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is situated almost centrally between Africa and Sicily, in the Mediterranean sea, being about twelve miles in breadth, and twenty-one in length.

It is little more than a rock, almost bare, consisting of a white calcareous kind of stone, of a loose texture, which does not absolutely repel cultivation. No vestige of a volcano is to be found on Malta, nor even any vitrifiable substances; excepting tale, gypse, and clay, every thing is calcareous; and the clay, which is thinly scattered, is mixed with calcareous matter.

GEOGRAPHICAL.

KINGDOM OF ASHANTEE IN
AFRICA.

windows is made of gold, and the architecture is so perfect, that it might be technically described. We were permitted to enter soon after two o'clock, and the king received us with the most encouraging courtesy, and the most flattering distinction; we paid our respects in pairs, passing along a surprising extent of line to the principal Caboceers, many from remote, and some from Moorish territories, all of them encircled by retinues, astonishing to us from their number, order, and decorations. We were then requested to remove to a distant tree to receive their salutes, which procession, though simply transient, continued until past eight o'clock; it was indescribably imposing from its variety, magnificence, and etiquette. When the presents were displayed, nothing could surpass the surprise of the king, but the warm, yet dignified avowal of his obligation. "Englishmen," said he, (admiring the workmanship of the articles,) "know how to do every thing proper," turning to his favourite with a smile auspicious to our interests. On Wednesday morning the king's mother and sisters, and one of the Caboceers of the largest Ashantee towns on the frontier, paid us a visit of ceremony; their manners were courteous and dignified, and they were handed and attended with a surprising politeness by the captains in waiting.

We are much mistaken if the shortest and best road for Europeans, to Tombuctoo, will not be found to be that from Cummazee, the capital of the Ashantees. It is somewhat remarkable that we should just now, for the first time in the course of two hundred years, learn any thing of this rich and populous nation, whose capital is situated not a hundred and fifty miles from the British factory.In the course of last year a mission from the governor of Cape Coast Castle, was sent to Zey Tooloo Quamina, king of Ashantee, consisting of Mr. Bowdich, Mr. Hutchison, and Mr. Tedlie. For some time after their arrival in the capital, they were kept in close confinement, owing to the jealousy instilled into the king's mind by some Moorish merchants. Their good conduct, however, enabled them to overcome all difficulties, and the king was so well satisfied of the sincerity of their views and declarations, that he concluded a treaty with them, and consented to send his children to be educated at Cape Coast Castle.-carved and golden pelicans, panthers, The following extract of a letter from Mr. Bowdich will amuse our readers: 'The place itself is most magnificent, the frame work of some of the

To-day we were conducted to a large yard, where the king, encircled by a varied profusion of insignia, more sumptuous than what we had seen before, sat at the end of a long file of counsellors, Caboceers, and captains. They were seated under their umbrellas of scarlet, or yellow cloth, of silk shawls, cottons of every glaring variety, and decorated with

baboons, barrels, and crescents, &c.
on the top; their shape generally that
of a dome.
Distinct and pompous
retinues were placed around with gold

canes, spangled elephants' tails, to || of the deepest verdure. The houses

keep off the flies, gold-headed swords, embossed muskets, and many other splendid novelties too numerous to mention. Each chief had the dignity of his own province to his right and left; it was truly "concilium in concilio." We have observed. only one horse, which is kept by the chief captain for state, the people riding on bullocks. At the request of the king I mounted this rare animal, first with a Moorish saddle, but it was inconvenient, and the king having heard Englishmen could ride with a cloth only, begged me to display my horsemanship, which I did for his amuse

ment.

'The manners and deportment of the king are dignified in the extreme, and his sentiments would do credit to the most civilized monarch; he is highly delighted with the medicines, and has begged for a great quantity, trying to learn by heart the doses and uses of each. The surgical instru

ments also attracted his close attention, and when Mr. Tedlie showed him a piece of bone which he had taken from an Indian blackman's head, who survived the operation, his wonder could only be equalled by his admiration. When I displayed my telescope and cameraobscura, the king exclaimed, "white man next to God: black man know nothing."

The king, it seems, keeps his harem at a little distance from the capital, and once took the gentlemen of the mission on a visit to it. The ladies live in the midst of a park, in small houses adjoining one another, and are allowed to walk about within the enclosure, but not to pass the gates, which are guarded by slaves. number of these ladies, kept like pheasants in a preserve, was said to amount to three hundred and thirtythree.

