perfon could go in at a time. They B The habits of the natives of Lancerata were made of goat skins fewed together, and fashioned like a cloak with a hood to it; this cloak reached to the knees, and the teams were very neatly clofed with thongs of leather as fine as common thread, which were cut and prepared with flints or other harp C tones, for they had no metal among them. Their shoes were of goat skins with the hairy fide outwards. They had long hair, and wore their beards plaited. The chief wore a kind' of diadem like a bishop's mitre, made of goat's leather, and adorned with sea. fhells. When they were fick, which seldom happened, they had recourfe to the herbs which grew in the country; and when they were troubled with acute pains, they fcarified the part with sharp Rones, or burnt it, and then anointed it withgoat's butter. They buried their dead in a cave, fretching out the body, and laying goat skins under and above it. fame shoes as the natives of Lancerota. They wore their hair and beards alfo in the fame manner, and high goat skin caps on their heads. When John de Betancour arrived in this country, the island of Fuerteventura contained 4000 fighting men, among whom were many famous for their virtue and valour, who were diftinguished by the appellation of Malay and Allibay. It is faid that Guadarfia, who at this time was king of Lancerota, was defcended from Ruiz de Avendano, a Spaniard, who being fent upon a naval expedition, with five fhips, in 1377, by. Henry the Ild, of Caftile, was driven by a tempelt on this ifland. The Spaniards were kindly received. by the natives, who treated them with the best that the island afforded; and Ruiz was lodged in the houfe of Quonzamas the king. The first return this good guest made to his royal benefactor, was to seduce his wife, by whom he had a daughter named Yeo. She was very fair in comparison of the natives, and when she was of age, the was married to one of the royal family, who D became king of the ifland after Guanarame and Tinguafaya were carried prifoners to Spain by Peraza, in 1385 or 1386. By this prince Yeo, he had a fon named Guadarfia; and after Guanarame's death, fays this authour, there was' a diffention in the island concerning the fucceffion; the natives infifted that Guardifia was incapable, because his mother Yeo appeared by her complexion to be the daughter of a ftranger, and not of Quenzamas the king*. E .Their food was barley-meal roafted, and goat's flesh fometimes roafted, and fometimes boiled; alfo butter and milk, They eat out of veffels made of clay, F and hardened in the fun. They obtained fire by taking a stick of dry hard wood, and turning it ra pidly round on the point, in a foft dry fpongy thistle. This cuftom is ftill continued. They had no grain but barley, which they fowed by turning up the ground with goat's horns; they threshed it out with ticks, and winnowed it with their hands; they then ground it in a hand-mill, constructed with two tones, nearly in the fame manner as is still ufed in fome remote parts of Europe. G The natives of Fuertaventura were H cloathed with jackets made of theepskins, and short breeches that left the knee bare; they wore allo fhort hofe, that reached to the mid leg, and the It is very strange that those who undertake to write hiftories should content them felves with piecing fcrap to fcrap, without once reviewing their work as a whole, or ap pearing to know in one page what they have recorded in another; this writer tells us, p. 4, that John de Betancour fift landed on the illand of Lancerota in 1400, yet he proceeds no farther than to p. 10, before he tells us, that he found upon the throne a king defcended from a Spaniard, who first landed there in 1377; this defcendant of the Spaniard appears to be bis grandfon by a wife of Quenzama, and tho' it is poffible that an infant whofe mother could not be born till 1378 might in 1400, only 22 years afterwards, be upon the throne, yet this fuppofition will not render the author's account probable or confiftent with itself. He tells us, that king Guanarame was carried away captive in 1385, and that when Yeo was of age the was married to one of the royal family, who became king upon the captivity of Guanarame; he was of age therefore and married while Guanargme was 6 To end this dispute, it was determined in council to fhut up Yeo with three female fervants in the house of the decealed Quonzamas, and there to smoke them, and that if the came out alive, the others being dead, the fhould be deemed the genuine offspring of Quonzamas: Yeo, by the advice of an old A woman, carried fecretly with her into the room of trial, a fponge moistened in water, and when the finoke became troublesome, the put it to her mouth and noftrils, and breathed in it; this expedient was fo fuccefsful, that when the door of the room was opened, the three fervants were found fuffocated, and Yeo ftill alive, fupon which she was brought forth with great honour, and her fon Guadarfia immediately declared king. An Historical Account of the Canary Islands. Of the Island Gomera, and its ancient The derivation of the name Gomera B A red dye they extracted from a tree