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Article REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. ← Page 6 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
' The human race , and particularly the ignorant part of it , are struck with every thing extraordinary . 1 question not but the great , renown of this female orig inated from her very follies , which appeared ro the savages to have something in them supernatural ; and neither Schoenmaker nor Klaaa . Blaster , who had often before mentioned to me the famous Kalcoes and her wondrous feats , had the least doubt of her being a great magician . But what most astonished me was , that such a woman should have taken it into
her head to aft the sorceress ; since the idea of gaining pre-eminence over others by means of tricks , supposes an address and cunning superior to the understanding of a savage , and a kind of calculation of events beyond what so uv-pvaclis ! . d a mind is capable of forming . But experience has demonstrated the possibility of weaker imposing on more enlightened minds , and , arguing from the greater to tbe less , it is not altogether so absurd to believe a little in witchcraft . But , whatever opinion might be entertained of my pythoness , of
it is certain , that the dread of her supposed power was great utility , not only to her own horde , but also to the adjacent ones . The place she inhabited appeared to the savages much more secure than any other ; accordingly numbers collefled round her , and this it was that occasioned her horde to be so populous . The Boshmen themselves dreaded her . These robbers never attempted to plunder the territory where she took up her abode ; and she had even acquired such an ascendancy over them , that , if any one of
their thefts came to her knowledge , she set off immediately , alone and unguarded , proceeded to their retreats in the midst of the woods , to threaten them with her vengeance , and thus compel them to a restitution of the stolen property . ' It has been often observed , that in the ceconomy of creation , Providence has wisely placed restraints on the increase of those creatures which would otherwise become too formidable to the human race . An instance of this is to be found in the antipathy which the Secretary Bird ( a native of Africa ) has to ail poisonous reptiles .
' Descending from a mountain to a deep bog , I perceived , almost perpendicularly beneath me , a bird rising and stooping very rapidly , with very extraordinary motions . Though I was well acquainted with the secretary , and had killed several in the country of Natal , it was impossible for me , in my vertical situation , to distinguish this , thoughl suspe & ed it from its aftions : and having found means of approaching pretty near it , under cover of some rocks , without noise , and without being perceived , I saw it was actually
one fighting with a serpent . ' The battle was obstinate , and conducted with equal address on both sides . But the serpent , feeling the inferiority of his strength , employed , in his attempt to flee and regain his hole , that cunning which is ascribed to him ; while the bird , guessing his design , stopped him on a sudden , and cut oft " his retreat , by plating herself before him at a single leap . On whatever side the reptile endeavoured to make his escape , his enemy still appeared before
him . Then uniting at once bravery and cunning , he erected himself boldly to intimidate the bird ; and , hissing dreadfully , displayed his menacing throat , inflamed eyes , and a head swelled with rage and venom . ' Sometimes this threatening appearance produced a momentary suspension of hostilities ; but the bird soon returned to the charge ; and , covering her body with one of her wings as a buckler , struck her enemy with tlie bony protuberances of the otherwhichlike little clubsserved the more
effectu-, , , ally to knock him down , as he raised himself to the blow . I saw him at last stagger , and fall ; the conqueror then fell upon him to , dispatch him , and with one stroke of her beak laid open his skull . ' At this instant , having no farther observations to make , I killed her . In her craw , for this bird has one , though no person has noticed it , I found , on
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
' The human race , and particularly the ignorant part of it , are struck with every thing extraordinary . 1 question not but the great , renown of this female orig inated from her very follies , which appeared ro the savages to have something in them supernatural ; and neither Schoenmaker nor Klaaa . Blaster , who had often before mentioned to me the famous Kalcoes and her wondrous feats , had the least doubt of her being a great magician . But what most astonished me was , that such a woman should have taken it into
her head to aft the sorceress ; since the idea of gaining pre-eminence over others by means of tricks , supposes an address and cunning superior to the understanding of a savage , and a kind of calculation of events beyond what so uv-pvaclis ! . d a mind is capable of forming . But experience has demonstrated the possibility of weaker imposing on more enlightened minds , and , arguing from the greater to tbe less , it is not altogether so absurd to believe a little in witchcraft . But , whatever opinion might be entertained of my pythoness , of
it is certain , that the dread of her supposed power was great utility , not only to her own horde , but also to the adjacent ones . The place she inhabited appeared to the savages much more secure than any other ; accordingly numbers collefled round her , and this it was that occasioned her horde to be so populous . The Boshmen themselves dreaded her . These robbers never attempted to plunder the territory where she took up her abode ; and she had even acquired such an ascendancy over them , that , if any one of
their thefts came to her knowledge , she set off immediately , alone and unguarded , proceeded to their retreats in the midst of the woods , to threaten them with her vengeance , and thus compel them to a restitution of the stolen property . ' It has been often observed , that in the ceconomy of creation , Providence has wisely placed restraints on the increase of those creatures which would otherwise become too formidable to the human race . An instance of this is to be found in the antipathy which the Secretary Bird ( a native of Africa ) has to ail poisonous reptiles .
' Descending from a mountain to a deep bog , I perceived , almost perpendicularly beneath me , a bird rising and stooping very rapidly , with very extraordinary motions . Though I was well acquainted with the secretary , and had killed several in the country of Natal , it was impossible for me , in my vertical situation , to distinguish this , thoughl suspe & ed it from its aftions : and having found means of approaching pretty near it , under cover of some rocks , without noise , and without being perceived , I saw it was actually
one fighting with a serpent . ' The battle was obstinate , and conducted with equal address on both sides . But the serpent , feeling the inferiority of his strength , employed , in his attempt to flee and regain his hole , that cunning which is ascribed to him ; while the bird , guessing his design , stopped him on a sudden , and cut oft " his retreat , by plating herself before him at a single leap . On whatever side the reptile endeavoured to make his escape , his enemy still appeared before
him . Then uniting at once bravery and cunning , he erected himself boldly to intimidate the bird ; and , hissing dreadfully , displayed his menacing throat , inflamed eyes , and a head swelled with rage and venom . ' Sometimes this threatening appearance produced a momentary suspension of hostilities ; but the bird soon returned to the charge ; and , covering her body with one of her wings as a buckler , struck her enemy with tlie bony protuberances of the otherwhichlike little clubsserved the more
effectu-, , , ally to knock him down , as he raised himself to the blow . I saw him at last stagger , and fall ; the conqueror then fell upon him to , dispatch him , and with one stroke of her beak laid open his skull . ' At this instant , having no farther observations to make , I killed her . In her craw , for this bird has one , though no person has noticed it , I found , on