fications it may not be improper to add, that his eloquence was frequently animated by classical allusions, which displayed the rich and varied resources of a cultivated mind. In the year 1793, Mr. Twining was elected a member of the Committee of By-Laws, and bore a prominent part in the revision of them, which took place about that time. In the year 1810, Mr. Twining had the high honour of being elected a Director of the East-India Company; and in that capacity, laboured to discharge the important duties which attached to it, with unabated zeal for the welfare of the Company. In 1816, he was afflicted with a paralytic attack, from which he soon in a great measure recovered; but judging that, in all probability, he would be unequal to the continuance of those exertions which the situation required, he relinquished his seat in the Direction at the commencement of 1817. Among the subjects connected with a long, active, and honourable life, which seemed to afford him peculiar pleasure and satisfaction in his retirement, was the remembrance of the great kindness, and the many instances of firm and valuable friendship which he had enjoyed, not only in the extensive circle of his acquaintance, but in his public situations as Director of the East-India Company, of the Imperial Insurance Company, and of the Equitable Assurance Office. In concluding this humble attempt to point out some of the leading circumstances in the life of an excellent man, the writer feels an earnest wish to represent him as he really was,-an affectionate husband, a kind and judicious father, a zealous and sincere friend, and a good master. In his principles he was uniformly loyal; and the equanimity of temper, as well as the patient resignation, which never forsook him during a long and trying illness, were derived, it is hoped, from those pure sentiments of religion, which encouraged him to rely for support upon the mercy of God, and the merits of his Redeemer. 12th May, 1824. DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY OF MANILLA. As this city has lately been a theatre of revolutionary conflict, the following topographical account of it may not be thought uninteresting. MANILLA, the capital of the Philippine Islands, in latitude 14° 26' N., longitude 121° 3′ E. of Greenwich, is situated on the eastern coast of an extensive bay on the west coast of the island of Luzon, or Luconia; it is a Captain-Generalship and Archbishopric, and the seat of the Audincia, or Supreme Tribunal. The city forms nearly a section of a circle, of which the centre is a point formed by the coast and the confluence of a small but rapid river, the Passig, which, flowing to the westward and passing to the north of the city, discharges the waters of an extensive lake, about thirty miles inland. This river is navigable for vessels of 250 tons for a small distance within its entrance, which is formed by two fine moles built by the municipality of the city; the constant rapid current of the river forms a bar at its entrance, over which are ten and eleven feet water at high spring tides. The city is well fortified on the sea and land faces, but on that towards the river very indifferently, the curtain being narrow and confined, almost without bastions, and unfit for guns of large calibre, the buildings in the city overlooking and joining the wall in some places. The opposite bank of the river is lined with stone houses, which afford some cover for an approaching enemy, who could breach in a few minutes, the dis tance not exceeding 150 yards. From the same place the whole of the northeastern side of the fortifications might be taken in reverse; its chief defence on this side, is in fact the river, the current of which is always strong. Over the river is a neat but narrow stone bridge, of ten arches, which joins At the northern angle of the city to the suburbs. On the city side is a square tower of a diminutive size, forming a "tête-de-pont," but on much too small a scale for the rest of the fortifications, which are handsome and well constructed. the north-western angle of the city, which joins the mole, is the citadel of Santiago, a clumsy, old fashioned fortification, separated from the rest of the city by a narrow ditch. Its only useful part is a semicircular bastion which forms the point and commands the river: it is now used as a state prison and magazine. The length of the city within the walls is 1,300 yards (Spanish) from N.W. to S.E., its width 744, and circumference 4,166, The side towards the river, it has already been remarked, is in a very defective state: the sea and land faces are exactly the reverse. The land face has a double wet ditch, and an esplanade of 5 or 600 yards in breadth, which towards the river is marshy and swampy. Towards the sea, and extending for some miles along the coast, is a breast-work thrown up to prevent the landing of an enemy. On this esplanade formerly stood the church, from the tower of which Sir W. Draper fired At about into the city; it is now razed. 350 yards from the ramparts is a small exercising battery, and another outwork of stone stands at the western angle of the fortifications, where the outer ditch finishes, it being discontinued for want of room on the sea side. There are six gates, two on each facethose on the land and sea sides have neat stone bridges over the ditches, with drawbridges; the ditches are wide and deep, but much neglected, and on the sea-side a frigate may approach within good gunshot. Within the walls of the city are the public buildings and convents, the whole of which are rather remarkable for size than beauty: the interior of the cathedral is, however, very handsomely decorated. The houses are large, and very solidly built, particularly the ground floors; this is on account of the earthquakes. They have all galleries in the front, which are full of sliding windows made of mothero'-pearl shell, which gives them a dull appearance to the eye of a stranger. The suburbs are extensive, and contain many handsome stone houses: they are the principal