HOLMAN'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD.

THE first r olume landed our blind traveller at Rio Janeiro, and left him when he had just completed a trip to the gold mines, in company with Captain LYost, The second opens with an account of his descent into one of the principal mines, and of his journey back to Rio ; and narrates the results of his residence (can we say iobservation?) at this tropical city, until his departure in his Majesty's brig Falcon for the Cape of Good Hope. It was in- tended in the voyage to call at Tristan d'Acunha ; but the ship was obliged to pass the island in a fog, and sail direct for the Cape. Here, as in other places, the sad deprivation of our traveller, his reputation, and the singular task he had imposed upon himself— together, we suspect, with his cordial' good feeling, and the gentle dependent manner of' the sightless—procured him much atten- tion: and, after travelling through the South and South-east part of the colony into Caffre Land, he started for the Mauritius. His stay here was brief; for, taking advantage of the offer of a passage in a King's ship, he sailed tor Madagascar and Mozambique ; where the volume leaves him.

The reader who has perused Lieutenant HOLMAN'S works, or thought at all upon the nature of his achievements will no doubt have been surprised, not only at his accomplishment of the journies he has undertaken, but at the information and amuse- ment contained in his books. By further thought and examina- tion, the riddle is solved. What human being could throw an obstacle in the way of a blind man ? Nay, how few exist who would not assist him to the utmost of their power? Traces of this are frequently met with, not merely in the connexions he forms on shore, but in the more useful sea-friends he finds or makes,— for instance, all the voyages narrated in the present volume were prosecuted on board King's ships, where a common traveller could nerer have found admission. The matter and composition of his publications, if narrowly scanned, explain all points of wonder except the personal resolution and migratory spirit of the man.

The character of the books bears the impress of the author. They do not deal in picturesque description, in sketches of external manners, or in the reflections such things excite. But if they lack their general brilliancy and force, they have none of their freiutn: vagueness. Unless a man looks upon nature and society with learned eyes, his observations are often too general to be dis-

tinct, or too commonplace to be interesting. Deriving his in- formation from others, Lieutenant HOLMAN tested all that he

received. Unless the ideas conveyed to him were specific and distinct, lie at once perceived their uselessness : if the things he was told had no interest for him, he might jndge they would have none for others. Hence the real and informing nature of his

work ; although it must be admitted, that at tunes there is a matter-of-fact air about it which has somewhat of the minuteness

of a catalogue. We make this observation because we think it is the truth; and because it fitly introduces a passage which touchingly exhibits the amiability of the author, and apologizes for his occasional dryness.

There is a spirit of consolation in all things, if we only understood the moral alchemy by which it is to be extracted. The very calamity which condemns me to inquire and think, where others see and comprehend at once, haa drawn around me an amount of attention to which I could not, othetwise, presume to lay claim. This is the end to which all writers, particularly travellers, direct their labours. When there is any point of value in a woik, even if it bear as small a proportion to the worthless as Falstaff's bread did to his sack, it is put forth in vain if circumstances do not assist in procuring it a healing. It is truly observed by Dr. Johnson, that the contemporary age employs itself in detecting an author's faults, and that posterity eugages all its ingenuity in seeking after Iii, beauties. The bletnishes of a book, if I may be allowed to distort a fine thought of Shakspeare's into prose, are buried in the writer's grave, and all that is good in it lives after him. Without any pretension to the favour of the public beyond that which the anomaly that exists between my situation and my pursuits confer upon me, it would almost appear that this fate of authorship has been nearly reversed in my case. My readers, knowing the difficulties against which I have to contend, would seem to have forgotten every thing but the merit of perseverance under circumstances so adverse and repelling. I am too proud of this indulgence, even though I owe it to an accident, not to endeavour, as I proceed with my work, to deserve the kind thoughts of those who feel any pleasure in my narrative. But, anxious as I am that its intrinsic worth, what- ever that may he, should increase as I advance, it must be evident that equiva- lent sources if interest are not always at my command ; for the interest of a record of travels a ill iuevitably vary the nature of the different subjects as they

arise.

