Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

of the Russian count!-the officer answering to his own question, "No, I trust not."

The mistaken idea of the illiberality of the Japanese in religious matters, seems to have been fully proved; and the late mission experienced the reverse in a degree hardly credible, and little expected by themselves from the representations previously made to them. The story of the annual test of trampling on the crucifix, at Nanggasaki and the other important cities, is a story derided by the Japanese priesthood. On visiting the great temple on the hills of Nanggasaki, the English commissioner was received with marked regard and respect by the venerable patriarch of the northern provinces, eighty years of age, who entertained him most sumptuously. On showing him round the courts of the temple, one of the English officers present heedlessly exclaimed in surprize, Jasus Christus! The patriarch, turning half round, with a placid smile, bowed significantly expressive of "We know you are Jasus Christus; well, don't obtrude him upon us in our temples and we remain friends;" and so, with a hearty shake of the hands, these two opposites parted. This leavetaking reminded Dr. Ainslie very forcibly of the story Dr. Moore tells so well of the Duke of Hamilton and himself, taking leave of the Pope. The Pope, who had conceived a regard for the young Duke, on the latter making his congé said, "I know you laugh at the benediction of a Pope; but the blessing of an old man can do you no harm ;" and, so saying, laid his hand on his head, and blessed him.

The massacre of Samebarra is by the Japanese attributed to European intrigue; and even Kæmpfer notices that the European ships of war formed the practical breach, through which the Japanese entered, and perpetrated that massacre, to which it would appear they had been originally prompted by others.

That the negociations from England on a former occasion should not have been more successful than the late attempt from Russia, may easily be accounted for, when we reflect on the possibility of the favoured factor having said to them," Forty years ago your throne has been all but overturned by the intrigue of these heretics; this embassy comes from the king who has married the daughter of the head Asiatic Journ.-No. V.

Such

of that caste; and from whom you can
expect nothing less than an irruption still
more fatal to your tranquillity."
an argument, pushed by a narrow-minded
and interested factor, could not but carry
weight with the Japanese, accustomed to
respect and to place all confidence in their
western visitors.

They are not averse to the indulgence of social excess; and, on these occasions, give a latitude to their speech which one would hardly suppose they dared to do in Japan.

It is an extraordinary fact, that for seven years past, since the visit of Captain Pellew, notwithstanding the determination of the empire not to enter into foreign commerce, the English language has, in obedience to an edict of the Emperor, been cultivated with considerable success by the younger members of the College of Interpreters, who indeed were found eager in their inquiries after English books.

While the commissioner was at Nanggasaki, there arrived a large detachment of officers of rank, who had been out nearly four years and not yet completed one-fourth of a survey on which they were engaged. These officers were attended by a numerous and splendid retinue, and were employed in making an actual survey of every foot of the empire and the dependent isles. The survey appeared to be conducted on a scientific principle, to be most minute and accurate in its execution and to have for its object, the completion of a regular geographical and statistical description of the country.

In a word, the opinion of Dr. Ainslie is, that the Japanese are a people with whom the European world might hold intercourse without compromise of character. For the Japanese themselves, they are wonderfully inquisitive in all points of science, and possess a mind curious and anxious to receive information, without inquiring from what quarter it

[blocks in formation]

For the Asiatic Journal.

AN EXCURSION TO ADAM'S PEAK IN THE ISLAND OF

CEYLON.

ÖN the morning of the 26th of April, 1815, Lieutenant Malcolm, who commands a detachment of the 1st Ceylonian Saffragam, set out with a party of one serjeant and four Malay soldiers from Batugedera, to ascend the mountain called Adam's Peak.

