frightfully hideous. Their faces are flat, pale yellow, and full of wrinkles. Some few wear stockings, trowsers, and waistcoats, like the men, made of fish-skins, leather, or of coarse cloth. But, generally, their whole wardrobe consists of a sheep-skin pelisse without any thing under it, fastened with a girdle. They plait their hair into two long tresses, which are held together underneath, by a twist. The rich wear long strips of cloth hanging from the head, ornamented with figures of horses, rein-dcer, and fish, in tin, copper, or brass. Young females wear crowns with the same emblems. All wear very long ear-rings, of different kinds of coral. A veil covers the whole head, which the married women only open in the presence of their mothers. They also delineate figures, with soot, on their hands, arms and legs, and then prick the skin till the blood comes, which leaves blue marks. The houses, food and living of the Ostiaks are worthy of each other: that is, poor and filthy in the highest degree. Their summer tents may be tolerable, but their winter habitations are horrible holes, more below than above ground. Sometimes six families live in one of them. Instead of a window they have a large piece of ice, which they preserve in a frozen state by pouring water over it. In the centre of the hut, stands the common hearth, where every one prepares his own food, without any regard to stated hours. Only imagine the constant smoke, the grease, and the smell of the victuals, which mostly consists of fish half putrified-add to it, that the children and dogs satisfy the calls of nature in the hut -and you have a model of the temple of filth. The food may very properly represent the victims; which consist of raw, dried or frozen fish, bears, foxes, dogs, and rein-deer always in a carrion state. Like many other parts of the world, the women are considered as the chief domestic animals: all falls on their shoulders. The men hunt, fish, and sleep. Preparing the food, domestic arrangements, boiling of oil, dressing pelts and fish-skins, making nets and cloths; all these devolve to the wife. Besides, the care of children follows of course; for the female Ostiaks are too poor to be unnatural mothers, and to let their children be crippled by hirelings. They sometimes suckle them till they are five years old. only when there are no young foxes: for, would you believe it?-their attention to these animals is so great (the skins being the prime objects of trade), that when the cubs are caught very young the women must give them the breast. With all this barbarism, a man never allows himself to strike his wife, let her faults be ever so great. Yet certainly not from respect, but out of avarice. For the wife, after being beaten, is entitled to re But turn to her parents and demand her dowry, without the husband's recovering what he paid for her; for women are a regular merchandize. They are bought according to the fortune expected, from 10 to 100 rein-deer; and some wedding clothes. To have more than one wife, is only allowed to the heathen Ostiaks; yet the baptized ones do not stand upon cere mony. When the purchase of the wife is settled to the satisfaction of both parties, it is confirmed by a suitable feast, with dancing, singing and drunkenness. The music and dances are mostly extemporized; the latter are very characteristic. They have not the charms of English country dances of four-and-twenty couple, but they possess other attractive quali ties. They consist of a kind of pantomimical burlesque. The dancers partly represent their methods of hunting, fishing and fowling, and partly the position, gait, and properties of certain animals; sometimes they imitate the manners of the Russians; and they are always accompanied with appropriate music. The female Ostiaks have one piece of property, namely a particular goddess in a forest some distance from Beresow, which is inaccessible to the Russians. The women have small wooden figures of the goddess for their private devotions. Affectionate widows (where will not tenderness stray to?) likewisevenerate the remembrance of their husbands, by wooden puppets, which they pretend to feed, and take to their beds.-When a woman dies, she is carried to the grave by females only, The curious are referred to the "Costume of Russia" for representations of the figures and dresses of the Ostiaks. INCIDENTAL HINTS ON THE ORIGIN OF IMITATIVE DANCING. We take occasion from the incidents mentioned in the foregoing articles, to call the attention of our readers to what may very plausibly be proposed, as the origin of characteristic dancing. We find these practices among nations, whose manners, most assuredly, have not been depraved from truly natural expressions, by excessive refinement among themselves, nor by ideas borrowed from others who affect the distinctions of enlightened and polite. They may, therefore, be accepted as almost natural to man in the lowest state of society: and they form, of course, a part of the history of human nature. We shall not attempt to treat this subject as it might be treated; but shall consider ourselves as limited, though