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pine and perish. A little further up upon the mountain side there is another climate, with its dwarf clusters of cactæ, rocks, dry bunches of grass, a dusty soil, deserted almost by animal life, excepting the green lizard, now and then seen basking in the scorching rays of the sun. Ascending a little higher, the surface becomes covered with a lead-colored grass, greener as the eye looks upward; when suddenly a streak of dark earth is capped by the purest white snow, until the prospect is entirely bounded by pyramids of eternal whiteness.

Such is the glare of the sun and its reflection on the snow here, that, for the protection of the eyes, it becomes necessary to wear green spectacles, or vails. Without this precaution, a very painful inflammation, called suerumpe, is often the result, which the Creole population, and especially the gentlemen, dread.

How wonderful, and gracious, and wise are the provisions of Divine Providence in the varieties for human sustenance! In New Guinea, the native rubs the sago palm to a powder, and by a hot mold bakes it into a hard cake; two and a half pounds will suffice a man for a whole day. The Chili pine, the splendid Auricaria imbricata of the Andes and Patagonia, from the fruit of a single tree will maintain eighteen persons per annum. Its fruit is the large seed of the cones, and as rich in gluten as the common beech, chestnuts, or acorns. Humboldt calculated that the one thousand square feet which would yield four hundred and sixty-two pounds of potatoes, or thirty-eight of wheat, would, in less time, produce four thousand pounds of bananas! The real bread - fruit - tree (Artocarpus incisa) of the South Seas and Indian Archipelago is a beautiful object, bearing eight or nine months, in close succession. Its fruit is cooked in various ways, and three trees will support a man eight months. Upon these table-lands of Chili and Peru, at the immense elevation of thirteen thousand feet above the sea, and where barley and rye refuse to ripen, the natives grow their quiona, and before the arrival of the Spaniards, thousands amid these elevated regions lived principally on this small seeded bread grain, whose composition is nearly that of oatmeal. Without this providential plant, the plateau of the everlasting Andes would be only a cattle pasture, like the summer fields of the beautiful Alpine valleys!

FOR

HUNGARY.

NOR almost a century after their first appearance the Magyars were the terror of Europe. In their nomadic wanderings westward they had overwhelmed the Bulgarians and Moravians; the Slaves and the Daco-Romans had been driven to the mountains, and hardly had Arpad pitched his tents on the plains of Hungary before Germany, France, and Italy felt the terrible force of the Magyar invasions. The appearance of the host was, indeed, such as to excite terror even in those barbarous times. On horseback, always on horseback, and armed with bows, lances and sabers, the wild chivalry of Asia marched before a confused multitude of women and children. Then followed immense herds of cattle, and rude wagons. some of which were already filled with booty, while others awaited the fruits of future victories. The terror-stricken nations of Europe recognized in the grimvisaged Magyars the descendants of the "scourge of God." They were regarded as the bands of Gog and Magog, spoken of in the Apocalypse, whose advent was immediately to precede the destruction of the world.

Germany at length rose in a mass against the ravagers of Europe, one hundred thousand of whom were slain before the walls of Augsburg, in the year 955. Having been thus arrested in their course of conquest, the Magyars returned to their encampments on the plains of Hungary, and left off the adventurous expeditions which had brought them in contact with the more civilized nations of the West. From rude warriors they soon became shepherds and tillers of the soil, learning the elements of agriculture and industry from the prisoners they had taken in war and from the original inhabitants of the country.

The religion which the Magyars brought from Asia was a species of pantheistic naturalism. They worshiped the air, water, and especially fire, which was personified in the sun. They addressed hymns to the earth, whence comes the harvest and the flowers, the useful iron, and the sparkling diamond. They admitted in their faith the dualism of the Persians, the eternal conflict of Ormuzd and Ahriman, or the spirits of good and evil Sorcerers and astrologers obtained

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As

oracular credence. To the Supreme God, embracing in himself all other divinities, to "Magyarok-Istene," the god of the Magyars, they never sacrificed human beings, but immolated upon his altars pure white horses and other animals. Their respect for the dead proves that they believed in the resurrection of the soul. many eneinies as the valiant Magyar had slain in battle, so many servants would he have in the future world. Faithful to the religion of their ancestors, they continued to worship their Asiatic god, without, however, any decided aversion to the practices of Christianity, for the vanquished among them were permitted to cherish, without molestation, the faith of Jesus.

