serve in the house ten years, and it is his duty to attend to it in the best

inanner.

Should the Lesghaes be unfortunate in their predatory expeditions, or be attacked by too strong a force, they brave death with incredible firmness, and endure hunger and thirst, rather than surrender themselves. To quench thirst, they drink the blood of their horses, and eat their flesh; and creditable witnesses in Georgia have assured me, that, after casting lots, they have eaten some of their comrades!

The Lesghae, seized as a robber, and condemned for his crimes, meets death with firm resignation. Without changing his features, he reclines his bare head over the left shoulder, holds his cap under his right arm, and waits, without trembling, the stroke of death. In the same way he appears before 3 great man courteously to salute bith..

When he is old, and unfit for plundering and war, he visits, as a friend, all those whom he had so often harrassed as an enemy; receives some farewell presents, and then hides himself for ever in the mountains. But he who has enriched himself by a long course of plundering, and only waits the appointed hour of death, thinks to insure his going to heaven by good works. He liberates some slaves; divides some sheep, goats, or cows, amongst the poor; settles what sum should be given for repairs of bridges and roads ; makes presents to mosques, and at last divulges, (but not before he is on the brink of the grave) where his treasure, in gold, silver, or jewels, lies concealed, and then dies in perfect peace.

The interior of their household is very uniform, and confined to the most indispensable articles. The opulent certainly enjoy their abundance, but without dissipation.

At the end of November the Lesghaes, as well as the tribes living in

Kumuk, kill as many fat sheep as are necessary for winter provision. The ribs are laid in salt for some days, and then dried in the air; the rest of the meat is cut very small, mixed with salt, pepper, and coriander seeds, then put into the guts, and hung for some days in the air, or the smoke. These, so similar to German sausages, are called Dolldurma, and are eaten either roasted, boiled, or even raw. Another kind of winter food consists of chopped chine and other bone meat, baked in sheep's fat, and, after it is cold, completely covered with warm fat, and kept in pots. This dish that is always ready is called kau-urma.

Flour, bread, millet, cheese, bussa, (sour flour water,) are always at hand, and plenty of brandy: for the latter is particularly prized, and drank in incredible quantities, without fear of consumption, fever, or dropsy.

The daily soup of the Lesghaes is made of millet meal and sheep's fat boiled in water, with which they can with difficulty dispense. Meat they eat baked, and generally cold; other kinds of boiled food are seldom asked for. There are even some tribes who eat raw flesh. And yet Providence has given to these uncivilized beings such beautiful women!-Women who know nothing of sensibility, sweetness, or of the tender passions. Their black hair hangs down in ringlets over their thick neck and bosom, unadorned, and yet beautiful; their fine form, their piercing eye, their perfectly modelled features, deserve the admiration of the connoisseur. But women gifted with such fascinating charms cannot tame the barbarism of their husbands!-Besides, they are really heroines, full of resolution, animation, and heroic pride, by which they often shame their husbands.

The education of the children, and the business of inuring them against every misfortune, are left to the mothers. In earliest infancy they are taught little but to sleep frequently, and

and to be always in their presence.→→ They are excited to courage by being exposed to hunger and difficulties; and their dexterity in wrestling, or in climbing the most dangerous rocks, is extol led; and as soon as the youth begins to manage the dagger or gun, his mother reminds him of the duties which belong to him. She relates the valiant deeds of his father, brothers, or neighbours; their dexterous depredations, and the respect which they gained. Should the father or brother have been murdered any where, or, as they express it, not returned home, she often shows him his arms or dress, recommends vengeance to him, and entertains him frequently with the advantages and happiness of a depredating spirit; till at last the youth, excited by his own inclination, begins to give proofs of his abilities,

Such is the general method of education among the Lesghaes. The young, as well as the old, generally expatriate, and the major part die at last in foreign climes; for certainly, among the graves we do not find more than one man amongst five and twenty wo

men.

It is really not to be explained, how, after so many centuries of commotions, and continual warlike emigrations, these people have not decreased more, and the country has not entire ly become a desert.

veral shots at our squadron without injury. We anchored, and went a shore at the island of Coche, where we remained one night. At day light, on the 2d of August, through a mis, take of the pilot, we anchored within nine miles of La Vela de Coro, on the west side of the bay, instead of anchoring within reach of the batteries, as was intended.

