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Leader (1850-1860), 24th September 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1087, Untitled Article

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      No . 49 & Sept , 24 , 1859 . 1 THE LEADER „ 1087

      Untitled Article

      was rarely absent , the constant object of hope and fear to sailors * —hope , that they may catch the shark ; fear lest , by any mischance , the shark , may cateh them . Nor is this fear quite groundless , as an unexpected plunge overboard may at any time occur . One of our crew , attempting to _ strike a dolphin with the harpoon , had posted himself on the tafirail ; but in his eagerness , reaching too far , followed his weapon overboard with a splash . I was surprised to see how little impression he made in the water , though falling from such a height ; lie did not even go beneath the surface , but fell just as a cork would fall into water . His shipmates gave him the end of a rope and hauled him up , amidst some jokes upon his zeal for fishing ; though he looked rather serious about it .

      "A flying-fish would now and then start from a heaving wave , and skim the surface like a bird upon the wing ; and many " feathered fowl" were ready to repay the complimentary visit , by diving into the domain-proper of the fish . The petrels , familiar and confiding , trode the yielding billows , or hovered around our vessel as night came on , to the uneasiness of the seamen , who deemed them the presiding spirits of the coming tempest , though , I am sure , most libellously . These little birds are quite silent by day , except that they sometimes utter a faint chirp ; but at night they often make an unpleasant screaming . They are the smallest of web-footed birds , being scarcely so large as a swallow , to which , in their manner of flight , they bear a considerable resemblance . "

      Here , at any rate is a geniall y disposed writer , conversing in a pleasant and familiar manner' ¦ with bis reader . The world is already indebted to him for an ingenious work , called " Omphalos , " in which he demonstrates what he calls the Law of Prochronism in creation , and proves it to be of universal application in the organic world , and particularly in relation to geology ; according to which the 'great antiquity of the earth is not so inevitable as some sciolists conceive . We are here , therefore , treating the book of a man who can think as well as paint , and think with originality , vigour and daring . Let us respect both the author and his work . Take , now , his description of a nook on the Alabama river .

      "In these cool retreats—and I saw several suchthe emerald virgin dragon-fly ( Agrion Virginicq , ') delights to dwell . All the dragon-fly tribe , as they are water-insects in their first stages , are observed to prefer hawking in the vicinity of water , as affording in abundance the prey which they pursue ; but the open pond , or broad river , is most generally their resort . But he who would see the emerald virgin , must go to some such hidden brook as I have described ; over which , as it flows silently , in a deep soft bed of moss of the richest green , or brawls over a pebbly bottom , with impotent rage , three or four of these lovely insects may be seen at almost any hour on any sunimer-day . It is , indeed ,

      a fly of surpassing elegance and beauty ; the male especially , whose long and slender body is of a metallic green , so refulgent that no colour can convey an idea of it . This green hue becomes a deep blue , if held so as to reflect the rays of light falling oh it , at a very obtuse angle , —a property common to the green hue of many insects , and some birds . The eyes are glossy , round and prominent ; ithe wings broad , flltny , and minutely netted , of an uniform purplish black . The female might easily be supposed to be of a different species ; it is much duller in colour , the body being nearly black , having ittle of the bright green reflection ; the wings are browner , and they are all marked with arhomboidal

      white stigma , near the tip , which is wholly wanting in the male . Their mode of flight is graceful , but rather slow , so that they are easily captured ; and they will not leave these their favourite haunts , even though pursued . I have no doubt they are born and die within the limited space of a few yards . 41 The refreshing coolness of these wild woodlandbowera was so tempting that I could not resist taking refuge in them from the burning hoat without ; and thus I contracted an acquaintance with those " demoiselles . " I encountered a stream , howover , of higher pretensions—Mush-creek—which tho

      I crossed by moans of a very primitive bridge , trunk of a tall forest-tree , which had been cut down bo aa to fall across .,, On this tree , basking in the sun , lay a large snake , of a dusky brown hue . about four foet in length , which , on my disturbing it , instantly plunged into tho middle of the stream , and dived to the bottom . As the water was turbid , I saw no more of it . It was , no doubt , tho species commqnl y called tljo cop * per-bolly (( Solubor poroatus , Boso . ) , which is numerous , but harmless . I afterwards observed a snake , probably of the same apeoios , swimming swiftly In a clear stream , close to tho surface , but entirely submerged 5 occasionally it

      stopped , protruding its head and neck above the surface to look about . " These specimens will suffice to indicate the character of this excellent little work .,. It is illustrated with wood engravings , all appropriate , many in number , and well executed .

