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many opportunities of displaying their skill and agility. The horses appear to enjoy the sport as much as their riders, and are very active in eluding the shock of the animal should it turn on its pursuer. The most generally practised plan, however, of shooting the Bison, is by crawling towards them from the leeward; and in fa

over the plains, but are said to be individually of a greater size.-Dr. Richardson's Arctic Zoology.

The herds of Bisons wander over the country in search of food, usually led by a bull most remarkable for strength and fierceness. While feeding, they are often scattered over a great extent of country, but when they move in mass, they form a dense and almost impenetrable column, which, once in motion, is scarcely to be impeded. Their line of march is seldom interrupted even by considerable rivers, across which they swim without fear or hesitation, nearly in the order

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HERD OF BISONS CROSSING A RIVER.

that they traverse the plains. When flying before their pursuers, it would be in vain for the foremost to halt,

or to attempt to obstruct the progress of the main body, as the throng in the rear still rushing onward, the lead

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INDIAN MODE OF DESTROYING THE BISON.

When the Indians determine to destroy Bisons in this way, one of their swiftest-footed and most active young men is selected, who is disguised in a Bisonskin, having the head, ears, and horns adjusted on his own head, so as to make the deception very complete, and thus accoutred, he stations himself between the Bison herd and some of the precipices, which often extend for several miles along the river. The Indians surround the herd as nearly as possible, when, at a given signal, they show themselves, and rush forward with loud yells. The animals being alarmed, and seeing no way open but in the direction of the disguised Indian, run towards him, and he, taking to flight, dashes on to the precipice, where he suddenly secures himself in some previously ascertained crevice. The foremost of the herd arrives at the brink; there is no possibility of retreat, no chance of escape; the foremost may for an instant shrink with terror, but the crowd behind who are terrified by the approaching hunters, rush forward with increasing impetuosity, and the aggregated force hurls them successively into the gulf, where cer

tain death awaits them.

These animals have been seen in herds of three, four, and five thousand, blackening the plain as far as the eye could view. At night, it is impossible for persons to sleep near them who are unaccustomed to their noise, which, from the incessant lowing and roaring of the bulls, is said to resemble distant thunder. Although frequent battles take place between the bulls, as among domestic cattle, the habits of the Bison are peaceful and inoffensive, seldom or never offering to attack man or other animals, unless outraged in the first instance. Dr. Godman.

MYTHOLOGY.

TERMINUS.

"Another god, greatly honoured in the city of Rome, was Terminus, because they imagined that the boundaries and limits of men's estates are under his protection. His name, and the divine honours paid to him by the ancients, are mentioned by Ovid, Tibullus, and Seneca.

The statue of this god was either a square stone, or a log of wood planed; which they usually perfumed with ointment, and crowned with garlands.

"And, indeed, the Lapides Terminales, that is, 'landmarks,' were esteemed sacred; so that whoever dared move, or plough up, or transfer them to another place, his head became devoted to the Diis Terminalibus, and it was lawful for any body to kill him.

"And further, though they did not sacrifice the lives of animals to those stones, because they thought that it was not lawful to stain them with blood; yet they offered wafer made of flour to them, and the first fruits of corn, and the like: and upon the last day of the year they always observed festivals to their honour, called Terminalia."

LATONA.

"Latona was the daughter of Phoebe, by Cæus the Titan. So great was her beauty, that Jupiter fell in love with her, which excited the jealousy of Juno, who caused her to be cast out of heaven to the earth. Not content with this, she obliged Terra, by an oath, not to give her a habitation; and besides, she set the serpent Python upon her, to persecute her wherever she went. Juno, however, was disappointed, for the island Delos received Latona, where, under a palm or an olive tree, she brought forth Diana; who, as soon as she was born, nursed and took care of her brother Apollo.

"Her reception at Delos, notwithstanding the oath of Terra, is thus accounted for. This island formerly floated in the sea, and they say that it was hidden under the waters when Terra took her oath, but that it emerged afterwards by the order of Neptune, and became fixed and immovable for Latona's use, from which time it was called Delos, because it was visible like other places.

