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confirm the justness of this opinion. Several of the most conspicuous personages in the groupes at Elephanta are decorated with the Zennar, the sacred string or cord peculiar to the order of Brahmans, an authentick evidence of the distinction of casts having been established in India, at the time when these works were finished.

2. Instead of caverns, the original places of worship, which could be formed only in particular situations, the devotion of the people soon be gan to raise temples in honour of their deities in other parts of India. The structure of these was at first extremely simple. They were pyramids of large dimension, and had no light within but what came from a small door. After having been long accustomed to perform all the rites of religion in the gloom of caverns, the Indians were naturally led to consider the solemn darkness of such a mansion as sacred. Some Pagodas in this first style of building still remain in Hindoostan. Drawings of two of these at Deogur, and of a third, near Tanjore in the Carnatick, all fabricks of great antiquity, have been published by M. Hodges, and though they are rude structures, they are of such magnitude, as must have required the power of some considerable state to rear them.

3. In proportion to the progress of the different countries of India in opulence and refinement, the structure of their temples gradually improved. From plain buildings they became highly ornamented fabricks, and, both by their extent and magnificence, are monuments of the power and taste of the people by whom they were erected. In this highly finished style there are Pagodas of great antiquity in different parts of Hindoostan, particularly in the southern provinces, which were not exposed to the destructive violence of Mahomedan zeal. In order to assist the reader in forming such an idea of these buildings as may enable him to judge with respect to

the early state of arts in India, we shall briefly describe two of which we have the most accurate accounts. The entry to the Pagoda of Chillambrum near Porto Novo on the Coromandel coast, held in high veneration on account of its antiquity, is by a stately gate under a pyramid a hundred and twenty-two feet in height, built with large stones above forty feet long, and more than five feet square, and all covered with plates of copper, adorned with an immense variety of figures neatly executed. The whole structure extends one thousand three hundred and thirty-two feet in one direction, and nine hundred and thirty-six in another. Some of the ornamental parts are finished with an elegance entitled to the admiration of the most ingenious artists. The Pagoda of Seringham, superiour in sanctity to that of Chillambrum, surpasses it as much in grandeur; and, fortunately, we can convey a more perfect idea of it by adopting the words of an elegant and accurate historian. This Pagoda is situated about a mile from the western extremity of the island of Seringham, formed by the division of the great river Caveri into two channels. "It is composed of seven square enclosures, one within the other, the walls of which are twentyfive feet high, and four thick. These enclosures are three hundred and fifty feet distant from one another, and each has four large gates, with a high tower; which are placed, one in the middle of each side of the enclosure, and opposite to the four cardinal points. The outward wall is near four miles in circumference, and its gateway to the south is ornamented with pillars, several of which are single stones thirty-three feet long, and nearly five in diameter; and those which form the roof, are still larger; in the inmost enclosures are the chapels. About half a mile to the east of Seringham, and nearer to the Caveri than Coleroon, is another large Pagoda, called Jembikisma; but this has only one en

closure. The extreme veneration in which Seringham is held, arises from a belief that it contains that identical image of the god Wistchnu, which used to be worshipped by the god Brahma. Pilgrims from all parts of the peninsula come here to obtain absolution, and none come without an offering of money; and a large part of the revenue of the island is allotted for the maintenance of the Brahmans who inhabit the Pagoda; and these, with their families, formerly composed a multitude of not less than forty thousand souls, maintained, without labour, by the liberality of superstition. Here, as in all the other great Pagodas of India, the Brahmans live in a subordination which knows no resistance, and slumber in a voluptuousness which knows no wants."

In several parts of India, there are other stupendous works of a similar nature. The extent and magnificence of the excavations in the island of Salsette, are such, that the artist employed by governour Boon, to make drawings of them, asserted that it would require the labour of forty thousand men, for forty years, to finish them. [Archaologia, vol. vii. p. 336.] Loose as this mode of estimation may be, it conveys an idea of the impression which the view of them made on his mind. The Pagodas, of Ellore, eighteen miles from Aurungabad, are like wise hewn out of the solid rock, and if they do not equal those of Elephanta and Salsette, in magnitude, they surpass them far in their extent and number. M. Thevenot, who first gave a description of these singular mansions, asserts, that for above two leagues, all around the mountain, nothing is to be seen but Pagados.

[Voy. Part. iii. chap. 44.] They were examined at greater leisure, and with more attention by M. Anquetil du Perron. But as his long description of them is not accompanied with plan or drawing, it cannot convey a distinct idea of the whole. It is evident, however, that they are the works of a powerful people, and among the innumerable figures in sculpture, with which the walls are covered, all the present objects of Hindoo worship may be distinguished. [Zendavesta. Disc. Prelim. p. 233.] There are remarkable excavations in a mountain at Mavalipuram, near Sadras. This mountain is well known on the Coromandel coast by the name of the Seven Pagodas. A good description of the works there, which are magnificent and of high antiquity, is given in the Asiatick Researches, vol. i. p. 145. &c. Many other instances of similar works might be produced if it were necessary. What has been here asserted, concerning the elegance of some of the ornaments in Indian buildings, is confirmed by colonel Call, late chief engineer at Madras, who urges this as a proof of the early and high civilisation of the Indians. "It may safely be pronounced," says he, "that no part of the world has more marks of antiquity for arts, sciences and civilisation, than the peninsula of India, from the Ganges to Cape Comorin. I think the carvings on some of the pagodas and choultries, as well as the grandeur of the works. exceed any thing executed now a days, not only for the delicacy of the chisel, but the expense of construction, considering in many instances, to what distances the component parts were carried, and to what heights they were raised.”