The

The capital of Ashantee is supposed to contain about forty thousand inhabitants. It lies in a vale, and is surrounded with one unbroken mass

are low and small, of a square or oblong form, and composed of canes wattled together, and smoothly plastered over with a mixture of clay and sand called swish, which is also used to form their floors. The roofs are thatched with long grass. A piece of cloth passed round the loins, and extending to the knee, is the general dress of the natives. The richer class have a larger and finer piece, which they sometimes throw over the shoulders. They wear a great number of gold ornaments, rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, &c. and gold fetiches of every form.

While the gentlemen of the mission remained at Cummazee, a near relation of the king shot himself; among other ceremonies observed at his fuueral, a slave was put to death by torture; and it was understood that human sacrifices were always a part of the funeral rites of all persons of consequence in the state. It is also said that suicide is very common among them.

Mr. Bowdich has been indefatigable in his endeavours to procure information respecting Ashantee, and the countries beyond it. From one

The

of the travelling Moors, he obtained, he says, a route-book, at the expense of his own wardrobe and the doctor's medicines; but the fellow told him "he had sold him his eye." route from Cummazee to Tombuctoo, it appears, is much travelled; in the way thither, the next adjoining territory is that of Dwabin, with the king of which, Bowdich also concluded a treaty. Bordering on this is a large lake of brackish water, several miles in extent, and surrounded by numerous and populous towns; and beyond the lake is the country of Buntookoo, with the king of which, the king of Ashantee was unfortunately at He obtained also the exact situation of the gold pits in Ashantee, and the neighbouring kingdoms, from which it appears that the name of the

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"Gold Coast" has not been inaptly given to this part of Africa.

Mr. Bowdich learned from some of the Moorish merchants, who had formerly been at Haoussa, that, during their residence there, a white man was seen going down the Niger, near that capital, in a large canoe, in which all the rest were blacks. This circumstance being reported to the king, he immediately dispatched some of his people to advise him to return, and to inform him that, if he ventured to proceed much farther, he would be destroyed by the cataracts of the river, the white man, however, persisted in his voyage, mistaking apparently the good intentions of those sent by the king to warn him of his danger. A large party was then dispatched, with orders to seize and bring him to Haoussa, which they effected after some opposition; here he was detained by the king for the space of two years, at the end of which he took a fever and died. These Moors declared that they had themselves seen this white man at Haoussa. unquestionably a more probable account of the fate of Park than that which was given by Isaaco, on the supposed authority of Amadou Fatima; and, as "Moors do not destroy papers," it is just possible, that by offering a considerable sum of money, those of this unfortunate traveller may be recovered through the channel of some of the Moors of Cummazee. Anc. Mag.

This is

From Hodges's Travels in India. CALCUTTA

are the villas of the opulent inhabitants of Calcutta. After gaining another reach of the river, the whole of Calcutta bursts at once upon the eye. This capital of the British possessions in the east, is defended by a considerable fortress on the south side of the river, superior in strength and correctness of design to any one in India.

The city of Calcutta extends about four miles and a half along the banks of the river: the breadth in many parts, is inconsiderable. The streets are broad, and the line of buildings surrounding two sides of the esplanade of the fort, is magnificent: their being detached from each other, and insulated, renders them additionally superb. The buildings are all on a large scale, that a free circulation of air may be admitted; a very necessary consideration in a climate the heat of which is extreme. Our author very emphatically says, "every house may be considered as a temple dedicated to hospitality."

AGRICULTURAL.

VALUABLE BEANS.

The following article is copied from a Carolina paper, where it appears these beans have been successfully cultivated for several years. Whether they have been introduced into the northern states we are uninformed, and should be thankful for any information on the subject, from our agricultural friends.

EARLY COMFORT BUSH BEANS.

These excellent beans are of an oval shape, and of moderate size; of a colour chiefly white, tinged with a lively red, especially about the eye. The culture of them originated, after various experiments, in cool-comfort garden, near Charleston, and it was there successfully continued for some years, and their product widely disseminated. They have now taken the name of ear

The appearance of the country was rather unfavourable at the entrance of the Ganges; a few bushes at the water's edge, barely marking the distinction between sky and water. As the ship approaches Calcutta the river becomes narrower. A spot denominated Garden Reach, presents a view of handsome buildings, on a flat, surrounded by gardens: these structuresly comfort beans, to distinguish them

from all other sorts, both native and imported, over which it is presumed from long experience, that they may fairly claim a decided superiority. They were originally called the stringless beans, because the young ones, when gathered in due time, do not require stringing. When boiled they are peculiarly tender and well tasted, and may be justly ranked with the first order of esculents. They will resist the summer's heat; and, if planted in due proportions, and at proper intervals, will afford ample supply for the table, (in ordinary seasons) five or six months in the year, and at a time too, when there may be a general deficiency of other vegetables.