"The island Delos emerged for Latona's use, because it was sister to Latona. Some say, that her name was formerly Asteria, whom Jupiter loved and courted, but she was converted into an island: others report, that she was converted into a quail (Ovid Mel. 15,) and flew into this island, which was, therefore,

among other names, called Ortygia. Niobe's pride, and the barbarity of the countrymen of Lycia, increase the fame of this goddess. The story of Niobe we have already related.

"The rustics of the country of Lycia in Asia also experienced the anger of Latona to their ruin; for when she wandered in the fields, the heat of the weather and the toil of her journey brought such a drought upon her, that she almost fainted for thirst. At last discovering a spring in the bottom of the valley, she ran to it with great joy, and fell on her knees to drink the cool

waters:

To quench her thirst with the refreshing stream: but the neighbouring clowns hindered her, and bid her depart. She earnestly begged leave, and they denied it: she did not desire, she said, to injure the stream by washing herself in it, but only to quench her thirst. "They regarded not her entreaties, but with threats endeavoured to drive her away. This great inhumanity moved the indignation of Latona, who cursed them, and said, "May you always live in this water." Immediately they were turned into frogs, and leaped into the muddy water, where they ever lived."

HYMEN.

the heat of summer, and revived the flowers when they fainted under the sun's rays.

"Zephyr was married to Flora, the goddess of flowers. He was represented in the octagon temple of Athens, which is called the Temple of the Winds. Zephyr loved young Hyacinth, who was also beloved by the nymph Echo, and by Apollo; but the envious Zephyr applied his strongest breath to a discus which Apollo was throwing, and killed Hyacinth; whereupon Apollo caused the blood of his favourite boy to produce the flower that bears his name."

LARES AND PENATES.

"The Lares and Penates were Roman gods, who presided over empires, cities, highways, houses, and individuals. Among these divinities were ranked the souls of them who had faithfully served the state; and families placed among them the spirits of their departed friends and relations. They were esteemed as the guardians of houses; were worshipped by the Romans under the figure of small images of human form, and were kept in the most retired part of the edifices. Lamps, the symbols of vigilance, were consecrated to them, and that faithful domestic animal, the dog, was sacrificed to them. When infants quitted one of their "The first of Venus's companions was the god Hy-fore the feet of these domestic deities. During the first ornaments, called the Bulla, it was deposited bemenæus. He presided over marriage, and was the protector of young unmarried women. He was the son of Bacchus and Venus Urania, born in Attica, where he used to rescue virgins carried away by thieves, and restore them to their parents. He was of a very fair complexion, crowned with the amaracus or sweet marjoram, and sometimes with roses; in the one hand he carried a torch, in the other a veil of flame colour, to represent the blushes of a virgin. Newly married women offered sacrifices to him, as they did also to the goddess Concordia."

CUPID.

Cupid was the next companion of Venus. We have already described him in No. 6 of the present volume. "The poets speak of two Cupids. One of which is an ingenious youth, the son of Venus and Jupiter, a celestial deity; the other the son of Erebus and Nox [Hell and Night,] a vulgar god, whose companions are drunkenness, sorrow, enmity, contention, and such kind of plagues. One of these Cupids is called Eros, and the other Anteros; both of them are boys, and naked, and winged, and blind, and armed with a bow and arrows and a torch. They have two darts of different natures; a golden dart which procures love, and a leaden dart which causes hatred. Anteros is also the god who avenges slighted love.”

ZEPHYR.

"Zephyr or Zephyrus was the west wind. He was represented as a beautiful youth, with butterfly's wings. He cooled the air by the fanning of his wings during

public feasts of these Lares and Penates, small waxen images of them were suspended in the streets.

"The Lares and Penates were represented as young boys covered with dog skins, and at their feet was placed the image of a dog. The dog is the emblem of faithful attachment and watchful care, and is more the the friend and guard of man than any brute animal; therefore he was a proper companion of the domestic gods.

"The Lares were placed on a hearth in the hall; and on festivals they were crowned with garlands, and sacrifices were offered to them.

E

"The other household gods, the Penates, were worshipped only in an interior apartment called the Penetralia. They were held so sacred by the Romans, that the expression of driving a man from his Penates, signified that he was expelled from his home, his country, and from all that he loved.

GENII.

