squeeze, which produces a concave and convex surface, they are handed over to the packer. This person arranges them in such a manner that the convex surface of one fig is received into the concave surface of another, and when the box or drum is filled, a few laurel leaves are spread over them.

above Buyukdery. We saw them returning inglish trade. They are then washed in salt-water, the afternoon with the bride, and the procession rubbed between the hands, and after a final by this time had swelled out into quite respectable dimensions. First came a party of musicians, accompanying their vile nasal yells upon instruments still more detestable. Then followed the men on horseback, and the procession closed with a dozen arabahs filled with women. That which carried the bride was closed all round, but the others were open. The men seemed to be particularly anxious to display their horsemanship, and even the old papas of the respective parties exhibited a pardonable vanity in showing off their activity.

"Having given them sufficient time to reach home and settle down comfortably, we accompanied the ladies on their visit to the bride. On our way we met the bridegroom coming from the bath, in state; that is to say, he was preceded by musicians, accompanied by his friends, and followed by all the rabble of the village. He looked sheepish enough, and appeared to be heartily ashamed of the conspicuous part he was compelled to play.

"It was stated to me by an intelligent merchant, that the quantity of figs and raisins annually exported amounts to 100,000 tons, costing, upon an average, about $60 per ton. The whole of this sum, deducting the expense of transportation, is clear gain, for the fig tree requires nó attention whatever, and flourishes upon a barren soil. The preserved fig, as prepared by housekeepers in Smyrna, is a most delicious fruit, and far superior to the ordinary fig of commerce. Old residents assure me that the fig has much deteriorated of late, which they impute to the trees being now worn out by age. As the fig tree is, however, a tree of rapid growth, and can be replaced with great ease, I am rather inclined to doubt this assertion, and to place it to the old score of laudatores temporis acti."

"While waiting in the street for the ladies, our worthy friend Mustafa came out, and as, from a wish to comply with their customs, we resisted his invitation to enter, he ordered a coffee-house to be opened in the neighbourhood, The following lines on the passing season, are so where we might remain until the ladies appear- beautiful and appropriate, that we cannot avoid giving ed. According to their report they found the them a place in our columns. There is a sweet tenbride nearly stifled under the weight of her wed-derness and fidelity about the picture, that cannot fail ding clothes. She was apparently eighteen to awaken the admiration of every cultivated and sober years old, as fat as a seal, with a pretty face, as mind. We have seldom ifever seen more good thoughts far as it could be discerned under the various embraced in the same compass. disfigurements with which fancy or fashion had contrived to disguise it. The eyebrows were united into one broad streak of black by the use of soormay, and various bits of gold foil, or gilt pieces of paper, were stuck upon different parts of her face. The ceremony in the evening was simple; a prayer was recited by the iman, and, upon leaving the mosque, the friends of the bridegroom struck him lustily over the shoulders for good luck, as Mustafa took the trouble to explain to us.'

After leaving Constantinople our author visited Smyrna, and he gives some interesting sketches of the place, and of the trade with America. With an account of the fig trade we must reluctantly close the volume, and in doing so, commend it again as infinitely superior to the books on the same subject from English authors.

"The season for the packing of figs does not last more than three weeks, and of course much expedition is required in preparing them for market. It is not uncommon during this period to witness the daily arrival of 1500 camels, each loaded with 5 or 600 weight of figs, and some of these come from a distance of 70 and even 100 miles from Smyrna. Many of the principal merchants have from 500 to 800 hands employed in preparing and packing them, and for this purpose men, women, and children are indiscriminately employed. Their wages are from two and a half to twelve cents per day, and they are allowed besides to eat as many as they please, but to carry none away. As soon as the fresh figs arrive, they are carefully assorted for the different markets, the best being selected for the En

AUTUMN.-BY JOHN MALCOLM.

Sweet Sabbath of the year!
While evening lights decay,
Thy parting steps methinks I hear
Steal from the world away.