But, exclusive of their excellence for culinary purposes, these valuable beans possess another latent intrinsic property, which, when generally known, cannot fail to insure a ready introduction of them to numerous families, who wish to augment their domestic comfort. Strange as it may seem, this property consists in their astonishing efficacy in destroying those very loathsome insects called chintz, or bed-bugs!

detestable purloiners of your comfort. Probatumest.

EAST-INDIA SQUASH.

The following account of the EastIndia squash, says the Georgetown, (Kentucky) Wasp, taken from the

notes of an officer attached to the Yellow Stone expedition, was furnished us by a friend for publication.

East-India Star Squash.

Camp, Council Bluffs, Oct. 10, 1820. In the year 1719, captain Bliss, of the United States army, brought three seeds to this place, which he procured from his brother, who brought them from the East-Indies to New-York. They were planted by lieutenant Shannon, in the spring of 1820. Two of the seeds were planted in a bottom, which were destroyed by the inundation; one was fortunately planted on an elevated spot of ground, and flourished; it spread over half an acre of ground, and would have spread much further, but was prevented by lopping the extremities of the vine. It produced forty-two squashes. The general size of them were twenty inches in length, and four feet nine inches in circumference..

FOUNDERED HORSES.

A letter from Salem, North Carolina, contains a valuable cure for foundered horses.

A traveller, Abraham Steiner, by feeding on raw corn, only at night, and giving too plentifully of water in the morning, so foundered his horse, that before ten o'clolck he was unable to move a limb. By the advice of a

In a season when there is no prospect of an approaching frost, let a quantity of these beans be planted; when they are well advanced in their growth, so that the leaves be properly expanded, let a requisite number of the plants be taken green and fresh, but not wet, in the evening, and placed thickly about the bed and bedding, or in those parts of the bed-room where the bugs are most numerous; this done, you may expect to obtain a comfortable night's repose, free from the annoyance of those troublesome intruders, however great it might hith-stranger who met him, he made a erto have been; for in the morning you will find most of them adhering to the leaves and stalks of the plants, here they will continue in a torpid motionless state, without the ability of escaping. Let the plants be replaced with fresh ones a few times, and you will be no longer infested with these

decoction of the sassafras root, and drenched his horse with it six or seven times, at intervals of about an hour, using a black bottle full at a time, with a handful of common salt in it. At four o'clock the horse walked a short distance to a wheat field, and ate of the green wheat; at night he was put

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SALT FOR CATTLE.

Lord Somerville attributes the health | of his flock of 203 Merino sheep, which he purchased in Spain, principally to the use which he has made of salt for the last seven years on his farm. These sheep having been accustomed to the use of salt in their native land, his lordship considered, that in this damp climate, and in the rich land of Somersetshire, it would be absolutely necessary to supply them with it regularly. A ton of salt is used annually for every 1000 sheep; a handful is put in the morning, on a flat stone or slate, ten of which set a few yards apart, are enough for 100 sheep. Twice a week has been usually found sufficient. Of a flock of near 1000, there were not ten old sheep which did not take kindly to it, and not a single lamb which did not consume it greedily. Salt is likewise a preventive of disorders in stock fed

with rank green food, as clover or turnips, and it is deemed a specific for

the rot.

FOR RAISING CABBAGES. Take from the stumps of old cabbages, which you generally set out early in the spring, the most prominent shoots, after they have sufficiently expanded themselves, and set them out in the same mode you do your plants, and they will immediately take root, and afford you a very early and luxuriant cabbage. Those who have tried this method affirm, that they are much earlier, and by far superior to any that can be produced from the plants. They must be broken from the stumps and not cut off, as the small fibres greatly facilitate their taking root.

POETICAL.

FOR THE MASONIC REGISTER.
TO SPRING.
Auspicious Spring, thy blest return
With heartfelt joy we hail!
Oh swiftly burst thy icy urn,

And smile across the vale.

The blasts of winter linger still,

Unwilling to retreat;

And slowly creeps the murm'ring rill
Beneath his icy feet.

Yet often in the noontide ray,

We see thy glittering train,
Whilst Winter yields the well-fought day,
And scarce prolongs his reign.

Soft on the ground his snow-white shield,
In scatter'd fragments lie;
And once again the verdant field
Meets the delighted eye.

The sails of commerce too shall feel
The health-inspiring wind;
And bus'ness onward rolls his wheel,
Unfetter'd, unconfin'd.

Though winter should forsake our plain,
Will this the printer cheer?
Each dun will bring it back again,
And bear it round the year.
Fair promises in vain exist,

They are but frozen trash:
But where's the ice that can resist
The golden rays of CASH.

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