Pursuant to the following general order, the first division, under the com mand of Colonel Count de Rouvray, disembarked from the squadron in the boats, with a view to effect an imme diate landing; but a gale of wind set in nearly as soon as all the necessary preparations were made, and obliged the row-boats and barges to be taken in tow by the gun-boats, in which situation they remained the whole day, unable to gain the point of attack on account of the roughness of the sea, and the violence of the wind. The principal part of the second division, under Kirkland, were at this time on board the Leander, as the boats of the squadron were not sufficient to disem bark both divisions at once. This occasioned a transfer of his troops to his Majesty's ship Bacchante (Captain Dacres,) where they remained until daylight the next morning. The Bacchante got ander weigh, and beat up nearly abreast the strongest fort of La Vela de Coro during the night; the brigs Attentive and Express, and the gun-boats, also stationed themselves

on the SPANISH MAIN.

From Bigg's History of Miranda's Expedition. (London, 1809.)

On the morning of the 3d, the first division landed, and were soon followed by the second, which would have

arrived at the same time, had not the

want of boats rendered it impossible. Whilst the troops were advancing in the boats, they were covered by a warm fire from the armed vessels of our squadron against the forts, which the latter promptly returned, but without effecting any considerable injury.

As

As they approached the land, the Spaniards began a smart, though illdirected fire of musketry from the bushes, which lined the whole extent of the beach. As the troops leaped from the boats, the Spaniards retreated farther into the bushes, where they were closely pursued by a party of our men, with whom, for a few moments, they maintained a scattering fire. While this party engaged these fugitives, who soon dispersed, another party pressed on to the nearest forest, which stands upon the margin of the bay. This was entered by the hulans and marines, sword in hand, the Spaniards leaping the walls on the opposite side, and flying in all directions. The guns of this fortification, on coming into our possession, were immediately pointed against the town, custom-house, and magazine, distant about a quarter of a mile, where the main body of the Spanish force was stationed with nine or ten pieces of artillery (4 and 6 pounders.) They were, however, soon compelled to retreat, and in such precipitation and confusion, that they spiked but few of their cannon, and even left two of them loaded. So far we had none killed, and only three wounded, one of which only is considered in danger.

Thus, on the third day of August, the rising sun witnessed a display of the Columbian colours on the staff, which the Spanish royal standard had so long occupied. The inhabitants of all descriptions had fled principally the day before, taking with them the greater part of their moveables. Our delay of the attack, in consequence of anchoring in the wrong place, gave them time. Flags of truce, with messages of peace, and assurances of protection, both to person and property, were immediately dispatched about the town and its environs, soliciting the fugitive inhabitants to return to their homes; but either through the order of government, or affright, some old

women only, and a few men, could be induced to accept the invitation.

Gen: Miranda reached the shore at half past eleven in the morning. His arrival was retarded by the circumstance of the Lily having anchored nine miles to leeward of the town, which prevented both her and the Leander from sharing in the attack.— Between nine and ten at night, our force, headed by the General, began to march for the town of Coro, which lies about twelve miles to the westward of La Vela; and arrived there an hour before day dawn on the 4th. The march was conducted with so much order and silence, that the footsteps of the troops were scarcely heard. The morning was unusually serene and pleasant. A most solemn, or rather dreadful stillness pervaded the whole place. The city, as we soon found, was entirely evacuated, except by a few women, superannuated devotees, and perhaps a small body of armed men, left to guard the jail; for it remains in some doubt whether there was this force. If they were there, they escaped, for we took no prisoners under arms. Having passed through several streets, we arrived at the public square. square, in front of the troops as they marched in, are the jail and council house; opposite to these is a large church. The other sides are occupied by public buildings of different descriptions. When the head of the column entered the public square, General Miranda, preceding the right of the first division, attended by some of his principal officers, advanced to the grand avenue leading to the jail and council house. In the mean time the second division had chiefly gained the opposite side, and were forming in front of the church. At this moment a tumultuous and disorderly fire commenced from the first division.Most of the officers assert, that some guns were first discharged from the

On one side of this

windows of the jail, but in this they are not unanimous. It is admitted by all, that the hulans and marines, who were in advance of the other troops, and by this time, at halt, near the prison, fired, not only towards the prison, but also on the infantry and artillery who were posted behind them, before and near the church. The latter presumed they could receive such a salutation from none but Spaniards, and took the firing for a commencement of the enemy's attack, imagining that the jail was a barrack, for which in the dark it might be mistaken, and that the enemy was assaulting them from within and behind this building. Without waiting for orders, upon perceiving the fire from that quarter, the infantry returned it with vigour. The clamour of fifty voices was instantly raised, commanding the men to cease firing. This clamour, with the cries of the wounded, the Alight of the Indians, who had joined us at La Vela de Coro; the breaking of ranks, &c. made a scene of confusion and tumult not to be described. After a few minutes the firing was silenced; but not until Col. Kirkland, (whose utmost exertions to prevent this confusion from extending to his division had proved ineffectual) the General's private secretary, and five men, were wounded, and one man was killed. No one seems able to give a satisfactory account of this miserable affair. It appears in the garb of a shameful and sorrowful blunder of somebody; but the responsibility cannot be charged .upon any particular individual. The General and the officers, under whose eye the firing began, give no account of the matter, as far as I can learn, either because they cannot, or will not explain it. Indeed they observe a silence upon the subject that seems almost studied. One solution is, that there was a small guard of Spaniards, who discharged their muskets upon us from the jail windows; and that the hulans and marines, upon the report › May 1809.

