In ascending to this stupendous altitude, according to Hindoo mythology, and there-roek, or are seen tumbling down its face, Mr. Frazer and his party, experienced fore of course a flower held in high esteem, from the snow that gives them birth try that difficulty of breathing, which is which caused its being likened to a rajah The whole scene casts a damp on the felt on reaching the height beyond the among the flowers. mind: an indefinite idea of desert solitude region of vegetation, and which, not- of large and smaller blossoms which deck were, shut out from the world, and feel out Various, rich, and lovely were the inyriads and helplessness stcals over it: we are, as it withstanding that circumstance, the na-ed these wild scenes, and I much regret my nothingness. Like the scenes they are tives very strangely attribute to the inability to give their names and botanical placed among, the inhabitants of this village perfume of flowers ! The author says, descriptions. Many varieties of the primare wild in their appearance, and uncouth in It was ludicrous to see those who had laugh- rose and polyanthus, many orchides, and their manners; but there is no essential difed at others yielding, some to lassitude, and oters resembling our common meadow ference between them and those with whom others to sickness, yet endeavouring to con- flowers, grew in profusion. The only other we have heretofore met. I met, indeed, with ceal it from the rest. I believe I held out plant, however, that I shall notice, is one one or two who were peculiarly intelligent ; longer than any one; yet after passing this which was found on the very extreme verge but their language forms a considerable obgorge every few paces of ascent seemed an of vegetation alone: like the goo-gool it was stacle to taking advantage of their acuteness : insuperable labour, and even in passing along low, but not quite flat, perhaps about four it was still Hindoostannee, but so disguised by the inost level places my knees trembled un- inches high, somewhat resembling a thistle accent and dialect, and altered by nei termider me, and at times even sickness of sto- just blooming; but the leaves did not lie on nations and expletives, that it was difficult to mach was experienced. The symptoms it the ground; they shrouded the blossom, understand the simplest sentences withont an produced were various : some were affected which was enveloped in a thick covering interpreter, or frequent repetitions. The Punsvith violent headache; others had severe like the web of a spider, whichi , spangled dit was not only an intelligent man, but gave pains in the chest, with oppression; others with dew, had a most singular appearance. his information in the most intelligible lansickness at the stomach and vomiting; many The root was small, but firmly fixed in the guage. Their dress is the same as that of were overcome with heaviness, and fell asleep ground: it displayed no colour but a brown- the peasantry at Cursalee, black and gray even while walking along. But what proved ish green. I could not obtain any name for blankets of coarse wool. the fact that all this was the effect of our this very curious mountain production. It Just at the entrance to this village I found great elevation, was, that as we lowered our seems to delight only in the close vicinity to the a true gooseberry-bush, a plant I had long situation, and reached the region of vegeta- snow. During this day's march no living looked for without success it was to all aption and wood, all these violent symptoms thing was seen except the monals, which pearance wild and neglected; but there was and pains gradually lessened and vanished. Hocked together, and which I suspected to fruit nearly ripe on it, small and sour; and The appearance of the higher cliffs, however, I be of a species somewhat different from that there could not be a shadow of doubt conboth snowy and rocky, and the sensations of which is met with lower down. They sat cerning the plant. Thus almost all the Euthis day, proved most satisfactorily that it on the gray stones like ptarmigans on the ropean garden fruits had now been recognizwould be a very arduous undertaking, if loftiest hills at home, and in the short brown cd in these hills. a not an impracticable one, to ascend even moss and grass looked exactly like grouse. It is related that, about thirty-five years nearly to the tops of these loftiest hills. We 1 shot only one young one, which was a little ago, a band of four or five hundred inen could not have been within several thousand larger, but precisely like a young moorfowl from Bhurassoo, and the remote parts of feet of even those peaks of snow which were or blackgame, but could not suoceed in kill- Gurwhal, made an incursion through the tolerably near us. ing any of the older birds, hills into the Chinese country, with a view to plunder the cattle. I could obtain but The vegetable productions of this day's The scenery of the