residence of the merchants and foreigners. There are some pleasant drives round the city, and into the country, which is rich and highly cultivated, and gives a high, though far from adequate opinion of the rich fertility of these beautiful islands. The population of Manilla and its suburbs is about 175,000 souls, including persons of all denominations. BRITISH SETTLEMENT OF NATAL IN SUMATRA. To the Editor of the Asiatic Journal. and bravest of the inhabitants of Sumatra, and are colonists from Achin and Menankabow, and frequent quarrels occur between the chiefs, which are often decided by the sword. The English have had a settlement here since 1772. Gold dust, which is of a very fine quality, is the principal article of export trade, which is very frequently adulterated, and tests are therefore necessary to prove it. Camphor is another of its exports; and opium, piece goods, guns, china-ware, ammunition and coarse cutlery, are the principal imports. Rice is another article which may answer as an import, as the principal part now consumed at the settlement is brought from the Island of Neas, some of which is also re-exported to Bencoolen. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE TUNGOUSIANS IN GENERAL, AND THE TRANSBAIKAL TUNGOUSIANS IN PARTICULAR. No nation has spread so far into Siberia as that of the Tungousians. These people inhabit the vast, mountainous, marshy, and woody desarts extending from the Jenissei to the Eastern Ocean, and from the Amur nearly to the Arctic Sea. The advantages or disadvantages of their respective settlements have occasioned much variety in the life and occupation of this people, nevertheless their language, manners, and general character present every where such a striking similarity, as strongly tends to prove that the various Tungousian tribes possess a common origin, and were but recently dispersed. The Steppe-Tungousians generally breed horses, camels, horned cattle, goats, and sheep. Those wandering near the mountains and marshes of northern Siberia chiefly keep reindeer, whence they are denominated Rein-deer-Tungousians. Those residing near the coasts and in the forests occupy themselves in winter with hunting, and in summer with fishing; and from the circumstance of their sledges being drawn by dogs, are called by some Dog-Tungousians. The Tungousians call themselves Yewoienes and Kamneganes (probably after some one of their ancestors), but more frequently Boie, or Boio, men, whilst the Mandshur and Mongols call them Solones (hunters), and Orontshones (rein-deer-keepers). The Russians and Tartars alone call them Tungousians, a name said to be derived from the Tartar word tunguss, a hog, and given to them on account of their filthy and rude habits. We shall confine ourselves for the present to the description of those Tungousians who live in the country beyond the Baikal, in which they have been settled for many ages, and who are peculiarly distinguished from the Asiatic JournNo. 102. other Tungousians by their religion, which is the Shigemoniac idolatry. The Transbaikal Tungousians.—According to a tradition current among this part of the Tungousian nation, their ancestors were in possession of all the country from the Baikal, eastward, as well as that along the Amur, Shilka, Arguna, and their tributary streams; the Daures (a tribe descended from them) wandering along the Sselenga, and about the source of the Amur; and the Dutshares between the Shilka and Arguna. There they lived in peace and abundance till the Burjates, penetrating from Western Mongolia, conquered the Tungousians and all their related tribes; which, together with the account of the approach of the Russians in the beginning of the 17th century, induced many of them to retire into the eastern parts of the Chinese possessions. - The Tungousians established about the mouth of the Lina received the Russians, who, in the year 1640, came for the first time amongst them to demand the yassak (tribute), very rudely pulling out their beards, and shooting at them with blunted arrows: but the death of these men was severely revenged, and the victories of the Russians, but still more the justice and mildness which their government displayed towards these savages, have at last converted them into faithful subjects of Russia; so that they now willingly obey the government orders, and uniformly reject the inducements held out to them by their foreign neighbours. There is but one revolt of the Tungousians on record since they first submitted; and this occurred in 1680, when two or three of their tribes, after having killed a few soldiers and cossacks, emigrated with their cattle; but they were overtaken by the Boyar's son Lanshakow, with VOL. XVII. 4 H fifty cossacks, who, having routed them, forced them to return and give him hostages. The security and prosperity enjoyed by the Siberian tribes under the Rus sian sceptre, induced some Tungousian tribes of China to emigrate to that country. Prince Gantimur, Prime Minister of the Bogdo Khan, whose annual income amounted to 4,200 lanes silver, and four small baskets full of gold, and who was at the same time reigning lord of a considerable number near the city of Noun, in Mongolia, was despatched in 1667 against the Komarinskian Ostrog. This fort was situated on the right bank of the Amur, 400 miles from its source, or from the junction of the Shilka and Arguna. But the prince, instead of making the attack according to his orders, presented himself, together with his children, relations, and adherents of the tribe Duligat, above 500 men in number, at Nertshinsk, and tendered his submission to Russia. He was employed in making the Dutshares and Tungousians tributary; and on his invitation, his relative, Saissan Bokai, who had remained near the river Noun, joined him with two or three other tribes, who settled about the fortress of Arguna, the vicinity of which is still possessed by their descendants. In 1700 the Governor of Noun, accompanied by some troops, was dispatched by the Bogdo Khan to Nertshinsk, for the