we

should be able immediately to equip and man double the number of ships we previously possessed, which, in almost any circumstances, would be quite sufficient for any immediate purpose. On the present system, precisely at the moment when the services of our seamen are most wanted, their bosoms are filled with indignation at the outrages they suffer; and before they can be brought to face the enemy, their spirits are subdued by the filth, sickness, and discipline of a guard-ship. Instead of this enfeebled, or indignant race of men, would have none but those whose arms were nerved by the zeal with which they hastened to the combat. To the number of men we could obtain by voluntary enlistment, we would add those who are now employed in impressment; and then the country, strong in the love of its immense maritime population, would be provided against every emergency, and have no reason to dread the united navies of all the despots of Europe. If impressment be revived after some years' cessation, the probability is, that the seamen will either openly resist, or that, forsaking their country in a body, and carrying with them, perhaps, the ships of their employers, they will seek protection in the United States of America; while the bolder spirits among them may repair to the southern part of that Continent, and there, or in the islands belonging to it, renew the piracies of the Buccaneers. We trust, however, that these miseries and hazards will be avoided, and that the Legislature will now take measures that Impressment, at present happily extinct, may never be revived.

ART. IX. 1. Journal of a Visit to some parts of Ethiopia. By GEORGE WADDINGTON, Esq. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and the Reverend BERNARD HANBURY of Jesus College, A. M. F. A. S. 4to. London, 1822.

2. A Narrative of the Expedition to Dongola and Sennaar, under the Command of his Excellence Ismael Pacha. By an American (Mr ENGLISH) in the service of the Viceroy. 8vo. London, 1822.

THE upper course of the Nile, from Egypt to Abyssinia, passes through a country which might, till very lately, be considered as nearly unknown. Few even of the most enterprising travellers were willing to venture upon tracts so rugged, occupied by tribes so lawless; and though Bruce, and a French physician of the name of Poncet, touched it at some points, in their way from and to Abyssinia, they both preferred making

the greater part of their journey across those immense deserts, which extend east and west of the course of the river. Yet the region is by no means devoid of interest. Its aspect, though rude, is bold and peculiar; and though it be now chiefly inhabited by ferocious savages, whose great employment consists in dragging bands of slaves across these huge deserts, yet it presents us with the most interesting historical monuments,—the memorials of a people, whose name and institutions were celebrated from the remotest antiquity.

In noticing Mr Burkhardt's volume, we were led over a part of this tract, before untrodden by modern travellers. A still better opportunity was soon after afforded for extending our knowledge of these regions, by the expedition lately sent by the Pacha of Egypt, to conquer the Nile to its source, and render himself the master of all who drink its waters. Under cover of this armament, three travellers of different nations, Mr Waddington, Mr English, and M. Caillaud, penetrated far beyond Burckhardt's limits, and into districts at least as interesting as those which he visited. M. Caillaud, we understand, reached farthest of any, having followed the Egyptian expedition to the utmost point of its career, which terminated at Singué, in the 10th degree of latitude: But till he, or rather his Editor, M. Jomard, shall terminate his voluminous work, we cannot have the pleasure of following him and Mr English to Sennaar and the banks of the Abiad. The track to which Mr Waddington limited his survey, comprising the kingdoms of Dongola and Merawe, seems to us, however, to furnish matter for some interesting observations, both on account of the striking features which they present, and because the relation which exists between their past and present state, appears to us essentially misunderstood by geographers of the present day.

It will be proper to begin with a brief account of this expedition of the Pacha, undertaken to conquer an empire a thousand miles in length, and half a mile in breadth! for this last is the average extent to which the Nile, even assisted by artificial channels, can change the character of the uninhabitable surrounding waste. This was not the most tempting of acquisitions: But the Sovereign of Egypt, when seized with the mania of conquest, must not be fastidious in his selection; for his immediate vicinity presents nothing but wastes of moving sand, which no one will dispute with the rash mortals who attempt to occupy them. The force destined to effect this mighty achievement consisted of nearly ten thousand persons, not quite half of whom made any profession of fighting; and of these there were only fifteen hundred Bedouin cavalry, who could be consider

ed as fine troops; but the whole being well appointed with firearms, and bearing with them twelve pieces of cannon, a phenomenon yet unknown on the Upper Nile, they felt a just confidence, that nothing would bar their career into the heart of Africa.

The first enemy they encountered were the remains of the Mamelukes, those once turbulent rulers of Egypt, whom Mahomed Ali, by a deed treacherous and terrible, yet certainly politic, had rooted out of a country, which could never be peaceful while they were in it. Driven from their first refuge at Ibrim, they took possession of a spot in Dongola, which they dignified with the title of New Dongola. Every thing is relative. The Mamelukes, who desolated Egypt, improved Nubia. They built a handsome little town, and, by enlarging the means of irrigation, extended fertility over the surrounding district. When now summoned by Ismael Pacha, son to Mahommed Ali, and commander of the expedition, they proudly replied, We will make no terms with our servant!' Being unable however to muster more than 300 men, and looking for no support from the natives, with whom they were in open tility, they broke up, and retreated to Shendi. But being there overtaken by the arms of the Pacha, they either dispersed, or were allowed, on submission, to live as private persons at Cairo. There has of late, it appears, been a Mameluke insurrection in Upper Egypt, but not of serious importance.

