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in the lagoon Orcherio, near Monte Botardo. | Masgagin, a professor of anatomy, found the mineral in a concrete state in several streams issuing from the lagoons, and suggested the propriety of establishing manufactories of borax. As late, however, as 1801, in consequence of the failure of numerous experiments, Professor Gazzeri arrived at the conclusion that the quantity of acid contained in the water of the lagoons was too small to render the working of them profitable. But this opinion was based on the old practice of attempting the extracting the mineral by the use of charcoal furnaces. It was M. Larderel, who introduced the improved method of employing the hot vapours of the lagoons themselves in the elaboration of the acid, and may be said to have invented the present method, which will probably go on improving for

ages.

hours, is let off, and conducted by an artificial channel to the second lagoon; and from thence, with similar precautions, to a third, a fourth, and so on, till it at length reaches a sixth or eighth lagoon, where the process of impregnation is supposed to be completed. By this time the water contains half per cent. of acid, which Professor Gazzeri considered far too little to repay the expense of extracting it. From the last lagoon it is conveyed into reservoirs, whence again, after having remained quiescent a few hours, for what purpose is not stated, it pass es into the evaporating pans. 'Here the hot vapour concentrates the strength of the acid by passing under shallow leaden vessels from the boiling fountains above, which it quits at a heat of 80 degrees Reaumur, and is discharged at a heat of 60 degrees (101 Fahrenheit.)'

The evaporating pans are arranged on the same principle as the lagoons, though in some cases almost four times as numerous, each placed on a lower level than the other. In every successive pan the condensation becomes greater till the water at length descends into the crystallising vessels, where the process is completed. From these the borax is conveyed to the dryingrooms, where, in the course of a very few hours, it is ready to be packed for exportation. The number of establishments has for many years been on the increase, though about twelve or fourteen years ago they did not exceed nine. Nothing can be more fallacious than the opinions formed by hasty visiters on matters of this kind, which are susceptible of perpetual improvement. When the produce was from 7000 to 8000 Tuscan pounds per day, the manufacturers were sup

The system of the Chevalier Larderel, now Comte de Pomerasce, displays at once great ingenuity and courage. The soffioni,or vapours, having been observed to burst forth with more or less vehemence in various parts of the mountains-which, fortunately for industry and commerce, are copiously irrigated with streams of water the idea was conceived of forming an artificial lagoon on the site of the most elevated vent. A large basin having been excavated, the nearest stream was turned into it. The burning blasts from below forcing up their way through the water, keep it in a state of perpetual ebullition, and by degrees impregnate it with boracic acid. Nothing can be more striking than the appearance of such a lagoon. Surrounded by aridity and barrenness, its surface presents the aspect of a huge caldron, boiling and steaming per-posed to have reached the maximum, because all petually, while its margin trembles, and resounds with the furious explosions from below. Sometimes the vapour issues like a thread from the water, and after rising for a considerable height, spreads, and assumes an arborescent form as it is diluted by the atmospheric air. It then goes circling over the surface of the lagoon, till, meeting with other bodies of vapour in a similar condition, the whole commingling, constitute a diminutive cloud, which is wafted by the breeze up the peaks of the mountains, or precipitated into the valleys, according to its comparative density.

the water of the mountains was supposed to have been called into requisition. . Experience, however, is perpetually teaching us new methods of economy; and though it would a priori be impossible to say by what means this economy is to be effected, we cannot permit ourselves to doubt that the manufacture of borax in Tuscany will hereafter be carried to a degree of perfec tion greatly transcending the expectations of those who formerly wrote on the subject. One of these observes the atmosphere has some influence on the results. In bright and clear weather, whether in winter or summer, the vaTo stand on the brink of one of these deadly lakes, pours are less dense, but the depositions of bostunned by subterranean thunder, shaken by inces-racic acid in the lagoons are greater. Increased sant earthquakes, and scorched and half suffocated by the fiery pestilential vapour, is to experience very peculiar sensations, such as one feels within the crater of Vesuvius or Etna, or in the obscurity of the Grotto del Cave.

Another lagoon is scooped out lower down the mountain, the site being determined by the occurrence of soffioni; and here the same processes are followed, and the same phenomena observable. The water from the lagoon above, after it has received impregnation during twenty-four

vapours indicate unfavourable change of weather, and the lagoons are infallible barometers to the neighbourhood, even at a great distance, serving to regulate the proceedings of the peasantry in their agricultural pursuits.