upper parts, men- few particulars, either relating to their route, march are very various, and many of thetn tioned in the first of these quotations, is or to the length of time they were absent; new, and differing from those forinerly met afterwards painted with a pencil which but they did effect their purpose, and brought with. Two flowers particularly attracted at- fills the mind with ideas that shrink the back a good many sheep. This, if true, ittention. One was called goo-gool, and grew self proves that there are passes, besides somewhat like the common flat thistle, with boldest landscape of Salvator into a those which are well known and frequented, leaves radiating from a centre like a sun, in wart as compared with Ossa. which contre grew a flower, on a level with through these bills, which lead into the It is not easy to describe the change of Chinese territories, and that, though diffithe flat leaves, and much resembling the scene effected by this change of situation : cult, it is yet practicable to bring even small blossom of a pine-apple. This plaut is held not only is luxuriant foliage more rare, all animals by these routes. in much religious veneration. The other rich and lively greens giving way to the dark was a very curious one i a stalk covered with brown of the fir, which spots the face of the portion of that territory which approaches There is an acknowledged, though small large and long leaves, somewhat like those rock, but even that rock is evidently more very near to this place, not more distant, it of a primrose, ended in a cup like that of a continually acted on by the severity of the is said, than one day's journey ; but it is a tulip, but which appeared merely the conti- storms. Instead of being covered with rich mere desert, an uninhabitable mass of rock, nuation of these leaves closing, and forming and varied lucs, the effect of lichens and the no village being within many days' march. the petals of a very noble flower, in the cen- smaller herbage, that usually clothe and va (To be continued) tre of which the stamina and pistil were seen. riegate even a precipice, the rocks here are The leaves which compose this flower have white, gray, red, or brown, the colour of a green tinge at their insertion like those on their fracture, as if a constant violence was BROWN'S ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS. the stalk, but the middle and higher parts crumbling them to pieces. Their sharp and are black and yellow, as is the centre of the splintered pinnacles spire up above the ge enough to indicate the style and nature Having, in our last Number, quoted cup, but more vivid. It is called by the hill neral mass: their middle region and feet people birmah counla, because, as the guide are scantily sprinkled with the sombre unva of this publication,especially as applying informed us, it was like the rajah among the rying fir-tree; while the higher parts, retiring to the manners of the Hebrew people, other flowers ; the “sequitur," of which 1 from the view, present little more than brown we shall only offer one extract more, in vain searched for, particularly as I could rock, except where a lofty mass of snow on the treatment of the dying; and conget no translation of the component parts of overtops them, and calls to our recollection clude with a singular passage on the this name. It has since been suggested to how nearly and completely we are surrround- most important of all subjects to a me that the name is brimah counla, the lattered by it. No green smiling valleys yield their Christian reader, touching one of the part of which (counla) means the flower of waters to the river : the white and foul tor: greatest miracles at the death of our the lotus plant, from which Brimah was rents whichswell its stream pourtheir troubled produced at the commencement of creation, tribute through chasins cleft in the solid Saviour. for the endowment of schools, and for the chre of our Lord, but afterwards it was wooden figure, somewhat resembling a coffin, and laid in the catacomb or cave belonging to the family. Thevenot says, that "the mummy he examined had above a thousand ells of filleting about the body, besides what was wrapped about the head." The ancient Jewish method seems to resemble the modern eastern practice, however, rather than the ancient Egyptian, which, according to Dr. Perry, consists in wrapping up the body in two, three, or more different sorts of stuffs, according to the circumstances of the deceased, with spices intermixed.