But how were the Hungarians converted to Christianity, and by whom? The Greeks, the Latins, and the Poles, all claim to have made the first baptism. Here is the Catholic legend:

When the victors of Augsburg imposed peace upon the Magyars it was stipulated

that Italian and German missionaries might go and preach among the latter without opposition, and that the priests might build churches and establish convents. Pilgrim was charged with the command of the pious expedition,. and under him were Bruno and Wolfgang, two lieutenants selected by the pope. The three apostles set forth, charged with extraordinary powers, and followed by an army of monks and priests. Their success was tardy. A small band of neophytes was gathered, but the chiefs had to be converted before the people would embrace the new religion. Geyza, the leader of the Magyars, was not hostile to the movement. The "glad tidings" had only to be delivered in the proper manner in order to meet with ready acceptance.

It so happened that Geyza was the willing slave of a beautiful female named Beleknegini, who, however, was not his lawful wife. Though a bold Amazon, who, without bit or saddle, could tame the

wildest steed, and rushed into the bloody mêlée with as much coolness as the bravest Magyar, Beleknegini was tender and amiable enough to bring to her feet a man less enthusiastic than Geyza. One day the "beautiful mistress," for that was her name in Slavish, took a fancy to hear the missionaries, to be converted to Catholicism, and also to make a convert of Geyza. How could the love-sick chief refuse to bow down with her and receive the holy water? Thousands of Magyars followed their example, and among them Vaik, the son of Geyza, who, upon baptism, received the name of Stephen, afterward to be crowned with the double honor of a saint and king. During the long reign of the latter there was, however, more than one revolt in consequence of attempting to force Catholicism upon those of the Magyars who thought that they saw in the new order of things the destruction of their nationality. At last his successor, Bela I., seeing that neither decrees, wars, nor persecutions would induce all of his subjects to give up the idolatrous worship of Istene and the forces of nature, convoked a general diet at Alba-Royal, where even peasants and serfs were admitted to share in the deliberations. Every village was to send two aged men of experience and ready speech. The delegates assembled. But the constituents, pretending that they wished to watch over the acts of those whom they had sent, presented themselves also, and gathered round the palace of the king in a tumultuous mob. Here is what they demanded. The right to live like heathen; the privilege of stoning the bishops, exterminating the priests, strangling the vicars, hanging the collectors of the tithes, of burning the churches, and breaking the bells. The king desired three days to deliberate with his ministers. The three days passed, and there was no response.

“What shall it be? what shall it be?" demanded the mob around the palace. The king did not make his appearance, but in his place a band of soldiers rushed upon the clamorous heathens, who were armed only with sticks and stones, and by a horrible slaughter permanently established Catholicism in Hungary.

The Magyars venerate St. Stephen both as an apostle of Christianity and their first king. During his reign monasteries were established, which have since grown into

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rich and powerful institutions. He framed a constitution for the government of the people which survived eight centuries. It was St. Stephen also who first divided Hungary into comitats, or counties, each of which was a miniature state regulating its own affairs. This municipal institution was always so dear to the Magyars that their historians claim for its origin a Divine inspiration. The form of government adopted by the Hungarians was a constitutional monarchy, the elective principle having been brought with them from Central Asia. When pasturing their vast herds of cattle and horses on the steppes of Scythia they enjoyed the privilege of choosing their leader and sharing with him the government. And more than once in their long migration westward did they assemble on the plains or in the forests to select those who should lead them to conquest; to distribute the burdens of war or the spoils of conquests. In this manner, during the barbaric period, Magar, Almos, and Arpad were created chiefs; and when St. Stephen became their king, it was by the consent of the people, and not "by the will of God." He submitted his new constitution to the assembled nation, who joyfully accepted its wise provisions, and handed them down unimpaired to their descendants.

These great gatherings of the Magyars ultimately became known as the national diets. They were the stronghold of Hungarian liberty. Omnipotently they discussed, when called together on any great emergency, the acts of the sovereign, determined the subsidies in the case of war, gave or withheld the crown when the throne was vacant, and before them the king was obliged to swear that he would respect the national laws and customs, and defend the realm against invasion from without or civil contests within.

