Number 3 was brought to the office of the Indian agent at Michilmackinac in 1839, and placed among objects of analagous interest to visiters. It consisted of a portion of a vein or mass of gneiss or granite, in which the quartzy portion predominated, and had, by its superior hardness, resisted the elemental action. The mode of the formation of such masses is very well known to geologists, resulting in almost every case, from the unequal degree of hardness of various parts of a mass, submitted to an equal force of attrition, such as is ordinarily given by the upheaving and rolling force of waves on a lake, or ocean beach. To the natives, who are not prone to reason from cause to effect, such productions appear wonderful. All that is past comprehension, or wonderful, is attributed by them to the supernatural agency of spirits. The hunter or warrior, who is travelling along the coast, and finds one of these self-sculptured stones, is not sure that it is not a direct interposition of his God, or Manito, in his favor. He is habitually a believer in the most subtle forms of mysterious power, which he acknowledges to be often delegated to the native priests, or necromancers. not staggered by the most extraordinary stretch of fancy, in the theory of the change or transformation of animate into inanimate objects, and vice versa. All things, " in heaven and earth," he believes to be subject to this subtle power of metamorphosis. whatever be the precise operating cause of the respect he pays to the imitative rolled stones, which he calls Shingaba-wossins, and also by the general phrase of Muz-in-in-awun, or images, he is not at liberty to pass them without hazarding something, in his opinion, of his chance of success in life, or the fortune of the enterprize in hand.

He is

But,

If the image be small, it is generally taken with him and secreted in the neighborhood of his lodge. If large and too heavy for this purpose, it is set up on the shore, generally in some obscure nook, where an offering of tobacco, or something else of less value, may be made to it, or rather through it, to the spirit.

In 1820 one of these stones (No. 2.) was met by an expedition of the government sent

north, that year, for the purpose of interior discovery and observation, at the inner Thunder Bay island, in Lake Huron. It was a massy stone, rounded, with a comparatively broad base and entablature, but not otherwise remarkable. It was set up, under a tree on the island, which was small, with the wide and clear expanse of the lake in plain view. The island was one of those which were regarded as desert, and was probably but seldom stopped at. It was, indeed, little more than a few acres of boulders and pebbles, accumulated on a limestone reef, and bearing a few stunted trees and shrubs. The water of the lake must, in high storms, have thrown its spray over this imaged stone. It was, in fine, one of those private places which an Indian might be supposed to have selected for his secret worship.

In No. 3, is figured an object of this kind, which was found in 1832, in the final ascent to the source of the Mississippi, on the right cape, in ascending this stream into lac Traverse at the distance of about 1000 miles above the falls of St. Anthony. I landed at the point to see it, having heard, from my interpreter, that such an object was set up and dedicated to some unknown Manito there. It was a pleasant level point of land shaded with trees, and bearing luxuriant grass and wild shrubbery and flowers. In the middle of this natural parterre the stone was placed, and was overtopped by this growth, and thus concealed by it. A ring of red paint encircled it, at the first narrowed point of its circumference, to give it the resemblance of a human neck; and there were some rude dabs to denote other features. The Indian is not precise in the matter of proportion, either in his drawing, or in his attempts at statuary. He seizes upon some minute and characteristic trait, which is at once sufficient to denote the species, and he is easily satisfied about the rest. Thus a simple cross, with a strait line from shoulder to shoulder, and a dot, or circle above, to serve for a head, is the symbol of the human frame; and without any adjunct of feet, or hands, it could not have been mistaken for anything else-certainly for any other objet in the animal creation.

Sketch of Geographical Discoveries.