— body for burial were considered ceremonially Those who were engaged in preparing the unclean for seven days; the first three more the first three days they were sprinkled with so than the remaining four, and on the last of water, in which were some of the ashes of the red heifer. According to Sir John Chardin, however, the Persians carry matters farther after the death of their kings, tor they displace (mazoul) the physicians and astrologers; the first for not having driven away death, and the second for not having predicted it; and he very ingeniously conjectures that Daniel had been displaced, or which was the reason why he was unknown mazoulied, on the death of Nebuchadnezzar, to Belshazzar the son, but well known to the queen his mother, who had seen him frequently, and knew his worth in the days of time that the corpse was shrouded, and taNebuchadnezzar, her husband.-From the ken to an upper chamber, it lay upon a bed till the time of burial, and was either in greater or less state, according to circumstances. If poor, it lay upon a plain bed, in an open coffin or bier; but if rich, on a magnificent bed, and in a magnificent coffin, open to the inspection of all who chose to Visiting the sick was enjoined to be neither quoted by Harmer: "I was lodged, in the in the three morning, nor in the three even-year 1676, at Ispalian, in Persia, near the ing hours, from motives of delicacy and con- royal square. The mistress of the house venience for the distressed, and when they next mine died at that time in the night. went, they commonly said, "God pity you, The moment she expired all the family, to and all the sick among the Israelites." If the number of 25 or 30 people, set up such the person was dangerously ill, either the a furious cry, that I was quite startled. These | friends or some Rabbi discoursed with him cries continued a long time, and then ceased on subjects suited to his situation; and if all at once. They began again at daybreak, near death, they had a formula for the con- as suddenly, and in concert. It is this sudfession of sin, which is given by Buxtorff: denness which is so terrifying, together with for they considered a natural death as the ex- a greater shrillness and loudness than one piation of all his sins; a doctrine which, al- can easily imagine." In Barbary they term though it might soothe the patient with a this screaming woulliah woo, because it false hope, was yet of dangerous tendency consists in the repetition of that word.-But to his eternal interests. At the approach of let us attend to their care of the corpse. death, the person dying assembled his chil- The first thing done was to extend the lody dren round his bed and blessed them, well on a cloth, on the floor or table, with the knowing that the heart was then susceptible, face covered, and to wash it with a warm inand that the instructions of a dying parent fusion of camomile flowers and dried roses. might be remembered when his body was This was done for two reasons; to restore mouldering in the grave. The patient then, life if suspended, and to make the perfumes if not formerly, made his will, bequeathing enter the pores more easily. Women were his property equitably atmong his children, the persons formerly employed in this office, and if he was rich, he gave legacies to the poor, and hence the two Marys went to the sepulerecting of synagogues. They had a strange thought more decorous to employ persons of custom of changing the name of a person be- the same scx. When the washing was comfore he died, the reason of which will be pleted it was laid on a table, all the vents seen in the following prayer: "O God, take shut up, and the body embalmed. This empity on A, and restore him to his former balming was different according to the rank health; let him be called henceforth ; let or vanity of the deceased. The most comhim be glad in his new name, and let it be mon way was to anoint the body with a soluconfirmed to him. Be pleased, we intreat tion of some odoriferous drugs, and wrap it thee, O God, that this change of name may in linen; but to persons of affluence, spices abolish all the hard and evil decrees against in great abundance were used. Thus Joseph him, and destroy the broad sentence. If of Arimathea and Nicodemus, because they death be decreed upon N (his former name), were wealthy, and wished to do honour to it is not decreed upon O (his present one). Jesus, wrapped his body in a linen cloth, If an evil decree was made against A, lo, with a hundred pounds weight of myrrh and this hour, he is another man, a new crea-lign aloes, which was said to be the manner ture, and, like a child, born to a good life of the Jews to bury; not that they all emand length of days." In the prospect of ployed so many spices, but thereby implying death, the patient was never left alone, that he that they merely wrapped the body in spices, might receive advice and every attendance; and did not embowel it. The two Marys, When come to the sepulchre, they said, and when about to expire, the nearest rela- not knowing what was done by these worthy "Blessed be God, who formed thee, fed tion, or dearest friend, closed his eyes, and men, and never suspecting a resurrection, had thee, preserved thee, and has taken away thy kissed him. Hence Philo, when relating Ja- also prepared spices and ointments. After life. O dead! He knows the number of thy cob's complaints on the unexpected death of the washing with water and embalming, the members, and shall one day restore thy life. Joseph, makes him say, that "He will not body was bound up in grave-clothes, and Blessed be he who takes away life and rehave the comfort of closing his eyes, and laid in an upper chamber. The shrouds stores it." They then placed the coffin on giving him the last embrace." were either simple or magnificent, according the ground, walked round it seven times, reTreatment between the death and fune- to circumstances, and sometimes they retain-peated a prayer, and sometimes an oration, ral.