giving auswers to what was not so well known before; for the art (or manner of cozenage whatever it be) is to be learned, as I perceive, by what the diviner said to Captain Baker; and as these people are many of them descended from the profligate and apostate Jews, it is likely they may retain among them an account of the antient rites performed by the true prophets, and practise some of them, as we read of the Samaritans in the 2d Book of Kings, the 17th chapter, who made a mixture of religion, and while they pretended to fear the Lord served other gods : for this diviner practised some of the outward ceremonies, and though he might be wanting in the holy and true method, yet I think he was not at all deficient in the noisy part of the ceremony, for they had tabors and pipes, and sundry other sorts of music, as we read they had in old time; for in 1st Samuel, chap. 10th, verse 5th, it was said to Saul, "Thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, with psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, aud a harp before them, and they shall prophecy," &c. But more I think to our present purpose is it that Elisha himself, though what he delivered was the undoubted inspiration of God, yet proceeded in delivering his prophecy according to the accustomed usage of the Jewish prophets, and began not to prophecy till the music played; for when he was called before Jehosaphat, king of Judah, as it appears by the 2d Book of Kings, chap. 3d, and verse 15th, he said, “But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass that when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him." And so also from other parts of holy writ it does appear that it was a custom among the prophets to have music play when they delivered their predictions, But the music was not, in my

opinion, an essential part, as this false prophet also himself confessed. But as a pretender or impostor always imitates the person he would pass for, so also this diviner performs many of the same actions, and what he cannot do rightly he mimics; for we find the true prophets to call earnestly upon God, while this man rather invoked a demon, for what he spoke was muttered and hidden words wrapt up with noise and music. This man was also so far deceived himself as to believe he made true divinations; for the prophet in Captain Baker's room affirmed it was no trick nor cheat, but that all those rites were necessary. I know they may be proved from very antient time, if we compare Isaiah the 8th, verse 19th, with the 29th, and verse 4th.

Thus I have, in as few words as I could told a long story of this diviner; his preparing his body by fasting; the use of charms or incantatious; his invocations with mysterious words; his being almost naked; his scattering of ashes; the playing on loud music; his falling into enthusiastic fits, as if into a trance; and the guttural and belly voices; the miserable penance in acquiring, and the more lamentable end of this kind of knowledge. And though a search after wisdom becomes every man, yet this I take to be another tree of knowledge, and the fruit thereof to be more dangerous than of that mentioned in the beginning of the Mosaic his tory, for of that fruit, though he that eat thereof should die, yet should he live again, but who enjoys this fruit must die

for ev er.

But I must leave all these matters to be discussed and examined by the more curious, having contented myself with these superficial observations, not having time to go farther, or to make moré remarks.

ed, appointed him one of his suite, and preferred his society to that of all his other counsellors. Now the Calif had a minister excessively envious whose jealousy was excited by the Arab's promotion,

to the minister and received in return two thousand Dinars. The minister proceeded to the house of the governor and shewed him the Calif's letter. The governor read it, and in conformity to the injunction it contained, ordered the minister to be beheaded. After some

days had elapsed, the Calif remembered the affair with the Arab, and said to some of his attendants, enquire after the Arab who was formerly with me, and desire the minister to attend. They told him, the Arab was in the city, but that the minister had gone on a message to a certain governor, and had not returned. The Calif desired the Arab to be called before him, and asked him the particulars of the matter, which he related from beginning to end. “But did you not," says the Calif," spread a report among the people, that I had a stinking breath?" "God forbid," says the Arab, "I should report that of which I am ignorant. Your minister could have only told you this from treachery and deceit towards me;-he dug a pit for my destruction, into which God has caused him to fall himself,-do not therefore grieve for his fate, for the proverb says, "he who digs a pit for his companion, will fall into it himself.” Grieve not, for in grief there is no advantage. Unable yourself to avoid the occurrence of contingent evils, how do you expect to ward them off others, as the poet says,

but dreading the anger of the Calif if he attempted any thing against him openly, he continued to keep up a shew of friendship, determined to effect his ruin by some secret wile or artifice. He continued therefore daily to increase in civility towards him, and at length invited him to his house to dinner, and mixed up in his food a large portion of garlic. Afrer dinner he 'said to the Arab, "when you attend the Calif's assembly, take care to sit at a distance from him, for the smell of the garlic may offend him." The minister then waited on the Calif, and said, "The Arab whom you made your favorite, and whose company you prefer to ours, has spread about a report that you have a stinking breath." The Arab a little while after made his appearance, and seated himself at a distance from the Calif. The Calif desired him to come near, which he obeyed, but covered his mouth as he approached with his sleeve. This action confirmed in the Calif's mind the truth of his minister's story and the treachery of the Arab. He thereupon wrote a letter to one of his governors to the following purport :"On receipt of this letter, let the bearer be immediately put to death." He then scaled it, and delivered it to the Arab, saying, convey this to such a one, and return to me speedily with the answer. The Arab took it, and in going out happened to meet the minister at the door, who enquired where he was going. He replied, the Calif has employed me to carry a letter to one of his governors. The minister immediately conjectured, that the Arab would receive some very considerable present from the governor, and he determined in his own mind, to possess it himself,"What say you," says he, "if I release you from the annoyance and fatigue of the journey, and present you at the same time with two thousand Dinars ?" "Most certainly," says the Arab," you speak with judgment and in so doing will free me from a very unpleasant embassy. You have shot the arrow of your judgment, with the bow of unerring direction. So accept the letter." He then delivered it

You lament at the untimely fate of another; But say, can you extricate yourself from the power of death?"

