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covered. By this time the wound was inflamed; nevertheless I was under the necessity of once more submitting to the operation of the needle, and the principal artery was sewed up four different times before the blood was stopped. I suffered much for two or three days, not daring to take a wink of sleep; for, the moment I shut my eyes, my stump (though constantly held by the nerve), would take such convulsive motions, that I really think a stab to the heart could not be attended with greater pain. My blood too was become so very poor and thin, that it absolutely drained through the wound near a fortnight after my leg was cut off. I lay for eighteen days and nights in one position, not daring to move lest the ligature should again give way; but I could endure it no longer, and ventured to turn myself in bed, contrary to the advice of my surgeon, which I happily effected, and never felt greater pleasure in my life. Six weeks after the amputation, I went out in a sedan chair for the benefit of the air, being exactly nine months from the day I fell into the pit. Soon after I took lodgings in the country; where getting plenty of warm new milk, my appetite and strength increased daily; and I ever after enjoyed perfect health, and have since been the father of nine children.

MISCHIEF DONE BY A POLE-CAT.

Pole-cats are commonly considered as dangerous animals to poultry, but none ever imagined they could be so to men. The following example will shew what we should think on this head:

In the beginning of 1758, a woman of the village of Chaumeny, near L'Aigle in Normandy left a child of nine months old in its cradle, whilst she went out to her yard to fetch something she wanted. The cries of the child soon called her back. She found it all over blood, its cap torn off, the head pierced with two holes, and the forehead and hands scratched. She endeavoured to seek out the cause of this accident, and, not finding it, called together her neighbours. They, by a diligent search, thought they perceived an animal hid in a hole of the wall, and they kept themselves quiet in order to catch it, if it should return again to the same mischief. It did so in fact, and they caught it. It was a pole-cat, which the night before had killed six of this woman's hen's. They were perched as high as the ceiling; the pole-cat, attracted by the smell, came in and pulled down one: which she had devoured, She afterwards fell upon the child, which she would probably have treated in the same manner, if she had had time. Happily, the wounds were not mortal, and the child got well of the accident.

HINDOO PUNISHMENTS.

The method of inflicting punishment on criminals and debtors in Travencore, is in some respects singular; for capital crimes the culprits general suffer death, although, as in most oriental governments, money and interest may purchase a pardon, except for the dreadful sin of killing a cow, or selling one for slaughter: this subjects them to the most cruel death. For debts and nonpayment of fines inflicted as a punishment, they are confined by the caricar, or chief of the district, who draws a circle round the prisoner, from which he dare not move; then gently laying a sharp stone on the crown of his head, demands payment of the sum required: on a refusal, he places a large flat

stone over the other, and ties it firmly on; additional weights are gradually accumulated, with a repetition of the demand, until the sharp stone penetrating the head, either insures payment, or causes a painful death.

Another horrid punishment is that of the cruel sheep-skin death, sometimes practised by the Mahrattas. To be sewed up naked in the skin of an animal newly flayed, and therein exposed to the solar rays in India, without food or water, is perhaps one of the most cruel deaths ever thought of. The deprivation of sustenance would indeed mercifully hasten the death of the wretched sufferer; for dreadful must be the torture occasioned by the skin drying, contracting, and closely adhering to the flesh of the living victim.

HORRIBLE PHRENSY.

The following astonishing account of the voluntary death of the Bhauts is extracted from Mr. Forbe's Oriental Memoirs.

Neriad being the principal town belonging to Conda Row, who had joined in all Futty Sihng's machinations against Ragobah, he determined to give it up to pillage, or levy a contribution from the inhabitants. Ragobah, considering Conda Row's delinquency, was thought to have been very moderate in levying a contribution of only sixty thousand rupees on the inhabitants of Neriad; which, as usual, they refused to pay, until the threats of immediate pillage effected a compliance. Each caste was assessed according to its wealth and number; but some sects of Brahmins, and a very peculiar tribe of people called Bhauts, claimed an established privilege of being exempted from every kind of tax and imposition.

Although the Bhauts possess landed property, and cultivate it by the tribes employed in agriculture, as a privileged order they are exempted from taxes, and every attempt to levy an assessment is succeeded by the Tarakaw, a most horrid mode of murdering themselves and each other: this, from invariable custom, it is absolutely incumbent on them to do; for were they voluntarily to submit to any imposition, those of their own tribe in other places would refuse to eat with them, or to intermarry with their family; they therefore prefer a voluntary death to this state of ignominy and excommunication.

Ragobah continuing inexorable, the whole tribe of Bhauts, men, women, and children, repaired to an open space in the city, armed with daggers, and with a loud voice proclaimed a dreadful sacrifice; they once more prayed for an exemption, which being refused, they rushed furiously upon each other, and a considerable number perished before our astonished troops could disarm them. One man, more cool and deliberate than the rest, brought his family to the area before the durbar : it consisted of two younger brothers, and a beautiful sister, all under eighteen years of age: he first stabbed the unresisting damsel to the heart, instantly plunged the dagger into the breast of one brother, and desperately wounded the other before he could be prevented; indeed the whole horrid deed was in a manner instantaneous.