called Taginafte, and a blue from a plant called Paftil; all the body between the head dress and the petticoat was naked both sexes wore hoes of hogfkins. Of FERRO. The name of this island before the Spaniards got possession of it, was Efero, ftrong. When the Spaniards fhowed the inhabitants iron, they finding it ftronger than any fubftance they knew before, called it by the name of their inland, Efero, ftrong; when they began to speak Spanish, they called iron indifferent Efero, or Hierro, Hierro being Spanish for iron; by a natural confe quence they also fubftituted Hierro for Efero, when they fpoke of the island, and the Portuguese following their own dialect, called it Ferro. The natives were of a middle ftature, Cand a melancholy turn; all their fongs were on grave fubjects, and fet to flow plaintive tunes, to which they danced in a ring, joining hands together, and now and then jumping up in pairs fo equally, that they feemed to be united. is not known: the natives in the 14th century were of a middle flature, a lively difpofition, very active and dexterous, efpecially in slínging stones and darts, to which they were trained from their infancy; they alfo acquired the art of cluding tones and darts thus D fung, without changing place, by waving their bodies to and fro, and even by catching the ftones and arrows in their flight. Their other weapons were long poles sharpened at the end. The apparel of the men, like those of Lancerota, was a cloak of goat fkins, reaching fomething below the knee; the women wore a petticoat, and a head drels that hung down to their fhoulders, both which were of goat fkins dried, and curiously painted. upon the throne, yet when he was carried a- ing at Lancerota, an infant; for within two H They dwelt in large circular enclo fures, the walls of which were of dry ftone without cement, each enclosure having one narrow entry; on the infide they placed poles or fpars against the wall, in fuch a manner that one end rested on the top of the wall, and the other on the ground at a confiderable diftance from it: these they covered with branches of trees or fern, and each enclosure contained about 20 families. A parcel of goat skins, upon. which they fpread fern, was their bed, and dreffed goat fkins were their bed cloaths. It was a custom to give new-born children fern roots, roafted, bruised, and mixed with butter, before they offered them the breast. Their food was the flesh of goats, fheep, and hogs, with a few of the roots called by the Spaniards batatas. They had neither wheat, barley, nor any other grain. Their bread was made of fern roots, which, with milk and but-r ter, made the principal part of their dier. Their drink was water, Their habits were the fame as thofe of the inhabitants of Gomera, except that the women wore nothing upon their heads, but dreffed their hair, ber of fmail plaits. which was very long, into a great num All the inhabitants of this ifland liv. ed under one king, confequently had no occasion to go to war, nor had any warlike warlike weapon; they carried indeed long poles, but thefe were only to affift them in leaping from one crag of the rocks to another. Each man had but one wife (whether in this they agreed or differed with the inhabitants of the islands already mentioned, we are not told). Every man alfo married whom he liked beft, without regard either to confanguinity or Tank, except that he was not permitted to marry his mother or his filter. A Their only fubftance was flocks, and it was usual for a man when he chofe B a wife, to make a prefent to her father, according to his ability. The King received no ftipulated tribute; but every one made him a prefent of theep, according to his ability or his pleasure. When they made a feaft, they killed one or two very fat lambs, according to the number of guests, and roafted them whole: Thefe they placed on the ground, fitting in a circle round them, and never role till they had eaten the whole. When any one fell fick, they rubbed the body all over with fheep's marrow D and butter, covering the patient well up to promote perfpiration: but if a man was cut or wounded, they burnt the part, and anointed it with butter. They interred their dead in caves; and if the deceased was wealthy, they buried him in his cloaths, and put a board at his feet, with the pole he used to travel with, at his fide; and then closed the cave with ftones, to keep out the ravens. They inflicted no punishments but for murder and theft; the murderer was put to death in the fame manner as he had killed the deceased: The F thief, for his first offence, was punished with the loss of one eye; for the 2d, with the lots of the other, that he might be able to fteal any more. There was a particular person set apart for the office of executioner. They adored two Deities, one male, called Eraoranzan; the other female, called Monayba. The male was worfhipped by the men, the female by the women. Of thefe Deities they had no images or reprefentations, nor did they offer them any facrifice; only prayed to them when they were in neceffity. When they were firft converted to Chriflianity, they invoked Jefus Chrift and the Virgin