of these pieces, through agitation and surprise, fired in different directions. But the jailor stedfastly denied that he had any guard. If there was one, it escaped, for, as it has been already observed, no Spanish soldiers fell into our hands. The other explanation is more probable. Many of the men in the advanced guard assert that they were ordered to fire by Miranda. They say that the General, exulting in the easy possession of the city, wished to regale his ears with the military sound of a feu de joie; and consequently ordered the men nearest him to commence the music. Our troops, being composed of men of various nations and languages, the command was not perfectly understood by all. Hence some thinking the firing was intended to be serious, and not sportive, discharged in a horizontal direction, aiming at those who might be their enemies, whilst those who.comprehended the order pointed their guns in the air.

When Miranda appeared before the prison gate, it was opened to him.He entered unarmed, and received the keys from the keeper, who, at the same time informed him, that the constituted authorities had obliged all the inhabitants to abandon the town. Upon this, while standing in the jail entry, he proclaimed to the jailor, his attendants, and the prisoners, that they were free; the latter shouted Vive Mi randa! at the same moment it is said the General directed the troops near him to let off the feu de joie that proved so unseasonable and so fatal.

Agreeably to this proclamation of liberty, all the debtors were immediately liberated from their confinement: The criminals, who had considered

them

with one of our men shooting down a*The opinion that the firing began nother, said to be at the prison door, is certainly incorrect. The first repor was of many pieces, not a single one.

themselves included in the annunciation of freedom, wished to know why their fetters were not taken off, and their doors unbolted. Miranda re plied, that he came not to break but to maintain their laws under a more equitable and rational government: this answer, no doubt unexpected, was more just than satisfactory to the felons.

Colonel Kirkland received two musket balls through the left thigh, just below the femoral artery, at the instant he was forming his division in front of the jail. The misfortune of this gallant officer was lamented by the army in general, and especially by the troops under his immediate command, who regard him with the highest confidence and affection, and would follow him into any peril. Much was expected from his activity and military talents in the late critical posture of our affairs. The wound, which he bore with fortitude and cheerfulness, is dangerous, though we hope not mortal. Mr Fitzwilliam was wounded in the arm near the shoulder, and though in great pain will probably recover. The man killed was a black, born in New York, who had been cook of the ship. This unfortunate fellow was with difficulty persuaded to engage in the land service; he predicted his fate, by saying as he left the ship, " I know I shall get killed if I go."

We remained five days in the city of Coro. In this interval, the same means that had been used at La Vela, to bring in the inhabitants, were again employed, but with as little success. The people had been compelled to abandon their homes by the positive orders of the commandant, who threatened to make severe examples of those who remained behind, if they ever fell into his hands again. The priests too instructed the inhabitants of this province, that it had been invaded by a band of lawless heretics and infidels, who came not only to rob them of

their property, but also to deprive their souls of salvation, by spreading damnable tenets and principles among the favourites of the Holy Virgin.Whilst remaining here, we frequently beat to arms upon an alarm of an approaching enemy, and marched out with our artillery among the prickly pears and bushes which surrounded the place; but returned as safe as we

went out.

On the night of the 9th we took up our march, it being reported that we were going to attack Bona Vista; and in the morning found ourselves again in La Vela de Coro. In the preceding operations, the forts were first attacked by less than ninety men; and we were only two hundred and sixty-four strong, all included, when we entered the city of Coro. From the best information we could get, the number of Spanish forces at La Vela de Coro at the time of our attack was from five to six hundred, and about fifteen pieces of ordnance were on the several batteries. The vigour of our assault in some measure confounded the enemy. Our fatigue prevented any pursuit ; and consequently we obtained no prisoners.

Immediately on our return to La Vela de Coro, I learned what had happened there during our absence. No advices were sent to the commanding officer of La Vela, to acquaint him and the squadron of our having taken possession of the city, or apprise him of our situation. They were four days in a state of anxious suspense, without hearing a syllable of our fate. At the same time they were in constant apprehension of an attack from the Spaniards, who were assembled in large bodies within a short distance of the town. Whether this neglect in Miranda, so vexatious to the detachment left in the rear, be military or not, let military men decide.

Colonel Hall, who commanded at La Vela, grew impatient to hear from the army which had gone to Coro, and

to