river, to enjoy their rural sports, one might easily be distinguished from the rest by her lovely and commanding appearance. Untutored in the art of. coquetry, the graces of Oucannawa were those which nature alone had given her. Unaccustomed to restraining the human body, and thus modelling nature's fairest works, her form was of the utmost symmetry, and her movements so free and light, as would excite envy in the breast of a modern belle. Ofttimes, as the Indian maids were engaged in their innocent sports, would they be joined by the young men of the tribe, who, throwing aside their bows and arrows, would cease awhile from the sports of the chase, to enjoy pleasure of a more refined (if I may be allowed the term) and enlivening kind.

While Oucannawa was engaged in the merry sports of her tribe, she was frequently observed by young Salouch, a warriour of the tribe, who became passionately enamoured with her. Of his character, tradition says nought, save what is related in the sequel of the story. Salouch made his advances, and used all the cunning which savage life had given him, to woo the maid and make her his own. His advances were slighted, and he was given to understand that his endeavours to win her were in vain. Her affections were already won by another, and her faith plighted to the object of her love. But Salouch was not easily to be baffled. He was determined to make the young, the noble Oucannawa his own, if it could be done by savage art; if unsuccessful he was resolved she never should become another's.

Finding his supplications vain, he assumed a more menacing attitude, and changed his entreaties into threats. But as the fiend became more manifest in his bosom, Oucannawa assumed a more decided tone, and, choosing death rather than inconstancy to her lover, gave him a firm and decided refusal. The savage then, with a feeling akin to hell, resolved that the object of his unhallowed love should never render happy his hated rival. Like an infuriated demon, he now seized the hapless maid, and before she was aware of his design, hurled her headlong from the height of this awful precipice.

One moment suspended between heaven and earth, the next her mangled corpse lay bleeding upon the crags below. Her pure spirit had fled. Scarcely the form of the bright and lovely Oucannawa could be traced in the mangled body, as it lay among the rough, broken rocks. A faint smile still lingered upon her lips, for she felt, as she sped from these dizzy heights, that she left her lover no room to doubt her constancy-and that the Great Spirit would not spurn her from the bright fields and green meadows beyond the hills. As the maids of the tribe gathered together around the mangled corpse of Oucannawa, with moistened eyes, they sung a requiem to the departed spirit, and buried her near the spot where she fell.

Tradition tells not what became of the murderer; but the victim of his vengeance, the constant Oucannawa, sleeps at the foot of these mighty cliffs. A rude monument of stones, raised over her grave by her countrymen, still marks the place of her repose, and has given its name to the mountain. And it is said that even till the present day, as a lone wanderer of the tribe passes by, he stops to shed a tear, and add one stone to the monument of the Indian maid. Saturday Courier.

One lovely day, as the sun attained its meridian height, the Indian maid was seen pensively following the circuitous path which leads to the summit of Monument mountain. From the top of this mountain there was then, as now, a grand and imposing prospect of the surrounding country. Here Oucannawa, herself a child of nature, would retreat to behold nature's wonders. Here she loved to retire CARGUEROES, OR MAN-CARRIERS OF QUINDIU. from the wild sports of her youth, and gaze upon nature's wilder scenes. Having arrived at the sum- THE mountain of Quindiu is considered as the mit of the mountain, with the broad expanse of heav-most difficult passage in the Cordilleras of the Anen above, she now stood in nature's simplicity near des. It is a thick uninhabited forest, which, in the the verge of this tremendous precipice, viewing the finest season, cannot be traversed in less than ten or romantick scene before her. Her heart was filled twelve days. Not even a hut is to be seen, nor can with conscious pride on viewing the numerous wig- any means of subsistence be found. wams of her kindred scattered here and there as Travellers, at all times of the year, furnish themfar as the eye could reach. Behind her the Housa-selves with a month's provision, since it often haptonick wound its serpentine course through the valley. Around stood the almost impenetrable forests of her native tribe, interspersed with the rude villages of her countrymen. On one side was to be seen the smoke curling from her father's wigwam-on the other, an opening in the distance told her the place where many of her kindred assembled around the

pens, that by the melting of the snows, and the sudden swell of the torrents, they find themselves so circumstanced, that they can descend neither on the side of Carthago, nor on that of Ibague. The highest point of the road, the Garito del Paramo, is three thousand five hundred and five metres (eleven thousand, and five hundred feet) above the level of

the sea.