—When the person had breathed his last, ed their ordinary clothes, or were buried in recounting his virtues: the relations threw the nearest relations tore their upper garment a shroud of their own preparing. But al-a handful of earth upon the bier, and in places from head to foot, but the spectators tore though einbalming, by being wrapt in spices, where burial was used after the present manabout a handbreadth in length on the left was the usual way of the Jews to bury, it was ner of inhumation, they filled up the grave, side, which was also a heathen practice. In- not the only one, for they also embowelled, consigning the dust of their relation to the mediately upon the decease, dismal cries were in the manner of the Egyptians, and the dust of death. Coffins were not in general raised by the people in the house and their common way of doing of it was this: "The use in Judea, nor are they general even at neighbours, who thronged in on hearing of body was given to the embalmers, who first present in the East. They were very ancient, the event; and at the death of persons in bet- took out the brains and entrails, and washed indeed, in Egypt among the great, and ter condition, women were hired to howl, them in palm wine, impregnated with strong were made of sycamore wood, or of a kind and sing doleful ditties, in which honourable astringent drugs; after which they began to of pasteboard, formed by folding and gluing mention was made of the age, beauty, anoint the body with oil of cedar, myrrh, cloth together a number of times, which strength, courage, virtues, and actions of cinnamon, and cassia, and this lasted thirty were curiously plastered, and then painted the deceased, with the intention of increasing days. They next put it into a solution of ni- with hieroglyphics. But in Judea they seem the sorrow of the afflicted relations; and tre for forty days longer, so that they allow-to have been contented with wrapping the minstrels were employed to accompany themed seventy days to complete the embalming body closely in spices, and carrying it to the with instruments of music. But what kinds grave, like the widow of Nain's son, in a of lamentations these were, will be best unbier, from whence it was taken to be laid in derstood by the following extracts from Sir the sepulchre; or, if poor, it was tumbled John Chardin's manuscript observations, as into the grave, and the bier brought back for after which they wound it up in swathes of visit it. At the funeral→→ further use. Hence a coftin to Joseph was, hides the sun from any one part of the earth |.." 16th. Read to Mr. Shiph, the priest of Jocelyn, the constable, swore to the fact. I ge « June 28th. Called on Mr. King, the relations. The number of persons which neral reader. American Ambassador, to enforce the ne cessity of frank-pledge in America. composed the minimum in this duty svas ten; Prince Hoare's Memoirs of Granrille “ 1798. May 18. Society for Propagabut it might be as inany more as pleased. The common number consisted of all the Sharp, Esq. tion of the Gospel : spoke to the Archbishop company, and the custom was, at each sit- This voluine has been published since our about schools at Sierra Leone. ting and standing, for the relations to sit, last Number appeared, and we continue "September 3. Colonel Tatcham called and the company to stand round them, and the extracts there begun. Among his about his new work of embanking fens, &c. weep aloud. Between the grave and the (Mr. Sharpe's) MSS. is one thus inscribed, Sat the whole morning, from half-past elehouse were seven of these sittings and stand- A letter by G. S. to the Author of a 'Tract ven to three o'clock, in searching etymology ings, and they might not be nearer each on Prophecy, entitled, Application of a Pro- of words for him. other than what could contain four cabs of phecy in the eleventh Chapter of Daniel to “ 1804. December 8. The Bishop of St. seed, which was fixed to be thirty-three cu- the French War.' To this superscription Asaph called upon me, and has consented to bits and two hand-breadths broad, by fifty is added, in the hand writing of Mr. Sharp, form a compendium of my rules for the Hecubits long, or, as others explain it, the dis- the following notice, which discloses a cir- brew Syntax."" tance between them was regulated by cir- cumstance, probably