Lieutenant Malcolm had been detained some days in expectation of guides, whom Dolip Nelemy, the headman of Batugedera, had engaged to procure; but after frequent disappointments, he resolved to wait no longer, and to take his charge of obtaining guides at Gillemelle on the way. All unnecessary incumbrances were avoided, and the whole baggage consisted of provisions for three days, some blankets, a measuring chain, and a quadrant. The road followed the windings of the Cultura River, which, at the distance of two miles from Batugedera, receives the Mugelle, two chains in breadth at the confluence. On the left banks are the ruins of a fort erected last war to command the fort. From the Mugelle to the Rest House of Gillemelle, is 34 English miles. Two guides were procured after some delay at Gillemelle, and the party leaving the Rest House, crossed immediately the Malwellow half a mile further, another river called the Mashelle. From the banks of the latter, the road entered into a forest of noble trees, straight as pines, and from fifty to seventy feet in height. About four in the afternoon Lieutenant Malcolm arrived at Talabula, ten miles and eighteen chains from Batugedera. Here there is a temple and a Rest House for the accommodation of pilgrims on their way to Adam's Peak: about two hundred of both sexes and of all sorts and conditions were assembled at this place, some on the road to the mountains, and some on their return from it. The dance was continued to the sound of tom-toms and Cingalese songs without intermission, until the pilgrims who were going to mount the hill, began to prepare their lights. About eight o'clock they set out in different groups.

[ocr errors]

The Head-Priest endeavoured to dissuade Lieutenant Malcolm from proceed

ing any further; assuring him that no white man ever did or ever could ascend the mountain. This superstitious remonstrance was disregarded, and as soon as the priest had got ready their lights, the party set off about eleven o'clock at night. After passing three small forts erected this war, to repel the king of Candy's troops, they began to ascend the first mountain, and reached the top in four hours. From the next hill the Cultra River descends, and upon the rocks close to that stream the party breakfasted at five o'clock. When their breakfast was over they continued their way up the second hill, Adam's Peak still towering far above their heads. After surmounting two other distinct ascents equally steep but of less height, they came to the foot of the Peak itself. The face of the hill here seemed to be quite perpendicular, and the pilgrims who had left Talabula before them, were seen at a great height climbing up the precipice by means of the iron chains which are for that pur pose fixed in the rock. Lieutenant Malcolm and his people stopped a few minutes to take breath, and after a considerable exertion they got safe to the top between eight and nine in the morning of the 27th of April.

The view from this great elevation was for a short time most beautifully magnificent, and well rewarded all the labours of ascent. On one side there appeared as far as the eye could reach, a vast extent of wooded hills like an ocean of forest whose waves had suddenly been fixed in one unalterable position; on the others the tops only of the hills rising above the fogs, resembled a number of well wooded islands, scattered over the sea that filled all the space below. Batugedera was seen on one side under the feet, and on the other in the distance, the Candian mountains interspersed with clouds. This noble prospect was but of short duration, for suddenly a thick fog arose from the bottom of the mountain and drew a curtain over all the sublimity of the scene. The top of the Peak is contracted to a small compass, it is seventy

two feet long and fifty-four broad, and a parapet wall five feet high closes it all round. On the east side a part of this wall has fallen, and some of the remainder is much out of repair. In the middle of this area is a large rock of iron stone, upon which is the mark of Adam's left foot, though some help of imagination is required to trace it out. This sacred footstep is covered over with a small wooden building twelve feet long, uine broad, and four and a half high to the tiles, and is besides immediately enclosed by a frame of copper fitted to its shape, and ornamented with four rows of precious stones.

The party was not provided with a British flag, but fired three vollies to the great astonishment of the Budhists, for it is probable this was the first armed party that ever had ascended the Peak. The Priest warned them of approaching rain, and they made the best of their way down

the mountain, which they found more laborious to descend than it had been to climb. The rain which soon began to pour down increased the difficulties of the road, but they reached Palabula in safety about four in the afternoon, and next morning returned to their quarters at Batugedera.

The road from Palabula is a continued ascent over rocks and fragments of iron stones. Sound lungs and hard feet are requisite to perform the journey, for it is often necessary to climb barefoot over the iron stone. Palanquins are quite out of the question. In heavy rains there may be some risk, but in fair weather the mountain may be ascended with little difficulty and without any danger. The summit of the Peak was only clear about a quarter of an hour, which did not allow time enough for taking any bearings.

For the Asiatic Journal.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE NUPTIALS OF VAZEER ALLEE,

Extracted from a private Letter.

