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vent, who accompanied Poncet to Abyffinia, but unfortunately died there ‡.

Driven however from this hold, the objectors will poffibly retain their increduli ty as to many particulars to be related, which I will fhortly endeavour to answer, at least in regard to two of the principal ones, which are often much dwelt upon.

The first of thefe is, the having visited the fources of the Nile, which, from claffical education, we cannot easily believe, as they were unknown to the ancients, though they had fo great curiofity with regard to this difcovery *.

Many things, however, have been accomplished by travellers in modern times, which the ancients never could atchieve, and which may be attributed to their want of enterprise + (as travellers, at least), of languages, and laftly, the not being able to procure credit when in a distant country. Mr. Bruce could not have continued fo long as he did in Abyffinia, unless he had drawn from Gondar upon a merchant established at Cairo.

The difficulty, however, with regard to reaching the fources of the Nile, arifes principally from the uncivilized ftate of Abyffinia, unless the traveller had a proper introduction &. When once this is procured, all difficulties feem to cease, as we find by Lobo's || account of this fame difcovery, and likewise by Pon

cet's narrative, who was prevented by illness from vifiting the very spot, but hath given an ample relation from an Abyffinian, who had often been there. Poncet, moreover, had obtained leave from the Emperor to make this journey, which he ftates as not being a diftant one, and that the Emperor hath a palace near the very sources.

If it be doubted, whether Mr. Bruce hath vifited every fource of the Nile, I anfwer, that perhaps no Englishman hath taken this trouble with regard to the fources of the Thames, which, like most other rivers, is probably derived from many springs and rills in different directions.

The other objection which I have often heard, is, that Mr. Bruce hath mentioned in converfation, that the Abyflinians cut a flice from the living ox, esteeming it one of their greatest delicacies.

This fort of dainty indeed is not fo confidered in other parts of the globe; but every nation almost hath its peculiarities in the choice of their food.

Do not we eat raw oyfters within a fecond of their being separated from the shell? And do not we roaft both them and lobsters whilst alive, the barbarity of which practice feems to equal that of the Abyffinians? Do not cooks fkin eels whilft alive? and do not epicures crimp fish for the gratification of their appetites?

It must be admitted, however, that we owe to the zeal of the Jesuits, the best accounts we have both of China and Paraguay. Few laymen have been actuated so strongly for the promotion of geography and science as Mr. Bruce; and we muft, therefore, (upon the order of Jefuits being abolished) look up chiefly to the Miffionaries from the Church of the Unitas Fratrum, who, though viffering fo totally in other refpects, feem to have an equal ardour with the Jefuits for instructing the inhabitants of countries unfrequented by Europeans. Such miffions are already established in W. Greenland, the coaft of Labrador, N. lat. 56, the back fettlements of Carolina and Pennsylvania, in India, Bengal, and the Nicobar Islands. Thole established on the coast of Labrador fend over yearly meteorological journals, which are communicated to the Royal Society. As for the difpute between Poncet and Maillet, the French conful at Cairo, fee Mod. Univ. Hift. vol. VI.

We cannot be furprized that the Greeks and Romans should have had this curiofity, the Nile not only overflowing during the fummer, but receiving no tributary stream through lo large an extent of country. The not being able to reach the fource, however, argues a great want of enterprise in them, especially as both of these nations were masters of Egypt.

+ Perhaps alfo of curiofity. How little do the Romans seem to have known of the Pf. renees or Alps; I had almoft faid, of their own Appenines.

+ Some of the most accomplished Romans could indeed speak Greek, but the Greeks no language except their own.

The profeffing the knowledge of medicine was Poncet's introduction, and feems to have been that of Mr. Bruce. Even in our own civilized country, how are quacks and mounte. banks resorted to? And what an impression must Mr. Bruce, with his magnificent and fcientific apparatus, have made upon the inhabitants of fuch a country as Abyffinia.

