pumps, slippers, or shoes were al- the capital of a great empire. On lowed them, but English leather, the side ner Hai-teen, is a large without being pricked, edged, or common, wholly uncultivated; a stitched. No garters, but what were remarkable circumstance so near made of crewel, wollen, thread, or Pekin. There are large tracts of leather. They were not allowed to ground covered with the nelumbium, carry either sword or dagger, but a or water lily, near the walls, which knife only. All rings, jewels, gold, from the luxuriant vegetation of this or silk, were forbidden on any part plant, are extremely grateful to the of their dress Nor were they al- eye. The Tartarian mountains, lowed to frequent any dancing, fen- with their blue and immeasurable cing, or musical schools, under very summits, are the finest objects in severe penalties, one of which was the vicinity of Pekin. to be publickly whipped in the hall of their company. In our times, when the present style of dress le- DRESS OF THE CEYLONESE LADIES vels all distinctions, the apprentice THOUGH the dress of these females is often more gaily attired than his is but little regarded amidst the do

master, and attends publick diversions with as much ardour and liberty as the peer who helps to support that master.

mestick circle of home, yet few women display more taste when attired in their out-door costume; which consists of a short frock, with long sleeves of very fine white calico, worked in flowers and branches of coloured embroidery. They ornament their wrists with silver brace

EXTERIOR OF THE CITY OF PEKIN. THE walls of Pekin, like those of Tongchow, are built of brick, with a foundation of stone; they are of lets, as likewise their ancles and considerable thickness, the body of toes with rings of the same metal. them being of mud, so that the ma- Necklaces of beads and silver, of sonry may be considered a facing: the most curious workmanship, athere is not, however, sufficient dorn their throats, and hang in rows strength at the top to allow guns of down to the bust. Gems set in sillarge calibre being mounted in the ver or gold, and beautifully embrasures. At all the gates, and graven, hang in rich pendants from at certain intervals, there are towers their ears. Their hair is profusely of immense height, with four ranges anointed with the oil of the cocoa of embrasures intended for cannon; nut, and is combed back from their none are actually mounted, but in face, flowing gracefully down their their stead are some imitations of backs: but as it is reckoned a great wood. Besides the tower, a wood- ornament to have a very thick head en building of several stories marks of hair, they wear artificial tresses, the gateways: one of these buildings fastened to a plate of silver or gold, is highly decorated; the projecting which they mingle with part of their roofs, diminishing in size according own, and tie it up in a knot on the to their height, are covered with back part of the head. A scarf, of green and yellow tiles, that have a striped or flowered silk, is generally very brilliant effect under the rays thrown, in easy and graceful draof the sun. A wet ditch skirts a pery, over their shoulders: and part of the walls. Pekin is situated their waists are confined by two on a plain; its lofty walls, with silver girdles, with silver plates their numerous bastions and stupen- handsomely engraven: these girdles dous towers, certainly give it an are made to hang down on each imposing appearance, not unworthy side, one crossing the other behind.

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REMARKS ON THE PROGRESSIVE IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FASHION AND

DRESS.

ANECDOTE OF FASHION.

THIS curious circumstance is re lated by Sir Kenelm Digby, on the custom of placing patches on the face in the year 1658, and which was actually a well known fact at

to

In the year 1741 the English ladies wore their hair cut very short, curled, and powdered, after the fashion then adopted in France. the English court at that period. Their stays were very stiff, long A lady, who was a near relation waisted, and very ill shaped: while to Sir Kenelm, and grandaughter a French hoop completed their Count Arundel, paid him a visit. dress. The married ladies wore a She was then in all the pride of dress, the large plaits of which des- beauty, which she endeavoured to cended from between the shoulders, heighten by artificial embellish. and this dress was called a sacque; ments, and was particularly nice in the young ladies wore robe-coats, her patches, to which ornament, or as they were called, which were a rather disfigurement, Sir Kenelm kind of slips that had an ornament had an unconquerable aversion. of doubled silk, resembling the robe, The lady being pregnant, he said to depending from each shoulder, and her, "Have you no apprehension these were called hanging sleeves. that your child may be born with A lady of quality, at that period, half-moons upon its face, or, rather writing to her friend, says in one of that all the black which you bear her letters, "I do not feel at home up and down in small portions, may in my own house without an apron; assemble in one, and appear in the nor can I endure a hoop, that would middle of its forehead This reoverturn all the chairs and stools in monstrance occasioned her leaving my closet." off the custom of patching; but his

But the greatest absurdity at that words made such an impression on time, and which had long continued, her imagination, that the daughter was the patching of the face in dif- she soon afterwards produced, was ferent figures: and the following born with a black spot, as large as a may be relied on as a very authen- crown piece, in the middle of her tick

forehead.

