looking for a favourable moment to put to sea. About eleven A.M. the sky became again overcast, with every appearance of a heavy squall coming on from the old quarter, the north-west. It soon commenced blowing furiously, accompanied by heavy rain; this squall was followed by a strong gale, the violence of which, with the heavy sea rolling into the bay, soon caused our hempen cables to part, and we perceived that we were gradually dragging our chain-cable and anchor, and drifting towards the shore. As the ship approached the breakers, she rolled and pitched tremendously; all hands were assembled on the poop, across which life ropes were thrown, and all remained in anxious expectation of the first shock. A number of the crew were desirous that the anchor should be cut away, and the ship drive broadside on, as a greater chance of saving our lives; fortunately the commander and officers concurred in letting the ship drag her anchor, as it kept her head to wind. When we first perceived that we were driving on shore, guns were fired to induce canoes to be in readiness to afford us assistance; the sea however was too high to render it practicable: crowds of natives were seen assembled on the beach. A rock was now seen close to our stern; we had driven far into the bay, and the striking was momentarily expected, but by putting the helm up, and with the assistance of the driver, we passed it without injury and drove farther in. About one P.M. she struck, but not so violently as was expected: the rudder was soon lost; she pitched heavily, but again floated, striking at intervals; she ground down the soft coral rocks and went farther in, until she appeared to us to have been brought up by her anchor, which probably held some rock. The outer rocks which we had passed now afforded a breakwater, and the sea broke furiously over them, which otherwise would have deluged the ship. The reef inside the surf was of some extent, and was nearly dry at low water; but the tremendous surf that raged, and offset consequent on it, rendered all attempts to land unavailable. The gale still continuing with great violence, with no appearance of an abatement, about four P.M. Mr. Jones, the second officer, and four seamen volunteered to venture in a boat astern of the ship, (which still rode head to wind, being kept by her anchor in that position,) and endeavour to land and convey a hawser from the ship to the reef; the boat fortunately reached the reef in safety after a hazardous passage. A kedgeanchor, which was taken in the boat, was fastened to the reef, but the hawser attached to it in communication with the ship getting entangled among the coral rocks was rendered useless. From the success of the jolly-boat, a whale-boat was lowered, and sent in a similar manner to the reef; it made two passages in safety, taking some sick New Zealanders that were on board. The surf increased still higher with the rising tide, and the jolly-boat returning from the reef was swamped and soon dashed to pieces against the rocks; the two men in her were saved with difficulty by ropes from the ship. After this accident, and as the surf was tremendous, it was not thought advisable to venture any more of the boats this evening. As the tide rose, the ship floated as if in a basin; the gale rather increased than diminished with the approaching darkness, and no very agreeable night was anticipated. The ship rode comparatively easy from six to eleven P.M., but after that period, and about midnight, as the tide ebbed, she struck violently, swinging about and receiving such severe shocks as to shake the whole fabric. The carpenter was almost constantly sounding, and reported

the agreeable intelligence that she made no water. After a sleepless night, at dawn of day on the 31st the weather had moderated, so as to enable us to employ the boats in removing stores, baggage, &c. from the ship to the shore. The weather continued squally and unsettled during the day, and the gale again increasing towards night, the crew were all safely landed. Only one accident occurred, which, fortunately, did not prove of any serious consequence-one of the boats under charge of Mr. Hays, the third officer, was upset in the surf; the stores, &c. in her were lost, but the crew were saved by another of the boats. We formed a tent at a part of the bay named Haho, where we landed the baggage, &c. The natives were very friendly, assisting us in erecting the tent, bringing provisions, &c. The weather continued very tempestuous until the 2nd of April, when moderating, the ship was got off and again anchored in the bay, without having made any water of consequence. By the aid of native divers we procured the lower part of our rudder, it was united to the upper portion which remained attached to the ship, and being shipped, we were enabled to leave this unfortunate bay on the 8th of April. There were several whalers who had just arrived at the lee-side of the island, and some of the natives reported our situation to them in the following exaggerated manner"That the ship had broke into ten thousand pieces;" this having been repeated to another native, he said it was not so bad as that, but "a large hole had been knocked in her stern, which the carpenter was endeavouring to stop to keep the water out." We succeeded in removing our stores, &c. from the shore to the ship, without any material loss from the natives.

Much wonder was excited, when I exhibited to the natives of this island coloured engravings of flowers, birds, butterflies, &c.; they imagined them to be the original plant or butterfly attached to the paperno mean compliment to the artist. The engravings in Charles Bell's Anatomy of Expression always excited much interest when shown to the Polynesians; the plate representing Laughter never failed of exciting sympathy. A caricature representation of one of the fashionable belles of 1828 puzzled them exceedingly; some thought it " a bird," others that it was a nondescript of some kind, but when they were told that it was a Haina London, or English lady, they laughed, and said Parora, 66 you are in joke," so incredible did it seem to their unso

phisticated minds.