LUCNOW, FEB. 28, 1795.-I shall give you an account of the celebration of an eastern Nawab's marriage, to which I was lately invited. It was the nuptials of Vazeer Allee, the eldest son, real or pretended, of Nawab Asuf ud Dowlah, the present Nawab of Oude, whose capital is Lucnow; I say' real or pretended, as public rumour confidently asserts, that the Nawab is incapable of having children, though his seraglio contains above 500 of the greatest beauties of India. All his children are by adoption, and they amount to about 60 in number, 32 sons and 28 daughters. Pregnant women are purchased or beguiled into the seraglio, where they lay in; if a son, a royal salute is fired, which proclaims the birth of a young Nawab; if a daughter, the public knows nothing; as women are in this country considered merely as a piece of necessary furniture, to ornament the Haram; and the birth of a daughter occasions no joy to the father. Judging from his own conduct, he foresees the

treatment his child will experience when she is consigned to the animal love of another; that they will be merely slaves in purple and fine linen; loaded with jewels to please the eyes of their tyrants, and never allowed to step beyond the precincts of the Zanana, except on occasional visits to some female friend; nor ever suffered to behold the face of any man besides their masters, (for they cannot be called husbands without outrage to the term,) except through the latticed windows of their high walled prisons, called Zananas. The bridegroom was about thirteen, dark complexioned, and not handsome; the bride about ten, still darker, and still more ordinary. We went in the evening to the celebration; our party consisted of about four ladies and twelve gentlemen; we went all on elephants caparisoned. On the plains which border on the city of Lucnow, the Nawab had pitched many tents, but two large ones in particular, made of strong cotton cloth, lined with the finest English broad cloth,

cut in stripes of different colours, with cords of silk and cotton. These two large tents cost five lacks of rupees, or above 50,0007. sterling; they were each about 120 feet long, 60 broad, and the poles about 60 feet high, and the walls of the tents about 10 feet high; the walls of one of the tents were cut in lattice work, for the women of the Nawab's seraglio, and the principal native nobility, to see through. In front of the large tent destined for our reception, and for the reception of the principal nobility at the Nawab's court, was a large awning of fine English broad cloth, called in this country a shumecana, supported on about 60 poles covered with silver; this awning, or shumeeana, was about 100 feet long, and the same in breadth. When we arrived, the good humoured Nawab received us very politely, and conducted us to one of the large tents destined for the men, where we sat for about an hour; he was covered with jewels, to the amount of at least two millions sterling; we then went out, and sat under the shumeeana, which was lighted up with a couple of hundred elegant Europe girandoles, and as many shades with wax candles, and many hundred flambeaux; the glare and reflection was dazzling and offensive to the sight; here were above a hundred dancing girls, richly dressed, who went through their elegant but rather lascivious dances and motions, and sung some soft airs of the country, chiefly Persic and Hindû Persic. About seven at night the bridegroom Vazeer Allee, the young Nawab, appeared loaded so absurdly with jewels, that he could scarcely stagger under the precious weight. We then mounted our elephants to proceed to a rich and extensive garden, which was about a mile off; the procession was grand beyond conception. It consisted of above 1200 elephants richly caparisoned, and drawn up in a regular line like a regiment of soldiers; about 100 of the elephants which were in the centre had castles, called how das, lashed on their backs, which were covered with silver. In the centre was the Nawab mounted on an uncommonly large elephant, covered with cloth of gold, and a rich howda covered with gold, and studded with precious stones. On his right hand was the British resident at his court, Mr. George Johnstone, and on his left the young Nawab Vazeer

[ocr errors]

