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lance strikes the star, or comes nearest to it, gains the prize, which is a silver knife, fork, and spoon, tied with red ribbands. This game was introduced by the Saracens, and is practised in other parts of Italy. It gives some idea of the warlike amusements of the Arabs. I have seen the game of the jerrid, or spear, in Egypt, which is somewhat similar; only that there the Arabs and Mamelukes galloped through an archway, and endeavoured to lodge their jerrids in a hole in the wall, as they passed.

among those causes which contribute to the superiority of the moderns over the ancients, in useful and valuable knowledge. They were unacquainted with the powers of this tree, and its capabilities of infusing learning; we are happily enabled to congratulate ourselves on living in the most enlightened age that ever the world beheld, and to what are we indebted for this distinction if not to the birch? A statue of gold is too little honour to him who first adopted this admirable instrument; to him who invented it, combined its parts, and formed it into its present beau- I come now to the Sicilian festival of the tiful symmetry, the sanction of nations should decapitation of the great Apostle of the Gendecree a festival, and his memory should be tiles, which was celebrated at Palazzolo. On held in everlasting renown. The introduction the vigil of the festival, the church was beauand establishment of the birchen sceptre tifully illuminated, and the figure of St. Paul should have formed an era in the history of was presented to the people, whose enthudiscipline, and the republic of letters should siasm and distortions of countenance were inhave dated its arrêtés from this period. Never describable. Viva San Paulo! with the will the rulers of that republic forget or fore- clashing of bells, resounded every moment go the application of this token of their au- through the church. The commotion was thority; the discovery once made is too valu- terrible; every one strained his lungs to the able, too admirable to be forgot; and hepce utmost; conceiving that the louder he bawled, we foresee a long perspective of advantages to the more spiritual fervour he expressed, befuture ages and succeeding generations-ad-coming at the same time, the greater favantages not to be described, if bottomed-ad-vourite of his patron saint. On the morrow, vantages both posteri and posteriori.

ANCIENT GAME AT GENSANO: FESTIVAL, &c. IN SICILY.

To the Editor of the Literary Panorama. Sir,-As you have favoured the public, in some of your early numbers, under the head of COLLECTANEA, with accounts of ancient customs, &c. perhaps your correspondents may give you pleasure by communicating others which they have met with, whether in their travels, or in the course of their reading. Under this idea, I offer the two following: the first is an ancient game annually celebrated at Gensano, in the Roman state; the other I was an eye-witness to, some years ago, in Sicily.

In the principal street of Gensano is annually performed an exercise, entitled Saraceno. This takes place on the anniversary of their tutelar saint, and follows a race of Barbary horses, A long space of ground is enclosed by pales, ornamented with branches of trees; at one extremity is a figure, representing a Moor in armour, with a sprig of laurel in his hand, and a silver star on his forehead. The magistrates place themselves on a scaffold, erected for the purpose, and adorned with crimson damask, fringed with gold. They sit as judges of the game.

Young men on horseback, each attended by a running footman, holding his master's lance, enter the lists, and, after making their obeisance to the magistrates and spectators, run full speed at the Moor's head: he, whose

at break of day, a colossal statue of St. Paul, not badly carved in wood, and fresh gilt, was paraded through the streets with all the honours of a newly-elected member, every one striving to share the glory of chairing the precious idol.

the grandissima processione, in the evening, All this, however, was but a prelude to which consisted of a band of music; boys dressed à la Turque; the high priest most sumptuously apparelled, accompanied by bishops; horsemen in various dresses, two and two; the scribe on foot carrying a sword and book; guards preceding the mighty Nero (personated by a painter from Rome), site to discharge his august office with dignity. whose visage pourtrayed every passion requiHe held a sceptre in his hand. Some prisoners preceded poor St. Paul with a rope round his neck, led by two blacks, having swords in their hands. He mounted the scaffold with great solemnity; Nero signed the fatal warrant; and the hangman apparently stabbed him to the heart, that is to say, he had con cealed under his shirt a leathern bottle, full of wine, which poured down in torrents, He was then dragged to the block (a species of guillotine), and at one blow a false head jumped into the air, and was afterwards shewn to the multitude amidst peals of Viva San Paulo! In the true spirit of the drama, the fictitious saint afterwards walked through the crowd, deluged with imaginary blood; and the emperor, bishops, &c. having played their mimic parts, returned to their humble situations of tailors, bricklayers, &c. We were asked if it was not very natural? and

the hangman enquired, whether we behead- | to our druidical ancestors. We ourselves have ed christians that way in England.

