"On the fourth of July, we had something like a celebra. tion of this glorious anniversary. The two principal chiefs happened to be with us; the One-ey'd, and the Black-shoe. The former is a giant in stature, and if his one eye had been placed in the middle of his forehead, he might have passed for a cyclop. His huge limbs and gigantic frame, his bushy hair shading his coarse visage and savage features, with his one eye flashing fire, constituted him a fearful demon. He sways, with unlimited control, all these villages, and is feared by all the neighbouring nations. I remarked that on one or two occasions he treated Shehe-ke, with great contempt.-Lisa having referred to something said by that chief, 'What,' said this monster, What! does that bag of lies pretend to have any authority here?'* He is sometimes a cruel and abominable tyrant. A story was related to me of his cruelty, which has in it something of a more refined tragic nature, than we usually meet with amongst these people. Having fallen in love (for even Polyphemus felt the influence of the god, who spares neither giants nor common men) with the wife of a young warrior, he went to his lodge during his absence, and carried her off by force. The warrior on his return, repaired to the One-ey'd demon, and demanded his wife, but instead of receiving redress, was put to death, while the wretched object of the dispute was retained in the embraces of her ravisher. The mother of the young warrior, whose only child he was, became frantic, lost her senses from excess of grief, and now does nothing but go about reviling him, and loading him with her curses: yet such is the superstitious veneration (by the by it deserves a better name on this occasion) for unhappy objects of this kind, that this chief, great as he is, dare not lay his hand on her, even should she haunt him like one of the Euminides, wherever he may appear."-p. 185.

"A few days after our arrival, a great commotion was heard in the village, before daylight; ignorant of what might occasion it, and from this alone, somewhat alarmed, when we recollected our situation, amongst beings in whom we had but little reliance, we hastily rose and ascended the plain in order to ascertain the

She-he-ke is a fat man, extremely talkative, and no great warrior.

cause. The interpreter, shortly after came to us with the information, that it was a party of three hundred men, on their return, after a battle with a party of Sioux the day before, in which they had been victorious, with the loss of two or three killed, and ten or twelve wounded, and that they were then within a few miles of the village, none but the chief of the party having come in. By this our minds were quieted. We waited with anxiety for their approach to the village, which we were informed would be made with considerable ceremony; that they had halted within a few miles of the place, to prepare themselves for a formal and splendid entry, and that a great deal of Indian finery had been sent, to enable the warriors to decorate themselves to the best advantage.

"It was nearly eleven o'clock in the day, before their approach was announced; in the meanwhile a still suspense reigned throughout the village, all sports and business suspended, and resembling a holyday in one of our towns. We discovered them at length, advancing by the sound of their voices over a hill, about a mile below our encampment. In a short time they made their appearance; at the same time, the inhabitants of the town moved out on foot to meet them. I accompanied them for some distance, and then took a favourable position where I might have a full view of this singular scene. They advanced in regular procession, with a slow step and solemn music, extending nearly a quarter of a mile in length, and separated in platoons, ten or twelve abreast, the horsemen placed between them, which contributed to extend their line. The different bands, of which I have spoken, the buffaloe, the bear, the pheasant, the dog, marched in separate bodies, each carrying their ensigns, which consisted of a large spear or bow, richly ornamented with painted feathers, beads, and porcupine quills. The warriors were dressed in a variety of ways, some with their cincture and crown of feathers, bearing their war-clubs, guns, bows and arrows, and painted shields: each platoon having its musicians, while the whole joined in the song and step toge ther, with great precision. In each band there were scalps fastened to long poles: this was nothing more than the few scalps they had taken, divided into different locks of hair, so as to give the semblance of a greater number. The appearance of the whole, their music, and the voices of so many persons, had a pleasing and

