[For the Family Magazine.] A HUNT AT GAZYPOOR.-FROM THE FRENCH. WHEN I had made my purchases of otto of rose, (atta goul,) the merchant, (Agoub,) a young and finelooking Mohammedan, made me a low salam, and invited me to go to his house, and partake of a collation. I did so. "I beg pardon," said he-hurrying his light repast-"I beg pardon, but I have made an engagement for a hunt, and I am afraid that my friends will wait for me." "A hunt!" said I, my eyes glistening with delight at the prospect of being of the party. He had already risen; his hand rested on his sabre; an Indian slave was about to saddle his horse. "Will you go with us ?" said he ; my companions will be happy to see you.-Ghaed, saddle another horse.-You are anxious to see the fields of roses," he resumed," and it is in these that we are going to chase an antelope. To horse, and away!" We departed. We soon left Gazypoor in the distance, and I found myself in the fields of roses. The precious essence of roses, so celebrated in all parts of the civilized world as one of the principal productions of the Indies, is made from flowers which grow abundantly in the fields around Gazypoor. Their cultivation, however, presents nothing romantick; it is merely a matter of business. Although the rose of India differs in size from our roses, yet its perfume is equally sweet. The Indian cultivators, however, content themselves with nature's productions as they find them. They never avail themselves of the resources of art. They regard the rose as a merchandise too costly to be cultivated for ornament, and for their purposes the natural rose is amply sufficient. The roses of Gazy poor are planted in regular lines, in fields of several hundred acres extent, all around the city. Their purple flowers, which open to the rays of the morning sun, and enamel the green plains, present an agreeable prospect. When the season for gathering has come, there are no bands of young maidens, with garlands in their hair, to pluck the sweet-smelling flowers, but they are pulled by poor labourers, who merely look for their daily stipend. In manufacturing the otto, the first operation is to distil the roses (goulaa biepaan); the essence obtained is deposited in large vases, which are exposed to the air during the night. Occasionally these jars are skimmed, and the essential oil, which floats on their surface is removed; this oil is that concentrated essence so much prized by amateurs, and which is termed otto (atta) of roses. The rosewater, which is deprived of its essential oil, is much inferiour, and much less costly than that which has preserved it; but it is said that the difference between the two is barely perceptible. Rosewater is used universally by the East Indians in their domestick economy. It is employed for ablutions, for a medicine, and in their cookery. It is poured on the hands at the commencement of a repast, and is taken internally for every disorder. While I was passing over the plains of Gazypoor with my companions, our huntsmen suddenly shouted, "An antelope! an antelope!" and, on looking, I saw one of these animals rapidly descending from a mountain. We immediately gave chase, and truly animated was the scene: our fiery horses, with their necks extended, their mouths foaming, and rivalling the antelope in swiftness, added not a little to the picture. Soon, however, the animal grew fatigued; his pace slackened, his legs trembled, and he seemed ready to drop down; when a tame lynx, which had been educated for the business, jumped from behind a huntsman, threw itself on the head of the antelope, and soon destroyed it, amid the shouts of my companions. After this, we returned to Gazypoor, and took dinner in a large oriental saloon. ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURE. OUR cut represents a view of Suez, which by many is regarded as the spot where the Israelites crossed the Red sea. Suez is a small seaport town, situated near the northern extremity of the Red sea, and about thirty hours' journey east from Cairo. The country around it is a sandy plain, without the smallest spot of verdure. The only water which can be drunk is brought from El-Naba, or the spring, at the distance of three hours journey, and it is very brackish. The town itself is a collection of miserable ruins, the kahns being the only solid buildings; yet from March till June, the season when the Jidda and Yambo fleet arrives, the town becomes crowded; but after its departure nobody remains except the governor, who is a Mamaluke, twelve or fourteen persons who form his household, and the garrison. The fortress is a defenceless heap of ruins, which the Arabs consider as a citadel, because it contains six brass fourpounders, and two Greek gunners, who turn their heads aside when they fire. The harbour is a wretched quay, where the smallest boats are unable to reach the shore, except at the highest tides. There, however, the merchandise is embarked, to convey it over the banks of sand to the vessels which anchor in the road. This road, situated a league from the town, is separated from it by a shore, which is left dry at low water; it has no works for its defence, so that the vessels, which M. Volney tells us he has seen there to the number of twenty-eight at