In a work of imagination, the author is clearly responsible for the failure of his design ; but in a relation of facts, the author is responsible only fur his treat- ment of them. The novelist, who invents impossibilities, or constrains his plot to produce effect, is censurable in the first degree ; so too, the traveller or his- torian who misstates the character of a nation, the aspect of a country, or the moral and physical condition of army fraction of the great community: I;tit he is .not accountable fur the individual attractions of the subject; he must take men, their commas and their loce:thieS, as he finde them ; and if he discharges his office with fidelity, he performs all that can be required at his hands. If the readers of these pages will hut hear this distinction in memory, they will make for occasional wearinewas that excrete upon which alone I desire to rely. it is impra-ilde to travel from Dan to Beersheba, without filen irg 'utile barren spots : so, its the record of travels is but the reflection of the fluctuating varieties of soil and climate, usages and customs', government and national peculiarities, my journal, if it be faithful, which I can answer for, so far as my opportunities have iesched, must exhibit a similar inequality of interest. Asking some indulgence on this score, I resume my narrative.

The first volume of Mr. Hotta/kyr exhibited one of the official Red Tape modes of founding a new colony. Here is a specimen of Tory management at the Cape.

About half-past seven we entered Simon's Bay, when the Collector of tlie Customs came on board ; who informed Captain Pole that he was also Har- bour blaster, the duties of the latter situation having recently devolved on him ; but at the same time added, that as he was no sailor, he must decline taking any responsibility on himself by the performance of a task for which lie was totally incompetent. Captain Pole was thus left to take his chance after dark, in se- lecting his anchoraae, which from a circumstance that occurred about five mouths previoudy, does not appear to be without tisk. I allude to the loss of the ship Penang, which put in here for refreshments on her intended voyage

m

fro India to England, but was unfortunately wrecked in consequence f hr anchoring in a bad situation. There was also a foreign vessel, wrecked here, about two years antecedent to the above, in coining into Simon's Bay on a fine moonlight night, having run right upon the shore on the opposite side of the harbour to the town, in consequence of a deception from the reflection of the moon on the sand-hills. A vessel that was tender to his Majesty's ship Leven, was also wrecked in False Bay, front the same cause; and many others have had very narrow escapes. From the above losses, as well as the circumstance of many vessels putting into this port in distress, and the difficulty occasionally attending the getting in and out of False Bay, it is not only desirable that there should be a smart ofhcer and seamen for a Harbour Master, but that he should have a small decked vessel to enable him to go out in bad weather; but if the Government do not think proper to make it a separate appointment, it should at any rate be joined to the office of Master Attendant.

As a pendant in another way to the inefficiency established by Lord CHARLES, take a Portuguese Governor at Mozambique; with this saving clause, however, that the mat-appointments were of a personal kind.

We did not reach the ship until half. past five, when, after taking a hasty din.. ner, we proceeded to the Government house; where we received such a descrip- tion of his Excellency's dinner, that we had no reason to regret our absence. However, he made many apologies to Captain Lyons, for his cook, and the want of proper servants; and it must be owned that he did not complain without good reason, for out of the six that attended, there were only two who were fit to appear in the presence of civilized society, being scarcely one degree removed from a state of nudity, their whole attire consisting of a short coarse cloth tied round the loins, in the same manner as that usually worn by slaves; and it spoke little for the delicacy of the Governor, to allow his daughters to be so at- tended, especially in the society of British officers, in a public dining-room. His Excellency's domestic arrangements were, however, entirely exempt from MI attempts at elegance ; and the following specimen will afford a pretty correct notion of the ornamental part of the appendages. The sideboard was illuminated with four candles, stuck in—what think you, gentle reader ?—do your sensitive nerves tremble with apprehension, of some violation of taste or fashion ? What will you say, when I tell you that four Claret bottles supplied the place of cande- labras ? How will you be shocked when I add, that it was a barbarous indiffera ence, and not by any means the exigency of necessity, that occasioned this want of comfort in the Governor's appointments, for he could have been amply supplied with household comforts, for the mere trouble of an application in the proper quarter; but he was an easy man, who cared for nothing, beyond the ac- cumulation of wealth, and of which he had acquired a very competent share, through his profits on the slaves that had been exported from his Government, where be had been resident four years, and from which he was at this period in daily expectation of being relieved. It might be imagined that his daughters- ought to have conducted their father's household in a more civilized fashion ; but when we consider how much the mind is debased by association, we shall cease to wonder that young people, sprung from such a father, and so waited upon, should have few elegant ideas.

