it to be accustomed to the use of money, and uttered some sound which it had probably been taught, as indicative of thanks; but it remained still lying where it was, I know not whether from weakness or waiting for similar donations from others; for by this time a perfect multitude of the most miserable and disgusting objects that imagination can conceive, had gathered round me,-tottering old women, whose rags scarce covered a fifth part of their frames; men, both old and young, perfect walking skeletons; blear-eyed boys and girls carrying things like starved cats in their arms, all squalling out for bread or money. What I had, I gave, and then made away with all the speed from the sight of wretchedness which I had no power to relieve or even to alleviate; for the numbers rendered all present aid unavailing, and the Orientals, though generally charitable, have no sort of system in their mode of bestowing alms. For half a mile I was pursued by this crowd of spectres, but though at last I made my escape from their sighs, it was far less easy to escape from the sickness of heart which so extraordinary an exhibition of human misery had created. To witness the sufferings of men and women, is bad enough; but that of childhood, of helpless infancy, particularly when to relieve it is beyond one's power, is what I cannot endure. Never shall I forget this day in Mushed."

A large proportion of these appear to have been the residue of Toorkoman prisoners, after massacre had been satiated in 1830, during the expeditions of the Prince Royal, the late Abbas Meerza, whose early death must be felt to be the more lamentable after reading the following particulars of his clemency :—

Dr. Gerrard, who was at Mushed when the prisoners were brought in, recognized among them a young man, who had been the instrument of preserving the liberty, if not the lives, of Captain Barnes and himself. It appears, that during the passage of these gentlemen through the Desert, from Bockhara to Mushed, it had been deliberated in this young man's tribe, whether they should be seized or permitted to pass; upon which he instantly stepped forward, drew his sword and said, that if the slightest molestation was to be offered to these persons. it must be after putting him to death, for that he was pledged for their safety, and would redeem his pledge should it cost him his life. Macneil, without hesitation, applied to the Prince Royal for the release of this individual, as a boon that would be very gratifying to his Royal Highness's friends, and which might prove the cause of saving lives in future in similar cases, and the Prince at once complied. Some time afterwards Macneil saw the young man along with Dr. Gerrard, and congratulated him on his escape, while applauding him for the conduct that had obtained it; but he was sur prised to find the young Toorkoman by no means responded to his congratulations, and on inquiring the cause he replied, You have set me at liberty-but of what value is that to me while there remain in bonds at Mushed my father and mother, old people-two more of my father's wives-the widow and child of my brother was killed-and my own wife and child?-I cannot leave them, and of what use is liberty to me?' This was a touching and interesting tale; but what hope was there that the Prince, who was bitter against the Toorkomans, would listen to a re

quest for the release of so many? Macneil was staggered, but at length resolved, at least, to mention the circumstance to his Royal Highness, and state the young man's resolution not to abandon them. It is gratifying to think that his boldness was successful. The Prince, to his honour, on hearing the story, inquired, Has the young man any more of his relations here?-if so, let him name them, for every one he declares to belong to him shall be free-he deserves it for his spirit and right feeling.' Then, sending for the youth, he said, Remember, my friend, it is the English that have set you at liberty, not me. I have done it for their sakes-but you seem to be a fine trustworthy fellow; here is a rukum from me-if you choose to earn an honest livelihood by bringing in caravans as guide and guard, Bismillah! this will protect you-but mind my words, if you are caught chuppowing, you shall have no more mercy shown you than another.'

Contrast this with an anecdote of a native Khan, one of a class who, in the exercise of an independent and a rebellious spirit, serve greatly to oppress and distract the provinces. After having been told by our author that Mahomed Khan Karawee is one of the most polite, well-bred, and eloquently-plausible personages alive, but that his cruelties are of the most treacherous and wanton description, some instances are given; that which we quote forms one of these :

