veils, we could discover very little of their faces. But, in the summer months, when they retire to their country seats, they walk abroad with less caution; though, even then, upon the approach of a stranger, they always drop their veils, as Rebekah did upon the sight of Isaac, Gen. xxiv. 65. They all affect to have their hair, the instrument of their pride, (Isa. xxii. 12.) hang down to the ground, which, after they have collected into one lock, they bind and plait it with ribbands; a piece of finery disapproved of by the apostle, 1 Pet. iii. 3. Where nature has been less liberal in this ornament, there the defect is supplied by art, and foreign hair is procured to be interwoven with the natural. Absalom's hair, which was sold (2 Sam. xiv. 26.) for two hundred shekles, might have been applied to this use.' The doctor next notices the ancient custom of tinging the eye lids with the powder of lead ore, which is still retained by the Barbary ladies. In this country provisions are very cheap; and the old mode of cooking, frequently alluded to in the Scriptures, is universally observed. The life of the Arab is one continued round of idleness and diversion. He is outwardly humble and courteous, but inwardly false, thievish, and treacherous. They are very superstitious, and pay great respect to those who pretend to be prophets. The Arabs have, during many ages, been under the dominion of the Turks; but they are not oppressed, and may live "peaceably by paying the produce of the eighth part of their lands, and a small poll tax. They are governed by their own shekh, lord or elder, and princes, though few of these great men know how to write their own names. The prince, who at Algiers is called the dey, and at Tunis the bey, is chosen out of the army; but, if he be unfortunate, or becomes unpopular, he is sure to be cut off, so that few have the fortune to die in their beds. The punishment for criminal offences are very cruel and severe. The politics of the court at Algiers are mostly swayed by the interests of an insolent soldiery; and the consuls of the European nations are compelled to use both gold and policy to preserve their countrymen from their piratical attacks. HAVING now reviewed the natural and moral peculiarities of Africa, we shall proceed to relate the adventures and observations of European travellers in ASIA, the grandest division of our globe, and the acknowledged parent of nations and of civilization. The Asiatics, indeed, have ceased to exercise that important influence upon the destinies of Europe and Africa which they formerly possessed; yet they still constitute above two-thirds of the human race. This prodigious population, if once aroused from the moral stupor into which the whole mass has fallen, would present a most sublime and interesting spectacle, and give an inconceivable impetus to the progress of civilization. IN examining this interesting portion of the earth, we will commence with the description of the north-eastern part, which was recently explored by an intelligent traveller. THE progress of discovery, and the introduction of the arms and power of Europe into this continent, will be detailed in our account of the first voyages of the Portugueze and other enterprizing navigators. LESSEPS'S TRAVELS IN KAMTSCHATKA. M. DE LESSEPS, consul of France, was engaged as interpreter to the count de la Perouse, in the voyage round the world, which ended so unfortunately. He was landed on the extremity of the Asiatic coast; and, in journeying across that vast continent, he encountered difficulties and observed novelties that have rendered his journal extremely amusing and instructive. The style is lively, and his descriptions picturesque; while the faithfulness of his narrative has been acknowledged by the best judges. He thus begins : I HAVE scarcely completed my 25th year, and am arrived at the most memorable æra of my life. However long, or however happy may be my future career, I doubt whether it will ever be my fate to be employed in so glorious an expedidition as that in which two French frigates, the Boussole and the Astrolabe, are at this moment engaged; the first commanded by count de la Perouse, chief of the expedition, and the second by viscount de Langle. The report of this voyage round the world, created, too general and lively an interest, for direct news of these illustrious navigators, reclaimed by their country and by all Europe from the seas they traverse, not to be expected with as much impatience as curiosity. How flattering is it to my heart, after having obtained from count de la Perouse the advantage of accompanying him for more than two years, to be farther indebted to him for the honour of conveying his dispaches over land to France! The more I reflect upon this additional proof of his confidence, the more I feel what such an embassy requires, and how far I am deficient; and I can only attribute his preference to the ne cessity of choosing for this journey, a person who had resided in Russia, and could speak its language. "On the 6th of September, 1787, the king's frigates entered the port of Avatscha, or Saint Peter and Saint Paul, at the southern extremity of the peninsula of Kamtschatka. The 29th, I was ordered to quit the Astrolabe; and the same day count de la Perouse gave me his dispatches and instructions. His regard for me would not permit him to confine his cares to the most satisfactory arrangements for the safety and convenience of my journey; he went farther, and gave me the affectionate counsels of a father, which will never be obliterated from my heart. Viscount de Langle had the goodness to join his also, which proved equally beneficial to me. Let me be permitted in this place to pay my just tribute of gratitude to the faithful companion of the dangers and the glory of count de la Perouse, and his rival in every other court, as well as that of France, for having acted towards me, upon all occasions, as a counsellor, a friend, and a father. In the evening I was to take my leave of the commander and his worthy colleague. Judge what I suffered, when I conducted them back to the boats that waited for them. I was incapable of speaking, or of quitting them; they embraced me in turns, and my tears too plainly told them the situation of my mind. The officers who were on shore, received also my adieu: they were affected, offered prayers to heaven for my safety, and gave me every consolation and succour that their friendship could dictate. My regret at leaving them cannot be described; I was torn from their arms, and found myself in those of colonel Kasloff-Ougrenin, governor general of Okotsk and Kamtschatka, to whom count de la Perouse VOL. III. 2 D had recommended mè, more as his son, than an officer charged with his dispatches. At this moment commenced my obligations to the Russian governor. I knew not then all the sweetness of his character, incessantly disposed to acts of kindness, and which I have since had so many reasons to admire. He treated my feelings with the utmost address. I saw the tear of sympathy in his eye upon the departure of the boats, which we followed as far as our sight would permit; and in conducting me to his house, he spared no pains to divert me from my melancholy reflections. To conceive the frightful void which my mind experienced at this moment, it is necessary to be in my situation, and left alone in these scarcely discovered regions, 4,000 leagues from my native land: without calculating this enormous distance, the dreary aspect of the country sufficiently prognosticated what I should have to suffer during my long and perilous route; but the reception which I met with from the inhabitants, and the civilities of M. Kasloff and the other Russian officers, made me by degrees less sensible to the departure of my countrymen. Count de la Perouse had recommended diligence to me, but enjoined me, at the same time, upon no pretext to quit M. Kaslof; an injunction that was perfectly agreeable to my inclinations. The governor had promised to conduct me as far as Okotsk, which was the place of his residence, and to which it was necessary that he should repair immediately. Upon an emi The port of St. Peter and St. Paul, is known to be situated at the north of the entrance of the bay, and closed in at the south by a very narrow neck of land, upon which the ostrog, or village, of Kamtschatka is built. nence to the east, at the interior point of the bay, is the house of the governor, with whom M. Kasloff resided during his stay. Near this house, almost in the same line, is that of a corporal of the garrison, and a little higher to the north, that of the serjeant, who, next to the governor, are the only persons at all distinguished in this settlement, if indeed it deserves the name of settlement. Opposite to the entrance of the port, |