In Father Telles's compilation. See alfo Ludolf, who defcribes the fources from Gregory, who was a native of Abyflinia. Father Payz was the firft who vifited them, A. D. 1622, His account of this is faid to be in the archives of the College de Propagandâ Fide at Rome. It is believed that there many other curious particulars for the illuftration of geography, to be found in the fame depofitory. Dr. Shaw mentions, moreover, fome papers of Lappi (who accompanied the French embally into Abyssinia, A. D. 1704) which are to be found in the Botanical Library at Oxford,

That

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That the Abyffinians eat beef in a raw ftate, is agreed by both Lobo and Poncet ; and the former fays reeking from the beaft. Mr. Antes moreover was told by a Francifcan Monk, who went with the caravan from Abysfinia to Cairo *, that he was witness of an ox being killed, and immediately devoured by the band of travellers.

One reafon, perhaps, for this ufage may be the great heat of the climate, which will not permit meat to be kept a fufficient time to make it tender (as with us); and it is generally allowed, that a fowl, dreffed immediately after it is killed, is in better order for eating, than if it is kept four and twenty hours. Is it therefore extraordinary that an Abyffinian epicure may really find (or perhaps fancy) that a piece cut from the beast whilft alive, may be more tender, or have a better reldh than if it is previoufly killed by the butcher? To this I must add, that according to the information which I have received on this head, Mr. Bruce's account of this practice is much misreprefented by the objectors, who fuppofe that the ox lives a confiderable time after these pieces are cut from it, When these dainty bits, however, have been fent to the great man's table, (and which are probably taken from the flethy parts) the beaft foon afterwards expires, when the first artery is cut, in providing flices for the numerous attendants.

Upon the whole, the not giving credit to a traveller, because he mentions an ufage which is very different from ours, (and is undoubtedly very barbarous) feems rather to argue ignorance, than acuteness.

This brings to my recollection the incredulity which was fhewn to another diftinguished traveller, Dr. Shaw, who having mentioned, in an Oxford common room, that fome of the Algerines were fond of lion's

flesh, never could obtain any credit + afterwards from his brother-fellows of the fame college, though many of them were learned

men.

It is well known, however, though Dr. Shaw states this fame circumstance in the publication of his Travels, that he is cited with the greatest approbation in almost every part of Europe.

The natural caufe and progrefs of the in credulity which a traveller generally experi ences, feems to be the following:

When he returns from a diftant, and little frequented country, every one is impatient to hear his narrative, from which, of courfe, he felects the more ftriking parts, and particularly the ufages which differ moft from our own. Some of the audience disbelieving what the traveller had mentioned, put queftions to him which shew their diftruft. The traveller by this treatment becomes irritated, and anfwers fome of them peevishlyf, others ironically, of which the interrogators afterwards take advantage to his prejudice.

I have been at the trouble of collecting these facts, and which I have endeavoured to enforce by such observations as occurred, from being truly defirous of feeing Mr. Bruce's account of Abyffinia, who is certainly no common traveller, nor can the publication be a fuperficial one, as he refided there fo long.

That Mr. Bruce hath great talents for the information of his readers appears by his differtation on the Theban harp, which Dr. Burney hath inferted in the first volume of his Hiftory of Mufic, and in which Mr. Bruce alfo mentions feveral of the Abyffinian inftruments. Mr. Bruce moreover is faid to have a great facility in learning languages, and talents for drawing, nor perhaps was any other traveller furnished with fo large and

This points out another channel, by which a traveller of enterprise may vifit Abyffinia. Sir William Temple fomewhere mentions that a Dutch Governor of Batavia, who lived much with one of the most confiderable inhabitants of Java, could never obtain any credit from him, after having mentioned, that in Holland water became a folid body.

Quanto mi giovera, narra e altrui

Le cofe verdute, e dire Io fui?

ARIOSTO.

The traveller who first faw a flying fish, probably told every one of this extraordinary circumstance as foon as he fet his foot on thore, and was as probably difcredited with regard to the other particulars of his voyage.

§ Nothing is more irritating to an ingenuous person than to find his affertions are disbelieved. This is commonly experienced in the croís examinations of almost every witness. To the diftreffes of the traveller, on his return, I may add, the being often teazed by very ignorant questions.