I shall leave your readers, Mr. Editor, to make their comments on such strange scenes; acted in a Christian country, and dignified with the sacred garb of religion.-Yours, &c. VIATOR.

ON THE ORIGIN OF PLACING HOLLY
IN CHURCHES.

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seen the Baal-tein, or fire in honour (originally) of Baal, lighted in the North. Many other remains of extremely ancient sentiments, in expressions, savings, proverbs, and observations, as well in words as by actions, are not wholly beyond the recognizance of those versed in antiquity. The manners, too, of some of our counties remote from much passage, their recollections and traditionary sentiments, are derived, more or less immediately, from those which were current many ages ago.

This inquiry deserves more leisure than we can possibly command.

WHITE NEGRO, AND A PIEBALD NEGRESS.
To the Editor of the Literary Panorama.

SIR,—having seen in your third volume, (p. 803), the letter from A NATURALIST respecting Mrs. Newsham, the White Negro Woman, and thinking that the following subjects may claim his attention as phoenomena in the human race equally interesting, I have taken the liberty of transcribing them for your valuable work, from Dr. Pinckard's notes on the West Indies.

The great Newton, in his dissertations on prophecy, says, Gregory Nyssen tells us, that after the persecution of the Emperor Decius, Gregory, bishop of Neocesarea in Pontus, instituted, that festival days should be celebrated to them who had contended for the faith, that is, to the martyrs." And Nyssen adds this reason for the institution, viz." When he (Gregory) observed that the simple and unskilful multitudes by reason of corporeal delights remained in the error of idols; that the principal thing might be cor~rected among them, namely, that instead of this vain worship, they night turn their eyes upon God, he permitted, that, at the memories of the holy martyrs, they might make merry, delight themselves, and be dissolved into joy. The heathens were delight- The white negro is a boy of about 12 years ed with the festivals of their gods, and un- of age, who was born on board of ship, on willing to part with those delights; and there- the passage from Guinea, of perfectly white fore Gregory to facilitate their conversion, skin, although both his father and mother instituted annual festivals to saints and mar- were jet black. He is even whiter, but I tyrs. Hence it came to pass, that for explod-know not if I should say fairer, than Euing the festivals of the heathens, the principal festivals of the christians succeeded in their room; as the keeping of Christmas with ivy, and feasting, in the room of the Bacchanalia and Saturnalia.

ropeans, for it is a dead chalk-white (such appears to have been the complexion of Mrs. N), without the agreeable relief of the fine blue veins, and ruddy tints of a British skin. In form and feature he strictly resembles It is remarkable that although several other other negroes. His eyes are blue, the eyesuperstitious customs of a heathenish and brows and eye-lashes white, as is likewise the popish origin are declining, yet the practice hair, which from being lightly tinged with of exhibiting the symbols or emblems of Bac-yellow, assumes, in a small degree, that parchus at our festival of Christmas, is still ge-içular hue, which is, more commonly, than nerally observed. Our elderly females are correctly, termed : ed. On looking at a strong yet extremely zealous in keeping up the cus-light, his eyes are affected with a twinkling tom of decorating the house with evergreens; and we remember hearing one of these good matrons lament that the introduction of sashwindows would in time destroy this holy custom, after which, the church itself would be in great danger!

We are much obliged to a correspondent, who has favoured us with this transcript from a provincial publication: it connects in some degree with our enquiry, why this island kept its sacred festivities at Christmas, rather than at the Carnival, with the Continent? But, we are of opinion that a distinct, independent, and much more remote origin, may be suggestca. as that from which this custom is derived. There are, in fact, many practices still extant, that may safely be attributed

motion, such as is observed in the albinos, or nyctalups; and from the axes of the two eyes not accurately converging, a slight degree of strabismus is perceptible. His skin is more than commonly irritable, and quickly rises into blisters, on his being exposed to the open rays of the sun.

