DAMPIER-P. ANDRES PEREZ DE RIBAS-HERODOTUS. so designed, for the fish are never gutted. Therefore in a short time they all turn to a mash in the vessel; and when they have lain thus a good while, so that the fish is reduced to a pap, they then draw off the liquor into fresh jars, and preserve it for use. The mashed fish that remains behind is called Balachaun, and the liquor poured off is called Nuke-mum. The poor people eat the Balachaun with their rice; it is rankscented, yet the taste is not altogether unpleasant, but rather savoury, after one is a little used to it. The Nuke-mum is of a pale brown colour, inclining to grey, and pretty clear; it is also very savoury, and used as a good sauce for fowls, not only by the natives, but also by many Europeans, who esteem it equal with soy."-DAMPIER. [The Acorn Bird of the Sierra de Topia.] P. ANDRES PEREZ DE RIBAS also describes them as existing in the Sierra de Topia. "They are like large thrushes," he says, "and the trunks of pine trees serve them as granaries or cupboards wherein they secure their food that it may not decay. For making two thousand little holes in the large trunk of a pine, dry, and free from moisture, in every one of them it encases, or sets, an acorn gathered at fit season, and fits it with its bill so nicely, that very difficultly can a man with his ten fingers extract it; thus has God given industry to this little bird to keep his food, which would otherwise rot upon the earth." -Lib. 8, c. 1, p. 470. ["Crocodilon adorat Pars hæc."— Juv. Sat. xx. 2.] [Οἱ δὲ περί τε Θήβας καὶ τὴν Μοιρίας λίμνην, κ.τ.λ.] "THOSE who inhabit the country of Thebes, and that adjoining to the Lake of Maris, pay a peculiar veneration to the Crocodile. For each of these people train 603 | up one to be so tame as to endure the hand, putting strings of jewels or gold through his ears, and a chain on his fore feet. While he lives he is used with great respect, and fed with consecrated provisions at the public charge; and when he is dead he is preserved in salt, and buried in a sacred coffin." HERODOTUS, Enterpe. c. 69. ["Numina vicinorum Odit uterque Locus."-Juv. Sat. xv. 36.] [ Επεὰν νῶτον ὑὸς δελεάσῃ περὶ ἄγκιστρον K.T.λ.] THOSE of the Egyptians who were wise enough not to worship Crocodiles, had an excellent method of destroying them. "They fasten the chine of a hog to an iron hook, which they let down into the river, beating a living pig on the shore at the same time. The crocodile hearing the noise, and making that way, meets with the chine, which he devours, and is drawn to land; where, when he arrives, they presently throw dirt in his eyes, and by that means do what they will with him, which otherwise would be difficult."—Ibid. c. 70. [Steller's Sea-Cow.] "My curiosity was particularly directed to the Trichecus Mamatus Stelleri, or Steller's Sea-Cow. This curious animal, of which we first received an account from the above-named votary of science, and which in former times abounded upon the coasts of Kamschatka or Behring's, and other islands in these seas, when it was a favourite food of the Russian Promuschleniks, or furhunters, has not been seen now for some years; tschkoi-noss, the most northern point of it has disappeared even from Tschukthe Asiatic continent in these parts. It seems, therefore, very probable that though known to be in existence not more than forty years ago, it must now be ranked among the list of beings lost from the ani 604 LANGSDORFF — CARVER. mal kingdom, like the dudu, the mammoth, the carnivorous elephant of the Ohio, and others."'—LANgsdorff, vol. 2, p. 23. [Immense Flight of Birds.] "WHEN We were at the distance of about a sea-mile and a half, a cannon was fired to attract the observation of the inhabitants, and invite them to the vessel. At the same moment, while the echo of the fire resounded along the steep cliffs, an innumerable flight of birds of various kinds rose terrified all along the coast. Without any exaggeration, or seeking to exhibit an overcharged picture, I can assert, that literally a thick living cloud spread itself around, and that the sea as far as our horizon reached, was absolutely blackened by the animal.”—Ibid. vol. 2, p. 27. [Sea Snake formed from Mollusca.] "WE perceived in the water, near the ship, off Cape Mendocino, a sort of ribandlike object, perfectly clear and transparent, which had the direct form and figure of a snake: it was probably composed of a number of salpen or mollusca of a particular species, mentioned by Forskal as hanging to each other in so extraordinary a manner." Ibid. vol. 2, p. 147. [Foxes of N. California.] "BESIDES these herds, we met a great number of foxes, who appeared to live upon the most friendly terms with the young calves, and followed the cows about as if they had been equally their children."— Ibid. vol. 2, p. 192. Anas Glacialis. "THIS is a species not common in Norfolk Sound, but abounding much at Kodiak it breeds chiefly on that island, and on the peninsula of Alaksa. The harmonious trumpet-like noise of this bird distinguishes it from every other species of duck. It dives very deep under the water, and lives principally upon shell-fish: it draws in a large provision of air in diving, a small part of which it exhales from time to time, so that in calm weather, by the little bubbles which ascend from this emission of air, its course under the water may be easily tracked: it swims very fast, making very long strokes."-Ibid. vol. 2, P. 104. In the German translation of Saner's Travels, it is asserted that the last animal of this species was killed at Behring's island in the year 1768, and that since that time it has not been seen in these parts. [Indian Bark as Food.] "In the spring of the year the Naudowssies eat the inside bark of a shrub, that they gather in some part of their country; but I could neither learn the name of it, nor discover from whence they got it. It was of a brittle nature, and easily masticated. The taste of it was very agreeable, and they said it was extremely nourishing. In flavour it was not unlike the turnip, and when received into the mouth, resembled that root both in its pulpous and frangible nature."