A particular sect of Brahmins, claimed the same privilege of exemption: on being refused, they likewise vowed revenge; but, acting more wisely than the Bhauts, they purchased two aged matrons of the same caste, who, having performed the duties of life, were now past the enjoyment of its pleasures, quietly submitted to the sacrifice. These ancient ladies were sold by their daughters for forty rupees each, to enable them to defray the expense incurred by the funeral ceremonies, on which the Indians all lay a great stress. The

victims were then conducted to the market-place, where the Brahmins, calling aloud for vengeance, dispatched them to another state of transmigration. After these sacrifices neither Brahmins nor Bhauts thought it any disgrace to pay their share of the imposition.

MASSACRE OF GLENCO.

The following depositions, selected from the report made by the Commissioners appointed by King William to inquire into this massacre, will inform the readers of the principals of that horrid transaction:

Sir Colin Campbell of Ardkinlas, sheriff deputy of Argyle, depones, That the deceased Glenco came to Inverary about the beginning of January 1692, with a letter from Colonel Hill, and was three days there before Ardkinlas could get thither, because of bad weather; and that Glenco said to him, That he had not come sooner, because he was hindered by the storm. And Ardkinlas farther depones, That when he declined to give the oath of allegiance to Glenco, because the last of December, the time appointed for the taking of it, was past, Glenco begged with tears that he might be admitted to take it, and promised to bring in all his people within a short time to do the like; and if any of them refused they should be imprisoned or sent to Flanders. Upon which Ardkinlas says, He did administer the oath of allegiance upon the 6th of January, 1692, and sent a certificate thereof to Edinburgh, with Colonel Hill's letter to Colin Campbell, sheriff-clerk of Argyle, who was then at Edinburgh; and further wrote to the said Colin that he should write back to him, whether Glenco's taking of the oath was allowed by the council or not. And the said Colin, sheriff-clerk, depones, That the foresaid letters, and the certificate relating to Glenco, with some other certificates relating to some other persons, all upon one paper, were sent in to him at Edinburgh by Ardkinlas; which paper being produced upon oath by Sir Gilbert Elliot, clerk of the secret council, but rolled and scorned as to Glenco's part, and his taking the oath of allegiance, yet the commissioners found that it was not so delete or dashed, but that it may be read that Glenco did take the oath of allegiance at Inverary, the 6th day of January, 1692. And the said Colin Campbell depones, That it came to his hand fairly written, and not dashed; and that with this certificate he had the letter said from Ardkinlas (with Col. Hill's abovementioned letter to Ardkinlas inclosed) bearing, how earnest Glenco was to take the oath of allegiance, and he had taken it on the 6th of January, but that Ardkinlas was doubtful if that the council would receive it; and the sheriff-clerk did produce before the commissioners the foresaid letter by Col. Hill to Ardkinlas, dated at Fort-William, the 31st day of December, 1691, and bearing, that Glenco had been with him, but slipped some days out of ignorance; yet that it was good to bring in a lost sheep at any time, and would be an advantage to render the king's government easy. And with the said sheriff-clerk, the Lord Aberuchil, Mr. John Campbell, writer to the signet, and Sir Gilbert Elliot, clerk to the council, do all declare, That Glenco's taking the oath of allegiance, with Ardkinlas's aforesaid certificate, as to his part of it, did come to Edinburgh, and was seen by them fairly written, and not scored or dashed; but that Sir Gilbert and the other clerk of the council refused to take it in, because done after the day appointed by the proclamation. Whereupon the said Colin Campbell, and Mr. John Campbell, went, as they depone, to Lord Aberuchil, then a privy-counsellor, and

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desired him to take the advice of the privy-counsellors about it; and accordingly they affirm that Aberuchil said he had spoke to several privy-counsellors, and partly to the Lord Stair, and that it was their opinion that the foresaid certificate could not be received without a warrant from the king, and that it would neither be safe to Ardkinlas, nor profitable to Glenco, to give in the certificate to the clerk of the council; and this the Lord Aberuchil confirms by his deposition, but doth not name therein the Lord Stair. And Colin Campbell, the sheriff-clerk, does farther depone, That with the knowledge of the Lord Aberuchil, Mr. John Campbell, and Mr. David Moncrief, clerk to the council, he did by himself or his servant, score or delete the foresaid certificate, as to Glenco's taking the oath of allegiance, and that he gave it in so scored or obliterate to the said Mr. David Moncrief, clerk of the council, who took it in. But it doth not appear by all these depositions, that the matter was brought to the council-board, that the council's pleasure might be known upon it, though it seems to have been intended by Ardkinlas who both wrote himself, and sent Colonel Hill's letter to make Glenco's excuse, and desired expressly to know the council's pleasure.

After that Glenco had taken the oath of allegiance, as it is said he went home to his own house; and as his two sons depone, he not only lived there for some days quietly and securely, but called his people together, and told them he had taken the oath of allegiance, and made his peace, and therefore desired and engaged them to live peaceably under Bing William's government, as the depositions of the said two sons bear.