Amid thy silent bowers,
'Tis sad but sweet to dwell,

Where falling leaves and drooping flowers,
Around me breathe farewell.

Along thy sunset skies,

Their glories melt in shade;

And like the things we fondly prize,
Seem lovelier as they fade.

A deep and crimson streak
The dying leaves disclose:
As on consumption's waning cheek,
'Mid ruin blooms the rose.

The scene each vision brings
Of beauty in decay;

Of fair and early faded things,
Too exquisite to stay.

Of joys that come no more,

Of flowers whose bloom has fled;
Of farewells wept upon the shore,
Of friends, estranged or dead.

Of all that now may seem,
To memory's tearful eye;
The vanished beauty of a dream
O'er which we gaze and sigh.

A DUEL.

ing him. A strange expression of contempt played It was one of those raw cold mornings, not unusual on the blood-stained lips of the latter, as he heard this in Barbadoes at the approach of the rainy season. A demand, and beheld the surgeons assisting his adver thick, dense fog partially obscured the landscape round, sary to approach him. With pain and difficulty the but which the newly risen sun and the awakening sea dying man reached out his trembling hand, and the breeze had in part dissipated on the higher grounds, accents of forgiveness hung upon his lips; when the obscurely revealing fragments of the scenery in dis- young Highlander raising himself to a sitting posture, torted and unsightly portions. I advanced towards fiercely grasped the extended hand, and, while a gush my quarters: the fog became thicker and thicker, so of blood accompanied every word, exclaimed, in ac that it required a person well versed in the local geo- cents never to be eradicated from my memory, graphy of Crab Town to be able to find his way.- "L- s, you are dying on the grave of my brotherFinding myself more and more at a loss, I struck into in-law, poor Baldwin; he whom you murdered rots the burying ground; by crossing which, I knew I in the soil beneath you; but my sister, Jessie M'Ivor, must arrive at the beaten road between the garrison she rests with her forbears, among the green hills of and the fort. I was winding my way carefully among that native land I never shall behold. You wronged the graves, cautiously avoiding the prickly pears and a daughter of M'Ivor-a son of M'Ivor has avenged other thorny shrubs that grew scantily in the sand, her wrongs." He flung the hand from him with con between the ridges that marked the resting-place of temptuous violence, and falling backward in the effort, the dead, when the sound of two shots, fired in quick ceased to exist; his face retained, even in death, the succession, struck upon my ear. They were evidently same expression of stern delight. L -s writhed in discharged close at hand; and I stood in no enviable redoubled agony, as if the grave on which he lay had situation, for I had clearly distinguished the shrill been a bed of molten fire his features became connoise that a bullet made in passing close to my head; vulsed-the glare of his eye bore fearful resemblance and as I had heard too many of such singing birds to the once insulting glance of the professed and sucwhistle by me when on actual service not to be well cessful duellist. Suddenly he started to his feet-be acquainted with the sound, I shouted with all my assumed the posture of a prepared combatant-and strength, in order that the persons who discharged the with his arm extended, as if in the act of discharging shots should cease firing, unconsciously, and in my a pistol, he fell prostrate over the now senseless body haste, using the technical word of command. But the of his youthful antagonist.-A Soldier's Recollections. echoes of my words had not yet died away, when they were answered by a repetition of the same sound; but A PRECIOUS THOUGHT.-What can be so consoling now no bullet whistled past, for they had reached their to the heart of feeble man as the thought that his Ms. destination. At that instant, the morning gun from ker cares for him and will save him from the cruel ty the fort was fired, and answered by the admiral's flag-ranny of his sins! Hours of despondency and gloom ship in the bay, followed by the brisk and irregular discharge of small arms from the marines on the gangways of the several men of war. The effect of heavy artillery on mists and vapors is well known. The thick, smoke-like clouds that hung over the sands slowly rolled aside for a moment in heavy folds, like the withdrawing of a curtain and again closed, darkening and concealing the surrounding objects; but brief as the interval was, it had permitted me to discover group of figures, which might serve as a study for a painter, could the artist be found hardened enough to gaze unmoved on such a scene. Not twenty yards from me, on the ground, lay two officers, one in the uniform of my own regiment, the other in the undress of a naval captain; the surgeon and the second of each were stooping over their friends, and a black servant stood at a trifling distance, in evident alarm; while the smoke from their pistols still hovered over the spot, in dark circles, struggling to rise through the overhanging canopy of mist. I hastened to this spot: one was my brother officer, M'Ivor; the other was the fighting captain of the Elmira; both mortally wounded. The surgeon of each, after a few moments' consultation, declared the impracticability of removing either of them from the ground, as a few moments would most probably terminate their existence; indeed from the paleness and agony impressed on the features of L- -s, and from the crimson flood which widely stained the white sand beneath him, it was evident that the vital spark was about to be extinguished. Not so M'Ivor: his wound was in the chest, and the bleeding was mostly internal. He had risen upon one elbow; a small stream of blood flowed from between his clenched teeth; but as his dark eye was fixed sternly upon his prostrate antagonist, his whole face was illumined with an expression of exultation and delight, fearfully in contrast with his evident and increasing weakness; and the brilliant hue of pleasure lit up those features, at other times so pale and death like. The departing sailor, in faltering and broken accents, gasped out a request to be brought nearer to M'Ivor, that he might grasp his hand and die forgiv.my Taylor.