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      TRIP TO THE KHINE AKD PARIS . By Thomas 31 GemmelJ . Ayr : Robert Maclehose . Though not novel in subject there may be a novelty in treatment of such a book as the present . Tlie freshness of first impressions is also something , when their objects are " the lovely scenery on the Rhine , and the magnificence of Paris . " The writer is very particular in g iving future tourists minute directions as to passpoi-ts , tickets , and

      fares , all of wliich he does as if his details had no possible anticipation in previous pocket-books . This weakness he displays as much in regard to England as to Paris or Germany . Thus he tells the reader of Cockaigne that " London to Dover is a chalky country , with poorish soil towards the hilly parts , good wheat and hops on the flat lands , but with the system of agriculture yet in rather a primitive state ; ploughing with four horses in a line . " The following presents a fine series of

      platitudes :- ^ - " Once afloat , and looking back at the white cliffs of Old England , one cannot help feeling , however short our tour , that we are leaving the dear old country , with all our ties and associations on its soil , and are . about to enter a sunnier clime , where , however , with all its fertility , the tree of liberty takes no root , and where neither public nor private opinion finds expression . Arrived at Calais , as ebb tide prevents the steamer from landing her passengers at the quay , we have the first taste of Continental customs and-custom-houses . Eight or nine smail boats , each manned by seven hands , all very old menapparently old . marines , take off the

      pas-, sengers . The old fellows jabber away , as if bound to scream some language that required four or . five at once to speak it . What a chatter ! The descent to the boat for ladies is not the most pleasant , as the greasy looking ancient in command has to take most o f them in his arms . Two elderly ladies remained in the steamer till she could enter the harbour , rather than undergo the ordeal . Arrived at the quay , we have the process of examination of luggage . The passengers fall into line , and each opens his portmanteau , &c . Here the advantage of sending on luggage direct is apparent . When the steamer cannot get to the quay , passengers have to wait for their luggage till the tide rises . The

      examination is far from strict at any one place , but it painfully frequent . " Rien a declarer ? " is the usual question . And if you answer in a few English words , or in your best Trench , that you carry no prohibited article , only your clothes , a glance at the contents of your carpet bag or portmanteau usually suffices . But if the searcher finds any article which you ought to have pointed out and paid duty upon , the search is minute . We are now directed towards tho railway , the way being through the Passport-office . The French are very polite as a nation ; and the absence of politeness in Englishmen and Scotchmen surprises and annoys official

      them . Nobody addresses or approaches an without lifting his hat . This done , and tho passport found en regie , it is at onco visdd and returned . We had a few minutes to look at the town , ana found the time quite sufficient . It is a place of only 13 , 000 inhabitants , with a fortress of tho . second class . Even to the eye of a stranger , to whom all he sees is novel , Calais has no attractions . The dia-rtrict . is barren and unpieturosquc , with sand-hills on one side , and marshy ground on the other . It is famous for its bo ^ bin-not ( tulle ) trad e , in which it now rivals England . It is said also to export about sixty millions of eggs annually to our shores . "

      Is not this " exquisite fooling , " like one of Albert Smith ' s jokes , in which tha only joke is that there is no joke , and yet tho people laugh . Wo should recollect , however , that our author is a Scotchman , and looks at things with the keen eye and stern regard of the North . As a Scotchman , the lcvelncss of tho land in Franco surprised him ; ' and tho system of agriculture struck him us singular , owing to the division of land into small portions . Tho farmers of Franco resomblo tho cottars of Scotland who ront small patches . Mr . Gommell also noticed tho almost total absenoe of animated lifb _ in tho lovely and luxuriant landscapes of the Oontinont .