The case of the woman is even more novel and singular; her peculiarity being the effect of an extraordinary change, and not of origi

al conformation. She is about thirty years of age and, until the last six or seven years, was of a completely sable skin, differing in no respect from other negroes; but, from the profoundest black, her surface is growing perfectly white. This uncommon change commenced in the parts most remote from

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the centre of circulation, and is slowly though regularly, proceeding towards the parts nearer to the heart. The feet, hands, legs, and arms, are now even whiter than those of an European. Her body yet remains profoundly black; her hair and eyes also retain their original hue, and have not yet any appearance of participating in the change.

It is remarkable, that the cuticle of the parts which have grown white, like the pale skin of the boy, is very subject to rise into blisters on being exposed to the sun; no such effect is produced on the parts which

remain black.

while

The woman is still in good health, and appears to remain entirely free from disease; but she is extremely low and dejected concerning this event, which she regards as the greatest evil that could have befallen her. She is the wife of one of Mr. Cuming's slaves (at Demarara), and has had several children, who differed in no respect from the offspring of other negroes. The boy is the property of the same gentleman.-Yours, &c. C. W.

To these instances we might add that of the parti-coloured, or piebald Negro who for some years was shewn as a sight, in various parts of England; and who long attended Mr. Pidcock's Menagerie, at Exeter 'Change. We remember to have had occasion to examine this subject with attention, while he was in that service; and were informed that he was, when young, as entirely black as negroes in general. The white spots were very distinct, and as it were, separate from the black around them: they were in a state of gradual extension, and observed no particular shape or form, in their progress. They occurred in parts where the hair grew, as well as in others free from hair. The party was not sensible of any sickness or disease, but appeared to enjoy good health. We speak on the recollection of many years, and do not know whether this subject be now living.

COMPARISON OF MONKISH SECLUSION FROM
THE WORLD IN PILLAR TOWERS, WITH
MODERN INSTANCES FOR PAY.

Mr. King, in his Munimenta Antiqua, reviewed Panorama, Vol. III. p. 115, after having examined with attention, the prisons for refractory monks, which are still extant in Worcester Cathedral, the Temple Church, London, and elsewhere, proceeds to investigate the origin and use of those pillar towers which are found in Ireland and Scotland. He thinks they may have answered two purposes. 1. that of voluntary retirement, the effect of superstition and ill-directed zeal; 2. that of imprisoning penitents, in a forced retirement, in order to reduce transgressors

to reason and conformity. A third purpose is suggested, that of surveying the adjacencies, and giving notice of events in the neighbourhood. This might be, no doubt, occasionally, their use; but, as they are not always so placed as to command a view of the country, this cannot have been their original intention; not to say, that usually the steeples of the churches with which these towers appear to have been in connection, though not adjoining, would have answered the purpose

much better.

Considering them as places of voluntary retirement, we are at no loss to account for their still retaining the names of those who last inhabited them, possibly for many years. "There are among the ruins of the churches at Clonmacnois, in King's county, two towers, one called O'Rourke's Tower; the other Mc. Carthy's tower. The first is sixty two feet high, and fifty-six in circumference, internal diameter about twelve feet; the other is fiftysix feet high, and about seven feet, internal diameter. The Irish name for these towers, Cloch-ancoire, is said to mean the stone of the anchorite. Some of this kind of towers were erected between A. D. 900, and A. D. 1000."

By means of these towers Mr. K. elucidates

the history of Symeon Stylites, or pillar Symeon, who about A. D. 380" was of great fame and renowne for a godly man; he was the first that taught to dwell in a pillar; and made therein his lodging, scarce two cubits wide. This Symeon being in the flesh, imitated in life the trade of the angelical powers; withdrew himself from worldly affairs; forced nature, which of herself leaneth downwards, and followed after loftie things; being placed, as it were, in the midst between heaven and earth. He sought conference with God, he praised him, together with the angels. ; he lifted the prayers of men up from the earth unto heaven, and offered them to God.He brought the goodness of God from heaven to earth, and made the world partaker thereof.