THE GIPSEY'S PROPHECY.

From Ackerman's Repository for May, 1818.

AN N&Austrian officer, Baron von sylvania for the purpose of conductW, who had served in the ing some recruits to my regiment, ..last war against the Turks, in the then stationed in the neighbourhood Szekler hussars, resided for a few of Orsowa. In a village near the years at B. He took delight in army lived a gipsy-woman, who folspeaking of the various extraordi- lowed the trade of a sutler. My onary events which occurred in the new soldiers, who were very superLes course of his campaigns. The fol- stitious, asked her to tell them the lowing story is given in the words fortune; I ridiculed them, and in which the baron himself related

hit

their

laughing heartily, presented my hand to the fortune-teller. In the spring of the year 1788, I The twentieth of August! said she set out from Miclos-Var in Tran- to me with a significant look, and

without adding a syllable. I wished ed; and offered to engage, in case E for a farther explanation, but she should not, to make me a gratuitous... repeated the same words; and as I present of a basket of Tokay wine. was going away she again cried out. This wine is very rare in the army. to me in the same tone-The twen- I thought the woman silly. In my tieth of August! It may easily be profession a speedy death was by no conceived that this date was im- means improbable; but I had no pressed upon my memory. reason for expecting it precisely on

We reached the army, the fa- the 20th of August. I agreed to the tigues and dangers of which we bargain: I wagered two horses and shared. It is generally known that fifty ducats against the old woman's in this war the Turks took no pri- Tokay wine, and the auditor of the soners. Their officers set the price regiment, not without smiling, comof a ducat upon each head which mitted our agreement to writing. they brought to the camp. The The 20th of August arrived. Janissaries and Spahis neglected no There was no appearance of hosti-.-. opportunity of earning this reward. lity. It was the turn of our regiThis arrangement proved particu- ment to furnish a picquet for the larly fatal to our advanced posts. night: but two of my comrades... Scarcely a night passed but the were to precede me. The evening Turks came in superiour numbers in came, and as the hussars were about quest of heads. Their excursions to depart, the surgeon announced were conducted with such secrecy to the general that the officer ap and despatch, that they were but pointed to the picquet had fallen seldom unsuccessful, and often at dangerously ill. The officer who daybreak the camp was found guard- was next in turn before me was ored only by headless trunks. The dered to take his place: he hastily Prince of Coburg determined to dressed himself, and prepared to send every night strong picquets rejoin his men, but his horse, a of cavalry beyond the line of vi- good-tempered and fine animal, suddettes, to protect them. The pic- denly reared, and at length threw quets were composed of from one his rider, who had his leg broken by to two hundred men; but the Turk- the fall. It was now my turn: I ish generals, enraged at seeing their set out, but I confess not in my people disturbed in their trade, des- usual spirits. patched still more numerous de- I commanded eighty men, and tachments against our picquets, was joined by one hundred and which procured them a much larger twenty belonging to another regiprofit. The service of the picquets ment, making in all two hundred. thus became so dangerous, that Our station was about a thousand when a person was sent upon it, he paces in front of the right wing, arranged his affairs before he set and we were supported upon a marsh covered with very high reeds:

out.

Such was the state of things in we had no sentinels in advance, and the month of August. Some ac none of us dismounted. We had tions had not changed the position orders to keep our sabres drawn and of the army. About a week before carbines loaded till daybreak. All the 20th the gipsey-woman, of whom was quiet for an hour and three I had often purchased provisions, quarters, when we heard a noise and made her appearance. She enter- shouts of Allah! Allah! and in an ed my tent, and entreated me to instant all the horses of the first rank leave her a legacy in case I should were overthrown, either by the fire perish on the day she had predict- or the shock of from seven to eight

3

hundred Turks. They lost as ma- and horses, and upset more than ny on their side, both by the impe- one Turk: they extended their arms tuosity of their charge and the 'fire to seize me, and cut at me with from our carbines. They knew the their sabres; but my good fortune ground perfectly well; we were and agility enabled me to reach the surrounded and defeated. They marsh, where I sunk no deeper often fired at random: I received than my knee: in this manner I promany sabre wounds as well from ceeded about twenty paces among friends as foes: my horse was mor- the reeds, when I stopped, overtally wounded; he fell upon my come by fatigue. I soon heard a right leg, and kept me down upon Turk cry out, "An infidel has esthe bloody sand: the flashes of pis- caped; let us go in quest of him!" tols threw some light upon this car- others replied, "He could not have nage. gone into the marsh." I know not

I looked up, and saw our party how long they remained, but I defend themselves with the courage heard no more: I fainted with the of despair; but the Turks, intoxi- loss of blood, and continued insencated with opium, made a horrible sible for several hours; for, when massacre; there was soon not a sin- I recovered my faculties, the sun gle Austrian but was extended on was already high.