Mary, by tne names of Eraoranzan and Moneyba. Of CANARIA. The name Canaria is probably derived from a people in the fkirts of G H Mount Atlas in Africa, called Canarios, who are fuppofed to have peopled this ifland, if not originally, yet after its defertion, Thele Canarios are mentioned by Pliny as inhabiting the neighbourhood of Mount Atlas; and Ptolomy, the geographer, calls a cape of Africa, fronting the Canary Islands, Ganaria Extrema. It is also remarkable, that the Negroes on the banks of the river Senegal, call all the country between that river and Mount Atlas, Gannar. When the Europeans first landed in Canaria, it was fuppofed to contain no lefs than 14,000 fighting men; but two thirds of them were foon afterwards fwept away by the plague. They are, like the natives of Lancerota and Fuertaventura, well proportioned, and of a good ftature; active, warlike, chearful, good-natured, and of inflexible integrity. They were fond of hazardous enterprizes, fuch as climbing the tops of steep precipices, & pitching poles of enormous weight. The Canarians had nobility among them, who were diftinguished by the peculiar cut of their hair and beards; but no man was noble merely by defcent, though, if he was not well defcended, he could not be a candidate for nobility. When the fon of a nobleman found he had ftsength to bear the fatigues of war, he went to the prieft, who acted also as judge in civil affairs, and faid, I am fuch a one, the fon of fuch a nobleman, and defire to be ennobled alfo. Then the priest went to the place where the youth was brought up, and affembling the inhabitants, made them fwear by Ecoran their God, to declare the truth concerning him. He then asked them if they had ever feen him demean himself fo far as to drefs victuals, or to go into the folds to look after the sheep or goats; or whether he was ever known to milk or to kill them; if he was difcourteous, illtongued, or guilty of indecent behaviour, efpecially to women; or had committed any act of violence against any of his neighbours, with respect to their perfons or property. If these questions were answered in the nega tive, the priest cut the youth's hair in a round form, and fo fhort as not to hang lower than his ears; and then giving into his hand a staff, or pole, declared him noble. But it not, the prieft, instead of declaring him noble, haved his head, and fent him away in difgrace. In their wars, they held it base to injure the women & children of their сле 8 An Hiftorical Account of the Canary Islands. Their weapons were clubs, and fharp-pointed poles hardened by fire; alfo ftones, which they threw with great force and dexterity. Duels were common among them, but not to death; or, according to the old phrafe in Europe, ala outrance; they were always fought in public, and generally at times of public feftivity and rejoicing. Places were fet apart for this purpose, in which stages were raifed for the combatants, that they might be more easily and equally feen by the spectators. Among the Canarians were many rë ligious women, called Magadas, a number of whom lived together in one house. These houfes were held facred, and criminals who fled thither were A protected from the officers of justice. The Magadas were diftinguished from other women by long white garments, which swept the ground. B When a challenge was given and accepted, the parties went to the council of the ifland, which confifled of 12 members, for a licence to fight, which was easily obtained. Then they went C to the priest to have this licence confirmed, which being dổne, they assem bled their relations and friends to be fpectators of their gallantry; when all was ready at the theatre, the combasants mounted upon two ftones, placed at the oppofite fides of it, each stone being flat at the top, and about half a yard in diameter; on these they stood, without moving their feet, till each had thrown three round ftones at his antagonist; in this part of the combat they were feldem hurt, for though they were good markfmen, yet they were always D The Canarians adored the Deity, whom they called Acoran, by putting their hands together, and lifting them towards Heaven. In the island there were two rocks, to which they went in proceffion in times of publick calamity, accompa nied by the Magadas, carrying in their hands hranches of palms, and veffels filled with milk and butter, which they poured on the rocks, dancing round them, and finging mournful fongs; from these rocks they went to the fea fide, and all at once ftruck the sea forcibly with the branches of palm, shouting together with a loud voice. They reckoned their time only by moons, having no divifion either fhorter or longer. Their habit was a light coat, with a hood. like that of a Capuchin Fryar; it reached to the knees, and was girt about the waist with a leathern girdle. This garment was made with a kind of ruth, which they beat till it became soft like flax, and then divided the fila to dexterous in avoiding thefe miflilements and wove them together. Over weapons, that they were feldom hit. When this was done, they came down from the stones, and arming themselves with fharp flints in their left