"Genii were invisible spirits, regarded as the intimate companions of man's thoughts, governing and disposing his mind and his conduct. Every man was supposed to have two genii. His evil genius disposed him to wrong conduct, and led him to misery-his good genius inspired him with virtuous sentiments, and instructed him in what is excellent in action. fer via nda

"They were represented as young men, holding in one hand a drinking vessel, and in the other a horn of plenty. Sometimes they were depicted under the form of serpents.

"The Genii presided over the birth and life of men. Each spot had a local genius-one of the place. Cities, groves, fountains, and hills, were provided with these guardians.

"It was the custom of the Romans to invoke these Genii on birth-days. The ground was strewed with flowers, and wine was offered to them in cups.. 26

The opinion prevailed, that the universe abounded in spirits, presiding over its various parts and movements. Plato, the Greek philosopher, speaks of Sylphs. Gnomes, and Salamanders; the first inhabiting the air, the second the earth, the third fire."

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I see Professor Griscom has translated from the "Revue Encyclopedique," an article on "Gypsies," for your journal, in which he remarks that there are no "Gypsies" in America, or that "they have never appeared in America." In this, the writer is mistaken. There is a colony of gypsies on Biloxi Bay, in Louisiana, who were brought over and colonized by the French, at a very early period of the first settlement of that state. They are French gypsies, and speak the French language; they call themselves Egyptians or Gypsies. The French call them indifferently, Egyptians or Bohemians.

What is remarkable since their colonization in this country, they have lost the distinctive character of their idle and wandering habits. They are no longer strolling vagrants, but have, in the lapse of time, become in all respects like the other French settlers found in Louisiana. They appear equally polite, hospitable, and intelligent. They also possess all the industry and enjoy all the comforts of settled life that belong to the French inhabitants generally.

The only striking difference between them is seen in their complexion and the colour of their hair, which is much darker in the Gypsies than in the French population. Their hair is also coarser and straighter than

that of the French.

Their intellectual vigour appears to be as great as that of any people. A young man of this colony received a collegiate education at Georgetown, D. C. and is residing in New Orleans; and there are probably few men to be found in the United States, of his age, whose knowledge and learning are more profound and varied than his. He is also a good and ready writer. The most of the foregoing facts were derived from an eminent and learned lawyer from Mobile, who speaks the French language fluently, and has travelled among, and conversed familiarly with these Gypsies.

From the National Gazette.

KINDERHOOK, May 19, 1834. MR. EDITOR:-I observed, in a late number of the National Gazette, an interesting article on Gypsies. The writer says "there are none in America." With a few exceptions he may be correct. I have often, during the last fifteen years, heard of, and, for the last three years, seen numbers of a gang of Gypsies, occupying a spot of waste land, about four miles northwest of Kinderhook, called de Bruyn's Patent.

They are denominated Yansers by our Dutch inhabitants; probably from their family or patriarchal name Jansen. They have the features, complexion, and habits characteristic of the Gypsies of writers. Our tribe, it is conjectured, emanated from a larger establishment of them at Schoharie, with whom they maintain an intercourse, and make inquiries after the seniors whenever opportunity presents.

There is yet another tribe at or near Schenectady, called Yansers, although their patriarchal name is Keyser. A gentleman appointed some years ago to some town office there, states that he found a charge of £4 108. for whipping Yansers; the amount being small was allowed. A similar charge being brought the next year, he asked what in the name of goodness it meant ? behold, it was for chastising Gypsies whenever occasion presented, which was done with impunity and some profit. I have not heard that the inhabitants of Kinderhook have ever made charges, but they certainly use similar correction on male and female, without law, (I know not if without mercy,) for supposed transgressions. They stand well with the grocers and shop-keepers, with whom they barter their wares; but not so with the prudent guardians of youth.

It is due to the inhabitants of the village to state, that seven years ago the small pox invaded the huts and caves of their settlement; the best medical aid and provisions were furnished to them the latter being

delivered on a boundary line, which they were enjoined not to pass.

Although the annals of our country do not extend back to the dark ages of antiquity, yet the origin of these settlers is too remote to be accurately traced. It is supposed by the best informed of my neighbours, that they came over with the early settlers in the German Valley; that, disliking the laborious employment of their fellow-adventurers, they withdrew themselves to a separate establishment, where they might subsist themselves by their wits and lighter occupations. They are every where manufacturers of baskets, brooms, and other wooden wares. C.