One species of snake is found on the island, which is innocuous; it is named Alet by the natives, is of a brown colour, and about two feet commonly in length. A specimen which I brought to England, preserved in spirits, is deposited in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London.

The natives also manufacture from the leaves of the Pandanus, small pockets, named Hatfara, some of which are very neatly ornamented; in them they keep their trifles, &c.

In concluding the account of this beautiful island, we may observe with Malte Brun, that—" A new Cythera emerges from the bosom of the enchanted wave. An amphitheatre of verdure rises to our view; tufted groves mingle their foliage with the brilliant enamel of the meadows; an eternal spring, combining with an eternal autumn, displays the opening blossom along with the ripened fruits."

(To be continued.)

SKIRMISH IN PERSIA.

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BY CAPT. JAMES EDWARD ALEXANDER, (LATE) 16TH LANCERS. "MAY Ullah be our guide in this expedition!" said Abdoollah Khan to his Aga; "the Shah, the threshold of the world's glory, has given us a difficult part to piay, but Inshallah (please God) we will burn the fathers of the Russians, and cut off a detachment or two before they can fall back into Georgia." By my father's beard!" replied the Aga, "we will show them what it is to trespass on the territory of the true believers. Gorumsak, the rascals! did they imagine they could pitch their tents on the plains of Iran, consume its fruits, and trample on its corn with impunity? No, no, the unclean Giours will drink of the sherbet of death by our blades, and their hearts will be cold ere long! But, Abdoollah Khan, in the name of Ullah, let us make some play, look here is a Meidan (or plain) fit for exercising Toorkomanee steeds:" and striking the angle of his broad stirrup into his horse's flank, and calling out a Delhi-Khan, or hair-brained young fellow from the troop, the gallant Aga dashes after him with his light bamboo spear in rest.

The Aga, like his chief, was arrayed in a blue cloth surcoat, fitting tight to the shape, and over it was a steel cuirass; his head was also defended by a metal skull-cap terminating in a spike, and from it streamed two or three long feathers; chain-mail covered the ears and hung down on his shoulders. His full scarlet trowsers, or shulwas, were met below the knees by brown sharp-toed boots; a pair of pistols with chased silver butts, and an ivory-hilted dagger, were in his shawl sash, and under his left saddle flap was a Damascus blade. The DelhiKhan, and his five hundred comrades, wore black caps of Bochara lamb-skin, (nicely pinched in at the top to show the silk or shawl lining,) cloth surcoats of different colours, and their arms were, lances, long guns, and curved sabres with ivory handles.

Ya Ullah!" cried the Aga to the Delhi-Khan, "if you don't bestir yourself, I shall send you to Eblis." The youth replied by unslinging his tophaik and continuing at speed; he drew the ball, and turning completely round in his saddle, he levelled and fired at the Aga, who shaking his spear over his shoulder made a feint at him, then grasping his spear with his bridle hand, he drew forth a jereed or javelin, which he darted at the Delhi-Khan, who avoided it by stooping to his saddle bow, then wheeling round he became in his turn the pursuer. They thus continued for some time making a display of their Parthian horsemanship, and circling round and round each other, whilst the rest looked on in admiration as they continued their march, and occasionally shouting, Shabash, excellently done! Mashallahs, praise be to God!

The mists of the morning were rolling off the hills "like a garment" as the party of Kizzilbash ascended a steep and rugged road; the stones were wet and slippery, but the horsemen heeded them not; and throwing their reins on their horses' necks, they left them to pick out their own way; then producing their flint and steel they lighted their chebouks or long Turkish pipes, and consoled themselves with the aroma

tic fumes of Shiraz tobacco. The Khan called his musician, who clearing his throat, took out a paper from his breast and struck up a wild though plaintive air, which was echoed from the opposite cliffs. But a stop was soon put to his singing, by an exclamation from one of the foremost of the party, who pointed to a pinnacle of the rocks overhead, on which was seated an eagle, which unconcernedly eyed the horsemen from his commanding height. The Khan galloped below him and was taking aim, when the king of birds rose majestically in the air, and the bullet whistled harmlessly past him.

The precipices were now clothed with trees of gigantic size, consisting of pines, oaks, beech, and maple. Nature seemed to have chosen this district to revel in unrestrained grandeur, for her works were on the most magnificent scale, and the rocks were suited to the vegetation. Life too was given to this mountain landscape by a swollen torrent, which rushed in white foam and with noisy impetuosity over the ledges which obstructed its progress to the sea; on the steep banks, and far below the Kizzilbash, coveys of red-legged partridges were observed running actively about among the stones, and picking up the scattered seeds of the wild oat.