#Thebes in Egypt.

Some of the incredulous have expreffed their doubts with regard to this, but ample proof could be produced were it at all necellary.

** Mr. Bruce is said to have spoken the Arabic when he first entered Abyssinia, but after.wards acquired the language of the country.

EUROP. MAQ.

LI

fcientifie

feientific an apparatus of inftruments. This I will add, that Mr. Bruce's fpirit and enterprife will not be easily equalled.

If I can therefore be the least inftrumental in the earlier production of fo interesting an account of an almost unfrequented part of Africa, my pains will be amply repaid.

As this is my fole view in what is here laid before the public, I am not under the obli. gation of making apologies to any one but Mr. Bruce himself, who perhaps may not have occafion to thank me, for undertaking his defence, to which he is so much more equal in moft refpects.

A defence, however, from himself merely, will never be a complete one with those who are incredulous, because it must depend upon his own affertions, as there is perhaps no

other perfon in Europe, who ever was in Abyffinia.

if a traveller describes a country frequented by others, he is liable to contradiction, and may be foon detected by the cross examination of those who have been equally eyewitnesses as himself. But where is the traveller to be found, who hath braved the dangers that must have furrounded Mr. Bruce during four years refidence in a barbarous empire?

Mr. Bruce himself, moreover, hath not the means of refuting the groundless infinuations of Baron Tott, which I have happened to procure, and which indeed have been the principal cause of my entering into this costroversy.

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Letters concerning the Northern Coaft of the County of Antrim. By the Rev. William Hamilton, A. M. Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. 8vo. 4s. Robinsons. 1786.

THE learned and ingenious author of thefe entertaining Letters, after giving a general sketch of the northern coast of Antrim, and making fome obfervations on its ftructure and the arrangement of its foffils, as likewife of the island of Raghery, which lies fix or feven miles off the northcoaft of Antrim oppofite to Ballycastle Bay, concludes, from the fame kind of materials being fimi Larly arranged at equal elevations on the main-land and the island, that they were originally united, but feparated by fome violent convulfion of nature.

The island is near five miles in length, and three quarters of a mile in breadth; it contains about 1200 inhabitants, and is rather over-peopled, as there is no confiderable manufacture to employ any fuperfluous hands. The cultivated part of it produces excellent barley; fix hundred pounds worth of this grain have been exported from it in a plentiful feafon; and upwards of an hundred tons of kelp have been manufactured in a year from the fea-weed found on the rocks. The horfes as well as fheep are fmall but extremely ferviceable. The inhabitants are de

fcribed as being a fimple, laborious, and ho neft race of people, poffeffing a degree of affection for their island, which to a stranger may appear furprising. They fpeak of lieland as of a foreign kingdom, and have scarce any intercourse with it.

"The tedious proceffes of civil law, Mr. Hamilton obferves, are little known in Raghery; the fimplicity of their manners renders the interference of the civil magistrate very unneceffary. The feizure of a cow, or a horfe, for a few days, to bring the defaulter to a fenfe of duty; or a copious draught of faltwater from the furrounding ocean, in criminal cafes, form the greatest part of the fanctions and punishments of the inland. If the offender be wicked beyond hope, banifhment to Ireland is the dernier refort, and frees the community from this peftilential member.

"In a fequeftered ifland like this, one would expect to find bigotted fuperftition flourish under the aufpices of the Roman church; but the fimplicity of the iflanders does not fofter any uncharitable tenets; they are neither groffly superstitious, nor rank bɛ

gots.

gots. Of their good will to the established church they give an annual proof, rarely found in any other part of Ireland. When they have got in their own harvest, they. give the parfon a day of their horfes and carts, and bring the entire tythe home to his farm yard."