The Calif was astonished at this marvellous adventure, and saw that the Almighty from the purity of the Arab's intentions had rescued him from an untimely end. He exclaimed, "Vengeance on the head of the envious man!-Envy where it originates, will surely destroy its possessor." He then bestowed a dress of honor on the Arab, appointed him to the vacant office of his minister, and seated him at the head of the assembly on his right hand.

Intended for a Tablet to be erected in the Church at Bombay.

Sacred to the Memory of

JOHN HENRY STEPHENSON, ESQ. Late Solicitor to the Hon. East-India Company, On their Bombay Establishment.

Who died at Bussorah, on the 21st of Feb. 1816, In the Thirty-eighth Year of his Age.

Still let the trophied Urn, the breathing Bust,

Of shrouded grandeur shade the slumbering dust;

Thy sterling worth no borrow'd fame requires

From glowing sculptures, and the muses' fires!

The social virtues of thy generous mind LIVE in each friend's memorial breast enshrin'd.

To Asia just, to Britain faithful found; In Life, in Practice, with like honours

FROM BROUGHTON'S POETRY OF
THE HINDOOS.

WHEN Ukroor, vile, detested name,
From birth to birth the Virgin's bane,
By magic arts and means abhorr'd,
Bore off from Brij its darling lord:
The Gopis, lost, distracted, shaken,
By him they so adored forsaken,
Like dying fish convulsive start;
Love's springs dried up in every heart.
Trembling they mount the loftiest domes,
But only see their dearest homes.
On distance gaze;-nor find relief,
Till their hearts break with certain grief.
Each anxious asks, each sad replies,
"Alas the tears have dimmed our eyes!
"No dust now rises on our sight;
"He's gone, O maids! his car has

vanished quite."

The consternation und distress of the Gopis is here described, when Ukroor succeeds in enticing Krishna into the hands of Raja Kuns of Muttra, his uncle, and the usurper of his throne.

VERSES FROM THE ARABIC.

IF pamper'd fools with taunting pride should scorn

The hapless man, who Fortune's frowns hath borne;

Tell them how oft she smiles on Folly's slave,

And sternly lours upon the great and brave.. Hast thou not seen the flood with ten

d'rest care,

High on her breast the lifeless carcase bear; And deep within her lowest caverns hide The beauteous pearl, the fairest bosom's

pride?

mercial, and Financial Interests of Ceylon. With an Appendix; containing some of the principal Laws and Usages of the Candians; Port and Custom-house Regulations; Tables of Exports and Imports, Public Revenue and Expenditure, &c. &c. By Anthony Bertolacci, Esq.late Comptroller-general of Customs, and Acting Auditorgeneral of Civil Accounts in that Colony. 8vo. Price 18s. with a Map. pp. 577. Black, Parbury and Allen. 1817.

THE Author of this work has presented an acceptable treat to different descriptions of readers. To the general reader, or the man who reads with a view to the enlargement of his knowledge respecting the varied countries of the earth the important circumstances connected with their relative situations the discriminations of 'national character, as exhibited in intellectual capacity and improvement-moral qualities-military achievements,-commercial enterprizes and celebrity or inferiority in science and the arts-he has offered an ample fund for reflection and investigation. To the individual who reads with a view to ascertain the means of gratifying that spirit of enterprize, which is usually generated by the possession of commercial capital, he has extended information, which may be deemed highly important. And to the politician, who feels interested in every circumstance, however remote, which is connected with national prosperity, or greatness, he has particularly furnished the means of forming an estimate of the importance of the island of Ceylon, as a new appendage to British greatness, and an additional bul. wark to our territorial possessions in India. Yet, notwithstanding the value of his materials, the author modestly deprecates criticism Asiatic Journ.-No. 17.

written his work in a tongue "to which he was a stranger in the early part of his life"—and alledging, secondly, the "purity of his intentions," as a fair ground for indulgence for "other defects."We most willingly accept his apology, in consequence of the pleasure which we have experienced from the perusal of his work; yet, we think we have some cause to lament in this instance, as in many others of a similar kind, that gentlemen who possess great practical experience,

-who have been eye-witnesses of distant and interesting countries, and also distinguished actors in military, commercial, and other enterprizes, and who, in consequence, possess a mass of information, calculated to gratify the curiosity of the literary and thinking part of the community, are too frequently deficient in that literary experience, which may enable them to give the best possible effect to the important materials which they possess. Nor is it, perhaps, reasonable to expect, that in the midst. of their active duties and pursuits, they can have leisure to cultivate literary qualifications ;-yet, by submitting their works, previously to publication, to the inspection and control of competent individuals, they would doubtless have the power of presenting them to the public with improved effect; and thus, with greater facility and confidence, secure all the objects for which they appear before the public. As this work, from the intrinsic value of its information, will probably employ its author in future revision and improvement, both in regard to arrangement and language, we doubt not but he will take this hint in good part, and render future editions less open to VOL. III.. 3 N