As the quantity of boracic acid originally contained in the water of the lagoons is so very sinall as we now know it to be, we can no longer wonder at the opinion formerly entertained, that it did not exist at all. After five or six successive impregnations we see it does not ex

ceed half per cent., which, estimating the quan-, in their company and accommodations. In this tity of borax at 7500 pounds a day, will give little cabin, with the lamp lit, a map of the 1,500,000 Tuscan pounds, or 500 tons, of water country spread out upon the table, and the comfor the same period. By the construction of pany of a friend from Paris to talk about Dutch immense cisterns for the catching of rain water, landscape, Dutch painters, and the increased difby the employment of steam-engines for raising fusion of German literature in that city, I pasit from below, and probably by creating artifi- sed the night very agreeably, from time to time cial vents for the soffioni, the quantity of borax mounting upon our roof to contemplate the silent produced might be almost indefinitely increased, country around us. There was no noise on since the range of country through which the board our vessel-not a sound in nature to disvapour ascends is far too great for us to suppose turb the most profound contemplations. Our it to be exhausted by the production of 7000 steersman stood the whole night in his place, pounds of borax a day. Science in all likeli- like a pillar, watching every turn of the canal, hood will bring about a revolution in this as in and every motion of the vessel. Our huntsman, so many other manufactures, and our descend- as the man is called who rides the horse along the ants will look back with a smile on our hasty towing-path, jogged on no less steadily, giving and unphilosophical decision. no other sign than the glimmering spark from the pipe in his mouth, or an occasional puff of light smoke; the changing of horses at various stations passed also in almost complete silence; the people murmured a few words in cach other's ears, like sleepy sentinels relieving guard; and then we heard the advancing step of the fresh horse, and the slower tread of the weary one returning to his stable, and again moved on our noiseless way. People who do not like noise have said and sung much in praise of the gondolas of Venice, and her silent, watery streets; but in the Netherlands you find the communications, not merely of a city, but of a whole country, performed in the same quiet way; and many a scene as beautiful as any that could be formed out of Venetian gondolas, presents itself to the observant eye in this picturesque mode of transport on the Dutch canals.

(To be continued.)

TRAVELS IN THE NETHERLANDS.

(Concluded from page 38.)

The Trekschuyt passage from Amsterdam to Utrecht is one of the most celebrated in Holland. It lies through a country covered with a network of canals, and thickly sown with villages and country houses, and affords the best opportunity of becoming acquainted with the peculiarities of Dutch landscape. It begins in the broad basin which is formed to the south of Amsterdam by the expansion of the Amstel, and which constitutes the chief port for the internal trade of the country. The great bulk of the produce of the Rhine countries and Lower Germany exported from Amsterdam, reaches it by this watery road by the way of Utrecht, as well as what returns How many incidents, also painful to our comto them from the ocean; and as the boats with passionate feelings, does the inequality of ground vegetables and country produce from the neigh-in our mountain districts, and the position of our bouring districts-the immense cargoes of fuel from the great turf-moors arrive in the basin, and a crowd of trekschuyts or passenger-boats are always lying there at all hours of the dayits surface is constantly crowded, and presents a scene of animated though quiet bustle. Strictly speaking, there are not more than two great land roads to Amsterdam; all the other channels of communication here concentrated are canals, small rivers, and their numerous ramifications; and of the thousands who appear daily in the streets and market-places of the city, by far the greater number reach their own homes, even their own doors, by water. From the great canals run small branches to every village, and from these again still smaller twigs to every house.

inland towns bring with it. How does the waggoner toil to bring his colossal wain up our steep ascents, while the dozen horses harnessed to it, panting and coated with dust and sweat, struggle slowly on. How painfully do the poor market people drag along their wearisome burden on their backs, their faces deeply furrowed with the cares of their laborious lives. Or, perhaps, they have taken the dog, the faithful and intelligent guardian of the house, and degraded him into a beast of burden-or, when he proves unequal to the task, harnessed themselves along with him. In Holland the canals have done away with such hardships. The hugest burdens glide, borne on the water and driven by the wind, easily and conveniently from place to place. Immense bales of goods go slipping along withWe were not at all surprised to find the treks-out any trouble, through the heart of the towns chuyt that was to carry us to Utrecht crowded with men, animals and goods. On all these boats there are two places-the great body of the vessel called 'het ruim,' for the million,' who look more to cheapness than to convenience; the other, a little covered cabin, het roef,' (the roof,) for those who are rather more fastidious

to the very doors of the warehouses. People go by water even to the harvest fields and fetch home the loads of hay and corn in boats. Instead of the reins the driver holds the helm, and instead of the whip to torment the poor horses, the oar with which he strokes the cheerfully answering water. Eggs and fruit, vegetables and fish,--