REMARKABLE PHENOMENON, WHICH TAKES PLACE IN THE SEA NEAR AMBOYNA. NOTICED IN THE JOURNAL OF A LATE VOYAGER IN THOSE SEAS.

IN a violent gale last night, in passing between the islands of Bouro and Manipa, the water suddenly

changed its colour to a milky whiteness. Supposing it was owing to shoals, the lead was cast, but no boi

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This phenomenon is regularly periodical in the seas near Amboyna. The most particular account of it is to be found in Valentyn's Beschryving van Oost Indien, vol. II. p. 137, and vol. III. part ii. p. 10. He calls it het wit-water [the white water] and states, that it occurs twice every year in the seas around Banda; the first time, when it is denominated the little wit-water, it takes place at the new moon in June; it is but slight in July, but does not entirely subside before the same appear ance occurs again at the new moon in August, when it is called the great wit-water. In the day time the sea appears as usual; but in the night it assumes a milk-white hue, and the reflection of it in the air is so great that the sky cannot be distinguished from the water Land is very easily discerned by night in it, for the land appears very black in the middle of the whiteness. Very little fish is caught during the time that it lasts; the fish do not like the water, and the clearness of it makes them easily see the fishing tackle and boats, and consequently avoid them. It has likewise been observed to rot the bottoms of vessels which are much in it. It throws up, on the shores where it reaches, a great deal of slime and filth, and likewise different species of blubber, or molusca bezaantjes [holothura physalis] &c. It is dangerous for small vessels to be at sea in the night where it comes, as, though it may be calm, the seat always rolls with heavy surges, enough to overset boats, which seem as if they were occasioned by subaqueous exhalations pressing upwards for a vent. It is chiefly seen between Banda and the south eastern islands to the southward of the islands of Aroe and Keys, down to Tenimber, where the heaviest rolling of the sea is observed, and Timorlaut; it runs westward as far as Timor, and to the north it is met

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with on the south coast of Ceram, keeping, however, to the south of the Uliassers and Amboyna, where it appears in large stripes. This milk sea, as Valentyn quaintly calls it, is clearly seen at night from the 'hills at Amboyna, stretching to wards Banda. It does not often reach as far as Amboyna itself. The more tempestous the weather proves, the more it rains; and the harder the southeast trade wind blows, the more this white water is seen. It is entirely unknown whence it proceeds, but it has ge nerally been supposed to come from the gulf of Carpentaria. Some have considered the whiteness as sioned by myriads of animalculæ; and others have ascribed it to a sub tle, sulphureous, marine exhalation, which they have supposed to arise from the bottom of the sea, and to become condensed in the water. Brimstone is, in fact, produced in considerable quantities, at Amboyna and Banda, and likewise, upon Nila, Teeuwer, and Dammer (three islands, south of the two former, and between them and Timor, little known to any but the Dutch) and elsewhere in those regions; yet, remarks Valentyn, if the white water were caused by that circumstance, it would be observed wherever sulphur is found in large quantities. He says, a similar phenomenon has been observed at the Comorra islands, and between Madagascar and Africa. Stavorinus, in his voyage to Surat, observed the same singular appearance in latitude 17° 30' north, in which he describes the sea as having lost, during the day, its usual azure clearness, appearing darker and browner than usual, and appearing, at night, so white, as if the whole sea was covered with a white sheet, or exactly like the appearance, in the night-time, of a flat country overspread with snow. This phenomenon, he remarks, was entirely distinct from the luminous appearance which is frequently observed in the water of the ocean, as, instead

of giving any light, the whole was of a deadly paleness, excepting close to the vessel where it seemed mixed with some sparks of light. No ground was found with a line of 150 fathoms. Some of the water was taken up and examined immediately with a microscope, but nothing could be perceived in it with a glass of great magnifying power. To the naked eye, it appeared as clear as chrystal, and on

tasting it, it seemed to have lost something of its briny and bituminous nature. An English navigator, capt. Newland, once observed the same appearance in the same part of the ocean, with this difference, however, that he saw it intermixed with black stripes running in a serpentine direction through the white

ness.

FROM THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

CURIOUS PARTICULARS CONCERNING THE OSAGES, A NATION, OF AMERICAN INDIANS, LIVING SOUTH OF THE RIVER MISSOURI, ADDRESSED TO LINDLEY MURRAY, ESQ. BY SAMUEL L. MITCHILL.

