Imatges de pàgina
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of India.-A correct likeness of the noble | gan to battle it, this might have ended in Duke, in the act of leading his troops to the discomfiture of the riders, had they not victory, was accompanied by a half length jumped off, in order to lead their cattle in, portrait of the Prince Regent in his robes. but in vain. After remounting and a great To these, the Hindoo personification of deal of hard riding, they all swerved off the Ganesa, with his elephantiue countenance, course, and as it took up too long a time introduced an herald on an elephant; bear- to bring them back to the post, the businesə ing the white flag of Peace, with the same was referred to the umpires, who have word written on it, in the Persian and Ta- again referred the matter to an arbitration mul languages. of butchers, who are supposed to be the most knowing judges on such occasions. MÁDRÁS,

FRIDAY, 12th August, 1814.

A Ryot or Tuffreek Subscription Purse, for all horses bred in Coimbatoor, one and a half mile heats, 9 stone.

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Not content with these amusements, and with the delight derivable from the performances of Odu Odu, Jeleda Jaw, and Chowree Moottoo, the conductors of the festival projected a novelty, probably not to be matched in the world:-no less than a race between all bulls, oxen, and cows -restricted, we believe, to-natives of the district. As might have been expected, the racers, unused to so much whipping and driving, and cutting and spurring, with the true bull spirit of hlunder, mistook each other for the cause of all this violence, and fairly vented their feelings in mutual assault. Hence, though the race is described as interesting, the sport was spoiled. Such are the consequences of over-driving the bull family, whether in India, or elsewhere!

THE BEEF STAKES.-For all Bulls, Oxen, or Cows, twice round the course, 3 miles, the winner to have the last animal at the winning post coming in, as his prize; the following cattle started:

Pongal, Shevaley, Gopi, Lutchmi, Fellee Ammay, Parvathy, Sonachellum, Arnagerry, Chokalingum.

This was an interesting race-the riders by some jockeyship having cut across the course. Great skill was shown by Arnagery's rider, but Chokalingum pressed him, and at the turn they both turned to and be

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Exhibited no great novelty, that we can learn; but the Portuguese religion, establishment in the neighbourhood of that city, displayed all its pomp and magnificence, on this occasion:-nevertheless, the host was not carried in public procession (as it might have been) the omission being probably, thought more consistent with decorum, in the midst of a Protestant popu lation, and under a Protestant goverment.

On Sunday Evening Aug. 14, a grand fes. tival took place at the Cathedral of St. Thome in honor of the late glorious intelligence of the re-establishment of peace in Europe. The Acting Bishop had given previous notice in the public prints of his intention of dedicating that day to a solemn service, on this most important and highly gratifying event, which restores his Prince to the dominions of his forefathers and millions to a for years has been a stranger. Illuminarepose and happiness, to which the world tions of the different churches began on the Friday preceding-on which evening and on Saturday processions of much form by the whole of the Priesthood and the reand great grandeur took place, attended galia of the different Churches, with the banners of England and Portugal united

the bells ringing and music playing several National and appropriate tunes-the whole conducted with much care, and notwithstanding the pressure from the multitude which attended, the greatest regularity was observed.

On Sunday morning the bells of the dif ferent Churches announced the celebration of high Mass-a great proportion of the principal catholic families at the Settlement, were present a procession took place which far exceeded, both in numbers and effect, those of the preceding evening

the Host was carried with much pomp and solemnity, and was exposed during the whole day on the principal. Altar of the Cathedral, before which Incense was con tiuually offered. After the procession,

High Mass was celebrated with martial, and other music, attending-when his Excellency the Bishop gave a discourse applicable to the event.

keens and on Horseback, were traversing the plain, in all directions, to offer fruit and flowers, to the respective objects of their regard and veneration. The scene was rendered more busy by the fantastic groups and processions of the Mussulman part of society, who at the same time, were celebrating their principal festival; and indulging in all the license of the seasonand in other places, we witnessed the

In the evening, the principal inhabitants of the Settlement, Catholic and Protestant, who appeared on this occasion to vie with each other, in celebration of an event, which gives equal joy and happiness to all -attended at the Cathedral, which, both in its interior and exterior exhibited a pro-annual exhibition of the native Portuguese, fusion of brilliant and well arranged lights -which, produced, with the rich hangings of the Altar, and other decorations of the Cathedral, a most admirable effect. It is needless to say, that the Church could not contain a tenth of the people assembled every arrangement had been made for the accommodation of the fashionable females who were present-by chairs being placed in the choir, and other places-and, with the exception of the heat being somewhat oppressive, no great inconvenience was experienced.

At about half past five o'clock his Excellency the Bishop ascended the pulpit, and began a most excellent oration, taking for his text, the words of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 52, verses first and second -" Awake, awake, put on thy strength O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy City; for henceforth

there shall no more come unto thee the uncircumcised and the unclean."