a time, might be attacked without opposition; for the ships themselves are incapable of resistance, none having any other artillery than four rusty swivels. Suez has always been, notwithstanding its local disadvantages, a place of great trade, on account of its geographical situation. It was by the gulf of Suez that the commodities of India were formerly conveyed to Europe, till the discovery of the passage by the Cape of Good Hope converted that trade into a new channel. As the isthmus of Suez, which separates the Red sea from the Mediterranean, is not more than fiftyseven miles, it has been frequently proposed to join these two seas together by a canal. As there are no mountains nor remarkable inequalities of surface, this plan would appear at first view easy to be executed. The great difficulty, however, arises from the nature of the corresponding coasts of the Mediterranean and the Red sea, which are low and sandy, where the waters form lakes, shoals, and morasses, so that vessels cannot approach within a considerable distance. Hence it is scarcely possible to dig a permanent canal amid these shifting sands, and the shore is destitute of harbours, which must be entirely the work of art. The country, besides, has no fresh water, and, to supply the inhabitants, it must be brought from the Nile. The place on the west coast of the gulf of Suez, where the children of Israel are supposed to have entered it, is called Badea, about six miles to the north of Cape Korondel, on the other side of the gulf, as is stated in a letter from the ingenious Edward Wortley Montague, F. R. S., to Dr. Watson, containing an account of his journey from Cairo to the Written mountains in the desert of Sinai. Opposite to Badea is a strong current, which sets to the opposite shore, about southeast, with a whirlpool called Birque Pharoane, the well or pool of Pharoah, being the place where his host is said to have been destroyed. We are told, by the same gentleman, that the Egyptian shore, from Suez to Badea, is so rocky and steep, that there was no entering upon the gulf but at one of these two places. THE WESTERN "BARRENS." press-trees, and in several counties clumps of yel On the Calumet, near th BARRENS are a species of country of a mixed char-low-pine and cedar. south end of lake Michigan, is a forest of smal acter, uniting forest and prairie. They are cov- trees. The underwood growth consists principal ered with scattered oaks, rough and stunted in their The black-lo appearance, interspersed with patches of hazel, ly of redbud, pawpaw, sumach, plum, crab-apple, brushwood, and tough grass. They appear to be the grape-vines, dogwood, spicebush, green brier, hazel, result of the contest which the fire is periodically their growth, and are frequently found of a stupen&c. The trees in this state are very luxuriant in continuing with the timber. The appearance of this description of country led the early settlers of the dous size, particularly the cotton-wood and sycamore state to suppose that the scantiness of the timber on the alluvial soil of the rivers. was owing to the poverty of the soil; and hence the cust, a native of Ohio and Kentucky, may be cultitle, thus ignorantly given, and calculated to convey tivated from the seed, with less labour than a nurerroneous notions to our Eastern farmers, became of sery of apple-trees. Of rapid growth and affording universal application to this extensive tract of counvaluable and durable timber, it strongly commends try. It is ascertained, however, that these barrens itself to the attention of our farmers. It forms one of embrace as productive a soil as can be found in the the cleanliest, most beautiful, and pleasant shades; state-healthy, more rolling than the prairies, and when in the spring-time of its blossom, it presents abounding with that important requisite to desirable a rich and attractive appearance, and sends into farms, good springs. The fire visits these barrens the surrounding atmosphere a delicious fragrance. in the fall, but, owing to the insufficiency of the fuel, And here we might properly call the attention of is not able to destroy, entirely, the timber. The our farmers and agriculturists generally, to the subfarmer may settle, without hesitation or fear, in any ject of nurseries of fruit and ornamental trees. part of this species of land, where he can find timber With a soil remarkably adapted to their cultivation, sufficient for his present purposes and wants; for and a country rapidly increasing in wealth, and the the soil is supposed to be better adapted to all the in- consequent conveniences and luxuries of life, the terests of agriculture and the vicissitudes of the seaenterprising arborist would receive the most grateful sons than the deeper and richer mould, of bottom encouragement and profit for his labours; increase, and prairie land. Where the fire is prevented from in this new and rapidly advancing state, the sources its ravages, (as it easily can be by the occupant of of beauty and pleasure, and enjoy the gratification of the soil,) heavy timber springs up with a rapidity witnessing, in many a decorated yard and blushing which would be incredible to the northern emi- orchard, the rich and blooming monuments of his in grant. High insulated