The horsemen continued to wind for some time among the hills, till a sudden turn of the road brought them in sight of the wide expanse of the Caspian. It was a glorious prospect. Immense masses of black forests, inhabited by tigers, skirted the shores, in which, since the waters of the deluge subsided and left the ark on the hoary head of Agri-dagh, the sound of the hatchet has seldom been heard; silence brooded over them except when the tempest caused the foliage to wave like fields of grain as the branches groaned and wailed in struggling with the blast, whilst the roar of the brindled tenants resounded through the gloomy recesses. No wreaths of smoke curling over the trees indicated human habitations, or cleared spots the labours of the agriculturist. These ancient woods seemed abandoned to wild beasts, who ranged them unharmed by the bold hunters. Into the sea, headlands advanced and formed deep bays, in one of which the white sails of a vessel appeared like a sea-bird skimming the waters, whilst a lively breeze had set the billows in motion, and white-crested they rolled to the beach.

“Alhumdullilah, praise be to God," said the Khan, "here is a caravanserai at last, though the graves of those who allowed it to go to ruin should be defiled; however, by the head of Alli, it is better than nothing; quick, you lazy furaches, and sweep a place in an upper room, and spread my numid (belt) and carpet, for I am as tired as if I had sent an hundred Giours to the Father of Evil."

The caravanserai was, as usual, a square stone enclosure surrounding a yard; round three of the sides of the court were piazzas divided into rooms, and behind them were large stables for the horses of wayfarers; on the fourth side of the building was the arched gateway, over which were a few small rooms, but only one of these was habitable as the ceiling of the others had fallen in. The sturdy Khan dismounting with a groan, clambered to the upper apartments and immediately threw himself on his carpets; a boy then handed him a fresh caleoon, the grateful fumes of which, with some strong coffee, considerably revived him, and he reclined contentedly stroking his beard and talking to himself, till the Aga appeared simultaneously with the evening's meal.

A long chintz cloth being spread on the ground before the two chiefs, an attendant brought in a metal basin and ewer, and after they had washed their hands and eaten some ripe fruit, two broad flour cakes were placed on the cloth and a tray of smoking rice; on seeing which the Khan pronounced the bismillah or grace, and plunging his hand into the white heap he brought out a fowl, which was quickly dismembered, and dipping portions into cups of sauce, in a few minutes the fowl became a skeleton; spoonfulls of cool sherbet having washed it down, the caleoons were again produced, and they sat comfortably together till the sound of angry voices, which had for some time been heard from the court below, becoming louder, compelled the Aga to descend and quell the tumult.

He found the troopers quarrelling about their quarters for the night; the younger and more active had seized on what the elders considered was their right, and from words they were proceeding to blows, when the Aga producing his jereed laid about him on either side, softening the shoulders of the high contending parties, abusing their female relatives, and turning out those who could not be accommodated within the walls of the caravanserai to bivouac under some trees outside.

Before betaking himself to his repose the Khan looked out from his window and observed the mountains before him to be capped with a mass of angry black clouds; they were piled confusedly on one another, and the light grey scud was drifted swiftly across them; the wind, cold and moist, swept over the caravanserai and sighed on the untenanted chambers, and the face of Nature bespoke a coming storm. The Persians in the court quickly rolled up their carpets, and huddled together into the stables beside their horses, all of which were now turned out and their places occupied by men; a few warning drops of rain were then succeeded by a torrent, the distant thunder growled and reverberated among the hills, and the lightning showed at frequent intervals their rugged outlines; the noise of the conflicting elements was so great that it was difficult to hear oneself speak, and though many essayed to sleep, few were visited by Nature's best restorer.'

The storm was at its height, when a peasant in a red fur cap and coarse blue garments, with the rain streaming from his person, sought shelter in the caravanserai. "Punah be Khooda, God be my protection !" said he, "what a night! surely the spirits of mischief are abroad, and are frightening us with their gambols. Wullah! I hope they will not harm my poor sheep; but they may amuse themselves with these Russians if they like, and if they sweep them into the sea it would be a happy riddance to our village." "Russians! what Russians?" exclaimed half a dozen voices eagerly, are we near the Pedursug?" "Near! ay within two fursungs of the devourers of unclean meat,may they be confounded!”

66

The information that a party of 300 of the enemy occupied a village within two hours' march of the caravanserai was quickly communicated to the Khan; a council of war was held, the peasant was closely interrogated as to the position of the Roos, and after a short deliberation it was determined that three hours before daylight the march should be resumed, and the enemy if possible surprised. Sleep was no longer courted by the Kizzilbash, but a general inspection of arms took place, their pieces were newly primed and sabres sharpened with care; there