From the Encyclopædia Americana. The first germs of geography are contained in the Mosaic records, and book of Joshua (1400 B. C.); in Homer, Hesiod (1000 B. C.); Herodotus and Aristotle (444 and 320); Hanno, among the Carthaginians (440); (Respecting these works, see the modern critical geographers, Rennel, Gosselin, Mannert, Voss, &c.). Polybius, Hipparchus, Artemidorus, added, 300 years afterwards, new accounts of travels; Juba, king of Mauritania, described Lybia as it was in the age of Augustus, and Strabo (A. D. 10,) collected all former discoveries in a comprehensive work. The same thing was done by Pomponius Mela (A. D.50), and, twenty years afterwards, by the industrious Pliny. Under the emperor Adrian, Arrian described Lybia; and Marinus of Tyre, in Phoenicia, (150,) with his cotemporary Ptolemy, fixed, with much more exactness, the situation of places. After them, geogra phy ceased to be scientifically cultivated for upwards of a thousand years; but the knowledge of particular countries gained much by excellent books of travels; for instance, those of Pausanias (170), Agathemer (200), Marcianus of Heraclea (200), and Agathodæmon. To this time, also, probably belongs the Table of Peutinger (q. v.) All that was learned from the migrations of the German tribes, and from the crusades, was collected by the fathers of the church, from whose (often fictitious) narrations, an Egyptian monk, Cosmas, commonly called Indopleustes (Indus navigator), though he did not personally go beyond Ethiopia, compiled his Christian Topography (456). About two centuries afterwards, lived the geographer of Ravenna (Sprengel calls him Guido, but this is only a corruption of his popular name, for he was a Goth), whose geography we know only from the careless abridgement of Galadro. Several instances of maps now occur. The map of Charlemagne was a silver tablet. Besides these Christian geographers, there were the Arab writers. Wahad and Abuzeid travelled through the eastern countries of Asia, and have left descriptions of their travels (851 -877). Abu Ishak published (920) his travels from Khorazin to Sina. Maesudi Kothbeddin of Cairo described (947) the most celebrated kingdoms of the three parts of the world which were then known, under the title of Gilded Meadow, and the Mine of Precious Stones.

In the year 980, Ibu Haukal gave a description principally of the Mohammedan countries. About 1140, appeared the travels of Almagrurim (the wanderer), and in 1153, appeared the celebrated Nubian geographer, the Sherif Edrisi. We ought to mention, moreover, the travels of the Jew, Benjamin of Tudela, of the Syrian, Ibu al Wardi, and the Persian Hambullah, from 1160 to 1240. Ruisbroeck (Rubriquis), a Monrite of Brabant, travelled, as ambassador from St. Louis to the great Mogul, through the chief part of central

Asia, and has left an account of the most interesting of his adventures.

Almost twenty years after Ruisbroeck, in 1177, Marko Polo of Venice travelled through all Asia to Cathay (China). Fifty years afterwards, Abulfeda, prince of Hannah, in Syria, wrote his geographical work, Description of the Inhabited Earth. In 1390, the brothers Zeno of Venice made a journey to the north, which one of their descendants has described. At this time, there also appeared several maps by the Persian Nassir Eddin, by Picigno, Mart. Sanudo, Andrea Bianco, Benincasa, Boselli, Brazl, Behaim, and Ulug Beg, a grandson of Tamerlane, in Samarcand. The first map containing America was executed by the brothers Appiana; another was soon after prepared by Ribero. About this time, 1526, lived Leo of Grenada, who composed a description of Africa. Fifty years afterwards, the famous Gerard Mercator, a German, published his charts, and the measurement of a degree was now made, for the first time in Europe, by Ferrel, Schnell, Norwood, Riccili and Picard, between 1550 and 1669, seven hundred years after the Arabian Caliph Al-Mamun had caused the first measurement of a degree in Asia.

In the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Austrian ambassador Von Herberstein rendered a great service to the geography of Russia by his Commentaries. At the end of the same century, Engelbrecht Kampfer travelled to Japan, and has left us the description of his travels, which are still very valuable. In the beginning of the eighteenth century, the measurements of a degree by Condamine and Maupertius, and the maps of Sanson and Homann, must be noticed. The attempts of the French, Swedish and Spanish mathematicians to measure a degree under different latitudes, have been pursued in the nineteenth century, and in 1818, the British astronomers united their exertions with the French. maps have been very much improved by this means, as well as by the trigonometrical surveys of various countries, since the Cassini set the example in France.

TRAJAN'S COLUMN IN ROME.

Our

In certain points of view, the column erected in honor of Trajan, and in commemmoration of his victories, ranks among the most interesting remains of the ancient city, and even of the empire. It claims a higher antiquity than some of those which exceed it in size, and few of any date have been preserved so nearly in all their original perfection. In point of magnitude it has nothing to compare with multitudes of the ancient edifices which stand to recal different epochs of Roman history; but the traveller stops before it with a feeling of revence, if not of sublimity, of a superior kind to that which can be excited by a mere mass of ruinous stone or brick work,

such as he finds in the remains of some of the baths, circuses, &c. This column addresses the intellect, refers directly and distinctly to history, and offers a great amount of information in details in aid of history, so that it impresses the mind with a sense of the reality of past ages, quite different from those indefinite conceptions of former ages and generations, which are imbibed from the contemplation of many other of the objects presented by the remains of the once mighty city.