A NEW CONTINENT.

It will be recollected that a year or two ago, a paragraph was put forth by the London Literary Gazette, if we recollect right, and extensively copied, stating that a large body of land had been discovered somewhere to the southward of the Cape of Good Hope. There was however a great lack of details, for want of which, as well as the extraordinary character of the discovery, many were inclined to regard it with incredulity. We now have the long sought details.

INTERESTING TO THE WORLD AT LARGE. From the Tasmaniae of Hobart Town, dated Oct. 11, 1833. Most of our readers will recollect that about eighteen months since, Capt. Briscoe of the brig Tula, brought his vessel to this port for repairs. It will also be fresh in the memory of many, that some of our public writers pretended to doubt the authenticity of Capt. Briscoe's statement-viz. that he was then on an expedition at the cost of a London mercantile house; indeed, in this very journal, the epithet "piratical" was more than once repeated when referring to the Tula and Lively. At the time Captain Briscoe was with us, it became pretty generally understood that a discovery of land of some importance had been made, but as great pains were taken to keep the situation a secret, the various reports circulated, of course, were only surmises of those who pretended to be more knowing than their neighbours. The following extract, however, will disclose the secret, which was so well kept by the enterprising crews of the two little vessels

"The discovery of the land towards the South Pole, made by Capt. Briscoe, in the brig Tula accompanied by the cutter Lively, both vessels belonging to Messrs. Enderby, extensive owners of ships in the whale fishing, has been communicated to the Royal Geographical Society.

"It is supposed that this land forms part of a vast Continent, extending from about longitude 47-31 east, to longitude 69-29 west, or from the longitude of Madagascar round the whole of the Southern or South Pacific Ocean, as far as the longitude of Cape Horn. On the 28th February, 1832, Captain Briscoe discov ered land, and during the following month remained in the vicinity; he clearly discovered the black peaks of mountains above the snow, but he was, from the state of the weather and the ice, unable to approach nearer than about thirty miles. The Stormy Petros was the only bird seen, and no fish. It has been named Enderby's Land, longitude 47-31 E. latitude 66-30 S. An extent of about 300 miles was seen. The range of mountains E. S. E.

"In consequence of the bad state of health of the crew, Captain Briscoe was compelled to return into warmer latitudes. He wintered at Van Diemen's Land, and was rejoined by the cutter, from which he was separated by the stormy weather, in the high south latitudes.

"In October, 1831, he proceeded to New Zealand. In the beginning of February, 1832, he was in the immediate neighbourhood of an immense iceberg, when it fell to pieces, accompanied by a tremendous noise,

"On the 4th of the same month, land was seen to | been thoroughly explored. The distance between the two places, according to the gazetteers, is thirty-seven miles; though by the course now travelled, it is a good The newly discovered route, which passes deal more. near Cruces, reduces it to about thirty-five miles. By the next arrival we may expect the report of the Commissioners appointed to explore this route. They left Panama about the 25th of March, and had not returned on the 6th of April.

the S. E. longitude 68-29, latitude 67-15. It was found to be an island, near to the head land, of what may be hereafter called the Southern continent. On the island, about 4 miles from the shore, was a high peak (and some small ones;) about one third of its height was covered by a thin scattering of snow, and two thirds completely with snow and ice. The appearance of the peaks was peculiar; the shape was conical, but with a broad base.

"This island has been named Adelaide Island, in honour of her Majesty. Mountains were seen to the South at a great distance inland, supposed about 90 miles. On the 21st February, 1832, Captain Briscoe landed in a spacious Bay in the main land, and took possession in the name of his Majesty William IV. The appearance was one of utter desolation, there being no vestige whatever of animal or vegetable life. In future, this part of the continent, if such it prove, will be known as Graham's Land."-Sydney Monitor.

ISTHMUS OF PANAMA-RAIL-ROAD FROM THE
ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC.