(which indeed we could not read in the night, but we afterwards found in our Hand Book,) expressed, as well as their whole environment and physiognomy, the mode of life and the tastes of their proprietors and occupants. Most of them have reference to the comfort, tranquillity, and satisfaction afforded by a country life, and the enjoyment of the beauties of Dutch nature. Lust en Rust-Pleasure and Repose; Wel Terreden-Well content; Vriendschap en Gezelsbhap -Friendship and Sociality; Groot genseg Large enough; Vreugde by Vrede-Joy with peace; and the like. In Germany we found few such, and the only other country where I never recollect to have observed, in the names of houses, similar traces of a relish of domestic quiet, hospitality, and good-nature was Switzerland. The banks of the Lake of Geneva, and the environs of Berne and Lausanne, are as thickly set with country houses as the banks of the Dutch canals; but no name or inscription testifies to a love of home and of Nature.

SNAKES AND SERPENT CHARMERS.

every article of daily consumption in the towns, plaats (an out-side seat), that is the box or vilsails and glides about in barges. The decent mar-la of a citizen. The names and inscriptions ket-women sit on the benches quietly talking together, whilst for the wind that fills their sails the whole burden is but a toy. Even the cattle are here saved the trouble of walking. Floating stalls and cow-houses are built for them, in which they are borne quietly on, and are thereby spared many sufferings that they are exposed to with us. On these watery ways, too, we are spared that everlasting plague of our cities, and roads and landscapes the dust. The air of Holland, though moist and foggy, is free from any earthy mixture. On our way from Amsterdam to Utrecht we glided along the liquid path through a whole gallery of Vander Neers and Berghems, and I believe that these canal-loving artists would have found in their four-and-twenty miles passage, subjects enough to occupy their pencil and themselves and their pupils for their life-long. The banks of these watery roads are thickly sown with charming villages, rich country houses, beautiful gardens, flowery meadows, and fat pastures, and here and there a little grove.It was night, and the villages lay stretched, for perhaps two miles along the borders of the canal, sunk in profound repose. Had we been travelling in Germany, the loud horn of our postillion, and our rattling wheels, would have startled the poor people out of their sleep, but here we slipped past as silently as the night birds, that flutter around their dwellings. Sometimes the level of the canal lay low, and we passed along between the high banks as if through a subterranean passage. Sometimes it was level with the meadows and corn field and we moved softly through the grass and slumbering cattle. What agreeably surprised me was the throng of beautiful country seats and gardens that seem to press forward to the water side. Among us the seats of the nobility are mostly withdrawn from the noisy highways and lie hidden in their parks and woods. Here from the deck of our boat we could almost touch the parterres and flower-beds through which we were winding our way, and the elegant and palace-like abodes that lay in the midst of them on the banks. On these liquid highways there is neither the nuisance of noise nor of dust, nor of the wrangling of drivers and postillions to be feared; but on the contrary, the pleasure of many a pretty moving picture to be enjoyed. Our helmsman was one who never opened his mouth without good cause, but gave a ready and intelligent reply to every rational question addressed to him. He named to us the owner of every palace, or if that expression be thought too stately-of every elegant and pleasant ornamental cottage that we passed, and communicated interesting particulars of the circumstances, occupations, and prosperity of the villages.

Sometimes it was a 'herrenhuis' (a gentleman's seat); sometimes it was what is called a buiten

At the present time there are at the London Zoological Gardens two Arabs, who are eminently skilled in what is termed "Snake-Charming." In this country, happily for ourselves, we have but little practical acquaintance with venomous serpents, and there is no scope for the development of native skill in the art referred to; the visit, therefore of these strangers is interesting, as affording an opportunity of beholding feats which have hitherto been known to us only by description. We propose, therefore, to give some account of their proceedings.

Visitors to the Zoological Gardens will remark, on the right hand side, after they have passed through the tunnel, and ascended the slope beyond, a neat wooden building in the Swisss style. This is the reptile-house, and while our readers are bending their steps toward it, we will describe the performance of the Serpent Charmers.

