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by rubbing. He then feraped fome threads of his fhirt into lint, and with the stones he ftruck fire, which he enkindled with dry fea weed and fome fragments of fhips which had been driven afhore. The fire he preferved by carefully fheltering it from the rain. But ftill he was without a fhed for himself, and exposed to the fcorching rays of the fun, he was often obliged to feek relief by plunging in the water.

4. In this wretched ftate, he lived three years, in which time he felt the anguish of seeing several fhips pafs the island, without being able to let them know his diftrefs. At length another man was fhipwrecked near the ifland, and faved his life by fwimming to land in the night. What was the aftonishment of these men at meeting! Serrano was covered with hair like a beast-his figure was frightful, and he was frightened himself at the fight of a human being. But the ufe offpeech, difpelled their fears, brought them together, and they embraced each other with fighs and lamentations.

5. In this hopeless condition, these partners in common mifery, formed an agreement to divide the labor of procuring fubfiftence; each taking his turn or a certain part of the fervice. Yet who will believe the fact? Thefe hopeless wretches, who had every poffible need of mutual aid and comfort, and stood as it were upon the brink of the grave, could not live together in peace and amity! O man how frail thy nature! how feeble the powers of thy mind! how little canft thou rely on the ftrength of reafon, or the good nefs of thy principles!

6. Yes, it is too true; two men, folitary and forlorn, foon found little jealoufies, difturbing their harmony, and they were upon the point of fighting! Let this fact teach us how little of our peace and fecurity depends on reafon, and how much on religion and government ! Mutual hatred and refentment parted thefe forlorn wretches, and for a time they feparated. At length, their wants impelled them to a reconciliation, and taught by neceffity to value the advantages of fociety, they lived together in friendship.

7. Four long years were thefe outcafts doomed to pick up a fcanty living on this barren fpot, when a fhip difcovered them by a fmoke, and came to their relief. The laft who. was hipwrecked died on his voyage to Spain; but Serrano lived to reach his native country. Covered as he was with

hair, he refused to be fhaved till he had travelled to Germany where the Emperor refided, and had exhibited himself to his prince in his favage drefs. Here he recounted his adventures to the Emperor, and received from him a liberal penhon. He then fuffered himself to be fhaved; but returning to America, to enjoy his penfion, he foon died at Panama.

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Bull Fights in Spain.

AMONG the remains of barbarifm in Europe is the prac tice of fighting bulls for public amufement. On certain days, a fort of theater is erected in the open air, with feats and boxes for the accommodation of a great multitude of fpectators, arranged round a fpacious plain where the combat is to be exhibited. The bulls intended for the combat are felected and fed for the purpose, as horfes are for the races in this country.

2. When the time of exhibition has arrived, the champions who are to engage the bulls, first appear, and walk in a kind of proceffion round the fquare; then two officers on horseback, dreffed in wigs and black robes, gravely advance to the prefident of the combat, to ask for an order to begin, and the fignal is immediately given.

3. A bull is fuddenly turned out of an inclosure, and received with loud acclamations, by the populace. At first he is attacked by the horsemen, dreffed in the ancient Spanish manner, and armed with lances. With these they wound and provoke him-he fometimes attempts to escape-the horsemen purfue and goad him, till grown furious, he turns and fiercely repels their attacks.

4. When the bull flies or falls without much oppofition, he is hiffed, like a bad player on a stage; when he boldly returns the charge, and threatens the horse or his rider with inftant death, the fpe&tators redouble their fhouts. The utmost joy is expreffed when the enraged animal gores a horfe and compels his rider to feek fafety by flight.

5. Sometimes great dogs are let loose upon the bull; thefe dogs feize him by the neck and ears; the angry bull makes at ahem with fury, and with his horns, throws his enemies yelping in the air; they fall ftunned and lacerated, but quickly return to the charge, and often lay the huge bull bellowing on the ground. If he perishes ignobly, he is hiffed as a coward. If

he fuftains the combat with courage, when he falls, he falls covered with glory, and the air refounds with his praifes.

6. When the but has the good fortune to gore a horse and difmount the rider, he will often purfue him, an impelled by rage, will leap over the fence among the fpectators. Then terrible is the alarm, and to avoid his fury, crouds rush on crouds, and preffing to places of fafety, trample great numbers under their feet.

7. If the champion does not fucceed in killing his antagonift, the poor animal, after being tormented to the fatisfaction of the fpectators, is flain by a perfon appointed for the purpofe. Cruel as this diverfion is, it is one of the most popular entertainments in Spain. The days are appointed, and the names of the combatants are announced previously in the publie prints, in the manner the English advertise the horfes which are to run for a purfe or plate. On each day, fix bulls facrificed conftitute the entertainment of the morning, and twelve, that of the afternoon.

THE MANNER OF FEEDING SHEEP IN SPAIN.

