CORRIGENDA. OUR readers are particularly requested to correct the following errors, which have by an accident been permitted to remain,, between pages 33 and 58. Page 33, line 12, for line, read time. 33, transfer after the death of his father, Lord Arranmore, to line 39. 13, insert him, after before. 37, for as felt in, read and fell is. 2, for forces, read horses. 31, for Coriaris, read Coricius. 8, for Sante, read Santo Xisto. last line, for faults, read facts. 16, for vented itself, read inflamed. 37, for heroines, read triremes. 46, for Villepatura, read Villegiatura. THE LONDON MAGAZINE. JANUARY 1, 1828. ROBERTS'S VOYAGES AND EXCURSIONS IN THE INTERIOR OF CENTRAL AMERICA. Narrative of Voyages and Excursions on the East Coast and in the Interior of Central America; describing a Journey up the River San Juan, and passage across the Lake of Nicaragua to the City of Leon; pointing out the advantages of a direct Commercial Intercourse with the Natives. By Orlando W. Roberts, many Years a Resident Trader. Edinburgh, 1827. 12mo. THE name of Central America appears to belong to that part of the northern continent which lies to the south of Mexico, including Guatemala and the countries of the Isthmus of Darien, and extending to Columbia. The project of forming a communication through the Isthmus, and thus connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, which has lately been entertained for the second time in this country, has thrown a new interest upon a land already sufficiently remarkable for its natural productions. Having been since the conquest of the Spaniards strictly guarded by its jealous rulers from the curiosity of interlopers and traders, in spite of its proximity to our West India colonies, the utmost ignorance has prevailed respecting both its geographical and statistical condition. The independence of Guatemala, and the general success of the patriots in these quarters, has contributed not only to create much speculation concerning South American countries, but has likewise produced several publications concerning them. So little light has nevertheless been thrown upon the Isthmus itself, and the immediately adjoining territories, that the project above mentioned was entertained in a gross ignorance of the real circumstances and difficulties on which its execution would depend. The navigator who has written this little volume is well acquainted with the Atlantic side of the Isthmus; and being arrested for a patriot and spy by the Spanish Authorities, was carried a prisoner from the bay of Niconderagua, on the eastern coast of the Continent, to the city of Leon, within a few leagues of the Pacific. The route by which he was conducted by the river San Juan across the lake of Niconderagua, and by the coast of the lake of Leon, being that which has been JAN. 1828. B considered as affording by far the fewest obstacles to the formation of a canal, enables him to give valuable information on the subject. His narrative has other attractions. It is to be lamented that men who follow an adventurous and wandering life-who are accustomed to enterprise, and prefer danger to repose, are naturally indisposed to sit down with a pen in hand to retrace their course. It would be well if they would follow the example of Mr. Roberts, who has proved himself qualified to do justice to his opportunities. His little volume is not merely a pleasant and attractive book of adventure, but likewise replete with much sound information respecting the geography, natural history, and commercial advantages of the places he has visited. In the year 1816, Mr. Roberts left Jamaica the commander of a brig, with an assorted cargo of no great value, for the purpose of trading with the free tribes on the east-coast, between the Gulph of Darien and the Bay of Honduras: at the end of nine weeks he returned, after a most successful voyage. The Indians on the coast are peculiarly friendly to the English, and very willing to exchange the commodities of the country with the traders who visit them. For the various articles composing the cargo of the brig-such as tin and iron pots, coarse manufactured goods, cutlasses, adzes, and beads, Mr. Roberts returned with a cargo of tortoiseshell, sarsaparilla, and other valuable productions in which these countries abound. Subsequent circumstances induced him to reside among these tribes for upwards of seven years, during which time he collected the information he has now given to the world. The people with whom he mixed, consisting chiefly of pure Indians, and offspring of Indians and negroes called Samboes, are not only on the whole an amiable and inoffensive people; but moreover of more importance in this part of the world than is usually supposed. The Independents have hitherto acted respecting them with an indifference which shows a mistaken view of their force; and it is proper that other nations should be better informed. Of the uprightness and honesty of the pure Indians, Mr. Roberts gives. many honourable instances; and a greater proof of the mildness of their dispositions, and the