a

often cast their shadows over the christian's mind; but when the sweet impression revisits his soul that his dear Redeemer cares for him, it is sunshine with his heart again. What pen can reveal the preciousness of the thoughts of Almighty love that steal into the soul with all their balmy fragrace! In the silent hours of night, when creation slumbers around, one christian on his bed, whose soul is throbbing under the inexpres sible pulsations of heavenly love, feels more happiness than all created worlds can bestow. He lies on a bed of spices. Images of beauty and glory cluster thickly into his entranced soul. His thoughts respond to the promptings of the celestial one, who, for aught we know, may be waving their dewy wings around his pillow.

Oh! one hour spent thus is "worth a whole eternity of bondage" to the pleasure of sense! Memory will go back with undefinable sweetness to such an hour, and the soul will yearn for it again with immortal de sire. To believe that the pure, unchangeable and om nipotent heart of our Almighty Saviour thinks kindly of us-and that the prompting of his spirit applies to us, notwithstanding our sins and wretchedness, some precious promise of his word,-this, this is worth liv ing for. For this may we gladly suffer and toil on through the trials of poverty and mental anxiety and struggles. Be blessedness like this ours. Be this precious thought our inheritance here-an earnest of that perpetual sun shine of the soul which cheers the inha bitants of the upper world.-N. Y. Messenger.

If men did but know what felicity dwells in the cattage of a virtuous man-how sound he sleeps, how quiet his breast, how composed his mind, how free from care, how easy his provision, how healthy his morning, how sober his night, how moist his mouth, how joyful his heart-they would never admire the noises, the diseases, the throng of passions, and the violence of unnatural appetites, that fill the houses of the luxurious, and the hearts of the ambitious.-Jert

CATCHING TORTOISE.

Catching Tortoise on the Coast of Cuba.

[From the Book of Nature.]

561

(b) The Loggerhead Tortoise.

shell of commerce; but so much is the flesh esteemed, that here and in Europe it is regularly imported in considerable quantities to supply the luxury of the table.

The above wood-cut represents the manner in which the marine tortoises are caught on the coast of Cuba, and on parts of the South American continent. The Count de Lacepede, in his History of Oviparous Quadrupeds, has described the various modes in which the business of tortoise-catching is carried on; and we shall conclude this notice with an abstract of his account. It must be remarked that the turtle is a most important addition to the ordinary mode of victualling a ship; and that, therefore, the war in which the human race engages against them, is rendered absolutely necessary by the wants of navigators.