Ten years Symeon lived in a very narrow room; scaven in a somewhat straiter pillar ;and thirty years in a pillar of forty cubits." Miracles followed of course, on a life so very sanctified "It is likely," says Mr. K. "that Symeon built his own pillar; which he raised to a greater height, with his own Hc hands. His pillar stood near a church. employed himself, at times, in teaching, or admonition, when, probably, he stood at the door of his pillar, and gave answers to such as applied to him." This is a far more rational description than that of Gibbon, who supposes that Symeon stood on the top of a solid pillar, without any checks to prevent "habit and exercise," says he, his falling: instructed him to maintain his dangerous situation without fear, or giddiness, and suc F 4

cessively to assume the different postures of devotion.-He sometimes prayed in an erect attitude, with his out-stretched arms, in the figure of a cross; but his most familiar practice was that of bending his meagre skeleton from the forehead to the feet: and a curious spectator, after numbering twelve hundred and forty four repetitions, at length desisted from the endless account." This on a naked solid pillar, is wonderful enough: but on Mr. K's hypothesis of a hollow pillar, the wonder is reduced within the bounds of credibility.

RECIPES IN PAINTING.

The following recipes were found among the papers of an amateur, they may be of importance to practical men, or they may suggest a hint, to those who consider the useful arts as capable of making further progress.

Substitute for Oil Paint.

Take fresh curds and bruise them on a grindIn fact, the story of Simeon is less wonder- ing stone, or in an earthen pan or mortar ful than instances which might be selected with a spatula. Put them in a pot with an of more than equal seclusion, among ourselves. equal quantity of lime well quenched, and Should any moon-struck fanatic fix his resi- become thick enough to be kneaded; stir this dence in the Monument at London, or should mixture well, without adding water till it the keeper of that edifice bring himself to the produces a white coloured fluid; with this determination of never quitting it, he would, (which must be used immediately, as it beabating all ideas of sanctity, rival the retirecomes too thick by standing) Oker, Arme ment of Simeon Stylites. A still more strik-nian Bole, and all colours which hold with ing instance of separation from mankind lime may be mixed. It dries so rapidly that occurs in those who have the charge of Eddystwo coats may be laid on the same day : tone lighthouse, which is not only a hollow It has no smell, is durable, and will receive, pillar of a few feet internal diameter, but is surby means of rubbing with a woollen cloth, rounded by the watery expanse, and exposed to or other proper substance, a high polish. all the dangers of storms and tempests, more than ten miles from laud; inaccessible when To prevent White Paint from turning Black the wind blows, with violence; while the sea beats against it in billows threatening to overwhelin it, and cover it with their foamy spray that rises more than two hundred feet above it, shaking it as they batter its sides; -Yet here dwell, by choice and for pay, two keepers, who might be thought exiles from among men; here, without company, for they interchange no sentiments; without amusement, for visitors they have none; void of gratification for body or mind, they pass their days, their weeks, their months, their years; of what simile materials is their journal composed! Their time of day is distinguished only by the rising, or the setting sun, by the time to light the lamps, or the time to extinguish them. Are not these more than counter

parts to
to the widely-famous Simeon Stylites?

in the Sun.

Dissolve in a tin kettle, one pound of white vitriol in about six pounds of boiling water add to it two ounces of zinc reduced to small grains let the whole boil together half an hour, or even an hour.-A brownish earth will then appear in the fluid, which becomes very brittle, and must, at the expiration of the time indicated for boiling, be separated from the mass of liquid by filtration.

pour

On this clear ley, after having first thinned it with an equal quantity of pump-water, pour the ley of pot-ashes, till no more precipitation or muddiness appears, and let the vessel stand still, for the fine white earth to settle.-Then off the ley, and cover it once or twice with water, till no saltish taste remains in it. What have they to break the monotony of -The white earth is then spread over a piece their lives? Neither the renown of sanctitude, of canvas till all the fluids are drained off, and nor the applause of gaping crowds attend until it dries. This substance being properthem they interfere with no concerns eitherly mixed with the white paint, will preserve its spiritual or temporal yet Smeaton tells us lustre, however much or long it may be exthat they discover no symptoms of unhappi-posed to the sun. ness, and are so little fatigued by their dangerons imprisonment, that they prolong their sojournings in this strait inclosure from

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to year.

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A pillar in the sea is, to say the least, in a more dangerous situation, than a pillar on land: it is accessible only in moderate weather; and in case of accident or distress, as in a storm, or a conflagration, by which preceding structures of the same description had been destroyed. When assistance is most wanted, it is least to be received.

Another Paint composed without using White

Lead.

Skimmed milk a pint, fresh slaked lime one ounce and half or rather more, oil of carraways, or linseed, or nut, one ounce, Spanish white (whiting) twelve ounces. Oil of Carraways for its Whiteness is preferred.