purpose of inducing Prince Gantimur to return to China. The most dazzling promises were held out to him; but Gantimur rejected them, and remained faithful to the country of his adoption. The Chinese then attacked him with their army; but he still remained firm: he encouraged the few Russians at Nertshinsk to a stout resistance, in which he assisted them with his whole force. The Chinese were forced to retreat; and Gantimur adopted the Greek religion, being baptized by the name of Peter. His grandchildren were raised to the Russian nobility, and obtained a grant of land near Nertshinsk, together with an aliment of bread and money. A new attempt was made by the Chinese to recover the Gantimur family at the conference with the Boyar Golowin, when the ambassadors pretended to make it one of the first conditions of a treaty, that they should be sent back to China; but this was refused by Russia, and they remain there still. The Transbaikal Tungousians are usually divided into forest and meadow, or rein-deer and horse Tungousians. Both of them lead a nomade life, such as has always been their practice. Traces of agriculture, which are found in the vicinity of the ancient town of Bargusen, are attributed by some to these people; but it is more probable that they originated with the first Russians who came into the country. It is probably with more justice that the old mines and furnaces, which exist in those parts, are considered as their work, although their knowledge of mineralogy must have been exceedingly limited. The mines of Nertshinsk were opened in consequence of informations obtained through the Tungousians; and it is also a remarkable fact that the rivulets near which the different mineral veins are found, are called by them Altatsha (gold-stream), Mungutsha (silver-stream), and Tersjatsha (tinstream). Christian Tongousians.-A few Christian families are found in every Tungousian tribe of the Transbaikal country. There are even whole vil. lages of Christian Tungousians, of which Prince's village (so called after Prince Gantimur), and Ssuchanow's Sslobode, inhabited by baptized Tungousians of various tribes, are the principal. The establishment of this latter village is attributed to an individual of the name of Ssuchanow, who, animated by a holy zeal for the conversion of these poor people, left the mercantile station to which he belonged, and having taken orders, set tled in 1772 in this village, where in 1776 he erected a wooden church, which was subsequently converted by Government into a stone one. His successor, who had likewise been a merchant, was a native of the same place as Ssuchanow, the town of Yarensk. The deacon and sexton were then Tungousians: in the present day the parish priest is likewise of that nation. Previously to the introduction of Christianity among the Transbaikal Tungousians, they had followed Sha. manism: now there are but few who follow this religion; the greater part having adopted a mixture of superstitions from various systems of idolatry, of which the following may be considered as an outline: Singular Opinion respecting the Creation of the World.-According to their notions, all the space now occupied by the earth was filled with water. Buga (the divinity) sent out the fire against this water, which, after a long struggle, consumed part of it; thus land was separated from water. After this, Buga created the light, and separated it from darkness: but on his descending upon the earth he met Buninka (the devil), who pretended to create the world, upon which a dispute ensued between them. Buga destroyed Buninka, but not completely; wherefore the latter endeavoured to injure the former's creation, and spoiled the twelve-stringed lying harp which he had made. Then Buga spake in his wrath to Buninka: "If thou canst⚫ make a fir-tree to grow from the midst of the sea I will acknowledge thy power; but if not, and I can do it, thou shalt admit my omnipotence." Buga then commanded a fir-tree to spring up from the sea, and it grew a stately tree; but Buninka's tree could not stand upright, and remained shaking to and fro: then he recognized Buga's power, and did him homage; and the latter laid his hand upon the forehead of the first, and transformed it into iron. By this Buninka felt so much pain, that he prayed to Buga that he would relieve him from it. The latter took mercy on him, and freed him from the pain, and let him go upon earth, at the same time strictly forbidding him to injure man, whom he was about to create. For the purpose of doing so, he collected iron from the east, fire from the south, water from the west, and earth from the north, from which he made two creatures, a man and a woman; making the flesh and bones of earth, the heart of iron, the blood of water, and the vital heat of fire. When mankind had increased in numbers, Buninka claimed half of them as his own; Buga, however, refused to give him the living, but promised that after their death he would take the virtuous unto himself, and leave the vicious to be punished by him in hell, which is situated in the centre of the earth. The latter consists of twelve caves, for different species of punishment, such as fire, boiling pitch, voracious dogs, &c. Shigemonian Faith. Transmigration of Souls.-Rewards and Punishment after Death. - Some Tungousians, however, believe that God has created all things visible and invisible, and that he lives in a place of extreme brilliancy, as is taught by the Mongol book, Mani Gambo. Revering the Creator's omnipotence, they consider Chomtchim-bodi-ssadu as his favourite, and pray for his intercession with the divinity. They admit the transmigration of souls; but in an indeterminate manner, referring the whole to the supreme will of the Creator. They admit of a retribution after death, believing that every one will be then weighed against a white and a black stone. If the white stone is not found to preponderate, the soul is admitted into Heaven; but if the black stone is lighter, it is committed to Hell; the punishments of which con |