urbanity of their manners, cannot be given than in his retirement among some of the tribes of the Valientes, some way inland from the Musquito shore, alone and unattended, as an invalid, for the recovery of his health. The station he fixed upon for this purpose is situated on the banks of the river Chrico Mola, where he established himself partly as a trader ready to barter goods, and partly as a patient: both his objects were effectually answered. The inhabitants and Indians in the interior came to his hut loaded with sarsaparilla; and were contented to take anything in exchange; so that in less than six weeks he had collected upwards of five thousand pound weight of this article; while at the same time the river was as clear as crystal, in which he bathed every morning, the air pure and salubrious, the woods abounding with game, and his rambles leading into beautiful districts, untrod by any other foot than that of the wild hog, or a wandering Indian. An anecdote, related by the navigator, affords a curious proof of the infrequency of the intruder's footstep into the wild borders upon the settlement where he had pitched his tent : "On my return from one of these excursions the chief man of the settle ment, named by the traders Jasper Hall, told me, that some of the women had discovered the track of an extraordinary animal, which had filled them with much apprehension; and that none of the hunters could make out, from their description, what it was; the women insisting that it could only be "Devil's track." The story excited my curiosity; and not doubting but that it might prove to be that of some large animal, probably unknown in Europe, I persuaded him to make up a hunting party and go in search of it. Jasper, myself, and other three men, provided with provisions and other materials to enable us to remain a night or two in the woods if necessary, set out at day-break-well armed-and having three of the women with us to serve as guides. After proceeding more than four hours by an unusual route, we came to a deep ravine, which we ascended nearly a mile to a place where the tract had become visible. Here old Jasper burst out into a loud laugh, calling out, "Hai Robert! him devil tract found,"-and on investigation it proved to be the marks of a pair of coarse hobb-nailed shoes, which I had worn on one of my long excursions. We had approached the ravine by a different path than that by which I had penetrated, and I was amused to find that I had come so far in search of my own footsteps."-pp. 61, 62.: During the progress of these discoverers they had seen several kinds of game, but not a shot had been fired, for fear of alarming the wild animal they sought. Now as the women had brought plantains and cassava, which is as much as to say bread and cheese, and since game abounded, it was determined to remain two or three days in the woods. A few huts were hastily constructed, and the women being left to cover them with the leaf of the wild plantain, the men proceeded until they fell in with the peccary, or wild hogs: discovering about a hundred of them, twenty were quickly shot, and then barbecued. As this mode of cookery may not be familiar to our readers, we shall quote Mr. Roberts's description of it, as well as his minute account of the animal itself: "We killed about twenty; and the noise of our firearms having brought the women to our assistance, all hands were soon busily employed in cutting out the gland on the back of the animal, and dividing the carcase, into quarters, for the purpose of being barbacued. This operation is performed by erecting a low frame, or grating of wood, upon which the meat is laid, and covered with leaves; a fire is lighted underneath, and the flesh is in this manner not only smoked, but sometimes half roasted, before it is considered sufficiently cured. It will keep good during several weeks. "The ears of the peccary are short, pointed, and erect; the eyes are sunk deep in the head, the neck is short and thick, the bristles are nearly as large as those of the hedgehog,-longest on the neck and back; it is of a hoary black colour, annulate with white, having a collar, from the shoulders to the breast, of dusky white;-in size, and colour, it something resembles the hog of China; it has no tail,—on the back there is a glandulous opening, from which constantly distils a thin fetid liquor. If the animal is killed in the evening, this part carefully cut out, and the liquor instantly washed away, the flesh is agreeable food. They grunt with a strong harsh sound; and, when vexed, make a most disagreeable noise with their tusks, which are scarcely conspicuous when their mouth is shut. They will sometimes turn, with fury, on their assailant, whose best refuge, in that case, is to climb upon a tree, and then, if he has good dogs, to keep them in play-he may kill them at pleasure so long as his ammunition lasts. They principally feed on fruits, seeds, and roots; and sometimes do much mischief in the plantain and cassava walks.”—pp. 62, 63. The expedition was then continued until the party ascended a |