Allee; the other English gentlemen and ladies, and the native nobility, were intermixed on the right and left. On both sides of the road, from the garden to the tents, were raised artificial sceneries of bamboo work very high, representing bastions, arches, minaret, and towers, covered with lights in lamps, which made a grand and sublime display: and on each side of the procession, in front of the line of elephants, were dancing girls richly dressed (carried on platforms, supported by men called bearers) who danced as we went along. All these platforms were covered with gold and silver cloths; and there were two girls and two musicians on each platform; the number of these platforms were about a hundred on each side of the procession. All the ground from the tents to the garden, over which we moved along, was inlaid with fireworks, and at every step the elephants took, the ground burst before us, and threw up artificial stars in the heavens, to emulate those created by the hand of Providence; besides innumerable rockets and hundreds of wooden shells, that burst in the air and shot forth a thousand fiery serpents, which winded through the heavens, illuminated the sky, and turned a dark night into a bright day, assisted by the light of the bamboo scenery. The procession moved on very slowly to give time for the fireworks, which were inlaid in the ground to go off, and the whole of this grand scene was further lighted by above 3000 flambeaux, carried by men hired for the occasion. In this manner we moved on in stately pomp to the garden, which though only a me off, we took two hours to reach. When we arrived at the garden-gate we descended from the elephants, and entered the garden, which we found illuminated by innumerable transparent paper lamps or lanterns of various colours, suspended to the branches of the trees. In the centre of the garden was a large edifice, to which we ascended, and were introduced into a grand saloon, adorned with innumerable girandoles and pendant lustres of English manufacture, lighted with wax candles. Here we had an elegant and sumptuous collation of European and native dishes, with wines, fruits, and sweetmeats; at the same time above a hundred dancing girls sung their sprightly airs, and danced

their native dances. Thus passed the time till the dawn, when we all returned to our respective homes, quite delighted and wonder-struck with this enchanting scene, which surpassed in splendour every sight of the kind beheld in this country; the affable Nawab rightly observed, with

Asiatic vanity, that such a spectacle was never before seen in India, and never would be seen again. The whole expence of this marriage feast, which was repeated for three successive nights in the same manner I have described, cost above 300,0007.-Yours, &c.

For the Asiatic Journal.

ON THE PERSONS OF THE HINDOOS.*

THE Colour of the Indians is generally either that of copper or of the olive, but both with various shades. It is not absolutely the proximity of the inhabitant to the equator, that determines his complexion in India; other physical causes, from differences which arise as by starts in regions equally distant from the sun, and it is in their complexion that less national generality is found, than in any other of the properties of their figure: some are almost black; but these are either inhabitants of the woods, or people inured to labour and fatigues uncommon to the rest of their countrymen.

The hair of the Indians is without exception long, fine, and of a jet black. The nose, if not always aquiline, is never buried in the face, nor with large distorted nostrils, as in the Coffrees of Africa, and in the Malay nations. Their lips, though in general larger than in Europeans, have nothing of that disagreeable protuberancy projecting beyond the nose, which characterises the two people just mentioned. The eyebrows are full in the men, slender in the women, well-placed in both. The eyelid is of the finest form,-long, neither opening circularly, as in many of the inhabitants of France, nor scarce opening at all, as in the Chinese. The iris is always black, but rarely with lustre, excepting in their children, and in some of their women: nor is the white of the eye perfectly clear from a tinge of yellow; their countenance therefore receives little animation, but rather a certain air of languor, from this feature. From the nostrils to the middle of the upper lip they have an indenture, strongly marked by two ridges, seldom observable in the northern Europeans, but often in the Spa

* From Orme's Historical Fragments.

:

niard and Portuguese; and from the middle of the under lip there is another such indenture, which loses itself a little above the chin these lines, chiefly remarked in persons of their habits, give an air of sagacity to the men, and of delicacy to the physiognomy of the women. The outline of the face is various, oftener oval than of any other form, particularly in the women; and this variety of outline is another of the principal characters which distinguishes the Indian from the Tartar as well as Malay; whose faces are universally of the same shape; that is, as broad as they are long.

The texture of the human frame in India, seems to bear proportion with the rigidity of the northern monsoon, as that does with the distance from Tartary; but as in the southern monsoon heats are felt at the very foot of mount Caucasus, intense as in any part of India, very few of the inhabitants of Indostan are endowed with the nervous strength, or athletic size, of the robustest nations of Europe.

On the contrary, southward of Lahore we see throughout India a race of men, whose make, physiognomy, and muscular strength, convey ideas of an effeminacy which surprizes when pursued through such numbers of the species, and when compared to the form of the European who is making the observation. The sailor no sooner lands on the coast, than nature dictates to him the full result of this comparison; he brandishes his stick in sport, and puts fifty Indians to flight in a moment confirmed in his contempt of a pusillanimity and an incapacity of resistance, suggested to him by their physiognomy and form, it is well if he recollects that the poor Indian is still a man.

The muscular strength of the Indian is still less than might be expected from the

« EdellinenJatka »