not contined, to that view of it which arises from the preceding communications. We have seen, above, that the Ostiaks re present the position, gait, and properties of certain animals:-also the manners of the Russians; and, no doubt, of what other strangers may happen to visit them. In like manner, the dances of the Kamstchadales are imitations of the actions of the bear, that being the animal best known to them: and they exhibit, not so much the expectations and sentiments of the hunter, the human actor in the scene, as the alarms, terrors, and tricks exhibited by the subject of their chase; his examination of the traps laid for him; his awkward handling of what he grasps, whether billet or musket; his evasions and shifts; his clumsy gallop; his climbing of trees, or other modes of escape. It appears then, that these dumb shew mimicries are the resource of savage nations for entertainment; they are bodily attitudes, not mental exertions; they are repetitions, not originalities. As remarkable an account as any, because most detailed, is the ceremonies described in Collins's History of the Colony of New South Wales, as used in admitting the youths to the degree of men. They offer the rudiments of character dances in their rudest state. The first character assumed on an occasion of this kind, we learn, was that of the dog, and the performers crawled upon all fours, parading in this manner several times round and round. The second character was that of hunters of the Kangaroo; but this was quickly exchanged for the personation of the Kangaroo itself: they fitted themselves with long tails made of grass, which they fastened to the hinder part of their girdles, and proceeded-now jumping along-then lying down and scratching themselves, as those animals do when basking in the sun. A succeeding scene appears to represent the effects of battle, and the slaughter of enemies: others describe the arts of attack and defence. We may, then, place this imitation of animals as the very lowest, and, therefore, as the original kind of dance. An amusement, exhibiting skill and dexterity; knowledge, too, of that kind, which was accessible to the ac tors and spectators; and vigour of body, but not cultivation of mind. A second class of dances, though allied to the former, is the imitation of particular occurrences. So we see hunting, fighting, &c. at New South Wales; the manners of the Russians, &c. among the Ostiaks; and, at Otaheite, something very like the landing of the English, was presented to Capt. Cooke. This description of dances was adopted by the politest nations of antiquity with which we are acquainted, was even appointed to be repeated on periodical occasions, and has retained its establishment to this day. Such, for instance, is the "Ariadne dance" at Athens, representing the adventures of The seus in the labyrinth of Crete, when sent to destroy the Minotaur. The leading dancer, waving a white handkerchief, represents Ariadne with the clue, which she gave Theseus for his direction and safety; while the ac companying dancers, are grouped in such a manner, as to form a labyrinth, through which the principal dancer "wins her winding way." This is retained; and is danced by the young men, in the streets of Athens; but, by the young women, in a more retired situation, on the banks of the Sperchius. To have maintained itself for so many ages, and amidst so many national revolutions, this commemorative dance must surely have been esteemed highly interesting. Plato divides dances into military, peaceful, and mixed. The rudiments of the military, we have seen, among savages; they could have varied only in paraphernalia, among the civilized tribes of men: the glitter and clang of arms, which marked the Pyrrhic dance of antiquity, impart no essential distinction from the chief's "beating time with a club on a "shield;" and " striking the shield with "his club; while at every third stroke, the "whole party poised and presented their spears at him, pointing them inwards, and "touching the centre of his shield;" as practised in New South Wales. The military dances of the ancients imitated the movements of war, in false attacks, retreats, blows attempted and avoided, and various other instances of promptitude and address. They could only differ from each other, by conformity with the principles of tactics, adopted among various nations. Xeno phon mentions dances among the Thracians, performed without arms, in which some fell down apparently dead, though without injury: were stripped,, were conveyed to their funeral, and their death song was sung by their fellow soldiers. Peace dances may certainly be referred to the same ideas as predominate in the Island of Rügen. The shoemaker's dance, the weaver's dance, and, especially, the sheep-shearing dance; that being an event in rural œconomy, at the same time interesting, familiar, joyful, and profitable. If shepherd's sheepshearing be commemorated in a dance, why not harvest-home itself? Why not the festive season of the vintage, as well as that of gathering in the productions of the earth? and, indeed, we know, that Bacchic dances were