hands, and cudgels in their right, they drew near and fell on, beating and cutting each other till they were tired, and then they parted by confent, and went with their friends to eat and drink; when they had been refreshed they returned to the combat, and continued it till the members of the council, who were prefent, cried out, enough! enough! they then immediately defifted, and were ever afterwards good friends. If, during the combat, one of the parties happened to break his cudgel, the other immediately defifted from triking, the difpute ended, the parties were reconciled, and neither was declared victor. No Canorian had more than one wife. When a girl's parents were inclined to marry her, they fet her apart thirty days, like a chicken in a coup, to fatten, giving her large quantities of milk and pulfe. They were very careful in the education of their children, never failing to chaltile 'em when they didamis F this they wore cloaks of goat fkins, with the hairy fide outwards in fummer, and inwards in winter; they alfo wore caps of the fkins of goats heads, taken off almost entire, which they placed on their heads in fuch a manner, that they had a goat's beard hanging under each ear, which they fometimes tied under the chin: All thefe garments were neatly fewed and painted, and were in every refpe&t fu perior to thofe worn in the other f flands; fome wore bonnets of skins, adorned with feathers. Their thoes were of raw hides, like thofe worn in Lancerota and Fuertaventura. They had publick rooms, in which they used to affemble to dance and fing. The Canarian dance is still in ufe, and is known even among us by the name of Canario, or Canary; its fteps are quick and fhort. Their fongs were eiHther dirges or amorous fonuets, fet to grave and plaintive tunes. This will help us to understand a paffage in Shakespeare which has puzzled all commen tators: Jigg off a tune at the tongue's end, canary to it with your feet,—Love's Labour ir Loft." Of the Appearances of Urine in Difeafes attended with a putrid State of the Blood. By James Johnstone, M. D. IN fince, in all the different species of pu trid difeafes perfectly confirming and, agreeing with the above, have made, me no longer doubt but that a turbid,, thick, or fettling urine is as much a. N the malignant feverish diforders which had fallen under my care in A characteristick of a putrid tendency, this neighbourhood of Kidderminster from the years 1752 to 1757, I had almost constantly obferved that the urine was turbid, or dropt a copious fediment very early in the disease, without the leaft amendment; and that afterwards when the disease was abating, and in its decline, the urine then became clear without any relapse. Finding it difficult to reconcile these phænomena with the obfervations of the antients, as they are ufually in terpreted in the schools, I then began to be perfuaded that this turbid appearance in the urine might indicate a diffolved and putrefcent state of the fluids, both in acute and chronic difeafes. I reasoned thus: In continual fevers of the inflammatory class, a crifis is most probably 'brought about by a refolution of the too dense particles of our fluids, a nalagous to that, which, carried to excels, caufes often malignant, putrid, petechial fevers. Of this falutary refolution of the morbid matter in inflammatory difeafes (or fuch as are attended with a dense ftare of "the fluids) a fediment in the urine is an effect and fign. In putrid fevers the blood is ftill more melted B down, and the putrid ma ter being The oblervations which I have made D E F and diffolution in the fluids, ie as: G Generally fpeaking, then, whatever the difeafe be which is attended with a very foul, turbid urine, the difeafe ftill fubfitting in its vigour, it may be prefumed to arife from a diffolved putrid crafts of the blood, and we may conclude it to be one proper fign of putrid and malignant fevers. In this clafs of fevers fuch an index of the blood's Itate is more particularly. ufeful and deferving of attention, as venefection is, for the most part, in fuch circumstances, a dangerous prac· tice. If the relation of a thick urine to a corrupted blood, needed any other Proof than faithful obfervations mate in difeafes, this might be drawn almoft to demonftration from eafy experiments upon the urine itself : For the clear urine of the most healthful perfon, ftanding in a room moderately, warm, about the fifth day fmells high y putrid, and at the fame time is become turbid, with a fcum on the surface, and a fediment at the bottom of the' glafs; it refembles the urine of perfons labouring under putrid fevers and a fcorbutic habit, and this imita, tion may be rendered more exact by mixing at first a little pus with the recent urine. The fame truth might be fupported by facts related in the works of the excellent Dr Huxham, as well as in -thofe of the more ancient obfervators of the belt credit; but I fhall, instead of a great variety much to our pur pofe, now only quote a paragraph Hin the feventh part of the Ratio Medendi of the justly celebrated De Haen; a more extraordinary cafe is hardly to be met with: "A young man,'' 24 ́years old, B on |