bluffs, of a conical form, and dustry and taste. Nothing contributes so much to the exhibiting the appearance of connected ridges, rise beauty and attractions of the village-yard or cultivaup from the bottoms, along the rivers which meander ted farm, as well-selected ornamental trees in the and fertilize them: they are from one to three hun-one, and the extensive orchards of the finest fruitdred feet in height. Knobs of land, stony and often rocky at their summits, are found along the rivers in some sections of the state, separated by deep ravines. The prairies are often intersected by ravines leading down to the streams. Deep sink-holes, which serve to drain off the waters, are found in some parts, and prove that the substance is secondary limestone, abounding in subterraneous cavities. Very little that is denominated in the Eastern states stony ground is found in this state. There are quarries of stones in the bluffs, in the banks of the streams, and in the ravines. In the vicinity of Juliet, and many other promising villages, an abundance of stone can be procured, admirably adapted to the purposes of building; uniting durability with great beauty and warmth. Timber, were it equally distributed in this state, would be adequate to the necessities of the settlers. Its apparent scarcity, where the Iron Mountain in Missouri.-Mr. Featherstonhaugh, prairie prevails, is now considered not to be so great the geologist appointed by government, reports the an obstacle to settlement as has been generally im- discovery of a vein of iron on the United States' agined. Substitutes have been found for many of lands in Missouri, about one hundred and fifty feet the purposes to which timber is generally applied; above the .surface of the adjacent plain. At the surand the rapidity with which prairie, under the hand face, it had the appearance of being roughly paved of care and cultivation, becomes converted into for- with black pebbles of iron, from one to twenty ests of timber, affords a sure guarantee for the future. pounds' weight; beneath the surface it appeared to The kinds of timber most abundant in the state be a solid mass. He remarks:-"Unusual as is are oaks of the various species, black and white the magnitude of the superficial cubick contents of walnut, ash of the several varieties, elm, sugar-maple, this vein, yet it must be insignificant to the subterra honey-locust, hackberry, linden, hickory, cotton-neous quantity. This extraordinary phenomenon filled wood, pecan, mulberry, buckeye, sycamore, cherry, me with admiration. Here was a single locality of box, elder, sassafras, and persimon. In the south-iron offering all the resources of Sweden, and of ern and eastern parts of the state, yellow-poplar which it was impossible to estimate the value by any and beech may be found. Near the Ohio are cy-other terms than those adequate to all a nation's wants." trees in the other. Art, with all its power to charm, American Vine.-The expedition to the Rocky mountains found on the borders of the Arkansas near the eastern side of the great desert, hundreds of acres of the same kind of vine which produce the wines of Europe. The vines were growing in a wild state and were surrounded with hillocks of sand, rising to within 12 or 18 inches of the end of the branches. They were loaded with the most delicious grapes, and the clusters were so closely arranged as to conceal every part of the stem. These hillocks of sand are produced by the agency of the vines, arresting the sand as it is borne along by the wind. [For the Family Magazine.] LITERARY REVIEW. tial materials for Pennsylvania, and Gordon in particular is valuable for much recent information. Maryland presents us with Bozman; and very re The History and Topography of the United States of North America, from the earliest period to the present time: edited by JOHN HOWARD HINTON, A. M. A new and improved edi-cently we are informed that many documents of tion, with additions and corrections, by SAMUEL L. KNAPP. singular value, having regard to the early history of Illustrated with numerous engravings. 2 vols., 4to. Boston, this state, have been discovered. North Carolina S. Walker. possesses the history of Williamson, and the recent production of Jones. Kentucky has been partly illustrated by Drake; South Carolina by Drayton; Georgia by M'Call; Virginia by Steth, Smith and Burk, Louisiana by Martin; while, on the subject of the West and the Valley of the Mississippi, the works of Flint may be regarded as excellent authority. THE European edition of Hinton's work on the United States has been some three years before the publick; the present revised and augmented copy has but recently appeared. The American publisher could scarcely have selected a more valuable and opportune book for the American people, enriched as the edition now before us is with a large body of Of a different order, and of vast value, is Doctor new and interesting materials, the results of ample Holmes' "American Annals." Other books of the study and observation on the part of the excellent same character, and equally valuable, might be noeditor. When we state that the historical depart-ticed. Besides which, historical societies are springment is brought down to the time of the