"In spite of the darkness which is chosen by the female tortoises for concealment when employed in laying their eggs, they cannot effectually escape from the pursuit of their enemies: the fishers wait for them on the shore, at the beginning of the night, especially when it is moonlight, and, when they come from the sea, or as they return after laying their eggs, they either despatch them with blows of a club, or turn them quickly over on their backs, not giving them time either to defend themselves, or to blind their assailants, by throwing up the sand with their fins. When very large, it requires the efforts of several men to turn them over, and they must often employ the assistance of handspikes or levers for that purpose. The buckler of this species is so flat as to render it impossible for

the animal to recover the recumbent posture, | Plymouth-the third had volunteered an excurwhen it is once turned on its back.

sion in a baloon-Maria Jane had given the "A small number of fishers may turn over Loyal Horsemonger Troop of Yeomanry, a forty or fifty tortoises, full of eggs, in less than standard worked with her own fair hands. The three hours. During the day, they are employed heads of all the three had been examined by Dein securing those which they had caught in the ville-they had climed poles, and swung on preceding night. They cut them up, and salt sticks under Captain Clias-they all painted and the flesh and the eggs. Sometimes they may lithographed-all spoke six living languages, and extract above thirty pints of a yellow or greenish understood three dead ones-they all sang-and oil from one large individual; this is employed all danced-and all did every sort of curious for burning, or, when fresh, is used with dif-work-and they all of them stuck prints on boxes ferent kinds of food. Sometimes they drag the with varnish-and all understood conchology, tortoises they have caught, on their backs, to and ichthyology, and erpetology, and botany, inclosures, in which they are reserved for oc- and chymestry-and all had albums!-and all casional use. collected autographs and they all admired Pasta "The_tortoise fishers, from the West Indies-and they all delighted in Switzerland, and and the Bahamas, who catch these animals on adored Paris-they all loved yatching, and they the coasts of Cuba and its adjoining islands, par- all idolised the lake-they were all enthusiasts, ticularly the Caymanas, usually complete their and all sympathetic in their tastes. But with all cargoes in six weeks or two months; they after- this, they remained, at the period of Lord Wey. wards return to their own islands, with the salted bridge's arrival in London, precisely what they turtle, which is used for food both by the whites had been in the beginning--the three Miss Gorand the negroes. This salt turtle is in as great gons. The provoking part of the affair wasrequest in the American colonies, as the salted for what pleasure is there without a drawback? cod of Newfoundland is in many parts of Europe; that there was no opportunity for display-Dot and the fishing is followed by all those colonists, one trunk, except those containing the ordinary particularly by the British, in small vessels, on run of drapery, was unpacked: and the graces various parts of the coasts of Spanish America, had to appear before the vision all the disadand the neighbouring islands. vantages of a deshabelle-a trial to which the "The green tortoise is likewise often caught goddesses, who confidently anticipated the fall at sea in calm weather, and in moonlight nights. of their Paris, with great difficulty submitted; For this purpose two men go together in a small but, as Lady Gorgon said, he had seen them ofter boat, which is rowed by one of them, while the enough before; and they might rely upon it, with other is provided with a harpoon, similar to that a man of his Lordship's turn of character, mental used for killing whales. Whenever they dis- attractions were those which would most decover a large tortoise, by the froth which it occidedly ensure success. And now,' said Lady casions on the water in rising to the surface, they hasten to the spot as quietly as possible, to prevent it from escaping. The harpooner im mediately throws his harpoon with sufficient force to penetrate through the buckler to the flesh; the tortoise instantly dives, and the fisher gives out a line, which is fixed to the harpoon, and, when the tortoise is spent with the loss of blood, it is hauled into the boat, or on shore."

A DISAPPOINTED MANŒUVRE: OR FASHIONABLE TACTICS IN HIGH LIFE.