      " Frosh looking green crops contrast finely with tho waving grain , the patches all richly fringed with trees in luxuriant foliage , ovor-topped ovory now and again by sharp clean rows of majestic poplars ,

      stretching up near at hand , at mrd-view , and in the . distance , giving the country an aspect of richness and beauty , such as scarcely any description could make the reader realise . , Yet , withal , there is a dead ness in the landscape , from the absence of animal life . No lowing herds , wandering over rich green pastures—no flocks of sheep , or frolicsome lambs , on cfosely-cropped lawns . You may travel hundreds of miles , and not see a horse , or a cow , or a sheep , or a pig , or any living thing , to impart life to the scenery ! There is scarcely such a thing as a pasture field . The cattle and sheep are all fed indoors , on food carried from the fields . This does not apply to the neighbourhood of Frankfort , tracts of orchards and

      where there are large pasture ground , where the pigs of the surrounding villages come out at the sound of the pig-driver ' s horn , and are driven home in the evenings—every pig knowing the sound of the summoning horn , and readily finding the way to its own sty , on being brought back to the village ; but almost everywhere else on the route selected , grazing of any sort was the exception . We saw only three instances of herds of cattle , or milk cows . Occasionally may be seen about two or three scores of sheep' ( apparently fat ) brought out to ea ; t up the stubble from which a crop has been cut . They are herded often on half an acre by a man , a dog , a

      woman or two , or some children . If the flock strayed off this spot , they would be among wheat on one side , or potatoes or mangold wurtzel on the other , for there is not a vestige of a fence anywhere . One partridge , flushed by the train , was all the game we saw—hot a hare , nor a rabbit , nor a pheasant . We had heard that so scarce is game in many districts , that occasionally three French sportsmen , with guns and game bags , may be seen all in hot pursuit-of a single unfortunate field-fare ;—and we rather inclined to believe it . The French game bag indicates the scarcity of game : it is a leather pouch with tassels , about the size of a lady ' s reticule . A good old blackcock would fill it . We had travelled

      three days before we saw even a crow , and it was alone . The swallow * the sparrow , and an occasional hawk , were almost the only , birds noticed from the railway carriage . Scarcely such a thing as a farmsteading worth the name to be seen . The cultivators occasionally live in small cottages , brick-built and thatched , but more generally they congregate together in villages about two miles apart , and swarm out in bands every morning to work on their small lots . The land is nearly all in crop , and it is common to see a lot of one acre bearing three kinds of crop—one stripe of potatoes or mangold wurtzel , another of barley , and a third of wheat . A field of pasture is almost unknown . "

      It cannot be denied that this is original description , and of no little value either . Here is the work of a fresh eye ; how distinctly it brings out features which the familiar gaze would pass over . Nor is our tourist less striking in his views of the Rhine ; but he renders his testimony to the fidelity of Byron ' s descriptions . Homburg and its gaming tables and its lady gamblers occupy considerable space . At length we find him in Paris , treating of Napoleon III . and his politics , from a Scotch point

      of view . The army in France , he thinks , is kept up to defend the Emperor from tho people , " are thoroughly republican , and . have no rich , old associations" as are usuall y attributed to them . The passport system , likewise , is perpetuated by " the necessity of providing employment ibr a section of a military people , who , from their training , are unsuited for industrial pursuits , and who could be kept loyal—because employed—in no other way . " But we must close this little , prolty , grconcoveved book , and hand it over to iJio reader , who will find enjoyment in it .

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      TUB JJUIT 1 SII SOLDIER IN INDIA . By Frod . J . Mouat , M . U ., F . U . US . *< l > " « ° > iud Co - The author of this brochure is a surgeon in the army , and Inspector-General of Jails , in iiongal . A commission being about to inquire into ho jamtary condition ofthe British Army in Julia , those notes have boon reprinted from a locul journal . Tho soldier is no longor a more unreasoning ma-„! .: „„ , „„ n ,. n fnlil . hut a steady , intulhiront , well '

      esteemed member of a glorious brotherhood ; and wo arc reminded of Inkormann , Balakhivu , Delhi , and Lucknow . Tho numbers who perish hv the sword aro inunitosimally small , comparoU with the hosts who molt away and disappear under the bliffhtimr influonoo of disease and exposure . Much has been done to improve the position of the soldior , but more remains to ho done . Dr . Mouat complains of tho inappropriatonoBS oi his dross ana equipments—the deficiency of his barrack aocommodutlon— -the injudicious manner m which hw

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 24, 1859, page 1087, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2313/page/19/