administra-ing up in several of the states: that of Massachution of President Jackson, and that the topographical setts, the parent, has discharged her duty by the and other matters, now first imbodied, have been publication of some twenty-four volumes, enriched derived from the latest authors on the natural history with durable materials, and is still marching onward and statisticks of our country, and that, in respect to in her praiseworthy efforts; the society of New quantity, the American edition contains nearly double York, besides the publication of Smith's entire histhe amount of information embraced in the original tory, has printed three volumes of collections; the of Mr. Hinton, while the original text remains unal- Rhode Island Historical Society, a new organization, tered, we discharge but a duty imposed on us in has just favoured the publick with her third volume assuming the office of criticism. of collections, to the no small gratification of the disciples of Roger Williams; the Pennsylvania Historical Society has also been not unmindful of its important trust. Still more recently, we have become acquainted with the formation of an historical society in the district of Columbia; while the historical societies of Virginia, and some others of the southern states, possess many invaluable documents. We are therefore in a fair way for providing for the future wants of the American historian, in the best possible manner that can be devised. The better to appreciate the services rendered to Mr. Hinton's popular work by the labours of the American editor, we must take a hasty glance at the materials which he had at command, as well as consider those of his own more immediate elaboration. Fortunately many of the individual states already justly boast of their respective historians; and though some of these are by no means entitled to a high consideration, they nevertheless have so far been available as to secure for better preservation interesting documents and acknowledged facts of peculiar value. Maine has already three writers who have appropriated some talent and research towards her history, and Sullivan's work may be fairly ranked among the foremost of them. Dr. Belknap's New Hampshire is indubitable authority on that state. We have Hutchinson and Minot on Massachusetts; Vermont boasts the valuable efforts of Williams; Connecticut acknowledges her obligations to Trumbull; while the historian of New York, the late Chief-Justice Smith, by his long-published history, with its continuation, still more recently printed, and which brings down the history of the state to the administration of Lieutenant-Governour Colden in 1762, is admitted to be the only standard of historical facts yet set forth concerning this potent and important section of the American confederacy.* Besides Smith's work, long well known, New York has been essentially aided by Colden's "History of the Five Nations," and by Moulton's antiquarian researches. New Jersey may boast of Smith and Gordon. Proud and Gordon have given us substan * The Historical Society of New York, by having rescued this continuation of Smith's history from oblivion, have performed a service which entitles them to the kindest consideration of all who desire the national history of the American people to possess its true value. There can be no doubt of the authenticity of this volume. It was favoured the society by the surviving brother of the historian, Justice Smith, of Canada; and the committee under whose direction it has been brought to light, (Dr. John W. Francis, John Delafield, and Dr. David Hosack were selected for that purpose,) we have every reason to believe faithfully discharged their trust. VOL. I.-59 We have thus purposely confined ourselves to a hasty notice of the prominent historical materials now pretty generally diffused and of easy access. Our physical history is also awakening a corresponding degree of attention; and a formidable list of names might be here inserted in demonstration of the gratifying truth, that some of the best minds of the country are appropriated to the exposition of our natural and inherent resources as a nation. But it is time to turn to the volumes before us. Colonel Knapp does not pretend to examine, in extenso, this enlarged field of research: his prescribed limits forbid such an undertaking. He has, it would appear, done all that could be practicable with such materials and for such a work as that now before us. "In order the better to dispose of my materials," says he, "I have looked with a becoming regard to the statisticks and other information which the author has given of the several states, and under different heads. But few portions of his account of the country have been examined without some additions or amendments; and if a disproportion present itself, concerning the manner in which some parts have been augmented, I muɛt plead, that sometimes my materials led me to the measure, and that I felt that special subjects required the revision and enlargement that I have thus bestowed. Moreover, Mr. Hinton himself has not always been governed by the relative value of his subjects, and different observers are supposed to look even on the same object with different eyes. I have also had several |