The most interesting parts in the book, on account of their novelty, are the chapters devoted to Madagascar. This fertile and slave-producing island, under the sway of RADAMA — a sort of Czar PETER in a small way seemed to be in a fair train for improving; but Mr. HASTIE, the British resident, and tutor to the monarch, died ; and his royal friend seeking consolation in the bottle, shortly followed him ; so that a Tory reaction has taken place. For the condition of the island, we must refer to the volume ; but we will pick out an anecdote or two of

RADAMA, THE REFORMER.

Radama was, without doubt, the most civilized savage that ever enjoyed the regal power ; yet even he could not e, irely shake off the barbat isms of early habits; he slept much, ate heartily, and entertained himself with the yellings of women, and the awkward caperings of men, who danced to the sound of drums, beaten by the hand, accompanied by the din of shells; however, his people saw nothing undignified in his sports, and he was so exceedingly popular, that the only point in which his will appeared to be disputed by the conimon voice, was the suppression of the slave-trade. He certainly was not himself entirely free from apprehensions on this subject; for, when Mr. Elastic waited upon his Majesty in the year 1817, from Governor Farquhar, with a treaty from the British Government, the King confessed that his Ministers and Counsellers had left him without an argument ; that they were inaccessible to every consi- deration beyond the hope of profit, which was to them a ruling passion, as glory was to him ; and therefore, if he prevented the sale of their captives, he would be left without any inducement sufficient to incite them either to make war upon others, or to defend their own country. Another difficulty that piesented itself to his mind, was the scarcity of provisions on the island, which rendered money of no account in point of compensation, as it would be impossible to feed the slaves procured by conquest. It seemed to him, that there was but a choice be- tween the sale or the death of these slaves; and he allowed, that when his Ministers declared that his abolition of the slave-trade would reduce them all to poverty, be was left without an answer, although his reason was unconvinced, and he had the firmest reliance upon the friendly purpose of his British advisers. Itadarna, however, afterwards entered into a treaty to prohibit the exportation and sale of slaves; for which concession it was agreed that he should receive an- nually, one thousand dollars in gold ; one thousand dollars in silver ; one hun- dred barrels of gunpowder, of 100lbs. each ; one hundred English muskets, com- plete with accoutrements ; ten thousand flints; four hundred red jackets ; four hundred shirts ; four hundred pair of trousers; four hundred pair of shoes; fear hundred ectitliels' caps,• four bundled stocks' twelve Sergeants' regulation, swords atoi belts ,• four hundred pieces of white Sadie tioth; two hundred pieces

ef bitse lodia cloth ; for King Radama, a full-deal's uniform coat, cocked hat, and •

boots complete; and two horses. • •

This prince was gentle in his manners, and remaikably confiding in the British nation ; to the bravery of the warrior he united S. courteous cousuleration for his own people, that would have been aiiinirable, even in a moreenlightened sovereign ; and, in point of fact, he may be regal ded as the father and the bene- factor of his subjects.

lie was accustomed to receive his Counsellors every morning at seven o'clock : their consultations genetally lasted from half an hour to two hours: so that their decisions must either have been curiously unanimous, or else Ids will must have carried absolute sway. Bastie makes an emphatical veinal k, which would lead one to believe that their judgmeuts were often severe, lie says, " Wo be to him who cannot pax the penalty awarded to the punishment of any ctime which

he has committed. •

There were no horses in the district of Tananarive, until Governor Farquhar sent some with Mr. thistle, as s present to Radania ; and when his Majesty dis- mounted, after his first essay round the comt-yard of the palace, he laughed, sereeehed, and danced with eestacy, like a child, declaring that lie never had experienced so much pleasure in his life ; and when he had acquired sufficient confidence, lie frequently amused himself by niaking.hisCaptains ride, in order to enjoy their awkwardness and timidity.