to Norway under the title of Charles XIV. His son is now the reigning monarch. In the meanwhile, the expelled imbecile, Gustavus IV., became an eccentric religious fanatic, and for some years furnished amusement to the courtly circles of the continent. His son, we believe, is a lieutenant-colonel in the Austrian service, and takes the name of Gustavson.

YOUNG'S RESIDENCE ON THE MOSQUITO SHORE.*

SOME fifteen years ago, a society under the name of the British Central American Land Company,' was formed for the purpose of carrying out a system of emigration to the Mosquito Shore-a tract of land south of the Gulf of Mexico, and nearly at the spot on which the unhappy settlement of Poyais was attempted to be made thirty-five years since. By the originators of this new scheme, the author of the narrative before us was appointed deputy-superintendent, and his duty, as he tells us, was 'to proceed with a few others to the Mosquito Shore, to form a settlement at Black River, about eighty miles from the central American port of Truxillo, in the state of Honduras, there to establish friendly relations with the people around, so that in time trade might be opened with the Spaniards in the interior, for the introduction and disposal of such British goods as they might be willing to take in exchange.'

With this sufficiently comprehensive commission, the deputy - superintendent sailed from Gravesend in July 1839, in the brig Rose, and after a stormy and far from agreeable passage across the Atlantic, came in sight of that great South American headland, Cape Gracias á Dios, near which the settlement was to be formed. As the

* Narrative of a Residence on the Mosquito Shore, during the years 1839, 1840, and 1841, by Thomas Young. London: Smith and Elder. 1842.

vessel approached the place of its destination, the weather, as a matter of course, became unpleasantly hot, and the land as it came into sight was so low, and so covered with dark-green vegetation, as to appear a very fit habitation for the insect whose name it appropriately bears. Landed in a boat from the brig, and surrounded by a parcel of natives half clothed, and speaking a jargon of broken English, picked up by their connection with Balize, the deputy-superintendent found things in a rude and unsatisfactory state, but much pleasure was manifested by the assembled Indians; and an Englishman, previously located near the spot, gave the party a hearty welcome. Having tracked his way through the thick brushwood, adorned with rich odorous plants, to a wigwam prepared for his reception, the deputy-superintendent attempts to give us some description of the country and its inhabitants. His story is terribly confused, but we shall try to make something of it.

The Mosquito Shore is that part of the coast of America lying within the tenth and fifteenth degree of north latitude, immediately south of the peninsula of Yucatan, and with a frontage to the Caribbean Sea. Whether it is pretendedly included in any of the new Spanish - American republics, we are unable to say: practically, it is an independent state, under the rule of a native king, half barbarian, half Anglo- creole, named Robert Charles Frederic, a gentleman who, we are informed, received his education in Jamaica, wears a naval officer's uniform, and is friendly to the English. It is stated that he owns allegiance to the British government, but this is not clearly made out; and it only appears that his majesty considers himself in some way under British protection, the fear of his country falling into the hands of the neighbouring Spaniards most likely leading him to make this concession of supreme authority to a friendly power. The English settlements at Balize, and one or two other parts of the coast of Honduras, a short way to the north, formed and supported to aid the shippers of mahogany, further lead to this good-will and submission of the chief of

the Mosquitos. A few days after their arrival, the deputysuperintendent and his companions were visited by the king, accompanied by a number of soldiers and quartermasters. On being presented, and delivering our credentials and gifts, he appeared highly delighted, and taking each of us by the hand in turn, said slowly and distinctly: "You are my very good friend;" altogether, he made a most favourable impression. A day or two afterwards, a native, named Deverin, who had been guilty of killing Lyndia, an aunt of the king, was seized and brought to justice.

