Notes On Literature Science And Art.

Sunday , and protects him from those excesses too often entailed by affluence coming after a lengthened period of privation . The brewers' men receive , in addition to their wage , a daily ration of beer . The formidable corpulence of these men is generally attributed to their immoderate consumption of beer ; but we cannot share this opinion , for the limit laid down by the firm is rarely exceeded . Drunkenness must not be sought at the places where the means of producing it are elaborated , and this muscular power is rather a feature of race . "

In his New Zealand Settlers and Soldiers , or the War in Taranaki , the Rev . Thomas Gilbert thus notices a Maori encampment : — "Amongst the last arrival of natives were many whom we knew , and had learnt to respect . Eagerly did some five or six seize my hand , and as the custom of the native is , under the influence of strong feeling towards those they salute , to put their noses together , I was moved to tears at this expressive mode of

respect and assurance of safety ; the more so , as my face was wetted with the tears of the natives as they delivered themselves of a slightly audible whine of lamentation . The constant repetition 'All the same as brethren , ' gave at once the idea of a dim perception that , but for the war , the two races might live and love as brethren . Several of these natives had been living in the neighbouring pah , had repeatedly been to my house , and assured me of their protection should any fihting take place in that

g locality ...... In proceeding down through the ranks of armed men I felt perfectly free from fear , although I knew each one had a loaded gun in his hand . I certainly felt not quite satisfied when one native refused to shake hands with me , even after I repeatedly lint out my hand and wished him to do so . His companions laughed , and I was puzzled at the time to find a reason for his refusal , as he was a perfect stranger to me . Whether he refused any other of my ueighboui-s I know not , and have had no

opportunity to learn . We were among the natives nearly three hours , as we could hardly leave without their consent .... The whole 400 rose as one man , divided oft * into three parties , stripped naked to the waist , began the war-dance , each party in succession going through the dance three times . This , to a timid person , and a stranger to native customs , is most frightful . The horrid noises simultaneously made—the hissing like a multitude of serpentswith the sonorous ugh , the sound forced out with all their pent-up

breath , their eyes rolling and starting as if coming out of their sockets , their tongues protruding , the demoniacal expression of face , the whole frame quivering with w-rought-up excitement , and the rapid gesticulations of an unimaginable nature—all gave a hellish kind of reality to war , aud all its direful calamities . Then , in one body , in this fearfully excited state , they started down the hill towards the stockade . We also all left , overwhelmed with apprehension respecting our brethren at the stockadeand an

, inward prayer was offered up for the safety of my poor son , and a deliverance of all from the perils that seemed shadowed over the stockade . The men were few in number , and seemed at once doomed to destruction . We knew not the object of the nati ves , and dared not ask . The eldest Json of Mr . Brown was in the garrison at the time . Our interpreter ejaculated , ' The Lord have mercy on the souls of those poor creatures in the stockade 1 ' to which a most hearty ' Amen' was given . It was a severe trial . "

A new work on the ancient history of this country , The Conquest of Britain by the Saxons , by Daniel H . Haigh , is now on the eve of publication . Mr . Charles John Anderson , in his new book , The Okavango Fiver , thus describes the terrible effects of drought in Africa : — "The oxen had now been four days without waterand their distress

, was already very great . Their hollow flanks , drooping heads , and low , melancholy moans , uttered at intervals , told but too plainly their misery , and went to my heart like daggers . My poor horse was no longer an animated creature , but a spectre of himself—a gaunt staggering skeleton . The change that had come upon him during the last twenty-four hours was incredible . Prom time to time he would put his head into the into one ' s hands

waggon , any , and looking wistfully and languidly into his face , would reproachfully ( his looks conveyed as much ) seem to say , ' Cruel man , don't you see I am dying ; why don't you relievo my burning thirst ? The dogs , again , ceased to recognise my caresses . Their eyes were so deeply sunken in their sockets as to be scarcely perceptible . They glided about in spectral silence ; death was in their faces . The waggon was heavily ladenthe soil exceedinglheavythe sun in the

, y , daytime like an immense burning-glass , and the opressiveness of the atmosphere was greatly increased by the tremendous ' veldt' fires , which , ravaging the country far and wide , made it like a hugefiery fnrnace . " We could have wished that the wholevolume displayed the same fine humanit y ; hut Mr . Anderson appears to have the bump of