The New York Journal of Commerce says:— -The Panamaians appear to be thoroughly impressed with the belief that the highway of commerce is very soon to pass by their doors, and that the Isthmus is very soon destined to be one of the most wealthy, populous, and influential portions of the Globe. And in truth they are not alone in this expectation.-"I venture to predict," says M. de Pradt," that the Isthmus of Panama will in a very short time be subjected to the powerful action of Art, which will contrive means to open a direct route from Europe to the western shores of America and those of Asia bordering on the Pacific, and from the whole American coast to Europe. Then will commence a great commercial revolution, favourable to the three parts of the world, and to the new continent of the South Sea.-This result surpasses what the imagination of man can conceive. And what will have produced this result? The emancipation, i. e. to say, the civilization of America."

"Independence being once established," says the author of the Geographical, Topographical, Agricultural, Commercial, and Political Description of Colombia, "her sons will immediately open a communication with Japan, China, and India. Their coast on the Pacific side gives them great advantage over European nations. Portobello and Nicaragua will be, in the course of a few years, the emporium whither all America on the Atlantic side, and probably all Europe, will This go to purchase the merchandise of the Indies. change in that important trade, will produce as great a change in the wealth and relative power of nations, as did the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope."

Humboldt speaks of the Isthmus as a place " destined to change the face of the commercial system of nations."

The Peru Mercurio says, "The road project and a liberal commercial enactment, will make that beautiful country the emporium of commerce, and raise up a city more wealthy than Guanaxuato of the Mexican States, Potosi of Bolivia, Pasco of Peru, or Huasco of Chili. There is no doubt of it. Panama, situated on the Isthmus which connects the Pacific with the Atlantic, and communicates freely with all the civilized world, is going to exert a great influence upon the commerce of Asia, Europe, and the two Americas."

At present, the communication [between the Atlantic and Pacific] is attended with much difficulty; partly on account of the extreme roughness of the surface, and partly for the want of the necessary enterprise to make the best of the obstacles of nature. From the alleged discovery, within the three months past, of a comparative level route from Panama to Portobello, it it would seem that the intervening region had not even

ITEMS OF INTELLIGENCE.

The Pope has excommunicated Don Pedro, his Ministers, and in short all the friends of the Queen's cause.-It is stated from Lisbon, that if this excommunication be not withdrawn, the government has notified the Court of Rome, that they will consider it their duty not only to stop the annual revenue of about 401. which Portugal pays, but to take into serious consideration the propriety of ceasing all connexion with it. low as 1 1-2 per cent. per annum. The current rate of interest Money is so plenty in England that it has been loaned as is 2 and 2 3-4 per cent. The offer of the Bank of England to make loans at 3 per cent. produced much excitement, being considered extortionous.

Professor Olmsted of Yale College, in an article in Silliman's Journal of Science, feels himself authorized by facts in the case which he states, to draw the following conclusion :-"That the Meteors of November 13th consisted of portions of the extreme parts of a nebulous body which revolves around the sun in an orbit interior to that of the earth, but little inclined to the plane of the ecliptic, and having a period of 182 days nearly."

The multiplying power in some instances-animal as well as vegetable is astonishing. An annual plant of two seeds produces, in 20 years, 1,048,576; and there are plants which bear 40,000 seeds. The roe of a cod-fish is said to contain a million of eggs: mites will multiply to a thousand in a day; and there are viperous flies which produce 2,000 at once.

POETRY.

LINES

Occasioned by hearing a little boy mock the Old South Clock,
as it rung the Hour of Twelve.-MRS. CHILD.
Ar, ring thy shout to the merry hours:
Well may ye part in glee;

From their sunny wings they scatter flowers,
And, laughing, look on thee.

Thy thrilling voice has started tears:
It brings to mind the day
When I chased butterflies and years,-
And both flew fast away.

Then my glad thoughts were few and free;
They came but to depart,

And did not ask where heaven could be-
'Twas in my little heart.

I since have sought the meteor crown
Which fame bestows on men :
How gladly would I throw it down,
To be so gay again!

But youthful joy has gone away;
In vain 'tis now pursued;
Such rainbow glories only stay
Around the simply good.

I know too much to be as blessed
As when I was like thee;
My spirit, reasoned into rest,
Has lost its buoyancy.

Yet still I love the winged hours:
We often part in glee-

And sometimes, too, are fragrant flowers
Their farewell gifts to me.

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