In the course of a short residence made at Rome, during a tour in Europe some years since, we recollect that our first view of Trajan's column excited an inquiry, which few other objects had inclined us to make: "How has it been preserved in such a state of perfection?" Yet true it is that it has suffered little or nothing more than our print represents, either from the hand of man, or from the action of the elements. Nicely balanced and strongly secured on its base, constructed of marble, and with its parts finely connected, Goth nor Vandal, tempest nor storm has prevailed against it, even so far as materially to mar its surface.

Though covered from base to summit with hundreds of embossed figures of men, animals, plants, habitations, arms and implements, all appropriate to the numerous and distant countries and nations embraced in the circuit of the emperor's eastern conquests, and illustrative of climates, manners, habits, &c. they have generally been preserved in such a degree as to be distinguishable on a near inspection, and many of them may be clearly made cut from the ground.

All this appears the more remarkable to a spectator, from evidence he sees before him of the immense extent to which contemporary and more modern edifices have been overthrown, and compressed into one undistinguishable mass of rubbish. The surface of the ground here, as in most other parts of ancient Rome, is now many feet higher than formerly, so that a large hole has been dug, and walled in, to expose to view the original level and the base of the venerable column.

The emperor Trajan, or Marcus Ulpius Crinitus Trajanus, was a Spaniard by birth, though of an Italian family, and received a military training under his father.

Germination of an Acorn.

Here we see the early infancy of one of the giants of our forests. Here are two acrons, in two of the earliest stages of their germination. That on the left shows the radicle, or embryo root, just burst from the germ; that on the left presents it when grown to the length of three or four inches, with its little fibres multiplying and feeling about, as it were, in search of the substance which the young plant will soon demand from the soil. We may say "will demand;" for, by one of those wonderful provisions of the Creator, which science teaches us to observe at every step in knowledge and in life, a store of food is laid up in the seed for the nourishment of the infant oak, during the time spent in arranging the apparatus-the curious and complicated machinery, by which it is afterwards to draw its support from the earth, or, as most botanists think, from the earth and the air. This apparatus is not yet fully understood. We presume the most sagacious studen of vegetable physiology will not claim a thorough knowledge of every part, and to explain every phenomenon connected with the germination and growth of plants.

The subject is one not only of curious inquiry, but of great, most extensive practical importance. If we could find out how plants grow, doubtless we could ascertain how to assist, to accelerate, and to increase their growth. We might also know how to check or to prevent the germination or the increase of such as we find noxious or inconvenient. Then the farmer, the gardener and the florist would pursue their labors with new intelli

gence, zeal and success, and society would feel the benefits in a thousand forms, and all its ramifications. We already know much; for, in addition to the experience of many nations, in various climates and with many kinds of plants, through many centuries, the chemist has recently come in with his wonderful discoveries, and made us acquainted with numerous important substances, and truths which never could have been known without his aid. Especially of late, within three years, new light has been thrown on the subject by the leading writers on agricultural chemistry. But still we are bound to say that, for practical purposes, we are about as much in the dark as ever. We have discovered, what? Mainly that the science is much more complex than we ever supposed. We know, indeed, that nitrogen plays a great part in producing the vegetables around us, and we perceive-what we ought to have known long ago-that the charcoal, which forms, as it were, their bones, must be derived chiefly from the atmosphere; but who can yet tell us how this substance or that is best prepared for the spongioles of the roots, or the pores of the leaves? We know, in short, much better than we did the food and the feeding habits of those valuable friends of ours in the vegetable kingdom; but we do not quite know the taste of each, so as to be able to choose, mingle, cook and serve the best breakfast, dinner, and supper in the best manner, at the best time, with the best condiments, and with the best variety, to suit season and circumstances.

The man may be now living who shall yet tell us all this. Probably we may, ere long, be made acquainted with some important part of it; for the materials from which theories are to be constructed, are now greatly multiplied and well established. How to combine and deduce is the question. Many more persons than ever before are now directing their attention to agriculture, with correct scientific views; and many more will soon be engaged in field-labor with a thorough education, since the principles of agiculture are now beginning to be taught in common schools.

