can be given to such a workman as your majesty :" but the emperor refused them; "Take again your ducats," said he, " and pay me the usual price; I have worked no better than another blacksmith, and this will serve to buy me a pair of shoes, of which I am in great want;" at the same time his majesty shewed him those he wore, which had already been soled, and stood in need of another repair. He took the eighteen altins, went directly to a shop, bought a pair of shoes, and took great pains in showing them on his feet, saying to those who were present, "I have earned them well, by the sweat of my brow, with hammer and anvil.

Peter, after having brought the Swedish war to a glorious conclusion, determined to avail himfelf of the troubles in Persia, and to march against the Sophy. He discovered his design to none but the empress, and his favourite, Menchicoff, with whom he was quite alone. "I have entrusted my secret" said he, "to none but you, and forbid you to speak of it to any one. Some days after, being alone with one of his dentcht chicks, and meditating on the means of executing his great design with success, he asked if there were any news: "None, Sire, except that we are going to march against the Persians. "What," replied the emperor, with surprise," March against the Persians! Tell me, immediately, from whom you had that falsity!"-" From the empress's parrot, Sire; I heard it yesterday, while I was in the anti-chamber, repeat several times, Ei Persi padiam we will march into Persia." Peter sent immediately for Prince Menchicoff to attend him to the apartment of the empress, and told them both, that as the secret he had entrusted to them was divulged, he insisted on knowing to whom they had mentioned it.

Catharine and Menchicoff. protested they had not opened their mouths on the subject. The Czar, convinced of their innocence, turned towards the parrot.

"Here," said he, "is the traitor; it was one of my dentcht chicks who told me. In our conversation we frequently said, we will march into Persia, and the rogue has remembered and repeated it. You must remove him from your apartment," added he to the empress, laughing, "for it is necessary that we should be on our guard both against traitors and babblers.”

CUSTOMS, MANNERS, RELIGION, &C. OF THE

ANGOLANS.

[From Damberger's Travels in the Interior of Africa. Just published.}

THE

HE kingdom of Angola extends fourteen days journey from east to west, and ten from north to south. The face of the country is alter. nately varied with mountains, bare rocks, fertile vales, and the finest pastures, which offer the inhabitants competency and superfluity, were they not too lazy to enjoy the blessings nature bestows, caring for their daily sustenance alone. The country is intersected by many small rivers, besides the great river Bambe, which forms the northern boundary between this kingdom and that of Congo, and waters with its numerous branches the adjacent countries. To the east Angola is bounded by the kingdom of Matamba, to the south by Benguela and Sova, and to the west by the sea.

This country produces saltpetre, silver, tin, and a great quantity of ivory, all which the Portugueze endeavour to purchase, as also a great quantity of skins of all sorts. It is one of the richest

countries in beasts of all kinds, and affords its inhabitants the means of subsistence without much labour. Of the elephant and rhinoceros it seems, as it were, the native home, for they are met with in large herds: but the breeding of cattle is not in repute, the flesh of wild beasts being generally

eaten.

The kings of Angola were formerly subject to the sovereigns of Congo; but the present king separated from them, asserted his liberty, and thus obtained the love and veneration of his subjects, insomuch that women and children take the field whenever war is declared against him. He has also a court, consisting of twenty-four manis, fifty priests, and two hundred and fifty soldiers armed with muskets, which they use with great dexterity, and which were taken in a sudden attack made on the Portugueze in 1763 Each city is superintended by two manis, and every village by one; who, however, cannot judge any cause, but must make a report to the king, and receive his decision. At this time the king was about thirty-six years old, wore long blue breeches and a red cloak, made of bad materials. He is an enemy to the Portugueze, and to all Christians; he therefore restrains their liberty of trading in his territories, and seems only waiting a proper opportunity entirely to prohibit their entering his dominions.

The military force consists of fifty thousand well-disciplined infantry, but there is no cavalry, owing to the scarcity of horses, their increase being prevented by the great number of wild beasts. Buffaloes are used for military operations, and to carry the baggage.

The king generally gives audience in the open air, surrounded by his body guard, and officers holding drawn swords in their hands. These latter

G

he calls fidalgos, and the former mocarani (the best soldiers), though they never fight in the field. The priests, who are called evanga, are next in rank to the king; and after them is the tambocado, or chief justice, before whom the manis are obliged to lay their reports for further investigation, after which this officer lays them before the king, or causes them to be presented by the priests.

The Angolans do not pray to idols, though they worship the sun and moon as the supreme divinities; and each change of the latter is celebrated as a holiday, when no one can go a hunting. Days of penitence, however, are appointed when storms arise; for then they say the great lord is angry. On these occasions they refrain from all food, and quit their huts, especially when it thunders during the night; lying down with their faces on the ground till the storm is past. The harvest-feast continues three days, and is celebrated with the greatest rejoicings. The Angolans are pagans, yet circumcision prevails; and there are huts devoted to the service of God, where, on the days appointed by the priests, religious assemblies are held.

The regulation of domestic affairs is very sim. ple; and although nature has provided wild beasts of numerous species, and various kinds of fruit, yet the inhabitants live very poorly. Agriculture is pursued in very few places, but barley, Indian corn, and a species of millet, are sown, and the gourds and water-melons are also very good. Of muscles the inhabitants are extremely fond, and travel many miles to seek them.

Marriages are here attended with many ceremonies. A priest blesses the young couple, who

* A Portuguese word, signifying noblemen.

sit upon the ground, with certain forms which no one understands, then walks several times round them with a staff, and drives the evil spirits away. The family then light a fire, in which this staff is burnt to ashes, and being mixed in milk, is blessed by the priest and swallowed by the young couple. This is done to favour fecundity, and avert various evils. Polygamy is permitted and customary; but open divorces are not allowed, although many women are compelled by ill-treatment to leave their husbands.

Children are here carefully brought up, being instructed by the priests in writing, and in the laws and religion of the country. For paper the Angolans use the skin of a beast, covered with soot and fat, and for pens they employ a sharp-pointed bone. Instruction is given in the open air; and I observed that the children are here much more attentive than in many German schools. All boys belong to the king, who causes them, when grown up, to be taught the use of arms, for which the father receives a certain bounty; as for example, to every one that brings in a grown-up son, a year's subsistence is given. To provide for this heavy expence, the king takes a third of the produce of the chace, of all booty, of the harvest, and of all other gains.

The dress of the Angolans is very various; many of them only wearing aprons of palm-leaves, and others adding an ash-coloured cloak, made of bad cloth or linen, purchased of the Portugueze.

Others wear skins of various beasts on their backs. Their hair is not long, but curly, and they adorn it with muscle-shells, chaplets, and other ornaments purchased of the Portugueze. They paint their cheeks blue or red; and, their nails being never cut, the fingers of those, who, in order to make a