In the recently published Tale of "the Parson's Daughter," by Mr. Theodore Hook, there is an amusing scene where Lord Weybridge, whom, as a younger brother, Lady Gorgon had treated with the neglect and slights, which a fear that he might be a suitor to one of her daughters dictated, after he has acquired the wealth and rank of a Peer is sedulously courted. He accepts an invitation to dinner. "Nobody could imagine, who did not know, the state of effervescence into which this brief answer of Lord Weybridge threw the whole family. More like fates than graces, the three daughters of Lady Gorgon had been, first one, then the second, and lastly, the third, dragged about to every possible place-balls, concerts, parties, dinners, fetes, dejeuners a la fourchette, and dejeuners dinatoires, They had acted in private theatricals-stood and sat in tableux-been all over the continent-at all the best watering places, in the seasons. Two of them had been down in the diving bell at

Gorgon, 'before we go to make ourselves ready
for dinner-dress I certainly cannot call it-let
me entreat you to recollect what is, I believe,
within the reach of oue of you. You are char
mingly cordial with each other; and it is delight-
ful to see such unanimity. Indeed, I must say,
there is not a mother in the world happier in her
children than I am. But you ought to remember,
that, however much you may all admire Lord
Weybridge, only one of you can possibly marry
him. And therefore, if, in the course of the
evening, he should evince any thing like a pre-
ference, I am quite sure the good sense and good
feeling for which you are all remarkable, will
teach you so to arrange yourselves, as not to
thwart or break up any conversation or little
party he may make. I have so far broken my
word with him about strangers, that I expect
Count Alouette and young Doldrum. I thought
it would be better to have somebody upon whom
you might fall back, in any case of emergency.
Oh,' said Maria-Jane, 'I assure you, mamma, I
have no disposition to interfere with Anne or
Louise; only certainly he was very attentive last
year; and if you had given him any encourage-
ment, instead of actually prohibiting him the
house-''My dear child,' said lady Gorgon,
'how could I foresee? he was not within three
lives of the peerage-two of them certainly bet
ter than his own; and he had literally nothing
to live upon. Your fortunes-very respectable
for gentlewomen, I admit-are, in the world,
nothing. And it is not in the world as it is in
grammar, where two negatives make an affirm-

A DISAPPOINTED MANŒUVRE.