As the foot of the mountain, towards the banks of the Cauca, is only nine hundred and sixty metres, (three thousand, one hundred and fifty feet high,) the climate there is in general mild and temperate. The pathway, which forms the passage of the Cordilleras, is only three or four decimetres in breadth, (from a foot, to a foot and a half;) and has the appearance, in several places, of a gallery dug, and left open to the sky. In this part of the Andes, as almost in every other, the rock is covered with a thick stratum of clay. The streamlets, which flow

much the louder. At the close of each stanza of that the Blackfect use the Flatheads in the sam the hymn, the operator takes both hands of his vic- manner; that it is one of the laws of the war, among tim, and blows them; and thus continues to squeeze the red men, to torture their prisoners; and that nohis stomach and blow upon his hands, till the pa- thing can equal the pleasure of vengeance. tient ejects a small white stone, which had been thrust into his mouth by the doctor himself, at the beginning of the operation. Thus he shows to the family, and, with the unabashed effrontery natural to quack doctors, whether civilized or savage, affirms that all danger is over, and that the sick man will quickly be restored to perfect health.

It often happens as may well be supposed, that a poor wretch, who might have been easily cured by the most simple remedies, perishes in consequence of this most barbarous treatment; but let him live or die, the doctor must not be disappointed of his fee. Such instances of their gullibility well entitle these ridiculous people to be called Flatheads-or, simply,

Flats.

AMERICAN COMMERCE.

ST. JOIIN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND.

There

In the engraving beneath a view is given of the entrance to this harbour, the town, and Fort Townshend.

THIS is the chief town in Newfoundland island, and is well known on account of the exceilence of its The entrance to St. John's harbour forms a long and harbour, which is one of the best in the whole island. narrow strait, but not very difficult of access. are about twelve fathoms water in the middle of the The most lofty perpendicular precipices rise to an channel, with tolerable good anchorage ground. amazing height upon the north side; and the southAn English traveller, who remained a considerable ern shore only appears less striking in its altitude, time among this tribe, has given a description of is a light placed every night on the left side of the from a comparison with the opposite rocks. There the methods of torturing their prisoners. A chief of the Blackfoot tribe, having been taken captive in entrance, where there is also a small battery and a one of their wars, was condemned to death; and the signal-post. Other batteries of greater strength ap Englishman repaired to the camp, to witness the the north. At about two thirds of the distance bepear towering above the rocky eminences towards frightful spectacle. The prisoner was fastened to tween the entrance and what may properly be terma tree. The Flatheads, after heating an old gun- cd the harbour itself lies a dangerous shelf, called barrel red hot, made use of it to burn successfully the Chain Rock, so named from a chain which can his legs, thighs, stomach, cheeks, and belly; and be extended across the strait at that place, to prevent then cut the flesh round his nails, which they tore the admission of any hostile fleet. out; and afterward cut off his fingers, joint by joint. -During this horrible torment, the prisoner did not shrink in the least, nor testify the slightest emotion; instead of crying for mercy, and uttering groans, he endeavoured to excite the barbarous ingenuity of his executioneers by taunts, and the most insulting reproaches. One of the Flatheads rushed upon him, and with his knife scooped out one of his eyes in an instant, and clove his nose in two parts. But the poor fellow did not desist from his provocations: "I killed your brother!" he cried. "I tore off the gray scalp of your father!" The warriour to whom he spoke again rushed upon him, and tore off his own scalp, and was about to plunge his knife into his heart, when the voice of his chief forbade him. With his naked scull, his cloven nose, and the blood streaming from the socket of his eye, the intrepid Blackfoot, offered a hideous spectacle; notwithstanding which, in this terrible condition, he ceased not to heap reproaches and outrageous insults on his foes. "It was I," said he to the chief, "it was I who took your wife prisoner! We tore out her eyes and tongue! We treated her like a dog! Forty of our young warriours"-He had not time to finish what he was going to say; for, at the mention of his wife, the fury of the chief broke through all bounds; and, seizing his musket, he put an end at once to the insults which the prisoner uttered, and the sufferings he endured. These cruelties were even surpassed, by those that were exercised on the female prisoners; and it must be owned, that the Flathead women, showed a more fiendish barbarity than the men. The details of the tortures which Light. Whatever be the difficulties which attach they inflicted are too horrible to be described, save to the theory, that supposes light to consist of matewith a pen dipped in blood. rial particles, we are compelled by its properties to The Europeans have vainly endeavoured to abol-admit, that light acts, as if it were material; and The natives pay no that it enters into combinations with bodies, in order They answer coolly, to produce the effects which we have enumerated.