little known, and of “ 1806. October 8. Wrote to the Bi. cumstances, but the space allowed them to no cominon stamp in the annals of the poli- shop of St. David's about forming a compenstand on was of that extent, that they inight tical world." The anonymous writer, to diuin of Hebrew Grammar and Syntax, not be interrupted by the persons who passed. whom this letter was addressed by G. $., as which the Bishop of St. Asaph (Horsley) had The entertainment of the company invited an unknown Author, very soon afterwards undertaken, of whose death I was informed to the funeral did not precede, but follow acknowledged the receipt of it, as well as his last night. the solemnity. Among the heathen it was full approbation of the contents. That author " 1813. Jan. 14. The whole morning with over or around the grave, but the Jews had was tho late very soorthy and leurned Spen- Mr. Way, at my chambers, talking on reliit at home. This entertainment was com- cer Perceval, Esq. at that time his Majesty's gious subjects. inonly liberal : they drank two cups of wine Solicitor-General, but afterwards Chancellor We have not left ourselves room to speak before it, five while eating, and three after ; of the Exchequer. During all the time of of Mr. S.'s private life. It was as amiable at least they had the offer of so many. But his last high and important office of Prime as his public life was admirable. We select as this implied greater abundance than was Minister, he steadily maintained just and a few descriptive passages. in the power of many to give, the want was proper sense of the anti-Christian principles "After the last meeting of the Protestant supplied by the liberality of their neighbours, of the papal apostacy, and regularly, to the Union in 1813, Mr. Sharp's efforts were few. both as a mark of sympathy, and in the ex- day of his death, opposed the false and mis- He had for some months experienced a failpectation that they would return the compli- taken benevolence of the inconsiderate advo- ure of quiek recollection, wholly unusual ment when themselves should be visited with dates for what they call Catholic Emanci- to his ready and methodized intellect. At a similar affliction. pation." the meetings of the African Institution, he The passage to which we have above Some additional, though less important, rarely took any share in the discussions; and, alluded relates to the eclipse at the cru- Notes, for which no place in the narrative proaching to veneration, the advantages, memoranda, taken from these manuscript though he was welcoined with a respect apcifixion of Jesus Christ. obviously presented itself, are proper to be which his powerful mind had so long contiThis darkness was not confined to Judea, here added, as contributing to the display of nued to afford, were no more to be gained for we read of a heathen philosopher, in a his opinions and affections, and of his con- from his presence. At those of the Bible distant land, who on seeing it, and knowing stant and various actions. Society, though he did not wholly forbear that it could not be occasioned by an eclipse, “ 1786. May 26. Met Dr. B., who to express his sentiments, his arguments , exclaimed, “ Either the God of nature suf- talked of Dr. Johnson in the highest terms, were vague ; his reason wandered from its fers, or the frame of the world is dissolving." When I replied, that I thought he was apt to aim; and regret and silence ' were all that I shall conclude the article with an extract build arguments on false foundations, and was left to his hearers, when the ceased to, from the Tracts of Mr. James Fergusson, contrary to natural rights, he said, Dr. speak. He seemed, however, less aware well known for his popular writings on vari- Johnson thinks, that the garrulosity of the than his friends, of the rapid change that ous branches of Natural Philosoply. "1 people about their rights did infinite haren, was taking place, and the persevered in a findly calculation," says he, " that the only and is injurious to good government and mo- strict attendance on the public meetings of passover full moon, which fell on a Friday rality. Thus the quondam professed advo- both establishments. These exertions were from the twentieth year after our Saviour's cate for popular rights and liberty has soal contemplated by his anxious family with a birth to the forticth, was in the 4764th year lowed the perverted notions of the pensioner, dread which the affections of our nature of the Julian period, which was the thirty- and indiscriminately adopted his groundless prompt on such oecasions. They entreated third year of his age, reckoning from the be- sophistry, in favour of passive obedience, him to desist; but in vain : he could not conginning of the year next after that of his and, in his own words, garrulosity."