'The next morning the trial commenced before three magistrates and the king; all the white people at the Cape, and several natives, attended. The king was dressed in his plain clothes, but had his naval sword and hat with him. He listened attentively, and repeatedly testified his pleasure at having the prisoner tried in the English fashion. A jury having been formed, and a person well acquainted with the language appointed as interpreter, several witnesses fully proved that the prisoner had maliciously shot Lyndia, the king's aunt. He said nothing in his defence. He was, therefore, after a patient investigation in the open air, under some cocoanut trees, unanimously found guilty by the jury, and sentenced to be hanged. To this sentence the natives around shewed no symptom of dissent or dissatisfaction. The prisoner betrayed no emotion, but simply requested that the sookeah woman (native doctor), who advised him to the deed, might be sent for. Messengers were immediately despatched, who soon returned bringing the wretched woman, who had by her advice brought the prisoner to an untimely end. After a long conversation, the king started up, saying angrily: "Let the woman go! -take the man away-to-morrow he dies!" Next day, accordingly, the execution took place; the king at the same time causing it to be proclaimed, that any of his people who did wrong, should be hung, and warning them to beware of putting faith in, or following the bad advice of, the sookeahs. This circumstance gives a favourable

idea of the king's sense of justice, and wish for the civilisation of his people.

The Mosquitos are described as a courageous tribe of Indians, susceptible of cultivation, and desirous of carrying on an intercourse with British traders; but at present degenerating, from the great increase of drunkenness and the want of good example; and such is their degraded condition, that, in a few generations, there will be but few left. The Mosquitos are also gradually disappearing before the Caribs, an exotic race, who have obtained settlements in the country, and are peaceful, ingenious, and industrious; many carrying on considerable plantations of the sugar-cane and tobacco, and others engaging in useful handicrafts. The men can hew and plant, hunt and fish, erect a comfortable house, build a good boat, make the sails, &c.; some are capital tailors, and others good carpenters; altogether, there cannot be a more useful body of men. They often go to the various mahogany works about Roman River, Lymas River, Truxillo, or Balize, and hire themselves as mahoganycutters, for which, by their strength and activity, they are well fitted: they hire for five or six months, sometimes longer, for eight to twelve dollars per month, and rations. I have known some Caribs of superior manual power, and who understood the whole routine of mahogany-cutting, obtain as much as fifteen and sixteen dollars per month. On the expiration of their engagement, they return to their homes, laden with useful articles, and invariably well dressed. I saw a Carib, belonging to Cape Town, that had just returned from Balize, who sported a pair of cloth boots, a white hat, black coat, white trousers, a fancycoloured shirt, a pair of splendid braces, and an umbrella.'

In exchange for their labour, sarsaparilla, and provision stuffs, the Mosquitos, Caribs, and another peculiar race called the Sambos, would gladly take strong linens, called osnaburgs, printed calicoes, and handkerchiefs, ribbons, thread, needles, tapes, hooks, looking-glasses, beads, combs, clasp-knives, gunpowder, pipes, and a variety of other articles.

Our author proceeds northward to Black River, along the coast, here dotted with small islands or keys, some of which are inhabited, and very fertile. In his voyage he passes Poyais-a tract of land now termed the province of Victoria, part of which has been purchased and granted by Robert Charles Frederic to the British Central American Land Company. Fort Wellington, the company's settlement at Black River, is backed by impenetrable thickets, and much swampy land; with rivers full of alligators, the woods plenteously supplied with venomous reptiles, sand-flies, and mosquitoes. Hence, the country in this quarter is somewhat uncomfortable to European constitutions: intermittent fevers are troublesome, but, unless with 'free livers,' they seldom terminate fatally. The trees in the country are magnificent, and would afford any quantity of the finest mahogany.

The deputy-superintendent next visits Roatan or Rattan, an island of about forty miles in length, lying off the coast; the land is good, and the vegetation luxuriant. Here the author falls in with what is pretty common in all parts of the earth-a Scotsman, who, like a second Robinson Crusoe, has squatted in the island, and formed a very agreeable clearing, plantain-walks, and provisiongrounds. 'Having a large family, he finds them of the greatest service: his two eldest sons, young men, hunt, fish, and attend to the plantations, while other boys and girls are fast growing up to render him essential aid; he himself being occupied in building a small schooner for sailing to and from Balize. I was much pleased with this family, so firmly knit and bound together, and apparently so contented. He invited me to breakfast, his sons having just brought in a fine wild hog, part of which was soon cooked, and ready for us. We sat down to a bountiful repast wild hog meat, peas, plantains, and coffee sweetened with boiled sugar- cane juice.' There are altogether about 200 inhabitants on the island, which is more salubrious than the mainland, and has many fine harbours.