of extremely antient institution, and generally prevalent. The Goddess Venus also led up the dance, Jam Cytherea choros ducit Venus imminente Luna, Hon. lib. I. Ode 4. To pursue the consideration of dances consecrated to these deities further, is to solicit the pain which invariably affects a virtuous mind, from beholding the depravity of simplicity and elegance, by the substitution of licentiousness and immorality. That the seasons of the year were antiently marked by appropriate dances, we may infer, from that called Anthema (flowers); during which a song was sung, "Where are the "roses? Where are the violets? Where is "the beauteous parsley ?" And the MayDay dances among ourselves, are certainly relics of a custom extremely antient, and no doubt, extremely popular. When we consider, that part of the religious ceremonies of antiquity consisted in dancings; we may presume, that, these represented events connected with, or derived from, the lives and actions of the deities, when on earth. They were, in our opinion, commemorative dances; though in lapse of ages the incidents they commemorate were forgotten. Such were the incidents which gave rise to the imitative art of dancing. Graceful movements, complicated figures, expressions of sentiment, were refinements not originally foreseen or attempted; but, when once mind has interested itself in a study, however humble or ordinary be its rudiments, there is no saying to what elegance, or to what dignity, it may not attain. Certainly, there are infinite degrees of difference between the attitudes assumed by the imitators of the bears of Kamschatka, and those easy flow of move ments, In gliding state which win their easy way, that we so much admire in a well-bred dancer. Nevertheless, perhaps, when designing to express enjoyment, as experienced by dancers, our author was perfectly right in instancing, "the charms of an English country dance, "of four and twenty couple." A SUMMARY ACCOUNT OF THE MINES IN RUSSIA. [From Storch's Picture of Russia.] The most brilliant epoch in the annals of the Russian mines, is the reign of Catherine II. The improvements in mining, the ap pointment of able inspectors, and the removal of many abuses and peculations, produced at revenue that excited the astonishment of the world; and will, no doubt, be perpetuated among the most glorious and remarkable occurrences of that period. Of the two Gold mines in the Russian Empire, that of Beresov in the Uralian mountains (near Ekaterinburg), is the most important. About 400,0000 pouds * of metal * A poud is 40lb. are annually extracted; which yield, on an average, from 40 to 60 Solotnik † of fine gold, from every 1000 pouds. The three washing-houses contain 861 washing troughs. The number of workmen attached to the mines amounts to above 2,000; of whom about 1,200 are constantly employed. From the first opening of the mines, in 1754, to 1788, 120 pouds have been produced; rec koned at 1,198,000 roubles; after all expences paid, leaving a surplus of 480,000 roubles. The most considerable Silver mines are those in the Atlaic mountains. The principal one is called Schlangenberg, one of the richest in the world. Another, lately discovered on the river Ulba, promises to be equally productive. When first worked they con tained from five to six solotnik of silver (mingled with gold) per poud; afterwards, only four; and since 1785, not more than three and a half. There are five smelting houses. In 1786, 5,400 labourers were employed; and 54,000 peasants to fell wood, the military and chancery servants excepted. The collective produce amounts to 400,000 roubles annually. From 1745 to 1787, they have yielded 24,460 pouds of fine silver; and above 830 pouds of fine gold: which amount to more than thirty millions of roubles. The expences for the whole period did not exceed seven millions; so that the clear gain was 23,000,000 roubles. The Nertschinski silver (or, more properly, lead mines containing gold and silver) have been constantly worked since their discovery in 1704; but the profits vary. About two million pouds of metal are annually extracted; but the poud at present scarcely contains more than one or one-half solotnik of silver. There are five smelting-houses. The workmen are about 2,000: the wood-cutters are nearly 13,000. From 1704 to 1787, these mines yielded 11,644 pouds of silver; from which, since 1752, about thirty-two pouds of gold have been separated. Both together amount to nearly 10,000,000 of roubles. According to the above statement, in the period from 1704 to 1788, the gold and silver mines have yielded about 1,000 pouds of gold; and above 36,000 pouds of silver; estimated at above 45,000,000 of roubles: the expences have not exceeded 15,000,000. consequently the profit is 30,000,000. The most considerable Copper mines lie in the Uralian, Altaic, and Olonezic mountains. The Uralian, which are the richest, had, in 1779, 229 furnaces. These produced, in 1732, above 193,752 pouds of copper. In the † 96 solotnick make a poud. Altaic mountains there is, likewise, a considerable copper mine; besides, the silver ore produces a valuable quantity