Having already extended these remarks farther than we designed, we must close, for to-day, with recommending to parents to indulge their children, of both sexes, in all proper occupations in the garden and field,

and to encourage them, by example as well as precept, in sowing, tending and observing plants-in inquiring, reading and studying respecting them. The future success in life of many will doubtless be greatly dependent on the degree of acquaintance they early form with that fundamental science and art of society, which appears to be now on the verge of great and most important improvements.

We have heretofore noticed the little "Catechism of Agriculture" of Professor Johnston. We recommend it again, both to schools and to families.

Brilliant Whitewash.

Many have heard of the brilliant stucco whitewash on the east of the President's house at Washington. The following is at receipt for making it, with some additional improvements learned by experiment:

Take half a bushel of nice unslacked lime, slack it with boiling water, covering it during the process to keep in the steam. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve or strainer, and add to it a peck of clean salt, previously well dissolved in warm water; three pounds of ground rice, boiled to a thin paste, and stirred in boiling hot; half a pound of powdered Spanish whiting, and a pound of clean glue, which has been previously dissolved by first soaking it well, and then hanging it over a slow fire, in a small kettle, within a large one filled with water. Add five gallons of hot water to the whole mixture; stir it well, and let it stand a few days covered from the dirt. It should be put on quite hot; for this purpose, it can be kept in a kettle on a portable furnace. It is said that about one pint of this mixture will cover a square yard upon the outside of a house, if properly ap plied. Brushes more or less small may be used, according to the neatness of the job required. It answers as well as oil paint, for wood, brick, or stone, and is cheaper. It retains its brilliancy for many years. There is nothing of the kind that will compare with it, to cover either inside or outside walls. Coloring matter may be put in, and made of any shade you like. Spanish-brown stirred in will make red or pink more or less deep, according to the quantity. A delicate tinge of this is very pretty for inside walls. Finely pul verized common clay, well mixed with the Spanish-brown, before it is stirred into the mixture, makes a lilac color. Lampblack in moderate quantities makes a slate color, very suitable for the outside of buildings.

Lampblack and Spanish-brown mixed together produce a reddish stone color. Yellow ochre stirred in makes a yellow wash; but chrome goes further and makes a color generally esteemed prettier. In all these cases, the darkness of the shade will of course be determined by the quantity of coloring matter used. It is difficult to make a rule, because tastes are very different; it would be best to try experiments on a shingle, and let it dry. I have been told that green must not be mixed with lime. The lime destroys the color, and the color has an effect on the whitewash, which makes it crack and peel.

When walls have been badly smoked, and you wish to have them a clean white, it is well to squeeze indigo plentifully through a bag into the water you use, before it is stirred in the whole mixture.

If a larger quantity than five gallons is wanted, the same proportions should be observed.-Selected.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES.
Latin Extract.

From Pliny's Letters.-Ep. XVI.

[He exhorts to study, because honor still awaits learning.]

Hortatur ad studium, quum sit literis adhuc honor.

C. Plinivs Valerio Pavllino svo 8. Gaude meo, gaude tuo, gaude etiam publico nomine. Adhuc honor studiis durat. Proxime, quum dicturus apud centumviros essem, adeundi mihi locus, nisi a tribunali, nisi per ipsos iudices, non fuit: tanta stipatione cetera tenebantur. Ad hoc quidam ornatus adolescens, scissis tunicis, ut in frequentia solet, sola velatus toga perstitit, et quidem horis septem. Nam tamdiu dixi, magno cum labore, sed maiore cum fructu. Studeamus ergo, nec desidiae nostrae praetendamus alienam. Sunt qui. audiant, sunt qui legant nos modo dignum aliquid auribus, dignum chartis elaboremus. Vale.

Translations of our Extracts from Foreign

Languages.

The following is a translation of the Latin Extract from Pliny's Letters, in our last number, page 251:

CAIUS PLINIUS TO HIS FRIEND MARCELLINUS.

I write this in a most melancholy frame. The younger daughter of our friend Fundanus is dead of all the girls I ever saw, the most animated, amiable and worthy, not only of a long life, but almost of immortality. She had not yet completed her fourteenth year, but already possessed the prudence of a woman,