563

ative, two nothings never make any thing.' 'Oh announced; and, to be sure, as a contrast to the no,' replied Maria-Jane, who seemed rather in- visitor who had so recently preceded him, noclined to stickle for precedence, agreeable to thing could be more remarkable. The one, redher seniority; of course one could not know-cheeked, round faced, heavy, dull, and awkward; only-all that I meant was, that it was a pity; the other, fair, pale, light, gay, and airy; his eyes because he really is a very charming person- sparkling with animation, and his countenance so very agreeable.' 'I remember thinking him beaming with good sense and good nature. 'My delightful,' said Anne, 'that day at Lady Maller- dear Lady Gorgon,' said the Count, whose acton's breakfast.' 'Well,' said Lady Gorgon, cent gave naviete and picquancy to the merest "in conclusion, all I mean is, that with the extra-common-places, 'I am so shocked to be so late. ordinary friendship that has so long existed be- Dis comes of having a servant which loves to tween me and dear Lady Frances, I should con- drive in de afternoon; my man shall have been sider myself extremely fortunate indeed to have to drive some ladi to whom he is fond in his cabb, him for a son-in-law; but I never will force any and not to come back till so late as gives me just thing of the sort; I am sure it never answers-it ten minutes to dress! How do you do, Miss Gormust all come naturally, and so I shall let things gon?-ah, Miss Anne, to be sure; always welltake their chance; only what I intend to say, always pretty-always well. Dat is good En(and I shall never touch upon the subject again,) glish, eh? How is your beautiful horse, Count?' is, that I believe he is timid and shy, and ex- said Louisa. 'Oh, my war horse, as the Duke tremely delicate in his opinion about women; calls him; he is as well as can be expected; I and if he should find us agreeable and pleasant, rode him dis morning. You were not out to day, and suitable to him, I should not like him to be my Lady?' 'No,' said Lady Gorgon, we are driven away by any little tracasserie, or idleness, merely passing through town.' 'Ah!' said the on the part of any one of you which might unset- Count, 'dat is just the way this time of year; tle or disturb him. So now, come, let us get every body you meet in de street has just come ready for dinner; for we have not a minute to to town last night, and is going away to-morrow lose. Thus saying, her Ladyship led the way morning.' 'That is precisely our case,' said from the drawing-room; and the graces pro- Jane; how long have you been in London?' ceeded to their several apartments to prepare 'Oh,' said the Count, 1 came last night-go away for the meeting, which they fully believed to be to-morrow morning. I have been in Scotland to fraught with consequences of the greatest im- shoot grose, but I could not stay some time so portance to their future hopes and prospects. long as I wish for I have to make a visit at The silvery bell of the clock on the chimney Rochdale next Tuesday, when the Duke shall be piece had scarcely sounded seven, when the back.'" ladies reappeared in the drawing-room. 'Do come here, Anne,' said Lady Gorgon; 'what has your mind been doing with that head of yours? Why, I never saw-here, let me just turn that curl-there, so why, my dear child, what a horrid pimple you have got on your cheek! And, Maria-Jane, now do let me beg of you not to sit directly under the lamp: with light hair it won't do--it won't, upon my word. Louisa, my dear girl, you are not looking well; I don't know what it is; I suppose it is the travelling, or the sea, or something, but-' The drawing-room door opened; Mr. Doldrum was announced. 'How d'ye do, Henry?' said Lady Gorgon: 'how's Lady Doldrum this evening?" "Better, I thank you,' re*plied Doldrum, who, of shy young men, was the shyest. He bowed to the girls, and blushed. Maria-Jane held out her hand to shake hands with him; take it he did, but shake it he did not. This is very good natured of you, Henry,' said Lady Gorgon, 'to come on such notice. MariaJane said she was sure you would not mind.' Oh, no,' said Doldrum; and again he blushed. There is nobody in town, I suppose,' said her Ladyship. No, nobody,' echoed the young gentleman. We came through the city last night from the country,' said Anne, and there were great many nobodies there; for we could hardly get along.' 'Yes, a great many,' observed Mr. Doldrum. 'You know Count Alouette, dont you?' said Maria-Jane. 'Yes, very well,' said Doldrum; that is, I never was introduced to him; but I have met him about a good deal.' 'He is every where,' said Lady Gorgon, and a charming person he is. He is coming to us to day.-HeCount Alouette was at that moment

a

[They wait till eight, but no Lord comes. They send to his hotel, and hear he has gone out to their house. At last they must submit to the disappointment, and sit down to dinner without the only wished-for guest.]

66

They proceeded down stairs, Lady Gorgon distressed beyond measure at what appeared the result either of some unfoerseen accident or premediated affront; and having reached the dinnerroom the party seated themselves, their countenances saddened with a glooom which the vivacious expression of that of the Count, who entered upon the task of helping the soup with the most amiable alacrity, could not succeed in dispelling. Helped they were, when Stephen, who had been doing duty in the hall as porter, entered the room to assume the task of waiting, since hands ran short. 'Stephen,' said Lady Gorgon, the moment she saw him, 'you are sure Lord Weybridge has not been here?' 'No, my Lady,' said Stephen, 'I am quite sure; that foreign Baron called a little before seven, my Lady.' 'Who is dat?, said Alouette; Taganrag? 'Yes, said Lady Gorgon. About dinner-time always,' said the Count, he has a good smell I don't think, eh?" I said your Ladyship was not at home; and about five minutes afterwards, that Capt. Sheringham called who used to call so often last year,' Captain Sheringham!' screamed Lady Gorgon; 'why Captain Sheringham is Lord Weybridge, the Nobleman for whom we have been waiting; mercy on us, what did you say to him?' 'He asked me, my Lady, if your Ladyship was at home,' said the man; indeed, he was acoming right in, without asking one thing or another, so I said you was out: and he asked me