"Shake thyself from the dust, arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem, loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion."

After Divine Service a most extensive and brilliant exhibition of fireworks took place facing the Cathedral, which was illuminated from the ground to the top of the building-other partial displays of lights were placed in the front of the several Churches; which tended to shew the attachment and loyalty of his Excellency to the interest of his Prince and Country.

who parade around Madras, in the supposed costume of the time, to commemorate the first landing in India of Vasco de Gama. In the evening His Majesty's Judges, the Members of Council, and the principal European Inhabitants, had the honour of dining with his Excellency the Governor, at the Banquetting-room of the Government House.

PROCESSION OF JUGGERNAUTH.

The following affords one of those melancholy instances of human depravity and imbecility of mind, which shake the firmest believers in the rectitude and wisdom of our race. We should be glad to think, that the small number of victims immolated to this Moloch, this time, was owing to better regulations established, and a check given to this fatal superstition by superior knowledge.

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Juggernauth, June 22, 1814. "The sights here beggar all description. Though Juggernauth made some progress on the 19th, and has travelled daily ever since, he has not yet reached his countryhouse, which is about a mile from the temple:-he may perhaps, however, arrive there to-night. His brother is a head of him, and the lady in the rear.-One woman only has devoted herself under the wheels; -and a shocking sight it was. Another, (intending, I believe, also to devote herself), missed the wheels with her body, but had her arm broken. Three have lost their lives by the pressure of the croud, one of 2 them in the temple and two in the street.

NEW YEAR'S DAY AT MADRAS. Madras, too, had its medley, if not its masquerade, on a later occasion, to which as we do not recollect to have commemorated it in our pages, we assign a place. The New Year was ushered in according to the usage which obtains in this part of India-and the Town of Madras, as well as Choultry Plain, appeared to be in motion. The principal European Inhabitants paid their New Year's visit to the Judges and Members of Government-and the Native Inhabitants in Hackerys and Palan-made of rope.

"The place swarms with fakeers and mendicants, whose devices to attract at tention are in many instances really ingenious. You see some standing for half the day on their heads, bawling out all the while for alms; some, with their heads entirely covered with earth; some having their eyes filled with mud, and their mouth with straw; some lying in puddles of water; one man with his foot tied to his neck, another with a pot of fire on his belly, and a third enveloped in a net-work

"Yesterday evening we witnessed a Sut-| Europe on furlough, and to receive the pay of Major during such furlough.

tee. The acting Magistrate alighted, and spoke to the woman: but she said, that she had loved her husband, and was determined to barn with him. The man had died only about seven hours before; and bis body was in a pit, at a short distance, filled with burning faggots. She proceeded towards the spot, supported by her two sons and several Brahmins; music playing, during the ceremony. When she came near the pit, she received a vessel (containing offerings, I suppose) from one of the sons, and then advancing from the rest, passed round the place, until she came opposite to her husband, when she threw in the vessel, and presently sprang forward with open arms, embraced the dead body, and soon afterwards expired. The remains of both were subsequently taken up; and the sons having first performed certain ceremonies for each, they were placed on separate piles, and consumed to ashes.

"I am happy to say, that not a life has this year been lost at the barrier, where last year twenty-seven were crushed to death."

“June 28, 1814.-Juggernauth, his brother and sister, all quitted their Gardenhouse last night, mounted their Rutts again, and this morning have commenced their journey back to the temple in perfect health; for you must know that Juggernauth, according to his annual custom, had caught cold, by bathing in the temple at the last full moon; in consequence of which, he shut himself up for a fortnight, and, a day or two, after he was well enough to see company; and set out on this expedition to his Garden-house for change of air, He accordingly now returns, quite restored." BENGAL.

STATE OF THE CHAPLANCIES OF THE EAST

INDIA COMPANY: with the proportion and condition of the allowances allotted in case of retirement. [Lately re-published.] Extract from a Public General Letter from the Honourable the Court of Directors, addressed to the Government of Fort St. George, dated 9th April, 1805.

Para. 115. "On cousideration of our orders of the 25th of July 1798, upon this subject, we are however of opinion, that the retiring pay thereby allowed to Chaplains, is not adequate to the length of service required, and we have agreed to the following alterations in the regulations then established, viz.

The Chaplains who come home for ill health prior to the period of service, shall receive the pay of captain only.

That Chaplains having served ten years at a military station, and after eighteen years service altogether (including three years for a furlough), shall be allowed to retire on the pay of Major.

That Chaplains having served ten years in India, and whose constitutions will not admit of their continuing on service there, for the period required to entitle them to full pay, shall be permitted to retire on the half pay of Major.