The names of these are Jubar-Abou-Haijab, and Mohammed-Abou-Merwan. The former is an old man, much distinguished in his native country for his skill. When the French occupied Egypt, he collected serpents for their naturalists, and was sent for to Cairo to perform before General Bonaparte. He described to us the general, as a middle-sized man, very pale, with handsome features, and a most keen eye. Napoleon watched his proceedings with great interest, made many inquiries, and dismissed him with a handsome "backsheesh." Jubar is usually dressed in a coarse loose bernoose of brown serge, with a red cap on his head. The gift, or craft, of serpent charming, descends in certain families from generation to generation;

and Mohammed, a smart active lad, is the old, at it, just dodging back each time sufficiently far man's son-in-law, although not numbering six- to avoid the blow. The serpent is then placed teen years. He is quite an Adonis as to dress, in his bosom next his skin, and left there, but it wearing a smart, richly embroidered dark green is not so easy after a time to draw it out of its jacket, carried-hussar fashion-over his right warm resting-place. The tail is pulled; but no! shoulder, a white loose vest, full white trowsers, the serpent is round the lad's body, and will not tied at the knee, scarlet stockings and slippers, come. After several unsuccessful efforts, Moand a fez or red cap, with a blue tassel of extra hammed rubs the tail briskly between his two proportions on his head. In his right ear is a hands, a process which-judging from the ring, so large that it might pass for a curtain writhings of the serpent, which are plainly visiring. ble is the reverse of agreeable. At last Mohammed pulls him hand-over-hand-as the sailors say-and, just, as the head flies out, the cobra makes a parting snap at his tormentor's face, for which he receives a smart cuff on the head, and is then with the other replaced in the box.

Precisely as the clock strikes four, one of the keepers places on a platform a wooden box containing the serpents, and the lad Mohammed proceeds to tuck his ample sleeves as far up as possible to leave the arms bare. He then takes off his cloth jacket, and opening the box, draws out a large Cobra de Capello, of a dark copper colour: this he holds at arm's length by the tail, and after allowing it to writhe about in the air for some time, he places the serpent on the floor, still holding it as described. By this time the cobra had raised his hood, very indignant at the treatment he is receiving. Mohammed then pinches and teases him in every way; at each pinch the cobra strikes at him, but, with great activity the blow is avoided. Having thus teased the snake for some time, Mohammed rises, and placing his foot upon the tail, irritates him with a stick. The cobra writhes, and strikes sometimes at the stick, sometimes at his tormentor's legs, and again at his hands, all which is avoided with the utmost nonchalance. After the lapse of about ten minutes, Mohammed coils the cobra on the floor, and leaves him while he goes to the box, and draws out another far fiercer cobra. While holding this by the tail, Mohammed buffets him on the head with his open hand, and the serpent, quite furious, frequently seizes him by the forearm. The lad merely wipes the spot, and proceeds to tie the serpent like a necklace around his neck. Then the tail is tied into a knot around the reptile's head, and again head and tail into a double knot. After amusing himself in this way for some time, the serpent is told to lie quiet, and stretched on his back, the neck and chin being gently stroked. Whether any sort of mesmeric influence is produced we know not, but the snake remains on its back, perfectly still, as if dead. During this time the first cobra has remained coiled up, with head erect, apparently watching the proceedings of the Arab.

Dr. John Davy, in his valuable work on Ceylon, denies that the fangs are extracted from the serpents which are thus exhibited; and says that the only charm employed is that of courage and confidence-the natives avoiding the stroke of the serpent with wonderful agility; adding, that they will play their tricks with any hooded snake, but with no other poisonous serpent.

In order that we might get at the truth, we sought it from the fountain-head, and our questions were thus most freely answered by JubarAbou-Haijab, Hamet acting as interpreter:

Q. How are the serpents caught in the first instances?

A. I take this adze (holding up a sort of geological hammer mounted on a long handle) and as soon as I have found a hole containing a cobra, I knock away the earth till he comes out or can be got at; I then take a stick in my right hand, and seizing the snake by the tail with the left, hold it at arm's length. He keeps trying to bite, but I push his head away with the stick. After doing this some time I throw him straight on the ground, still holding him by the tail; I al low him to raise his head and try to bite, for some time, in order that he may learn how to attack, still keeping him off with the stick. When this has been done long enough, I slide the stick up to his head and fix it firmly on the ground; then taking the adze, and forcing open the mouth, I break off the fangs with it, carefully removing every portion, and especially squeezing out all the poison and blood, which I wipe away as long as it continues to flow; when this is done the snake is harmless and ready for After a use.

pause, the lad takes up the second cobra, and carrying it to the first, pinches and irritates both, to make them fight; the fiercer snake seizes the other by the throat, and coiling round him, they roll struggling across the stage. Mohammed then leaves these serpents in charge of Jubar, and draws a third snake out of the box This he first ties in a variety of apparently impossible knots, and then holding him at a little distance from his face, allows the snake to strike

Q. Do the ordinary jugglers, or only the hereditary snake Charmers catch the cobras?

A. We are the only persons who dare to catch them, and when the jugglers want snakes they come to us for them; with that adze (pointing to the hammer) I have caught and taken out the fangs of many thousands.

