1836.] COW INSURANCE. 347 comer must contribute two shillings as the price of membership, and may then insure one or more cows at his discretion, on the terms already stated. Some such regulation as this is fair towards the old members, from whose contributions the fund has arisen; but there is never much in hand, small returns being made occasionally to the members if the stock-purse becomes unnecessarily full. Should claims arise beyond the means of the club, they would be met by an extra call on the members; but this, I am assured, has never taken place in the club to which I particularly refer, (which has existed ten or twelve years,) though the treasurer was once slightly overdrawn. The advantages of these associations are most striking in the case of small farmers keeping, as is the case near Halifax, four or five cows each. But persons of considerable wealth also become members, and thus add to the stability of the club, which is generally dependent on the number of cattle insured." Signed "U. U. S." (Slightly abridged from a Letter to the Secretary of the Labourers' Friend Society.) Obs. The great facilities for disposing of the produce of lands formerly out of reach of markets, which appears to be afforded by railroads and steam, may possibly render small farms more general; and similar clubs would appear very desirable, as the capitals not being large, the loss of a cow would be severely felt. Also, if the much wished plan for keeping cows for supplying milk to the poor should become general. At this moment every thing is in a state of change; new interests-new openings for trade and enterprize are starting up-the number of public works gives employment-new habits may be formed-and the moment seems therefore favourable to direct attention to this and similar plans (approved by those whose experience enables them to judge of their merits and demerits), in order to direct them from the first to such a course as may lead to prudence, frugality, and comfort. Y. * If our young readers will look into a map of Asia, they will see that Jaffa is on the sea coast, on the eastern side of the Mediterranean sea. It is in Palestine, (sometimes called the Holy Land). It is about thirty-three miles west of Jerusalem, and about twenty-one towards the north of Gaza. It was formerly called Joppa, and under that name we frequently read of it in Scripture. The annexed print is a representation of its present appearance, taken on the spot by the Hon. Capt. Fitzmauricea beautiful engraving from whose drawing is given in "Finden's Landscape Illustrations of the Bible." Joppa is one of the most ancient sea ports in the world. It belonged to the tribe of Dan (Josh. xix. 46.) Hither Solomon commanded the timber, hewn in Lebanon for the temple, to be brought, before it was carried to Jerusalem (Chron. ii. 16.) Here also Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts ix. 36-42.) In the time of the crusades Joppa became the scene of great military enterprises. Here Richard the First (Coeur de Lion) astonished the Saracens by his acts of valour, attacking them with the fury of a lion, and chasing them to Ramah, about twelve miles distant. In revenge for this repulse the Saracens stormed Joppa, and put twenty thousand of the inhabitants to the sword. Louis IX., king of France, (called St. Louis,) rebuilt the walls at a vast expence, and erected towers, in the year 1250: these were afterwards destroyed, and the city itself nearly reduced to a heap of ruins: "it revived, however, by degrees." (Finden.) Jaffa has been much spoken of in our days, in consequence of the French expedition to Egypt and the Holy Land under Buonaparte. It was taken by the French in the year 1799, and was the scene of much of that cruelty and horrid severity which warlike ambition too commonly leads to. "Modern Jaffa is situated on a promontory which rises about 150 feet above the level of the Mediterranean sea: it is, as it was formerly, the principal port of Judea, with reference to Jerusalem. As a station for vessels, its rocky harbour is one of the worst on the Asiatic coast. From its elevated situation, this town commands varied and picturesque prospects on every side. Towards the west is extended the open sea; towards the south are spread fertile plains, reaching as far as Gaza; towards the north, as far as Mount Carmel, the flowery meads of Sharon present themselves; and towards the east, the hills of Ephraim and Judah raise their towering heads. The town is walled round on the south and east towards the land, and partly so on the north and west towards the sea."-(Finden.) From the steepness of the ground on which the town is built, the houses appear to stand one upon another; and within the town but little remains of the appearance of its former greatness. Chiefly from Finden's "Landscape Illustrations of the Bible." VISITS TO AN INDIAN WIGWAM. THE Church of England Magazine, for September last, contains an interesting and useful article, abridged from the Fifth Annual Report of the Society for Converting and Civilizing the Indians, &c. The distresses arising from whisky-drinking in North America are much like those with which our own country abounds from gindrinking. The narrator, who visited one of the Indian huts (called wigwams), writes to the following effect:"In the year 1832, near the close of a long and fatiguing day, my Indian guide led me to a wigwam surrounded on every side by hills, on the margin of one of the small Indian lakes. The path, for a considerable distance, was lined on both sides with billets of firewood; and a blanket, cleaner than usual, suspended before the entrance, gave me at the very first a favourable opinion of the inmates. The wigwam was occupied by two Indians only, a man and his wife. We were soon made welcome, and I had leisure to look around me in admiration of the comfort of the interior. A covering of fresh branches of the young hemlock was neatly spread all round. The master of the lodge was seated on a large mat, his wife on another good and clean mats were 1836.] VISITS TO AN INDIAN WIGWAM. 351 spread for myself and my guide. Three dogs, well-conditioned and of a large breed, lay before the fire. At the back of the wife I saw hung up a tin can, full of water, with a small tin cup: next to it a mat bag filled with tin dishes, and wooden spoons of Indian manufacture; above that were several portions of female dress, ornamented leggings, two shawls, &c. At the back of the Indian were suspended two spear heads, an American rifle, an English fowling-piece, and an Indian chief piece, with shot and bullet pouches, and two powder-horns, and some ornamented articles of useful dress, besides a barrel of flour, half empty, three large salmon trout, and several pieces of dried deer's flesh. In the centre we had a bright blazing fire, over which there were three kettles; and the Indian's wife was preparing to set before us a plentiful meal of boiled fish. This was followed by soup made of deer-flesh and Indian corn; and our meal was ended with hot cakes baked in the ashes, and some tea supplied from our own stores. Before daylight on the following morning we were about to set out, but could not be allowed to depart without again partaking of refreshment. Boiled and broiled fish were set before us, and the young Indian, before partaking of it, knelt to pray aloud. His prayer was short and fervent,-it seemed to come from his heart. I was anxious to discover what occasioned so great a difference between the civilized manners of this Indian and those of his neighbours. The story was soon told. He had been brought up at the British settlement at Drummond Island, where, when a child, he had heard the principles of the Christian religion explained, and had been taught to observe the Sabbath, and pray to the Almighty. He had been taught the duty of industry and prudence, and told never to drink any spirituous liquors. Observing this wholesome advice, he was enabled, by his industry, to provide himself with every thing that was necessary, besides many conveniences and comforts. About eighteen months after this I again visited the wigwam; but how dreadful was the change! The same poor Indian woman whom I had left healthy, cheerful, contented, and happy, now appeared worn down with poverty and sorrow. An infant, whose aspect was scarcely |