ish these atrocious customs.

attention to what they say.

In addition to the fortifications already noticed, there are several other strong fortresses upon the heights around the town, which render it perfectly secure against any sudden attack. Fort Townshend is situated immediately over the town, and is the usual residence of the governour. Forts Amherst and William are more towards the north; and there is also a small battery perched on the top of a single pyramidal mount, which is called the Crow's Nest.

The harbour of St. John's is most exposed to heavy gales from the northwest, as the wind from that point rushes with extreme violence through a valley to the left of the town.

INTERESTING NARRATIVE.

I HAVE just returned from visiting a whale-ship that was last winter attacked by the natives, near an island in the Pacifick. The circumstances of the attack, defence, and ultimate recapture, possess, perhaps, as much interest as any thing that could be imbodied in this article, more particularly, as several different and erroneous accounts have been given.

In

them the use of the spade in cutting up a whale. These tools are always kept sharp, and in the hands of an able man are most formidable weapons, the blades not more than five inches wide, with handles varying from five to ten feet in length. The captain and first mate stood near each other, and near the mizzenmast, on the starboard side; the third mate, Jones, further aft, on the starboard quarter; the second inate forward of the mainmast, the wheel at After getting such information as could be obtain- this time lashed to leeward, and some four or five of ed from three persons, I requested an intelligent the crew loitering about deck, and a number below. young man, who was in the ship at the time, to go The first intimations of danger were given by an atwith me on board, where I could better understand tempt of the savages to come on board with their the narrative of the whole affair. He began by giv- war-clubs. Jones noticed it, and threw the first one ing me the position of the officers and crew, the overboard. An attempt to do so with another was direction of the land, distance, &c., a part of which resisted. These boarded on the starboard side. I will repeat as well as I can, promising that no the meantime, they had entered the ship from anothdescription that I can give will approach any thing er direction, with one or two clubs, and before Jones like the reality of that awful hour. To comprehend had succeeded in throwing overboard the one he it fully, you must go on board, see the shotholes in had hold of, a savage had given the captain a morthe deck, and listen to the recital of the transaction by tal blow, and felled him to the deck. The spades a warm-hearted and brave young sailor, whose sym- were in their sockets, immediately over the quarterpathies are so keen that he is frequently choked and deck. The first blow was a signal for a general stopped in his narration by the swellings of a noble, engagement, and both parties seemed at once to brave, and tender heart, and who frequently has to know that the spades were to be the weapons. In turn aside, and brush from his check the tear that, the scuffle for these, the natives being the most nuin spite of his manhood, tells of a feeling as honour-merous, and acting evidently on a concerted plan, able as the daring bravery exhibited on the day of that heroick defence. His account of the whole affair is one of thrilling interest, and deserves to be recorded by one who can give to it more interest than your humble servant.