." sent to yield a post which he thought it his birth, according to the vulgar æra; and the "* 1786, January 10. Mr. Strasburg, a duty to maintain. One effort, at length, , said passover full moon was on the third day Jew, read the two texts on Jeremiah exactly which had nearly proved fatal to him, turn of April. Polegon informs. us, that in the like myself. ed the seale, and compelled him to submis2024 Olympiad, or 4764th year of the Julian ** 11th. Called on Mr. Shiph, priest of sion." period, there was an eclipse the same as this the Portuguese synagogue. J. “The term which bounds mortality now mentioned here, which could be no other than this ; for an ordinary one never totally Dutch synagogue. "12th. On Mr. Moses, priest of the rose to Granville's view. But, although formed, by the fixed habits of a pious mind, to a submissive acknowledgment of the dis-gradual (and, to those who watched around pensations of Providence, and a cheerful re- him, an imperceptible) decline into a total signation to the Divine will, he beheld the rest. He only ceased from his mortal state; approach of death not wholly without emo--and who shall presume to judge, if the tion. The ardent prosecution of his religi prepossession of his pure and holy feelings In the night of the 11th of May some fishous studies had gradually led him to indulge was not in that moment accomplished? He ermen, who were engaged in the Shad a persuasion, which many of sainted memo- ceased from life, when that life could no fishery, at Neuendorf, near Coblentz, obry have felt, that the epoch foretold in Scrip- longer be powerfully exerted to combat the served a very remarkable phenomenon. At established on the earth, was on the eve of happiness, of his fellow-creatures. May it be on fire: when this blaze had continued for ture, when the reign of holy men shall be pride, to promote the virtue, and enlarge the midnight a light spread over the firmament so brilliant, that the whole horizon seemed to its commencement. He conceived that it not be pardonable to think, that Providence might even precede the natural period of his had allotted to a creature of so pure a spirit formed itself into a ball about the size of a some minutes, it drew together to a point, own earthly existence. The encouragement the entire developement and use of his high grenade, which had a tail or train about an of this favourite idea had tended insensibly to faculties in this his station, and that their ex-ell in length; the ball then darted with inexempt him from the apprehensions of a haustion was the signal of his departure? credible velocity, and with very loud cracktime, when the consciousness of Being was The talent, which had been entrusted to him, ling and hissing, in nearly a horizontal poto be suspended under the hand of death. was faithfully disbursed, aud he returned to That expectation was now shaken;-in what the bosom of the Giver. sition, but rather verging upwards, towards degree shaken, or how far the soothing Andernach, and vanished in the mountains. image might yet have continued to impress They now heard, for about ten minutes, a his soul with belief, during the remaining tains, which at last slowly died away. The crackling and thundering from the mounportion of his existence here, is known only to that All-seeing Mind, to whom the hearts sky was again clear, and the stars shone of men are open, and who, amidst the darkbright as before the phenomenon. ness of decline and death, is to the righteous an everlasting light and glory. *An anecdote of an extraordinary nature is related of Mr. Sharp on the above-mentioned point. From an opinion which he had adopted, of the stances of his own time to those which, in the striking resemblance of many actual circum-lately acted a piece called Montoni, or the scriptural prophecies, are believed to announce the happy state of the good on earth, he had encouraged in his mind a belief that the desired period was speedily approaching, and once, in the fervour of his hopes, declared its probable arrival in the ensuing spring. Being then in company with several ministers of the Gospel, he was asked by one of them if he did not speak of these things doubtingly. Not at all, was his reply, but as a positive truth. Mr. H Baptist preacher, exclaimed, What would we give, Mr. Sharp, for such a faith as yours!" sisters were his constant attendants. To the "When on his death-bed, his two widowed Some circumstances, just now communi- last he continued frequently to look at the facated by a near relation, are too interesting to mily portraits, which hung round the room, be wholly omited. foods and with the most earnest and affecting expression, "During the further decline of his strength, as if tracing the resemblances, and then nam. he frequently entered the room where the family ing them one by one- My dear Father, My ⚫ were assembled, and, taking a seat near to good Mother, My dear brother William. them, continued-sometimes for hours-to look These affectionate ideas seemed to occupy his stedfastly on them, appearing pleased with be- mind to the latest moment." |