That Chaplains whose constitutions will not admit of their continuing in India, for so long a period of ten years, shall be permitted to retire on the half pay of Captain, provided they have served seven years in India.

That no retiring pay be granted to Chaplains who have not served seven years in India.

116. In all instances of application from Chaplains to retire on half pay, the most ample certificates will be required to prove, that real inability from ill health, to continue to serve in India, is the foundation of such applications; and further, that in a pecuniary view, the situations of Chaplains applying to retire, are such as to render the half pay necessary to support them in this country, in a decent and comfortable manner.

117. The testimonials of good conduct required by the 57th Paragraph of our Letter of the 25th of July 1798, are also indispensible, previous to our permitting any Chaplain to retire from our service, on full or half pay.

DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE.

The following obliging communication, dated the 14th May, from a correspondent at Noacolly, gives an account of a storm in that quarter, which, in point of violence, has not for many years had a parallel in any part of Bengal. The range of the gale however, does not seem to have been very extensive. The following are the particulars communicated:- '

"On the 11th instant, this station was visited with the most violent tornado, (if I may use the expression,) that has occurred within the memory of the oldest inhabitants. It began to blow very strong from the South East at day-break, and the gale continued to freshen until 11 o'clock, when. its fury became irresistable. After blowThat Chaplains after seven years resi-ing for about 2 hours from the East and dence in India, be allowed to come to South East, the wind veered round by the

in the paddy fields, he arrived at the cutcherry, just one hour and a half from the time of his setting out; though the distance he had to travel was barely half a mile. Birds were blown to the earth with violence; and choppahs and beams were carried to an incredible distance from the buildings to which they belonged."

PAYMENT OF PRIŽE MONEY:

NOVEL VOYAGE OF COMMERCIAL AD-
VENTURE.

North, and returned with redoubled violence, carrying every thing before it. Providentially, it abated at 4 P. M.; for, had it continued during the night, dreadful | indeed would have been the consequences. At the cutcherry house, belonging to the Salt Agent, an immense choppah, which was supported by 19 strong pucka pillars, was entirely swept away. Doors and ve netians were burst from their fastenings; and great apprehensions were entertained, We are happy to inform our military that the house itself would have yielded to friends, that a distribution of the prize the storm. So much indeed was the cut- money for property taken in the Mahratta cherry injured, that all the people were campaigns, of 1800-4-5, is likely to take obliged to quit it, and to seek shelter in a | place in the course of a few days. new house belonging to the Salt Agent, and inhabited by that gentleman, which was the only building that might be said May 16. The past week has been disto have withstood the fury of the elements. Even this did not however entirely escape. in the commercial history of this settletinguished by an incident altogether novel Two venetian windows and a pannel door were stove in, and the greater part of the ment, the arrival of an English merchanteastern ballustrade was swept away.man, on a trading voyage from the West Coast of Spanish America. The ship Trees of fifty years growth were either torn up by the roots, or so shattered as to be Mary Ann sailed from Portsmouth on the 31st of January 1818, under a special li with difficulty recognized. The bungacence from the East India Company for low belonging to the Surgeon of the stathis particular voyage. She had the protion, was entirely gutted, and nothing remains but the choppah. All the other bun-tection of His Majesty's ship Aquilon, as galows, with the Commissioner's cutcherry, are in ruins. Of the native huts, not one has escaped; and it is hardly possible to picture the scene of ruin and devastation which presented itself the next morning. I will not attempt to describe it :-suffice it to say, that the sternest heart would have ached to witness it. The sea rose upwards of ten feet higher than its usual level, completely inundating the contiguous shores, and causing incalculable mischief; herds of cattle were actually washed away; and it is feared, that many lives have been lost. Accounts are hourly coming in, teeming with statements of public and private loss. The Company will no doubt be considerable losers; as every Salt Golah has sustained more or less damage, and many are entirely destroyed. The havock on the river must have been dreadful indeed. We have as yet heard but of 18 boats, all of which have been totally lost. To give you some further idea of the violence of the gale, I shall merely mention the following circumstance. The Surgeon, (a stout, athletic man,) finding his bungalow no longer tenable, thought it advisable to seek a refuge in one of the pucka houses of the station. Scarcely had he quitted the threshold, when he was carried off his legs by a gust of wind, and thrown into a ditch full of water. Having extricated himself with some difficulty, he again started; and after having been repeatedly thrown down

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At Val

far as the coast of Brazil, where they
parted; the Mary Ann prosecuting her voy-
age round Cape Horn to the port of Val-
paraiso in the kingdom of Chili.
paraiso she arrived on the 23d of June,
and was detained there until the 7th of
January following, chiefly by the presence
of some American cruizers, which infested
the coast. All serious ground of apprehen-
sion on that score having disappeared, she
continued her voyage across the Pacific,
touching no where until she made Malac
ca, where she arrived after a fine run of
about three months, and from thence came
on to Bengal.