IT has been questioned, whether the natives of North America have any poetical taste. For a long time I was inclined to the opinion, that they had no compositions of this kind, or, at least, none beyond a single sentence or ejaculation. This was my belief, when, after the cession of Louisiana to the United States, the Osage Indians, from the regions far west of the Mississippi, made their first appearance on the shores of the Atlantick. A party of them had been sent from Washington in 1804, to see the maritime country, and had travelled as far as New York. Having repeatedly seen these strange visiters, and the gentleman who attended them during their stay in that city, I was much gratified by the answers made to many questions I asked concerning them. Among Among other information I received, was the fact that the party had a poet among them. I endeavoured to procure a retired interview with this son of Song; but such was the press of company, and such was their incessant occupation, that I found it utterly impossible.

The next year, another party of these red men of the West, came to Washington, the seat of the American government. I visited them, cultivated their acquaintance, and had repeated visits in return. I was both

instructed and entertained with the geographical delineations they made of the regions they were acquainted with. They drew for me, with chalk, on the floor, a sketch of the rivers Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi, and of the Osage and Gasconade. They depicted the villages of the Great and little Osages, and their route thence toward the city of Washington; and they marked the spot, where the vast Saline exists, të the westward and southward of their settlements.

Among other displays of their knowledge, they favoured me with concerts of vocal and instrumental musick. Four or five performers stood up together in a row, and uttered, with measured tone and accent, several of their popular songs. A small basket, with stones in it, like a child's play-thing; a rattle-snake's tail tied to the extremity of a wild turkey's long feather; a sort of board to be beaten by the hand; and a flute, or rather whistle, made of native reed, were the instruments employed by this harmonious band.

Their concert was animated, and seemed to give the actors a great deal of pleasure. The spirit and satisfaction which they manifested, made me curious to know what were the words and sentiments of the songs. After various efforts, I suc

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ceeded in procuring several of these aboriginal pieces, by aid of their interpreter. He gave me the litteral translation, and this I have thrown into English verse, with but small amplification or paraphrase. When I took the pen, ink, and paper chief musician, or poet, felt so much timidity, or embarrassment that he could with difficulty be prevailed on to repeat the words. At length, how. ever, on being told," that the red man kept his song in his mouth, but that I would show him the white man's method of putting it into his pocket," his scruples were overcome; for he laughed, and then slowly and distinctly uttered the words of several

songs.

I give you, as specimens of their talent in this way, three different rhythmical compositions. These are on Friendship, War, and Peace, and afford striking illustrations of the manner of thinking, among those simple and unlettered people.

You will judge of the sagacity and quickness of wit, which they possess, by the following anecdote: I observed to one of the chiefs, who visited me, "that, as the white men would soon begin to encroach upon them, the woods would be destroyed by fire, or cut down. Then game would grow scarce; deer and bison would disappear, and the Osages would be obliged to retire, and dispossess their neighbours by force, or remain at home, and adopt the manners of the white men. I asked him, when food grew so scarce, what he and his countrymen would do? "Father," said he, in reply, “ we hear, that the president of the United States is a very rich man, and has got a great quantity of money: we have been told, that the secretary at war is exceedingly wealthy too, and keeps many bags of dollars; the senator, from New York, likewise, Father, possesses a great estate, and has as much silver. as he wants: what will

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Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Dearborne, and Mr. Mitchill, do when all their money is gone?"

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1. OSAGE SONG OF FRIENDSHIP,

Composed on the arrival of a par-
of their warriours at Washington,
in December, 1805, and sung at Dr.
Mitchill's, with their accompaniment
of aboriginal musical instruments.
The joy of this band was the greater,
on having reached in safety the place
of their destination, inasmuch as an-
other band had been killed, on their
journey, by the murderous Sioux.
They also express singular delight,
in having had an interview with the
president of the United States, whom
they call their "Great White Father."
My comrades brave, and friends of note!
Ye hither come from lands remote,
To see your grand exalted Sire,
And his sagacious words admire.
"The Master* of your Life and Breath"
Averted accidents and death;
That you might such a sight behold,
In spite of hunger, foes, and cold.

Ye Red-men! since ye here have been,
Your Great White Father ye have seen;
Who cheered his children with his voice,
And made their beating hearts rejoice.

Thou Chief Osage! fear not to come,
And leave awhile thy sylvan home;
The path we trod is clear and free,
And wide and smother grows for thee.

When here to march thou feel'st inclined,
We'll arm a length'ning file behind;
And dauntless from our forests walk,
To hear our Great White Father's talk.

II. OSAGE WAR SONG.

Wanapasha, one of their chiefs, encourages them to be intrepid in battle.

Say, warriours, why, when arms are sung,
And dwell on every native tongue,
Do thoughts of death intrude?
Why weep the common lot of all?
Why fancy you yourselves may fall,
Pursuing or pursued?

* The Great Spirit, or Supreme Being, is called by the Osages, "The Master of Breath, or Master of Life."

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