Magnificent assemblages were the ancient diets of the Hungarians held in arms on the plain of Rakos! Speak of them to-day to a Magyar; his eye will brighten and his heart beat quicker, for they recall to his mind the most glorious pages of his country's history, her illustrious kings, and heroes, and conquerors. Aside from historical associations, the field of Rakos, where these national gatherings were usually held, is one of the most interesting places in Hungary. On one side the eye sweeps over an immense plain, dotted

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here and there with herds and hamlets, | ranged in order of battle.
and losing itself in the hazy distance; on
the other, the ceaseless flood of the
Danube, flanked by the terminus of a chain
of mountains. Here is the classic land
of the Magyars. These mountains, one
of which is crowned by the citadel of Buda,
were the ancient boulevards of Hungarian
liberty, and overlook the region which was
the center and pivot of her greatness.

The national Diet has assembled; it may be to choose a king, or to decide upon some new policy of the government. What agitation in the city! How various the physiognomies! How different the idioms and costumes of those who come together! Behold, moving in solemn dignity through the crowded streets of the metropolis, the long processions of prelates and priests, of barons and magnates, with their gorgeous banners and equipages! The balconies and windows are gay and glittering with female beauty, but the men are serious and thoughtful in view of the great issues to be decided.

They arrive at the gates of the city. You would say that an army had assembled on the field of Rakos, about to be

Squadrons of hussars, with bows and quivers on their shoulders, with lances and crooked sabers, move here and there upon gorgeously caparisoned steeds, which touch the earth daintily in their curvetings and prancings. The wind sports gracefully with innumerable ensigns, embroidered and painted in every conceivable manner, and wafts far beyond the long lines of snowy tents retreating in the distance, the acclamations of the multitude. Here are represented all the picturesque costumes of the Magyars, all their curious weapons and equestrian finery of standards and trappings. The round hats and simple dress of the country nobles, render all the more brilliant the rich vestments of the great magnates of the kingdom. The polished cuirasses and coats of mail, the gleaming helmets and gold-laced "Attilas," the "kalpaks" with eagle plumes, the skins of the tiger and panther glowing with brilliant colors, horse and rider burdened with golden ornaments, and blazing with diamonds-it is Oriental magnificence married with European luxury.

A voice is heard; few and pointed are

the words.

They are heralded and re- Such were the ancient assemblages of peated from group to group. Is the prop- the Magyar chivalry on the plain of Raosition favorable? joy illuminates the faces kos. It was there that, in 1299, the magof the cavaliers, and thousands of voices nates of the kingdom protested against rend the air with their ready response. the assumed right of the popes to imIs it unfavorable? their faces darken with pose a sovereign upon them against anger, the heavy squadrons move, the rat- their will: there, in 1308, Charles Robert tling of sabers is heard, and perhaps a was obliged to declare the papal intervenbloody mêlée ensues. A word follows; tion null; it was on the plain of Rakos silence is restored, the discussion termin- that brave Jean Hunyad was named capated. "Eljén! Eljén!" Long live Hun-tain-general of the kingdom, in order that he might save it from the Germans and the Turks; and there also, in grateful recognition of his services, the crown of

garian Liberty, rings upon the clear, sunny air, and the national Diet terminates, until again called together.

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Hungary was decreed to his second son,
Matthias the Just.

Liberty, however, fled from Hungary on the fatal day of Mohacs, when Louis II. and the flower of the Magyar chivalry fell before the Moslems.

Since the ascendency of Austrian influence in Hungary, these great national assemblages have ceased to be held. Rakos is now silent. The soil, consecrated by so many souvenirs of Hungarian liberty, is torn by the plow, even as the hearts of the Magyars have been afflicted by their unmerited misfortunes. When they visit VOL. XII.-16

Rakos, the blood leaps in their veins, they dream of the great days that are no more; they think, they hope. Yes, the Hungarians, although crushed down to the earth, still hope.

From the misfortunes of Hungary we turn for a moment to her royal insignia, of which the crown of St. Stephen is the most important, having, for eight centuries, been venerated as the palladium of Hungarian liberty. Of immense value, it is also unique in construction, consisting of a hemispherical cap, which rests upon a broad circular band, the crown proper,

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