Notes On Literature Science And Art.

destructiveness largely developed . For ourselves , we trust we can find purer pleasures than the following : — "Another elephant was evidently following the stricken animal ( I did not see him , hut judged as much by the noise occasioned by its flight ) , and having qvSfckly re-loaded , I pursued the fugitive . Suddenly when within less than 200 yards of my intended victim , I found myself in his presence . He was partially facing me , his huge ears spread like a

pair of studding-sails , giving a defiant and threatening air to his whole attitude . I did not , however , hesitate , but fired at once at his shoulder , when he instantly betook himself to flight . My henchman , at this moment becoming frightened at the close proximity of the gigantic creature , instead of handing me the spare gun , also ran away . Reloading the rifle , I was soon once more in pursuit , and had shortly the satisfaction of getting again within sight of the poor beast , who , from the quantity of blood on its spoor , was

evidently seriously wounded . My attendant now rejoined me ; I managed this time to fire all my three barrels , but though every bullet sped true , they had not the effect of bringing the brute down . To my surprise and satisfaction , I soon discovered , nevertheless ,, that instead of trying to make his escape ( perhaps he felt unequal to the task ) , he gradually began retracing his steps . Hearing just at this moment a peculiar hammering noise close under the hill , I turned aside to ascertain its cause . It arose , I found , from a party

of Ovatjimba , who were busily possessing themselves of a nest of honeycombs . In their company were a number of noisy curs , who , on our approach , began to give tongue in a most alarming manner . For a moment I really feared my quarry would escape me ; my misgivings , fortunately , proved unfounded , for I soon overtook the poor creature resting under a small tree . I crept close up to him , and poured once more the contents of all my barrels into his body . Unfortunately , in pulling the trigger of the smooth bore , both

barrels went off together , and the gun being light , and charged with twenty drachms of powder , its rapid recoil struck me violently in the face , one of the cocks burying itself deep in my upper lip and loosening some of my teeth . The shock almost stunned me ; ; it was enough to have prostrated a horse ; yet I almost instantly recovered myself . As to the elephant , he did not seem to have beeu hurt at all , for he remained quite motionless . Large bullets and powder now failed meI therefore sent my

, attendant for the spare supply left with the men on the rock . Whilst waiting for his return I rammed down a ^ couple of small bullets in the rifle , and fired again . The result was the same as before , i . e ., nil . Having at last been rejoined hy my men , I gave the wretched animal a couple of additional five-ounces as a coup de grace , when he sunk slowly on his haunches , once more righted himself , and then fell with a crash , a corpse 1 "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

¦ The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed hy Correspondents . PEIYATE SOLDIERS . TO THE EDITOR OF THE rilEEilASOJtfS 1 IAGAZINZ A ^ D JUSOJTIC 3 IIKEOJ ? . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —I am grieved to find in Bro , Peter ' s letter in to-day ' s MAGAZINE a reason why so many of the questions asked in your columns remain unanswered ,,

and thus the value of the MAGAZINE , as a medium for the interchange of sentiment and the communication of knowledge so materially lessened . Bro . Peter asked the reason for the exclusion of private soldiers , and when I referred him to the Booh of Gonsitutions , it turns out , by his own showing in to-day ' s letter , that ho knew all about the law of the case , and that when he put

the question it was with the full intention of being prepared to bully somebody who was certain to attack him . I know nothing of Bro . Peter , and could have no motive for , as I had no intention of , saying anything offensive . My only fault was in recommending further inquiry on a subject of which he professed ignorance . His object now seems to be to argue for the removal of the disabilitywhich he

, does not deny . I do not intend to enter on this part of the question , and should not have taken any notice of the letter had I not thought it might be for the good of Freemasonry that Bro . Peter should not be allowed without comment to put on me the blame of the " impertinent , " "insulting , " and " un-Masonic" conduct , which are so apparent in his own letter to say nothing of the recruiting for Freemasonry

that he talks about . It is not with the hope of satisfying Bro . Peter that I add , I do consider that , from the moment of " accepting the shilling , " and being passed , sworn in , and attested , the