Q. Do you use any other snakes besides the cobras for your exhibitions?

4. No; because the cobra is the only one

that will fight well. The cobra is always ready to give battle, but the other snakes are sluggish, only bite, and can't be taught for our exhibitions.

Q. What do the Arabs do if they happen to be bitten by a poisonous snake?

A. They immediately tie a cord tight around the arm above the wound, and cut out the bitten part as soon as possible-some burn it; they then squeeze the arm downward, so as to press out the poison, but they don't suck it because it is bad for the mouth; however, in spite of all this they sometimes die.

Q. Do you think it possible that cobras could be exhibited without the fangs being removed? A. Certainly not, for the least scratch of their deadly teeth would cause death, and there is not a day that we exhibit that we are not bitten, and no skill in the world would prevent

it.

glass. They are ventilated by perforated plates of zinc above, and warmed by hot water pipes below. The bottoms of the cages are strewed with sand and gravel, and in those which contain the larger serpents strong branches of trees are fixed. The advantage of the plate-glass fronts is obvious, for every movement of the reptiles is distinctly seen, while its great strength confines them in perfect safety. Each cage is, moreover, provided with a pan of water.

Except when aroused by hunger, the Serpents are generally in a state of torpor during the day, but as night draws on, they, in common with other wild denizens of the forest, are roused into activity. In their native state the Boas then lie in wait, coiled round the branches of trees ready to spring upon the antelopes and other prey as they pass through the leafy glades; and the smaller serpents silently glide from branch to branch in quest of birds on which to feed. As we have had the opportunity of seeing the Reptile-house by night, we will describe the strange scene.

Such were the particulars given us by a most distinguished professor in the art of snakecharming, and, therefore, they may be relied on as correct; the matter-of-fact way in which he About ten o'clock one evening during the last acted, as well as related the snake-catching, spring, in company with two naturalists of emibore the impress of truth, and there certainly nence, we entered that apartment. A small would appear to be far less mystery about the lantern was our only light, and the faint illumicraft than has generally been supposed. The nation of this, imparted a ghastly character to way in which vipers are caught in this country the scene before us. The clear plate-glass which is much less artistic than the Arab mode. The faces the cages was invisible, and it was difficult viper-catcher provides himself with a cleft-stick, to believe that the monsters were in confinement and stealing up to the reptile when basking, and the spectators secure. Those who have only pins his head to the ground with the cleft, and seen the Boas and Pythons, the Rattlesnakes and seizing the tail, throws the reptile into a bag. Cobras, lazily hanging in festoons from the forks As they do not destroy the fangs, these men are of the trees in the dens, or sluggishly coiled up, frequently bitten in the pursuit of their business, can form no conception of the appearance and but their remedy is either the fat of vipers, or actions of the same creatures at night. The huge salad oil, which they take inwardly, and apply Boas and Pythons were chasing each other in externally, after squeezing the wound. We are every direction, whisking about the dens with the not aware of any well-authenticated fatal case rapidity of lightning, sometimes clinging in huge in man from a viper bite, but it fell to our lot coils round the branches, anon entwining each some years ago to see a valuable pointer killed other in massive folds, then separating, they by one. We were beating for game in a dry, would rush over and under the branches, hissing stony district, when suddenly the dog, who was and lashing their tails in hideous sport. Ever running beneath a hedgerow, gave a yelp and and anon, thirsty with their exertions, they bound, and immediately came limping up to us would approach the pans containing water and with a countenance most expressive of pain; a drink eagerly, lapping it with their forked tongues. large adder was seen to glide into the hedge-row. As our eyes became accustomed to the darkness, Two small spots of blood on the inner side of the we perceived objects better, and on the upperleft foreleg, close to the body of the dog marked most branch of the tree in the den of the biggest the seat of the wound; and we did our best to serpent, we perceived a pigeon quietly roosting, squeeze out the poison. The limb speedily began apparently indifferent alike to the turmoil which to swell, and the dog laid down, moaning and was going on around, and the vicinity of the unable to walk. With some difficulty we man- monster whose meal it was soon to form. In the aged to carry the poor animal to the nearest cot- den of one of the smaller serpents was a little tage, but it was too late. In spite of oil and other mouse, whose panting sides and fast-beating remedies the body swelled more and more, and he heart showed that it, at least, disliked its comdied in convulsions some two hours after the re-pany. Misery is said to make us acquainted ceipt of the injury.

The Reptile-house is fitted up with much attention to security and elegance of design; arranged along the left side are roomy cages painted to imitate mahogany and fronted with plate

with strange bed fellows, but evil must be the star of that mouse or pigeon whose lot it is to be the comrade and prey of a serpent!

Bentley's Miscellany.

To be continued.

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