martial effect. The scene which took place, when their friends and relations from the village mingled with them, was really affecting; the pen of a Fenelon would not be disgraced in attempting the description of it. These approached with song and solemn dance, as the warriors proceeded slowly through their ranks: it was a meeting of persons connected by the most tender relations -the scene would baffle description. Fathers, mothers, wives, brothers, sisters, caressing each other, without interrupting for a moment, the regularity and order of the procession, or the solemnity of the song and step! I was particularly touched with the tenderness of a woman who met her son, a youth reported badly wounded, but who exerted himself to keep on his horse, and from his countenance one would have supposed nothing had been the matter with him. She threw her arms round him and wept aloud. Notwithstanding this, the young man expired, shortly after being brought to the medicine lodge; for it is the custom to carry such as have been wounded in battle, to be taken care of in this place, at the public expense. As they drew near the village, the old people, who could barely walk, withered by extreme age, came out like feeble grasshoppers, singing their shrill songs, and rubbing the warriors with their hands. The day was spent in festivity by the village in general, and in grief by those who had lost their relatives. We saw a number of solitary females, on the points of the hills round the village, lamenting in mournful wailings the misfortunes which had befallen them. For the two succeeding days the village exhibited a scene of festivity; all their painted shields and trophies were raised on high poles near the lodges, and all the inhabitants dressed out in their finery-all their labours and sports were suspended, and the whole joined in the public demonstrations of joy, while music, songs, and dances were hardly intermitted for a moment. The temple, or medicine lodge, was the principal scene of their dancing. I entered with the crowd, and found a spacious building, sufficient to contain five or six hundred persons. I found to my surprise that the dancers were all females, with arms of the warriors in their hands, and wearing some parts of the dress of the men. They performed in a circular inclosure, some continually leaving it and others supplying their places. The orchestra was composed of ten or fifteen men, with drums, blad

ders filled with shot, deer's hoofs affixed to rods and shaken, some striking upon war-clubs with sticks; the whole accompanied with the voice. The old men of the temple were continually going round the inclosure, and raising their shrill voices; probably saying something to excite and encourage. Rude as this may be supposed to have been, there was yet something pleasing; their music was by no means discordant, and exceedingly animated. It would be tedious to enumerate the various ways in which their festivity displayed itself."-p. 191.

It will readily be perceived by the foregoing extracts that the author of this journal possesses strong powers of description, and that the work is not merely a dry detail of daily occurrences, attending 'a tedious and laborious ascent up a river, abounding in sand-banks, and presenting almost every where, a strong opposing current. It abounds with descriptions of natural scenery, and savage manners, given with spirit and vivacity, and derives additional interest from the party being in pursuit of Mr. Wilson Hunt, who was ahead of them, and whom they were extremely anxious to overtake, as they believed a junction with his party essential to their safety from the hostile Indians.

NOTE.

In the summary of our late treaty with the regency of Algiers, given in the account of the operations of the American squadron, the following arti cle was omitted:

"If any Christians whatsoever, captives in Algiers, make their escape, and take refuge on board any of the ships of war of the United States, they shall not be required back again, nor shall the consul of the United States, or comman der of said ships be required to pay any thing for said Chris

tians."

SELECT REVIEWS.

A Journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople, in the years 1808 and 1809, in which is included some account of the proceedings of his majesty's mission under Sir Harford Jones, bart. K. C. to the court of the king of Persia. By James Morier, esq. his majesty's secretary of embassy to the court of Persia. With twentyfive engravings from the designs of the author; a plate of inscriptions, and three maps; one from the observations of captain James Sutherland; and two drawn by Mr. Morier, and major Rennel. 4to. pp. 454.

[From the Monthly Review.]

THE empire of Persia acts so conspicuous a part in the history of the world, that it is at all times an object of liberal curiosity. Events have also recently conspired to connect with it rather strongly the interests of Englishmen: it is one of those kingdoms, the influence of which extends to our Indian dominions; and, by its condition and proceedings, our peace and prosperity in those distant regions are liable to be not slightly affected.

As long as our principal acquisitions in India were confined to a few provinces on that side of it which is the farthest removed from Persia, and as long as we had powerful antagonists in India, who occupied all our attention nearer home, Persia was to us a secondary consideration, and but feebly excited our curiosity. The number of English travellers, who selected that region, as the scene of our explorations was small; and even when the East-India company had occasion to send their servants over land, few of them regarded the objects which offered themselves to their eye in any part of Persia as worthy of being described, and still fewer took much pains to collect information for the use either of themselves or their countrymen.

Lately, however, Persia has assumed in our minds a new station of importance. We have extended our dominion over so great a portion of India, that our boundaries now approach those of the Persian empire; and we have so few competitors for power and dominion remaining in India, that we are enabled to look abroad, and to find them at a greater distance.