had the advantage, and possessed themselves of the greatest number. The first mate got one, and with his first blow killed the murderer of the captain. He then retreated wounded, into the main hatch, where he abandoned himself to his fate, and without atThe ship was half a mile from the land, a few of tempting further escape or defence, suffered himself the light sails set, but occasionally thrown back to to be cut down some minutes after Jones had passed prevent too much headway-the wind very light, him. All was confusion; the crowd on the deck and rather off shore. They were on whaling ground prevented the crew, except those aloft, from seeing and four men were aloft, keeping a lookout for who were killed, or who were still fighting. No whales. The island was laid down on the chart, voice of command was heard to encourage the crew, but there is no account of any previous intercourse or to give directions to their energy and strength, with the natives. Sometime before dinner, a large which, acting in concert, might have sooner stopped number of them came off in canoes, and about the current of blood that was already finding its way thirty came on board, with apparent friendly inten- to the scuppers. The second mate, seeing the captions. Their very peaceable and simple behaviour tain fall, and the first mate retreat, fled forward, folput the captain off his guard, and he omitted the usu-lowed by two of the crew, until they reached the al precautions, such as compelling them to stay in the canoes, except a very limited number, or keeping them all forward of the mainmast, and other cautious measures generally adopted, for treachery is a marked feature of the savages in the Pacifick.

On this occasion, as many came on board as desired, and all roved the deck, fore and aft, at pleasure. The captain and two first mates were at dinner. Mr. Jones, the third mate, was on deck, with a very small number of men. While he was engaged with his quadrant, getting his observations, the natives seemed to be concerting among themselves, and were evidently afraid of the quadrant, seeing the uses being made of it, and Mr. Jones thinks were deterred by that fear from making the attack, when the resistance would have been much less, there being but four or five white men on deck.

The savages were perfectly naked, and seemed pleased to examine the different tools and parts of the rigging, showing all the simplicity and childish curiosity so common with them on their first acquaintance with civilized nations. When Mr. Jones came up from dinner, (he dined after the senior officers,) the captain was taking some pains to show

end of the gib-boom, and afterward let themselves into the water, where they were despatched. A number fled aloft, to escape instant death. Mr. Jones had succeeded in getting a spade, and found himself immediately engaged in a scuffle for the possession with a number of the enemy. He was thus forced aft, quite to the stern, when seeing no other resource, he dropped his hold, he being then the only white man to be seen on deck. He is not more than twenty-one years of age, rather small of stature, but with the heart of a lion; and never was there an occasion that called for more coolness and bravery than that. All the arms were in the after cabin, and the entrance to that was guarded by half a score of stout men, rendering it impossible to be forced. Without arms, nothing effectual could be done. He, not accustomed to command, and not fully apprized of the fate of the other officers and men, could only see that the officers and crew, dead or alive, had ceased all defensive measures, and the ship was in fact fully abandoned to the savages, and the lives of the survivors of the crew to their tender mercies. Jones at once determined if he did fall, to do so when he could stand no longer.

ards. Each man with a loaded gun advanced to the gangway. As they passed up they met from those aloft the joyful sound, "They are overboard." Every savage had leaped into the water. The crew levelled their guns, and as the enemy rose to the surface took their last shot, and immediately made sail. One short hour had deprived them of all their senior officers, reduced their number to fourteen fit for duty, cost the savages more than a score of lives, including the chief, ruined the prospects of a voyage, placed in command of a fine ship, a young man whose courage and skill would make him an ornament to our navy. And if I had the ear of the president, vice-president, secretary, or any other great man who had sufficient influence, I would try hard to get a commission for Mr. Jones, that would be alike honourable to the nation and to him.