hos

The next foe whom the Pacha met were a native race of formidable and peculiar aspect. The Shageia, or Sheygya, are mostly subjects to the King of Merawe, whose dominions lie along that part of the Nile which bends to the east and north, after passing Dongola. No African race presents a character more strongly marked. Though their colour be jet black, their form suggests nothing of the negro. The regularity of their features, the softness of their skin, the lustre of their eye, remind us of the finest specimens of the Arab race, and might even rank them as Europeans. Mr W., indeed, hesitates not to declare, that their clear glossy black appeared to him the finest colour that could be selected for a human being! Be this however as it may, the Shageia seem to have attained to a degree of intellectual culture unknown to any other African nation south of Egypt. Learned men are held in high estimation; and the leading branches of Mahommedan science are taught in schools, to which youth from the neighbouring countries resort. Mr Burckhardt saw some books that had been copied at Merawe, as beautifully written as any by the scribes at Cairo. The bulk of the nation, however, is devo

ted to very different pursuits; and in their habits appear much to resemble the carly feudal militia of Europe. They have servants from Nubia and other neighbouring districts, upon whom they devolve the cultivation of the ground, while they give themselves up almost wholly to war and military exercises. Their force consists mainly in cavalry, and their horsemanship is considered equal to that of the Mamelukes. The forays of this people extend on one side to the Upper Cataract of the Nile, and on the other as far as to Darfour. They rush to battle with a delight, and even gaiety, of which there is scarcely any other example. A virgin, richly attired, and seated on a dromedary, gives the signal, by calling out Lilli-lilli-loo, a sound used also at their festivals. The Shageia then ride up to the very faces of their enemy, with levity and gaiety of heart as to a festival; they then give the Salam aleikoum!" Peace be with you!"-the peace of death, which is to attend the lance that instantly follows the salutation: mortal thrusts are given and received with the words of love upon their lips. This contempt of death, this mockery of what is most fearful, is peculiar to themselves, the only people to whom arms are playthings, and war a sport.

This daring prowess, which would have rendered these warriors truly formidable to troops, which, like those of the Pacha, were at best but a brave militia, went for nothing, through one defect. Though not without the means of procuring fire-arms, they had disdained their use, and proudly adhered to the weapons of their ancestors, a long sword, two lances, and a shield of hippopotamus skin,-implements of defence which were of little avail against the flying death which their new enemies could pour in upon them. Being unacquainted besides with every mode of healing gunshot wounds, a ball lodged even in the remotest extremity of the body, frequently caused bleeding to death.

Notwithstanding this fearless pride, the Shageia seem to have had some sense of the superior power of their enemy: For they tendered homage and a moderate tribute, provided he would pass by, and molest them no farther. When told, however, that the Pacha aimed at nothing less than to convert them absolutely into fellahs, (labouring peasantry), their fury was raised to the highest pitch. To the threat, that he would drive them beyond their country, they replied, He may drive us to the gates of the world, but we will not submit. They were heard shouting from their encampment, You may come against us from the north, and from the east, and from the west, but we will destroy you. The Pacha endeavoured to intimidate them by a display of fire-works; but they called out,

What is he come to make war against heaven too!' and their courage was elevated by the idea of having heaven for their ally. Several skirmishes were fought with doubtful success. At length, while Ismael's troops were lying secure, and in a somewhat straggling state at Korti, they found themselves suddenly enveloped by three or four thousand of the 'black horsemen of the ' desert. He could form his line very imperfectly, when the assault began, and with such fury, that the Egyptian vanguard was driven in at every point. As soon, however, as the vollies of musquetry began to play, and the Shageia found that the magic by which their necromancers had undertaken to intercept the balls had no power, they declined the unequal contest. Most of the cavalry saved themselves by flight; but the infantry were almost entirely cut to pieces. So ineffective indeed were their weapons, that the Egyptian army had not one killed, and only seventeen wounded, while six or seven hundred of the Shageia lay stretched on the field. The latter now took refuge in a high mountain position, entrenched within a chain of stone forts, whence, deeming themselves secure, they sent forth loud shouts of defiance. The Pacha, in fact, hesitated not a little in advancing to the assault; but he succeeded in throwing a shell into the encampment. The barbarians at first crowded round it, and were amused by its movements; but when it burst, and wounded several, they cried out, that the spirits of hell were come against them, and were too mighty for themabandoned their position, and put themselves in full flight. The Pacha overtook them at Shendi, where, by prudent measures, he in a great measure overcame their enmity. The fellahs and women were sent back to cultivate their fields; and a considerable body of the warriors were prevailed upon to accompany him in the expedition against Sennaar.

Mahommed Ali appears to have conducted this war on a conciliatory plan, to which, however, some of his proceedings are in strange contrast. Above all, if he be, as reported, ambitious to rank among civilized potentates, he must renounce the horrid practice of buying human ears at fifty piastres a piece. The consequence of this savage traffic was seen by the travellers, who frequently discovered the peaceful fellah lying beside his plough or his watering machine, a victim to the ruthless avarice of the troops. It was asserted that women and children had been thus sacrificed; but Mr W. had reason to doubt the truth of this report, from not seeing any of their bodies lying unburied; for the soldiers held the frightful maxim, that it was a breach of their allegiance to the Sultan to grant burial to his enemies. Hence, in following the traces of the