the ground. The conquerors sei- I was immersed in the marsh up zed the horses which were yet ser to my hips: my hair stood on end viceable, plundered the dead and when I recollected the occurrences wounded, and then cut off their of the night, and the 20th of Auheads and put them into sacks, gust was one of my first thoughts. which they had brought expressly I reckoned eight sabre wounds on for the purpose. My situation was my arms, breast, and back, none not very enviable. In the Szekler of which was dangerous. As the corps we were pretty well acquaint- nights in summer are very cool in ed with the Turkish language: I that country, I wore a very thick heard them encouraging one ano- pelisse, which deadened the blows. ther to finish before assistance ar- Nevertheless, I was very weak: I rived, and not to leave a ducat be- listened: the Turks had long since hind, adding there could not be departed: I heard from time to time fewer than two hundred of us; hence the groans of the wounded horsesit is evident that they were well as to the men, the Turks had disinformed. While they passed and posed of them.

re-passed over me while legs, I immediately determined to exarms, and balls flew over my head tricate myself from the place in in all directions, my horse received which I was; and in about an hour another wound, which caused him I succeeded. The track which I to make a convulsive motion. My had before made, served to direct leg was disengaged, and I immedi- me. Although a war against the ately determined, if possible, to Turks blunts all sensibility, I felt conceal myself among the reeds of an emotion of horrour, all alone as I the marsh. I had seen several of was, when I looked out from among our men taken in the attempt to do the reeds. I advanced; the field so; but the firing had considerably of carnage met my eye, but how slackened, and the surrounding can I describe my terrour on feeling darkness inspired me with hope. I myself suddenly seized by the arm! had only twenty paces to go, but I beheld an Arnaut, six feet high, was apprehensive of sinking in the who doubtless had returned to see mud. I, however, leaped over men if there was not still something worth picking up. Was ever hope vanced posts, whose arms I saw more cruelly disappointed? I ad- glittering in the sun, and at length dressed him in the Turkish lan- reached the camp. The men fled guage:"Take my money, my before me as from a spectre. The watch, my uniform, but do not kill same day I was seized with a violent fever, and conveyed to the hos"All that belongs to me," said pital. he, hand your head into the barIn six weeks I recovered, and regain." He immediately took off turned to the army. On my arrithe chin-cloth of my hussar cap, val the gipsey brought me her Toand then my cravat. I was unarm- kay wine, and I learned from others, ed, and consequently could not de- that, during my absence, several fend myself; at the least motion he very precise predictions which she would have plunged his large cut- had made, had been verified, and lass into my breast. I clasped him procured her many consultations round the body in a supplicating and legacies. This was very exmanner, while he was engaged in traordinary.

laying my neck bare. "Take pity

:

Some time afterwards we were on me!" said I to him: "my fami- joined by two soldiers of the enely is rich; make me your prisoner: my, Christians from Servia, who you shall have a large ransom." had been employed in the baggage -"I should have to wait too long," department of the Turkish army, replied he; "only be quiet that I but had deserted, to avoid being may cut off your head." He had punished for some fault which they already taken out the pin of my had committed. As soon as they shirt: I, however, still clung to him; saw our fortune-teller, they recoghe did not oppose it, doubtless be- nised her, and declared that she cause he confided on his stength often came at night to the Turkish and arms, and also from a slight camp to apprise the enemy of our feeling of pity, which in truth could movements. This information greatnot outweigh the hope of a ducat. ly astonished us, for this woman had As he pulled out my pin I felt often rendered us important servisomething hard in his girdle-it ces, and we even admired the adwas an iron hammer. He again dress with which she executed the repeated, "Be quiet!" and these most dangerous commissions. The would probably have been the last deserters, nevertheless, persisted in words I should have heard, had not their story, and added that they the horrour of such a death impelled had several times been present me to suatch his hammer: he did when she described our positions not observe it; he already held my to the Turks, discovered to them head with one hand and his cutlas our plans, and urged them to make in the other, when by a sudden attacks, which had in reality taken motion I disengaged myself, and place. A Turkish cipher served without losing an instant, struck at her for a passport. This convinhim over the face with the hammer cing evidence being found upon with all my force. The blow took her, she was sentenced to death as effect; the Arnaut staggered-I re- a spy. Previously to her execupeated it, and he fell, at the same tion, I again interrogated her retime dropping his weapon. I need specting the prediction which she not observe that I seized it, and had made concerning me. plunged it several times into his confessed that, by being a spy to body. both parties, which had procured

She

I now hastened towards our ad- her double profit, she had often

i