SPAIN has been always celebrated for the temperature of its climate, and for rearing fome of the best animals of particular species. Among thefe are its fheep, whofe wool is the fineft of any that is known, and forms a confiderable part of the materials of the best French and English broad cloths.

2. But the manner of fubfifting the fheep, is a ftili greater fingularity. The theep are owned by a few great proprietors, and a great company, called the Mefta, compofed of the grandees, who have particular privileges. Some of the fheep are kept in ftationary flocks-but fome millions of them are driv en every autumn from the mountainous regions of Old Caftile, to winter on the more temperate plains of Andalufia and Ef tramadura.

3. The number of fheep there driven is from three to five millions; and it is remarkable that the owners have the right of pafturage for thefe fheep, on every common upon the road, to the distance of ninety varas, or about two hundred and forty feet from the highway. Spain feeds from twelve to fifteen millions of sheep, including travelling and ftationary flocks, each of which produces about five pounds of wool on an average. But a confiderable part of this wool, inftead of giving

employment to her own people, is exported to France and England.

Remarkable inflance of FASTING, from the Philofophical Tranf

I.

actions.

IN Scotland, about forty years ago, lived a woman in Rofsfhire, who fubfifted many years almoft wholly without food. When fifteen years of age, fhe had an epileptic fit-and after an interval of four years of health, a fe cond fit of long duration, which occafioned a fever that lafted for feveral weeks, and deprived her of the ufe of her eyelids.

2. She continued in tolerable health for fome years, and then had another fit, which was fucceeded by a fever. Before her recovery, fhe ftole out of the house and bound fome fheaves of corn in a field, which occafioned an indifpofition, that confined her to the bed for five years. During this time fhe feldom fpoke, and took fcarcely food enough to fustain an infant, and this not without compulfion.

3. At laft fhe refufed every kind of food or drink-her jaw was locked, so that her father could only open her mouth a little, to inject a little water or gruel, and this fhe appeared not to fwallow. At one time they gave her a little water from a medicinal fpring, which feemed to revive her, and The fpoke intelligibly, calling for more water, which was given her.

She

4. She spoke no more intelligibly for a year, and continued without drink or food-when making fome figns, her fister forced her teeth apart, and she drank a pint of water. then spoke, and on being asked why fhe did not make figns for what he wanted, the replied, "Why fhould I, when I have no defire ?" It was now fuppofed fhe had regained the ufe of fpeech, but the foon became filent again.

5. She now continued fpeechlefs, and without food or drink for four years-attempts were made to force fome liquid into her mouth; but it ran out again, and nothing like fwallowing could be perceived. Notwithstanding this want of food, he was not greatly emaciated; he flept much, and in fleep was quiet; but when awake made a constant whimpering like an infant, and appeared to have her fenfes.

6. At length fhe began to recover, and took a little food and drink; when her parents returning one day from their labors

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in the field, were furprized to find her fetting on her hans, at her mother's wheel, fpinning. In this condition the took a little food in this manner-she broke a piece of oatmeal cake in her hand, in fmall crumbs, as perfons would to feed chickens, and put thefe crumbs into an opening made by the lofs of two teeth, which had been forced out, in attempting to open her mouth.

7. After her effort to fpin, fhe became pale and emaciated in her whole body, and her physician advised to keep her confined. In this ftate fhe continued for fome years, taking a little food every day, but not without extreme reluctance and even cries. But to the aftonishment of all who knew her, fhe flowly recovered.

I.

ANNUAL FLOOD IN THE NILE.

IN Egypt there is no rain in fummer, and the fertility of its lands depends on the floods in the celebrated Nile. This great river, which is nearly half a mile in width, has its fources in the mountains of Abyffinia, called mountains of the moon. The rife of its waters is owing to the abundant rains, which fall annually in fpring within the tropics.

2. The Nile begins to rife in Egypt about the middle of June or a few days later; the plague, if ever fo general and deftructive, then ceases fuddenly and joy and health are diffus ed through Egypt. The water rifes till September, then gradually fubfides, and in October and November the ground is fit for fowing. The whole rife of water, is from fourteen to eighteen cubits,

3. As the overflowing of this river is effential to the crops in Egypt, and as the river must rise to about fixteen cubits, to overflow the cultivated grounds, it is a law of Egypt that no tax or tribute for the Grand Senior can be laid upon the peo ple, unless the water rifes to that height. If the flood falls much short of that altitude, a famin follows. If the water rifes to eighteen cubits, a scarcity is the confequence, as the ground is not dry in feafon for fowing. But this feldom happens.

4. The great importance of the annual flood in the Nile, has rendered it neceffary to afcertain precisely the rife of the water. Accordingly, on an island oppofite to Cairo, is placed a mark, in which is a bafon communicating with the Nile.

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