be graduated: and in a standing posture, they alternately deliver a long oration with great vehemence of expression, of the law of purity, while they accompachiefly commending their strict observance nied the beloved ark of war, which induced the supreme chieftain to give them the victory; and they encourage the rest to continue to thirst after glory in imitation of their brave ancestors, who died nobly in defence of their country. At the conclusion of their orations, one of the Magi calls three times with a loud voice one of the warriors by his new name, or war-title, and holds up the white crown and the and runs whooping to and around them sceptre or wand. He then gladly answers three times. One of the old beloved men puts the crown on his head and the wand into his hand, then he returns to his former place, whooping with joy. In like manner they proceed with the rest of the graduate warriors, concluding with this strong caution,- Remember what you are'-such a title-according to the old beloved speech. The crown is wrought round with the long feathers of a swan at the lower end, where it surrounds his temples, and it is curiously weaved with a quantity of white down, to Those who keep negro slaves, call them, and rub their hands in their hair; or if a Jew happens to be present, they make a napkin of his garments."-CHENIER. make it sit easy, and appear more beauti- | their clothes, which they wash when dirty. ful; to this part that wreathes his brows, the skilful artist warps close together a ringlet of the longest feathers of the swan, and turning them carefully upward in an uniform position, he ties them together with deers' sinews, so as the bandage will not appear to the sharpest eyes without handling it. It is a little open at the top, and about fifteen inches high. The crowns they use in constituting war-leaders are always worked with feathers of the tail of the cherubic eagle, three or four inches higher than the other."-Ibid. [Saying of Muley Ishmael.] “MULEY Ishmael, who in the beginning of this century reigned or tyrannized at Morocco, used to remark that were a number of rats put into a basket, they would certainly eat their way out unless the basket were continually shaken.'"CHENIER. [Arab Cure for Gun-shot Wounds.] "THE Arabs attempt to heal all simple and gun-shot wounds, by pouring fresh butter, almost boyling hot,' into the part affected. And I have been credibly informed that numbers of persons have been cured by this method."— SHAW. [Moorish Customs after Meat.] "THE Moors know not the use of tablecloths, forks, or spoons; their meal ended, they lick their fingers, and wipe them on "The treating wounds with oil, and that poured in hot, in consequence of which the majority of those wounded by gun-shots died; prevailed universally in the European armies, till superseded by Ambrose Parée, that distin guished French surgeon to the French kings, who, being a Protestant, would have perished in St. Bartholomew's massacre, had he not been saved from it by the contrivance of Charles IX. himself."-Note to MACBRIDE's Diatessaron, p. 462. Third Edit.-J. W. W. [The Seven Songs of Hasan Casa.] ROUND the gallery of the tomb of Abas II. at Com, runs a frize, divided equally into cartridges of azure, wherein are written, in large characters of gold, seven songs in distichs, made by the learned Hasan Caza, the first in honour of Mahommed, the others of Ali.-From CHARDIN. "The first object of God, when he bethought himself of sending his orders to 2 "The Pentateuch, the Psalter, the Gospel, and the Alcoran, the Mahometans believing that these books ever were, and always shall be, the rule of their faith." Mobile." 4 "The seven climates which was the ancient division of the earth." "It is in the original, Doctor in the knowledge of the prophets who knew not their ABC;' for the Mahometans affirm that Mahomet was so ignorant in human learning, that he could not read: to the end they might the better from thence conclude that his knowledge was supernatural." 6 "The twelve heirs and successors of Mahomet, the last of which was carried to heaven, and shall return to confound the reign of the unfaithful." earth, and Embassador, Centre of divine secrets concerning what is past and to come, who has caused the acknowledgment of God to shine forth out of the darkness of errors, as the Morning goes before the Sun, before he mounts the horizon, thwart a dark night. “Principal Type of things created! Instrument of the creation of the world, the highest of the race of Adam! Soul of the great Apostles and Messengers! "Thou art that Lord, through whom one verse in the Alcoran promises the fulfilling of our desires. Thou art that Sun through whom another verse tells the sovereign beauty shall be seen. Light of eyes! Crown of prophecy! Idol of the Angel Gabriel! "Thou art in the world a world of virtue and dignity. Thou art upon the earth a sun of majesty and grandeur. "The Sea is not rich and liberal, but by the gifts of thy munificent hands. The Angel Treasurer of Heaven reaps his harvest in the fertile gardens of the purity of thy "The Primum Mobile would never dart the ball of the Sun through the trunk of Heaven, were it not to serve the morning out of the extreme love she has for