VIOLENT STORM, OCCASIONED BY CHANGE
OF MONSOON.

Extract of a letter from Poonah, dated 6th
June, 1814.

Yesterday our Monsoon commenced with a violence not often experienced here. I have felt many heavy squalls at sea, and in several parts of Asia have seen the effects of the commencement of different periodical winds and seasons, but this, for the short period it lasted, exceeded them all.

During its fury, while wind, hail, rain, thunder and lightening all in their utmost strength were contending for superiority, intelligence was brought of the death of three natives who had been killed by lightning. The horrid spectacle that they

as the Speculators have got their tonuage very cheap, 71. a ton, on two Government Transports; they may afford to support this loss.

presented is but seldom seen, and it is out of the power of language to convey a just idea of the scene. Three persons in the vigour of health instantaneously deprived of existence, their limbs and features burnt We imagine that it is principally in the and dreadfully distorted and contracted, | manufacture of Soap, that Cocoa-nut Oif and the principal bones fleshless, and in | may be found useful in England. In this many parts their surface even a little part of the world we all know its value scorched, as a very agreeable lamp oil. But at 50 degrees of heat, which is above the medium temperature of Europe, it congeals, and is no longer fitted for this purpose. Some years ago, some ingenious experiments were made in Bombay, by one of the best informed and most scientific men the society of India has been favoured with; under the idea of its being possible to convert Castor Oil into a substance resembling Wax, by means of the Nitric Acid. This Gentleman perfectly succeeded in his principal object, that of hardening the oil, and very good candles were made of it, but from the difficulty attending the bleaching, he failed in making it generally useful.The progress of chemical knowledge since that period, may perhaps enable some of our Countrymen at home to succed in a similar attempt with the Cocoa-nut oil.

It appeared upon enquiring of the relatives of the unfortunate sufferers, that, during the height of the storm, to preserve the Chuppa of the house from being blown off, they were inside endeavouring to secure it: the fatal flash struck the three at once, and the roof though soaked with rain was instantly on fire. The Subahdar Peer Mahomed to whom the hut belonged, had his sword close by the door, and Irather think there were two or three muskets and bayonets close by where the lightning first struck, every thing in the hut was reduced to ashes in a few seconds, and the wall on Que side completely levelled.

The man was quite distracted, not on account of his pecuniary loss, (though to a soldier that was rather great) but two of the sufferers were his children, a son and a daughter, the former about 18 years of age, the latter 4 years, the third person in the dreadful catastrophe was a horsekeeper Extract of a letter from Batticaloa, 14th who has left a family behind him to lament his loss.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM TIRHOOT.

"July 12, 1814.-On the evening of the 7th current, between 7 and 8 o'clock, a luminous body, resembling a meteor, was observed to traverse the atmosphere from South to North. In passing, it gave so great a light, that the buildings here appeared to be on fire. Immediately afterwards, a great noise was heard, like the firing of cannon. The natives augur no good from this phenomenon. They are beginning to take the alarm; and are preparing themselves for all the horrors of a famine."

CEYLON.

New Article of Commerce.

We have heard, with interest, of a new Article of Commerce, about to be exported from Ceylon to England. It is Cocoa-nut Oil. We suppose it may be shipped there considering the depreciation of the cur rency and the rate of exchange at 5 shillings the hundred weight.

Palm Oil (we know not if this be the same Article) is quoted at 80 shillings per hundred weight in Europe.

It is true Oil suffers more by wastage in a long voyage than any other article, but,

EARTHQUAKE.

July, 1814.

"Yesterday, about half past 12 o'clock, we experienced a smart shock of an Earth quake: before the vibration was actually felt, we plainly heard a rumbling noise, which seemed to come in a north west direction, and might last about 15 seconds,' it resembled the sound of distant carriages over a paved street. The earth then vibrated very perceptibly, for perhaps, 7 or 10 seconds: the tremulous motion was so strong, as to affect even the chairs and tables, and make us leave the house. The sentry under the gateway also felt the motion so strong, that he ran into the open air. The sun was not visible, the sky was close and cloudy; the thermometer at 804 in the shade, and the wind which had been blowing moderately all the morning, became evidently lulled for the moment. E river rose, or fell, or in fact, if the water regret that I neglected to ascertain if the was in any way affected by it.

TRAVELLING STATE OF THE ISLAND.

Columbo, 11th May, 1814.-We learn from Batticalao, that his Excellency, the Governor, and purty, arrived there on the night of the 30th ultimo, after a pleasant journey of four days from Trincomale. His Excellency proposed remaining till the 6th, when he would proceed on his route

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