"On another occasion, when in the bath, his bathing attendant, or barber, took the opportunity to dilate to the Khan upon the straitened state of his circumstances, and to complain sadly of his large family, for whom he was at the greatest loss to provide. How many have you?' inquired the Khan. Nine or ten,' whined the barber. • Well, bring them to me when I leave the bath; and I will see whether I cannot provide for some of them,' said the Khan. Away went the barber, overjoyed at what he doubted not was a grand stroke of good fortune; but it so happened that, with the view of exaggerating his distress, and further moving the Khan's compassion, he had overstated the number of his progeny; so, to make up the tale, he borrowed from his relatives a suf ficient number, and carried them, as well as his own, to wait upon the Khan. Barikillah!' said the Khan, casting his eye upon the children, you have done well. Are these all?' All, protector of the poor,' responded the shaver. Very well,' said the Khan, and beckoning to an agent of the Toorkomans, who was by, coolly sold the whole lot to him before the poor man's eyes. The real parents, as well as the barber himself, were too much thunderstruck at first to speak or move; but when the Toorkoman merchant began to lead their little ones away, they awoke from their trance, and the truth came out. These are our children!' cried they dust on our heads! they are ours; give us them back!' No, no l' said the Khan, that's nonsense; they are the barber's, they are all the barber's-he is happy, no doubt, poor man, to be so well rid of them.'"

We quote one other picture of Persian distress, where the desti tution of the sufferers seems to have been equalled by a melancholy resignation :

·

"In one part of the garden I saw a man employed with an iron hook, in the almost hopeless task of clearing a little spot of earth from the gigantic weeds that grew there. He told me he was the gardener; that he was trying to make a clean spot for some vegetables, in order to give food to his family, for he could get nothing else to give them. He had been seven years in that garden, he said, but for the last four he had received no wages, and had no means of getting bread. The fruit had failed, and had there been any crop, there was no one to buy it: the scarcity had deprived men of the means to procure even the necessaries of life. Why,' said I, do you go on working without wages? why not remove to some better place?' Where is it?' was the reply; all places are alike, or worse to me; and many of us rather stay here and die, than make an attempt to leave their old homes: we have neither the heart nor the strength to move.' While we were speaking, a pretty little girl, of about seven, came up crying; and taking hold of her father's knees, said something to him which I did not understand. There,' said he, she is one of six ; she is asking for bread, and I have none to give her; she is hungry, poor thing; so are they all: they have had nothing to-day, and I have nothing for them; every thing I had I have sold, to buy food. I had carpets and numuds and clothes, but piece by piece all went; then I sold our mattresses, and next the coverlids; we have nothing to cover us now; see, I have no shoes-nothing on my feet; and look at her!' In truth, the poor little thing was almost naked. At last,' continued he, I was forced to sell even the lock that was on my door, and then the door itself. I have nothing left now. God is great!'

6

"Now this man was no beggar; he never asked for money, never hinted at his poverty, till I entered into the story of his occupations, and drew him out. It was a place where no strangers were likely to come; he could have expected no one; therefore, it was no scene got up for show. When I gave the little girl some money, the man looked surprised, and bade her kiss my hand. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of persons in a similar condition- enough and to spare of such distress in Mushed. I have seen a good deal of Persia, but I never witnessed any thing like it before there or elsewhere."

With two notices, each of a more lightsome character than the foregoing, we shall close our extracts. The first relates to a peculiar method of measuring water in districts where that element is scarce and therefore exceedingly precious, and where a system of irrigation by means of subterranean canals and otherwise has long been practised:

"I was amused to-day with seeing the way they have of measuring out the water of the little stream to its different owners. It is divided into wuzuns, or measures, which are the property of individuals, and as such may be bought and sold. These are meted out by time; but having no clocks or watches they use a brass vessel with a hole in the bottom, which, being placed floating on a pool in the stream, fills gradually in a certain time, and then sinks. The water is permitted to run to each man's field during the filling of this basin for a certain number of times, corresponding with his property in it; and this measures the extent of his cultivation." VOL. III. (1838.) no. iv.