The author next defcribes Ballycastle, the ftate of its manufactories, and collieries. In thefe about twelve years ago, the workmen unexpectedly, in pushing forward a new adit toward the coal, broke through the rock to a cavern, which on examination was found to be a complete gallery, carried forward many hundred yards, branching off into various chambers, with pillars left at proper intervals to fupport the roof. The difcovery of this colliery, Mr. Hamilton thinks, tends ftrongly to fhew, that there was an age when Ireland enjoyed a confiderable share of civilization. He farther quotes the round towers of Ireland, of which there are upwards of fifty still remaining, which are original in their kinds, and not inelegant in their structure, as proofs that there were public monuments in that kingdom before the arrival of the English. To these he adds the numerous inftruments of peace and war, the many curious and coftly ornaments of drefs daily dug out of the fields, as irrefragable teftimonies that the arts once flourished, and that the precious metals were not unknown in Ireland. Not content with effa blifhing the claims of the Irish to skill in architecture and mechanical works, he with truly patriotic zeal adduces the authority of the venerable Bede and other ancient authors to prove that it was many centuries ago a rich and happy kingdom, undisturbed by thofe bloody wars which harraffed the rest of the world; the feat of learning and of piety.

In his next letter, the author gives the following account of a fingular flying bridge at Carrick-a-Rede, and the falmon-fifhery on that coaft.

"At a particular season of the year, the falmon fish come along the coaft in queft of the different rivers, in which they annually caft their pawn. In this expedition the fifh generally fwim pretty close to the fhore, that they may not mifs their port. The fifhermen, who are well aware of this coafting voyage, take care to project their nets at fuch places as may be moft convenient for intercepting them in their courfe.

"It fo happens that Carrick-a Rede is the only place on this abrupt coaft which is fuited for the purpose. Here then, or no where, must be the fishery-but how to get at the rock is the question.-A chaẩm full to feet in breadth, and of a depth frightful

to look at, feparates it from the adjacent land, in the bottom of which the sea breaks with an uninterrupted roar over the rocks. The island itself is inacceffible on every side except one spot, where, under the fhelter of an impending rock, a luxuriant herbage flourishes; but the wildness of the coaft and the turbulence of the fea make it very difficult to land here.

"In this perplexity there is no refource, except in attempting to throw a bridge of ropes from the main land to the island, which accordingly the fishermen every year accomplish in a very singular manner. Two ftrong cables are extended across the gulph by an expert climber, and fastened firmly into iron rings mortifed into the rock on either fide. Between these ropes a number of boards about a foot in breadth are laid in fuccesfion, fupported at intervals by crosscords and thus the path-way is formed, which, though broad enough to bear a man's foot with tolerable convenience, des by no means hide from view the pointed rocks and raging fea beneath, which in this fituation exhibit the fatal effects of a fall in very strong colouring; while the fwingings and undulations of the bridge itfelf, and of the hard rope, which no degree of tenfion can prevent in fo great a length, fuggest no very comfortable feeling to perfons of weak nerves Upon the whole, it is a beautiful bridge in the fcenery of a landscape, but a frightful one in,real life.

"The mode of fishing on this coast is dif ferent from any I have feen.

"The net is projected directly outward from the shore, with a flight bend, forming a bofom in that direction in which the falmon come. From the remote extremity a rope is brought obliquely to another part of the fhore, by which the net may be fwept round at pleasure, and drawn to the land; a heap of small stones is then prepared for each per fon. All things being ready, foon as the watchmen perceives the fish advancing to the net, he gives the watch word; immediately fome of the fishermen feize the oblique rope, by which the net is bent round to enclofe the falmon, while the rest keep up an inceffant cannonade with their amzinition of ftones, to prevent the retreat of the fish till the net has been completely pulled round them; after which they all join forces, and drag the net and fith quietly to the rocks."

Mr. Hamilton here relates an amufing inftance of fagacity which he observed in a water dog of this country, who had become a moft excelient fisher.