of copper: about 15,000 pouds, annually, upon the whole. In 1782, 18,783 pouds of copper were coined there. The produce of the Olonezic moun"tains, and other scattered mines, cannot be reckoned at more than a few hundreds of pouds. The collective annual revenue, therefore, in copper, amounts to nearly 200,000 pouds ; the value, reckoning the poud at only ten roubles, may be estimated at 2,000,000.' But the Iron mines, after the salt-works, constitute the greatest source of wealth to Russia. The richest mines lie in the Uralian mountains; where, in 1779, 70 furnaces, and 532 great hammers, were at work. Taking all the iron founderies in the kingdom collectively, we may reckon, at present, 100 furnaces, and 800 hammers. But, besides the large founderies, there are numerous smiths among the peasants; who smelt the metal at home, and manufacture all kinds of utensils and implements. The most considerable iron-works smelt the metal procured from the mountains; but the peasants use the low-land ores. In 1782, 3,940,400 pouds of wrought -iron were manufactured in the Uralian ironworks; and if we reckon a million of pouds among the remaining Russian and Siberian governments, it appears that, about five milfion pouds (not including what is used in casting) are annually furnished by the whole kingdom. The value in money, according to the present price, amounts to (at least) 4,500,000 roubles. Most of the ores yield more than 50 per cent From 7 to 8 million of pouds of raw iron are required to make five million pouds of wrought iron; and at least fifteen million pouds of ore are necessary to produce that quantity of raw iron. According to the present arrangement, introduced by the late Empress, all mines belong either to the crown, to public institutions, or to private persons. The cabinet of Petersburgh has the supreme direction. Under it is the Board of Mines, where a majorgeneral presides. Besides two counsellors, and the necessary attendants, the Board is composed of different mine-masters, and surveyors of the smelting-houses. All officers attached to the mines rank with the artillery and engineer corps; and wear a particular uniform. The Stroganow family, which is among the great proprietors of iron-mines, possesses in the government of Perm alone, 540,000 square versts of land, with 83,453 vassals. * We are promised a succession of interesting articles respecting Russia, and its provinces; selected from Works extremely scarce, if known, in this country. A SUCCINCT ACCOUNT OF THE PLATA RIVER. [From Alcedo's Geographical Dictionary in Spanish.] The river Paranà rises in the Cordilleras of the Brazils in 15° S. Lat.; receives the Paraguay in 27° S. near Fort Corrientes, and the Uruguay just above Buenos Ayres. These three rivers united constitute the Rio de la Plata, River of Plate, or Silver River. It was discovered by de Solis, in 1515, who navigated up it as high as an island in 34° 4u S. Lat. Having seen some huts of Indians on the banks, he imprudently landed with ten men, who were all massacred. Five years after, Sebastian Gaboto, who had left the English service and entered the Spanish, arrived there. He was sent by the Spaniards to discover the streights of Magellan; however, being prevented from performing that service by the opposition of the natives, he entered Kio de la Plata. He navigated it as high as the island discovered by de Solis, and gave it the name of St. Gabriel. Seven leagues higher, he met with the river of St. Salvador, and another thirty leagues distant, called by the natives Sarcana, where he built Fort Gaboto. He continued his voyage as far as the conflux of the Paranà and Paraguay; the latter he entered, and had a conflict with the Indians in which he lost 25 men. But he defeated them at last, and took a great quantity of silver, which they had drawn from Peru. Thinking that this metal abounded in the country, he called the river Rio de la Plata, Silver River; and it soon lost the name of its discoverer It receives, during its course, many other large bodies of water; so that it rises, overflows, and inundates the country for many leagues; and, like the Nile, fertilizes where it extends, At this period the Indians retire with their families and effects in canoes, in which they live till the waters have subsided. The current at the mouth of this river is so extremely rapid, that the water does not become even brackish for many leagues. The river yields an incredible quantity of fish of various kinds, and the most beautiful birds inhabit its banks. The distance, from the conflux of the Paranà and Paraguay, to the mouth of the Plata is nearly 200 leagues. It abounds with fine islands; and is navigable for the largest ships. The country on each side is quite open and level; but, having neither springs, lakes, nor streams, it is diffi cult to cross. It furnishes every species of American and European productions; such as corn, cotton, sugar, honey, &c.; but, the most extraordinary circumstance is the propa gation of cattle. For, as the plains extend more than 200 leagues, and supply excellent pasturage, the first breed from Spain has mul