Add for outside work, of slacked lime, oil, white burgundy pitch, of each half an ounce, melt the pitch in the oil with a gentle heat.

PRESENT STATE OF RELIGION IN THE LOW

COUNTRIES.

THE people of Flanders, and the ancient province of Hainault, have been celebrated for ages back for their scrupulous attachment to the catholic church; and have not allowed protes ants to appear publicly within their borders, unless they were countenanced by an imperial decree.

memorate the day sacred to the saint who presides over their street, or their alley; dress up an altar to his name, and invite their friends to partake of their merriment. Men are stationed with bags, to collect money of passengers in the name of St. Peter, or St. Paul, and it is spent in the pot-house, or upon a neighbouring green. It is certain, that no kind of veneration now attaches to the sovereign Pontiff

The practice of confession, often affords There are no protestants in the department an opportunity for the discovery of irregulari of Jemmappes (Hainault), except what re- ties and thefts; things stolen are often reside in the neighbourhood of the coal-pits.trieved by the threat of ecclesiastical censure, There they are pretty numerous. In all the and of the divine displeasure.-The main boprincipal towns, where they are in great num-dy of the catholics have never seen the bible ! bers, societies have been formed. The number necessary, in order to ground a demand on the state, is five thousand souls, who are not required to reside in the same place; if contiguous villages, or towns, unite, they may have a preacher among them, and a building is given from the churches, or chapels, that were suppressed at the revolution. None are permitted to hold that office in the protestant church of France, but those who are educated at Geneva: the salary is 1200 livres per annum. A number of ́hese societies united compose a Synod; and all the Synods are under the supreme direction of the general consistory at Paris,

It is the principle of their teachers, that they cannot understand its contents; and that the only portion necessary for their information is the historical part. They have, therefore, a history of the bible," which they put into the hands of all their young people. In this are contained the lives and characters of its heroes and saints, with the comments of the fathers upon them. The protestants do not appear to have any particular want of bibles; or, if they have, it is their own fault, as they are to be had from Switzerland, or Holland.

The prayers of the church of Rome are said by the priests in latin; but it is custom ary for the people to have a prayer-book, with latin on one side, and French or Flemish on the other; and they repeat in their own language, while the priest repeats in latin. Once on the sunday, and sometimes twice, a ser mon is delivered, in the language of the coun try; but it is not deemed so much a duty to attend the instructions of the pulpit, as to join in the service of the altar.

No couvents are allowed, at present. Many of the priests and nuns, whose qualifications to educate youth have appeared satisfac tory to the prefects, have had convents given to them free of rent, on the promise of teaching a number of poor children gratis. At the dissolution of the convents, pensions were appointed to the monks and nuns; they were allowed from two to five hundred livres, but these have been generally ill paid, or not paid at all.

The regulation of the catholic church is precisely the same. No step whatever can be taken by the bishop, or even by the general council, without the approbation of Bonaparte, not even a curate appointed. There is at present a greater want of catholic, than of protestant, clergy. Since the Concordat, the salaries have not been generally paid by the state; but have been regularly in arrears, and often not paid at all. It has been said with confidence, that the Emperor finds the burden of the priests so heavy, and his demands of a military nature so much more important, that he has it in serious contemplation to re-establish the tythes, and so get rid of it altogether. The present servants of the altar have but poor prospects of worldly gam, and a very small quantum in actual possession. Many of then go through a whole service for twenty-pence, and often are not paid at It may not be amiss to mention, as con all. Every exertion, indeed, is made by the nected with the affairs of religion, the chapriests to recover the splendour of their reli- ritable institutions. These have been organgious services. A few silver saints have been ized anew since the reign of Buonaparté, and cast, and some new laced petticoats have been are now on a most respectable footing. The put on the Virgin; the altars have been deco-hospitals are large, and well supported; one rated afresh; all the relics and images have been collected from the wreck of the revolution, and the old processions instituted anew, in those towns where no protestants assemble to worship.

Agreeably to the old order of things, they eagerly embrace every pretence that their reigion offers to gaiety. They fail not to com

for the civil, and another for the military department, in every principal town. In some places these are united in an old abbey, or other large range of buildings. The orders of nuns, also, still exist, whose occupation was the benevolent office of nursing the sick. There are also some institutions revived, for the maintenance of the old and infirm, as

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