"This dog, as foon as he perceived the men began to haul their net, inftantly ran down the river of his own accord, and took poft

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in the middle of it, on fome fhallows where he could occafionally run or fwim, and in this pofition he placed himfelf with all the eagernefs and attention fo ftrongly óbfervable in a pointer dog who fets his game.-We were for fome time at a loís to apprehend his fcheme, but the event foon fatisfied us, and amply juftified the prudence of the animal: for the fish, when they feel the net, always endea. vour to make directly out to fea. Accord ingly, one of the falmon efcaping from the net, rushed down the ftream with great ve locity towards the ford where the dog food to receive him at an advantage A very diverting chace now commenced, in which, from the fhallowness of the water, we could difcern the whole track of the fifh, with all its rapid turnings and windings. After a fmart purfuit the dog found himself confiderably behind, in confequence of the water deepening, by which he had been reduced to the neccffity of fwimming. But instead of following this defperate game any longer, he readily gave it over, and ran with all his fpeed directly, down the river, till he was fure of being again to feaward of the falmon, where he took poft as before. Here the fish a fecond time met him, and a fresh purfait enfued, in which, after various attempts, the falmon at lait made its way out to fea, notwithstanding all the ingenious and vigorous exertions of its purfuer.

"Though the dog did not fucceed at this time, yet I was informed it was no unufual thing for him to run down his game; and the fishermen affured me that he was of very great advantage to them, by turning the falmon towards the net; in which point of view his efforts in fome meafure correfponded with the cannonade of tones mentioned at Carrick-a-Rede."

The two next letters contain an account of the incurfions of the Scots-Dunluce cattleand the hiftory of its old lord M.Qullan; together with a pathetic and interefting account of an unfortunate family fettled in the promontory of Bengore. Of the antient ftate and hiftory of this part of Antrim little remains now discoverable.

Among the natural curiofities on the coaft, the most remarkable is that curious combination of basaltic pillars commonly called the Giants Caufeway, which next engage: cur author's attention. The native inhabitants of the coast who first obferved this wonder, attempted to account for its production by a theory rude and fimple indeed, but not grofsly barbarous or abfurd. The fishermen, whole daily neceffities led them thither for fubfiit. ence, obferved that it was a regular mole projecting into the fea; on clofer infpection it was difcovered to be built with an appear.

ance of art and regularity, refembling the work of mep, but exceeding any thing of the kind that had been feen. They, however, concluded. that human ingenuity and perfeverance, if fupported by fufficient power, might have produced it. The chief difficulty, feems to have been the want of strength equal to the effect. This the traditions of a fanciful people foon fupplied, and Fin ma Cool (the modern Fingal) the celebrated hero of ancient Ireland, became the giant who erected this curious ftructure.

A pile of fimilar pillars were afterwards ditcovered fomewhere on the opposite coast of Scotland, and latitudes and longitudes not be ing at that time accurately understood, a confufed notion prevailed, that this mole was once continued across the fea, and joined the Irish and Scottish coafts together.

Towards the end of the last century, the Royal Society began to bufy itself about this fingular and original wonder. But the informations they received were imperfect. Dr. Molineux took confiderable pains to procure information concerning this phoeno

menon.

At his inftigation, the Dublin Society employed a painter of fome eminence, to make a general sketch of the coaft near the Caufeway; but neither the talents nor fidelity of the artift feem to have been fuited to the purpofe of a philofophical Indicape.

From that period the Bafalt Pillars paffed almost unnoticed for half a century, med of fcience appearing unwilling to engage with an object which had hitherto baffled the attempts of the ableft theorifts.

In the year 1740, Mrs. Suf.nnah Drary made two very beautiful and correct paint. ings of the Giants Caufteway, which obtained the premium for the encouragement of arts in Ireland; and being engraved by an eminent artift, and published, again directed the attention of the curions to this antiquated fubject. Soon after Dr. Pococke male 3 tour through the county of Antrim, and took a general view of the coaft; but not content with matters of fact, he ventured to ftart a theory, unable to fland the teit of a critical examination, attributing the regular figure of the columns to repeated precipita tions of the bafaltes, fuppofed to have been once fufpended in a watery medium.

Mr. Hamilton gives us the following ac count of thefe ftupendous columns :

The causeway is generally described as a mole or quzy projecting from the base of a feep promontory fome hundred feet into the fe, and is formed of perpendicular pillers of bafaltes, which fand in contact with each other, exhibiting an appearance not imich unlice a folid honeycomb. The pillars are irregular pulms, of various denominat ous

fruat

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