and

The only way to reach the cabin and obtain the of the party. He could not be seen, but they fired arms, was by passing down the main-hatch, and re- random shots, and the second, passing through the moving a large quantity of barrels, staves, and pro- binnacle, entered the chief just below the ribs on the miscuous lumber, which was closely stowed in the left side, and passing through the heart, came out whole distance. This, under ordinary circumstances, on the right side under the arm. He leaped ten would have required hours-but it was the last re- feet from the deck and fell dead. Still the canoes sort. Quick as thought Jones had formed his plan approached, and for fifteen minutes longer death -when he dropped the spade, sprang through and was dealt in frightful forms to the astonished natives. over his enemies with an impetuosity that aston-Jones now determined to retake the deck at all hazished them, and secured his way to the hatch. On leaping down he found the chief mate in the situation already described, and from him learned the fate of the other officers, and his own despair. Jones, true to his first purpose, commenced cutting his way through the hatches to the cabin. His energies of mind must have greatly increased his strength. The work of hours was now accomplished in a very few minutes, and after removing and staving barrels and boxes, and pushing aside all obstacles, he found himself in the steerage, or forward cabin. Here was a man for several weeks confined by sickness. Mr. Jones seized his own pistols, and placed them in the hands of the sick man, to guard the gangway, while he stove a hole through the cabin door (which was locked) large enough to admit him, and secured the guns. Here he was detained in collecting the ammunition, fixing flints, loading, &c. He soon After getting a good offing, he gave the proper succeeded in preparing himself, and his first shot directions, and assisted in burying the dead. With up the gangway took effect. The savages had be- his own hands he dressed the wounds of the woundgun their song of victory. They were evidently ed, and saved some that might have been called desunacquainted with firearms, and when, on the first perate cases. He navigated the ship through a pordischarge, one of their number fell dead, it produced tion of the most dangerous coast in the Pacifick, and silence for a moment, which was succeeded by after a voyage of more than fifty days, arrived at wailing and pounding. The sound of a gun to those the nearest port, and gave her up to the Amerwho were concealed, and the death of an enemy to ican consul, according to law, from whence she sailthose aloft, appeared like a call to the rescue. Hope ed for home, and arrived in June last. It is admitted began to spring up. Jones continued to load and by the owners, as well as others, that but for the fire as fast as he could, and though many of his coolness, courage, prudence, and extraordinary skill shots were at random, he did great execution, espe- and perseverance of Mr. Jones, the ship and crew cially in the canoes, as they approached the stern must have been lost; and in viewing the whole case exposed to his fire from the cabin windows. Now it must be admitted, that he was helped by an unevery survivor became a co-worker. The men seen arm, or he could not have achieved so much. aloft, acting well their part, succeeding in setting I still hope that government will bestow on him all the after-sails, and getting up considerable sail at some mark of distinction, as a reward for his noble her head to get off shore.-There being no man at achievement. the helm, and the svages masters of the deck, one man came down from the foretop, or gib-stay, loosed the flying-gib, suspended in the same way, and hoisted the sail. The men aloft took the precaution to lash the rigging above, to prevent those below from frustrating their plans. They succeeded in bracing the fore-yards in such manner as to make consider able headway off shore. Men who had concealed themselves, in the meantime, had found Jones's track to the cabin, and six of them were loading and passing him guns. One man, after securing every thing aloft, came down the main shrouds to the blocks, and then actually leaped over the heads of the enemy into the hatches, and thence to the cabin, to help fight, as he said. He was severely wounded on his way, and after he got a gun, being induced by his anxiety to make his fire effectual, to occupy an exposed position, received a severe wound from above. He staggered back, saying, "Mr. Jones, I have lost my leg."-Jones bound a cord above the knee to stop the blood, and he sat during the engagement. loading and passing guns. A man was heard at the wheel, who, it appeared, was the chief

West. Christ. Adv.

HYDROSTATICKS AND HYDRAULICKS.

THE fundamental principles of hydrostaticks and hydraulicks may be familiarly illustrated by a variety of simple experiments, some of which may be rendered extremely amusing. That fluids press in all directions-that their pressure is in proportion to their perpendicular height that a small quantity of a fluid may be made to counterpoise any quantity, however great-that a fluid specifically lighter than another will float upon its surface-that the surface of all fluids which communicate with each other will be on the same level-that the velocity with which water spouts from holes in the side of a vessel, is in proportion to the square root of the distance of the holes below the surface of the water. These, and similar positions, along with the principles on which siphons, jets, and artificial fountains act, can be illustrated with an apparatus which every intelligent teacher, if he has the least share of mechanical ingenuity, can easily construct for himself, with