KK

Our second and last extract conveys an idea of the rapidity with which the Toorkomans furnish a lodging for their guests, where no sort of erection existed before :-

"In the course of half an hour, as we sat under our shade, we observed one of their wooden houses proceeding, as if self-moved, along the plain, from a distant cluster, and approaching to where we were. But as this singular phenomenon came near, we detected the twinkle of many feet beneath it, and discovered that it was our friend the Beg, who, with half a dozen people, was thus bringing an old house upon his shoulders for our private accommodation; and there they placed it, right in the middle of the plain, just as you would put a bell-glass over a plant-all tight and ready; and into it strait we walked, and found it a most comfortable concern. The black felt walls were lifted a little from the ground on all sides, to admit the soft breeze, and there we were at once pleasantly housed."

In regard to Mr. Fraser's travels detailed in these volumes, we have only further to mention that they extended to various parts not noticed by us; that he was baffled as to some of his intended routes; that he returned to Tehran ; caught a fever; and then proceeded to Tabreez,-a future work being referred to, in which his Journey through certain eastern provinces of ancient renown, but scarcely ever before trodden by modern Europeans, will be detailed.

We might have extended our notices to a much greater length, relative to matters which at this moment possess for Englishmen an engrossing interest, and presented sketches not only of the Persian court and of the more influential classes in the nation, but have given a much fuller account of the evils of war on the frontiers, of foreign intrigue and of domestic misrule, of alarm, poverty, and degradation. The picture as it stands in our pages is, however, harrowing enough as a whole, and dreadful in almost all its details. Captivity, famine, disease, and ruin, reign and riot. Exaction, robbery, rebellion, and conflicts of every desperate description, predominate,-every thing appearing to indicate a speedy organic change, or at least a necessity for vigilance on the part of England in behalf of her own rights and interests; for if this country slackens or forgets to urge her energies, Russia will not be supine, nor slow to take advantage of the interval; she is eager to interfere.

To the volumes before us themselves, numbers will of course resort, had they no other claims upon public favour and admiration than generally belongs to mere literary skill employed on a work of adventurous travel. But the occasion is greater than ordinary, the information desired unusually important, and the quantity as well as quality furnished arousing and remarkable.

483

ART. II,

1. The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. Vol. V. London: Murray.

2. Bibliothèque Américaine. Par H. TERNAUX. Paris: 1837.

3. Voyages, Relations et Mémoires Originaux pour servir à l'Histoire de la Découverte de l'Amerique. Par H. TERNAUX, 3 tomes. Paris: 1837.

4. Coleccion de Obras y Documentos relativos á la Historia Antigua y Moderna de las Provincias del Rio de la Platá. Por PEDRO DE ANGELIS. 4 tomos. Buenos Ayres. 1836.

IT has been truly stated lately in a foreign Review, that an unusual degree of interest begins to be felt in Europe regarding the history of the Western World. Various causes may be assigned for this excitement, independent of the claims which North America has established, and is daily more wonderfully developing in the history of mankind, so as to attract the notice of such civilized nations as are awakening, and strenuously bending their eyes to new views and the study of new social and political experiments. A deeper sympathy for human kind is manifesting itself-a nobler curiosity than influenced the early voyagers, and far more enlightened methods of conveying to strangers and foreigners the knowledge and the blessings which individuals may be conscious of possessing, are operating; while the facilities for communication, transmission, and travel, that are increasing with such unexampled rapidity, must not be left out of calculation. Perhaps, as regards the most recent of public feelings, a stronger or clearer evidence could not be instanced in regard to the gratifying circumstances and facts mentioned, than the demand which at present prevails for travellers' books, to the comparative neglect of mere works of fiction.

Confining ourselves to America, we find some peculiar and definite circumstances to have been recently the cause and source of special curiosity and attention, on the part of certain learned and laborious investigators,-the necessary and sure pioneers to popular excitement but what is not a little remarkable on first thoughts, these investigators and pioneers are to be found rather amongst those who speak a different language, (at least as relates to the most vigorous, potent, and promising portions of the New World,) than in England, where there is a common speech and a parent stock.

This foreign interest has been in a remarkable manner manifested by the members of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries at Copenhagen, in as far as concerns the discovery of North America; and the origin of this interest may be in a main degree traced to the fact, that certain manuscript accounts have lately been discovered in the public libraries of Copenhagen, which are said to furnish irrefragable and authentic evidence that certain of the Northmen