-CARVER, p. 264. and their bodies painted, and that their coming is known by the smell. [Superstition in the Philippines.] "They also adored some particular gods, N the Philippine Islands it ap- left them by their ancestors, and called by pears they had one principal the Bisayans, Davata, by the Tagalians, god, called by the Tagalians, Anito. One of these was believed to keep Barhalamay-capal; that is, the in the mountains and fields, to assist tragod-maker. They adored birds and beasts, vellers; another to make the seed sprout like the Egyptians; and the sun and moon, up, and they left him things in certain places like the Assyrians. There was not a rock, to gain favour. There was also a sea Anito stone, promontory or river but what they for the fishery, and another belonging to sacrificed to; nor any old tree to which the house, to take care of the children. they did not pay divine honours, and it was looked upon as a sacrilege to cut it down Among these Anitos, were placed their on any account whatsoever. This supersti- they called upon in all their troubles; keepgrandfathers, and great grandfathers; whom tion continues among them still; so that no force could prevail with the Indians to and ivory, in memory of them, which they ing little ugly statues of stone, wood, gold, make them cut down a certain great old called Liche, or Laravan. They also actree, called Bolette, whose leaves are like counted among their gods, all those that those of a chesnut tree, and its bark good died by the sword, or were killed by lightfor some wounds, nor some ancient tall canes, vainly believing the souls of their ning, or eaten by crocodiles, believing their souls ascended to heaven, by way of an ancestors dwell in them, and that the cut- arch they called Balangao. For this reating of those trees or canes would put them son, the eldest among them choose to be into a fever; and that therefore an old man buried in some remarkable place on the they call Nuno would appear to complain of their cruelty. This is to be understood of mountains, and particularly on the prosuch as are not Christians, or not well in-montories that run into the sea, that they might be adored by sailors."- GEMELLI structed. This vain belief continues among CARERI. them, because sometimes they fancy they see several apparitions, called Tibalong, on the tops of the trees; and they are fully persuaded that the same appear to children in the shape of their mothers, and carry them to the mountains without doing them any harm. They say they see them vastly tall, with long hair, little feet, long wings, [Attestation of the Lieutenant of the Bailiff of Mantes and Meulont, of the expenses incurred in the execution of a Sow that had devoured a Child.] "To all those to whom these letters shall come, Simon de Baudemont, Lieutenant, at BEAUDEMONT - LEIBNITZ-PENNANT - HOBHOUSE. Meulont, of the noble Monsieur Jhean, Lord of Maintenon, knight, chamberlain of our lord the king, and his bailiff of Mantes and Meulont, greeting: Be it known, that in order to execute justice on a sow that devoured a child, it has been found necessary to incur the expenses herein aftermentioned: that is to say, for expenses within the gaol, 6 sols. Item, to the executioner, who came from Paris, to Meulont, to put the sentence in execution, by the command of our said lord the bailiff, and of the king's attorney, 54 sols. Item, for the carriage that conveyed her to execution, 6 sols. Item, for ropes to tie and haul her up, 2 sols 8 deniers. Item, for gloves, 12 deniers: amounting in the whole to 69 sols 8 deniers; and the above we certify to be true, by these presents, sealed with our seal, and in confirmation and approbation of the above, sealed also with the seal of the Castellany of Meulont, this 15th day of March, in the year 1403." SIMON DE Beaudemont. -Journal de Troye et de la Champagne Meridionale. [Leibnitz's Opinion.] "MEA opinio est, omnia ut sic dicam plena esse animarum, vel analogarum naturarum, et ne brutorum quidem animas interire."-LEIBNITZ, p. 189. [Lord Holland and Esculapius.] "ON an ancient altar, once devoted to Esculapius, the first Lord Holland thought fit to renew the like devotion to the God of Health in this form: Ob salutem in Italiâ Olim D. Esculapio sacram, 607 [Belief of the Modern Athenians that the ancient Staties are real Bodies.] "THE Common Athenians believe that the ancient statues are real bodies, mutilated and enchanted into their present state of petrifaction by magicians, who will have power over them as long as the Turks are masters of Greece. The spirit within them is called an Arabian, and is not unfrequently heard to moan and bewail its condition. Some Greeks in our time, conveying a chest from Athens to Piræus, containing part of the Elgin marbles, threw it down, and could not for some time be prevailed upon to touch it again, affirming they heard the Arabian crying out, and groaning for his fellow spirits detained in bondage in the Acropolis. It is to be added that the Athenians consider the condition of these enchanted marbles will be bettered by a removal from the country of the tyrant Turks." -HOBHOUSE's Travels, p. 348. [The Old Camel.] MACGILL mentions an old camel whom he saw near a hut passing the evening of her days in plenty and tranquillity; “for it is a humane principle of the Turks," he adds, "that an old servant ought never to be deserted when age or sickness has disabled him from being any farther useful. Here she lay basking in the sun's rays beside a fountain, or browsing in the shade, while the children of the village playing around her were taught by their parents to be grateful for past services, and to respect and venerate old age."—Vol. 1, p. 144. |