thee. tiny in comparison of thine? and what is "What is the power of the Stars and Desthe light of the Sun compared with that of thy understanding? Destiny does but execute thy commands. The Sun is enlightened by the beams of thy knowledge. "When the numerous train of thy Mabound to the hand of the Captain that guides jesty goes in its pomp, we see the sphere3 it, like a little bell at the neck of a mule. force of his courage; for who would endure Let not Hercules vaunt any more the a fly to brave it upon the wings of the great Phenix of the East? "Had Hercules seen the valour of thy arm in one action, assuredly the Bird of his Soul would have broken the cage of his body, and fled for fear. "The immense sea of thy merit tosses up surges above the heavens, and upon this sea of virtue the tempests of adversity cause no more disorder than rushes in the water. "If thy glory be weighed in the balance of exalted sense, the highest mountains than the seed of lentils. weighed against it would appear no more "In the great career of happiness, (where the transports of those who run the race 2 "The Persians affirm that Aly was the handsomest person that ever was, and that his beauty was unconceivable; for which reason the painters usually cover his face with a veil, and will not let it be seen. But what the poet here speaks of Haly signifies that the blessed in heaven account it their chiefest felicity to be beloved by him." 3 "Or fortune. The sense is, thou knowest how to turn the world at thy pleasure, as a mule turns the little bell that hangs at his neck." make them like horses that get the bit in their teeth, and throw their riders, "And causes them with the force of their spurs to prick an artery, at what time the Angel of Death comes like a fatal physician to take them by the arm of the soul.) “Thou shalt escape this rude career as the Sun passes on from the east. They shall carry before thee the honourable standard of the supreme majesty, and behind thee the spoils as marks of the victory. "And in this race, were all the inhabitants of the world as brave as Hercules, the most undaunted of them would not have the courage to stand a moment before thee. "God shall create a Body1 of Air that shall cry with a loud voice on his behalf, Victory! victory! there is none so stout as Aly! there is no sword like to Sulfagar,2 that Hero's sword with two points." The Third Song. "Thou from whose purity the Heaven of Unsinfulness draws its lustre, the Sun is made a crown of Glory of the shadow of thy Umbrello. "Jesus, the great Chymist, made use of the earth of the portal of thy prudence, for red sulphur, of which he composed the Taksir and the stone3 Phale, by means whereof he understood all things, and healed all men. "The eternal Painter painted a great many images, and brought to light a great many ideas, with a design to form thy lovely countenance, but he found none that came near thy beauty. "The Faulcon of thy Umbrello having extended his wings, has found the birds of the seventh Heaven nestling under the large feather of thy left wing. Renown or fame. "Sulphagar is the name of Haly's sword, which, the Mahomedans say, divides itself at the end with two points." Stones of divination. The Mahometans say that when Jesus Christ was living, physic flourished in its highest degree of excellency, and that God gave him so many secrets of that art, that he raised the dead, and penetrated the very thoughts of men." 4That is to say, the greatest Prophet." "Whoever has sealed his heart with thy love, has found that his heart is become a mine of precious stones. "The most powerful Creator of all things admired upon the sixth day of the creation that superiority of excellency which thou hast above all his other creatures. "Upon the memorable day of thy victory, the sweat of thy hands was to thy enemies a profound deluge that swallowed 'em up like the sea. 66 Thou, Vulture of the heavenly constellation, didst fly upon the blood as a dog upon the water. "Insipid Poet, who comparest to the Sea the sweat of the hand of thy Hero! Thou art astonished at the thought that comes into thy head, that the sea which resembles that sweat is the blue Sea (Heaven). "Whoever has lifted up the hand of Necessity toward the Portal of thy beneficence, he has it always returned back full of what he desired. "O divine and sacred Host, who givest the Saints to drink out of the bason of Paradise, to speak something in thy praise, we must needs say that Nature is only adorned and enriched by thee. "A thousand and a thousand years together the Heavens, considering the high price of thy pure essence, beheld the water of the fountain of Paradise muddy in comparison of that. "As well God as Mahomet has always found thy opinion the most just the one gave thee a sword with two points, the other a most incomparable virgin. "Had not thy perfect being been in the idea of the Creator, Eve had been eternally a virgin, and Adam a batchelor." The Fourth Song. "Great Saint, who art the true mansion of God, as the Prophet teaches in the Book of his sentences, thou art also the Kebleh 5 "A figure taken from the custom of the Persians to seal their mines with the king's seal and of his officers, because all mines belong to the king." |