These things having preceded the slaughter, which was not committed till the 13th of February, 1692, six weeks after the deceased Glenco had taken the oath of allegiance at Inverary, the slaughter of the Glenco men was in this manner, viz. John and Alexander Macdonalds, sons to the deceased Glenco, depone, That Glendary's house being reduced, the forces were called back to the South, and Glenlyon, a Captain of the Earl of Argyle's regiment, with Lieutenant Lindsay and Ensign Lindsay, and six score soldiers, returned to Glenco about the first of February, 1692, where, at their entry, the elder brother John met them with about twenty men, and demanded the reason of their coming; and Lieutenant Lindsay shewed him his orders for quartering there under Colonel Hill's hand, and gave assurance that they were only come to quarter; whereupon they were billetted in the country, and had free quarters and kind entertainment, living familiarly with the people until the 13th day of February. And Alexander farther depones, That Glenlyon being his wife's uncle, came almost every day and took his morning drink at his house; and that the very night before the slaughter, Glenlyon played at cards in his own quarters with both the brothers. And John depones, That old Glenco, his father, had invited Glenlyon, Lieutenant Lindsay, and Ensign Lindsay, to dine with him upon the very day the slaughter happened. But on the 13th day of February, being Saturday, about four or five in the morning, Lieutenant Lindsay, with a party of the foresaid soldiers, came to old Glenco's house, where having called in a friendly manner, and got in, they shot his father dead with several shots as he was rising out of his bed; and the mother having got up and put on her clothes, the soldiers stripped her naked, and drew the rings off her fingers with their teeth; as likewise they killed one man more, and wounded another grievously at the same place. And this relation they said they had from their mother, and is confirmed by the deposition of Archibald Macdonald indweller in Glenco; who farther depones that Glenco was shot behind his back with two shots, one through the head, and another

through the body; and two more were killed with him in that place, and a third wounded and left for dead. And this he knows, because he came that same day to Glenco's house, and saw his dead body lying before the door, with the other two that were killed, and spoke with the third that was wounded, whose name was Duncan Don, who came there occasionally with letters from the Brae of Mar.

The said John Macdonald, eldest son to the deceased Glenco, depones, the same morning that his father was killed, there came soldiers to his house before day, and called at his window, which gave him the alarm, and bade him go to Innerriggen, where Glenlyon was quartered, and that he found Glenlyon and his men preparing their arms, which made the deponent ask the cause; but Glenlyon gave him only good words, and said they were to march against some of Glengary's men, and if they were ill attended, would not he have told Sandy and his niece? meaning the deponent's brother and his wife; which made the deponent go home and go again to his bed, until his servant, who hindred him from sleeping, raised him. And when he rose and went out, he perceived about twenty men coming towards his house, with their bayonets fixed to their muskets; whereupon he fled to the hill, and having Anchnaion, a little village in Glenco, in view, he heard the shots wherewith Auchintriaten and four more were killed; and that he heard also the shots at Innerriggen, where Glenlyon had caused to kill nine more, as shall be hereafter declared. And this is confirmed by the concurring deposition of Alexander Macdonald his brother, whom a servant waked out of sleep, saying, " It is no time for you to be sleeping, when they are killing at the door;" which made Alexander to flee with his brother to the hill, where both of them heard the foresaid shots at Auchnaion and Innerriggen. And the said John, Alexander, and Archibald Macdonald, do all depone, that the same morning one Serjeant Barber and a party at Auchnaion, and that Auchintriaten being there in his brother's house, with eight more sitting about the fire, the soldiers discharged upon them about eighteen shot, which killed Auchintriaten and four more; but the other four, whereof some were wounded, falling down as dead, Serjeant Barber laid hold on Auchintriaten's brother, one of the four, and asked him if he were alive? He answered, that he was, and that he desired to die without rather than within: Barber said, that for his meat that he had eaten, he would do him the favor to kill him without; but when the man was brought out, and soldiers brought up to shoot him, he having his plaid loose, flung it over their faces, and so escaped; and the other three broke through the back of the house, and escaped. And this account the deponents had from the men that escaped. And at Innerriggen, where Glenlyon was quartered, the soldiers took other nine men, bound them hand and foot, and killed them one by one with shot. And when Glenlyon inclined to save a young man of about twenty years of age, one Captain Drummond came and asked how he came to be saved, in respect of the orders that were given, and shot him dead. And another young boy of about thirteen years ran to Glenlyon to be saved, and he was likewise shot dead; and in the same town there was a woman and a boy about four or five years of age, killed; and at Auchnaion there was also a child missed, and nothing found of him but the hands. There were several killed at other places, whereof one was an old man about eighty years of age. And all this the deponents say they affirm, because they heard the shot, saw the dead bodies, and had an account from the women that were left. And Ronald Macdonald, indweller in Glenco, farther depones that he being living with his father in a little town of Glenco,

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