tiplied so immensely, that it is impossible any longer for individuals to ascertain their own; hence all are in common. Those who want milk, take as many cows and calves as they please. Horses are equally numerous. Poultry and game are likewise very abundant; the partridges, which are as large as barn-door fowls, are often killed with sticks. In short, the country only wants salt and wood. The first is imported; the latter is procured from the great plantations of peach-trees, which thrive uncommonly well. The mouth of the river is about 40 leagues broad; from Cape St. Antonio to that of St. Maria del Este. Though the whole river is navigable, yet it contains many shallows and rocks, which are often fatal to vessels when the wind is from the W. Gales are more frequent there than at sea. It flows by the cities of Buenos-Ayres, by the colony of Sacramento, which formerly belonged to Portugal, and by Monte-Video. Its mouth lies in 35° 30" S. Lat. Monte-Video was founded on the banks of the Plata, 20 leagues from its mouth, by order of Marshal Bruno de Zavala. It is small, has only one parish, and a convent of Franciscans. It stands on a hill commanding a large and commodious bay, which is frequented by ships going to Buenos Ayres. The citadel is badly constructed with four bastions and some batteries. The governor resides in it. The town is surrounded with a strong wall, on which are some pieces of artillery. The population is about 1000 souls, comprising many opulent and distinguished famnilies. The climate is excellent; and the soil very fertile. Fish is so cheap, that it scarcely bears any price. The principal trade consists in hides. It lies 35 leagues from BuenosAyres. A few further particulars relating to BuenosAyres. From the same work. Among the most remarkable animals are tigers of a larger species than any where else; also ant-caters; and the chinchilla, a kind of squirrel, in shape like a lap-dog. Its fur is of a bright grey colour, and finer than the most delicate silk. The trade is carried on with the provinces of Peru by means of carts drawn by oxen. They travel together in caravans, for fear of the Indians. The capital of Buenos-Ayres is called Trinidad. It was founded by Don P. de Mendoza. In 1535, it was twice abandoned on account of irruptions of the Indians; and no provision-ships arriving, the inhabitants were reduced to feed on human flesh. In 1581, it was again colonized by order of Philip II. The situation is delightful. Owing to the width of the river, the opposite coast cannot be seen. The country is open, constantly verdant, and covered with villas and country seats. Winter is the rainy season, when tremendous storms of thunder and lightning take place. The heat, in summer, is tempered by the breezes which spring up about noon. It is the capital of the Bishopric. The buildings, though of brick, may stand in competition with the best in Europe. The cathedral is a handsome structure. The city is divided into four parishes; containing five convents, two monasteries, a foundling hospital, a house for orphans, a college, and a beautiful square. The citadel adjoins the river: here the governor resides. The garrison did consist of 24 companies (of 50 men each) of militia cavalry; 9 of infantry; 1 of artillery, with a large park of artillery. The streets intersect each other at right angles; but when the river swells, they are impassable for carts; foot-paths are raised for the convenience of the inhabitants. They use the peach-tree for fuel to heat their ovens, and to cook with, as wood can only be procured from a distance of 2 or 300 leagues. The population is about 30,000 souls. Trinidad is 70 leagues from the mouth of the Plata, in 319° 10" Long. 34° 35" Lat. from Ferro. ACCOUNT OF THE FRENCH COLONY OF SENEGAL, BY CITIZEN PELLETAN. The French are the only European nation which possesses settlements between Cape Blanc and the river Gambia; from 21° to 8° N. lat. They would have monopolized the whole trade of the coast, if the peace of Versailles had not allowed England (as an equivalent for the useless demolition of Fort James, on the River Gambia), a share in the gum-trade. Sierra Leone might have become very important, if properly supported by Government; for the river is not obstructed by a bar like the Senegal, nor by dangerous sand-banks like the Gambia. Large vessels could, at at any time, easily procure wood and water, which are scarce on other parts of this coast; and the soil is rich and fertile. Geographical Description. Fort d'Arguin, in 21° N. lat. is now aban◄ doned; as a sand-bank, of that name, renders the navigation very dangerous, Road of Portendick, in 185 N. lat. The Fort, at present abandoned, was built to prevent, the smuggling of Senegal gun. The author is of opinion that a small squadron, stationed between Cape Blane and Cape Verd would answer the purpose much better. Mouth of the Senegal, in 16' N. lat. Between three and four leagues from the mouth is a small sandy island, surrounded by the two arms of that river, it is the capital of the colony, and was formerly called St, Louis; the author calls it the Island of Se, |