per, is the strongest plant, and bears the largest leaf and fruit; it is slow in coming to perfection, but is of long duration. The leaf and fruit of Lado Manna are smaller; it bears soon, and in large quantities, but seldom beyond the third or fourth year's crop.. The Jambee is almost discarded, being very short-lived, and with difficulty trained to the chinkareen. wood tree, and of the Erythrina corallodendron, are | by different names. In the Rejang country these used. But it appears that the evils attendant upon kinds are termed Lado Cawoor, Lado Manna, and this plan counterbalance its advantages; as the Lado Jambee. The Lado Cawoor, or Lampoon peppoles must be renewed at least every two years, and the plants are liable to severe injury in removing and replacing them; besides, they do not enjoy that shelter from the burning sun, which is afforded to them by the heads of the chinkareens. Also, if it be correct that trees act as siphons, attracting from the clouds, and transmitting to the earth, a part of the nourishment which they draw from it, the use of the chinkareens has a further advantage. Great care is taken to keep the pepper-grounds free from weeds and shrubs; but in the months of June, July, and August, the earth is suffered to remain covered with long grass, which mitigates the effects of the violent heat, and preserves the dews to the plants. The pepper-plants are mostly taken from the shoots which spring from the foot of an old vine; these run along the ground, and from almost every joint strike roots into the earth, sending up perpendicularly a single shoot; one of these is sufficient to form a plant. Two vines are generally planted to one chinkareen. For three years they require but little attention; at the end of that period, they ought to have attained the height of eight or ten feet, and then the operation of turning down is practised upon them in the following manner: Being cut off at about three feet from the ground, and carefully loosened from the props, they are bent into the earth, in such a manner as to bring the upper end of the stem to the roots, thus forming a kind of circle. By this process, fresh vigour is given to the plants, which, if allowed to run up without cutting, would exhaust themselves in leaves, and produce but little fruit. The vines are turned down at the season when the clusters begin to ripen, and great nicety is required to choose the exact time, as, if it be done too soon, the vines will not bear for two or three years afterward, and if it be delayed until the fruit be gathered, the produce is likewise retarded. Sometimes two or three of the strongest shoots from a vine are laid in the ground for a short distance, and springing up, are still brought back to the same chinkareen; by this means extracting nourishment from a greater extent of soil. The vines generally begin to bear in three years from the time of planting, but their produce is retarded for one or two years, by the custom of turning down. From this time, the plants become gradually more prolifick, till they have attained their seventh or eight year, when the garden is esteemed in its prime; thus it remains for two or three years, when the plants begin gradually to decline, until they are too old to bear. Fruit has been gathered from plants of twenty years old, but this is very uncommon. A man and woman may with ease attend to a garden of a thousand vines, and may subsist upon the produce of their labour. A plan often pursued is, in the first season to raise a crop of grain upon the ground. When cleared the chinkareens are planted, and the paddy or other grain sown; and by the time this is reaped and its refuse cleared away, the props are of sufficient size to receive the pepper-vines. Thus a maintenance is obtained for the first season at least. The natives of Sumatra divide the pepper into three species, which are called at different places White pepper is thus prepared. The soundest and best. grains being carefully selected, they are steeped for a fortnight in water, either in pits dug purposely on the banks of rivers, or in swamps or stagnant pools; till, by swelling, they burst their skins, from which they are afterward carefully separated by drying in the sun, and rubbing between the hands. The outer husk removed by this process has an aromatick flavour, perfectly distinct from that of the heart; and for this reason black pepper is by many persons preferred; but the white pepper has this superiority, that it can be made only of those grains which are perfectly sound, and were gathered exactly at the time of maturity. The white pepper costs considerably more than the black, on account of the process of bleaching; and still more from the difficulty experienced in making the planters attend to the suggestions of strangers. The pepper-vines generally produce two crops in the year; one, called the greater crop, about the month of September; and the other, called the lesser, or half crop, in March. But these seasons are subject to great uncertainty, as the monsoons in Sumatra are not so strictly periodical as on the western side of India. Sometimes in particular districts, pepper may be gathered in small quantities during the whole year, while in others the produce is confined to one crop. Long-continued droughts iujure the plants, and retard the fruit. The natives in this case strip off the leaves, and by thus directing all the nourishment which the plant obtains to more important services, blossoms are soon produced in abundance. The pepper is brought down from the country on rafts composed of rough timbers or large bamboos, the cargo being carefully protected from moisture. Much strength and skill is exerted in the difficult navigation of the Sumatran rivers; but, notwithstanding the great dexterity of the natives, the rafts are often overset, and sometimes dashed to pieces by the rocks and trunks of trees which obstruct their course. The pepper is conveyed from the coast to vessels lying at anchor to receive it, in open boats, which are hauled up on the beach, and there loaded; they are then pushed off through the surf, which is extremely violent, and before the boat reaches the ship the pepper has generally been completely immersed in sea-water; a circumstance which it is said does not detract from the excellence of the spice. It is remarkable that pepper, which is to us a necessary ingredient in our dishes, is not mixed by the Sumatrans in their food, because they consider it heating to the blood; they flavour their rice upon which they chiefly subsist, with Chili or Cayenne pepper, which they say is not heating; and with tumerick, lemon-grass, and the pulp of the cocoanut. THE FAMILY MAGAZINE. A CHINESE WEDDING. [A Chinese Wedding.] Singapore, November 28th, 1835. HAVING been informed that a daughter of one of the principal Chinese merchants was about to be married, I solicited an invitation to attend and witness the ceremony. On arriving at the house of the bride's father, I was politely received by him, and invited to a seat in a room adjoining that in which the ceremonies were to take place, there to await the arrival of the bridegroom. As he did not arrive till nearly half an hour had elapsed, I improved my time, in examining with the father, the room where the daughter was to be married. screen. Before the door which led into the street was a On the right hand of the door, in front of a window, stood a narrow table, elevated on a bench and some old bricks, and covered with fruits and sweetmeats, having two or three small wax candles burning on each end of it. Beyond this, toward the interiour of the house, was a mat spread upon the brick floor, and still another smaller mat, of a finer On the side of the room opquality, and colours. posite to the window and table above mentioned, was the family god, a large picture of a deified hero, and under it the family altar. This was fitted up for the occasion with a variety of showy ornaments, Next to the wall was a and sacrificial articles. screen about two feet square, formed of small square pieces of marble, each having some painting upon it set in a wooden frame. At each end of this stood a waxen candle about three feet high, and three inches in diameter at the lower end; these were already lighted. Near each of them were several VOL. II.-42 curious articles, composed of various coloured sweetmeats, fruits, &c., fixed on long sticks of wood and wire; and between them a still more curious object, which it would be difficult to describe. The body of it was composed of green leaves, several of which were rolled together, and then the rolls stitched together in the form of a pyramid. Into each roll of leaves was inserted a slender stick, some of which were covered with sweetmeats and dried fruits, and others with leaves and flowers. In the top of the pyramid of leaves, was a stick with numerous branches covered with leaves and flowers and sparkling tinsel. These were but a part of the curious and gaudy ornaments on the altar. Between this altar and the carpet mentioned above, were set One of these stood with seven chairs, with cloth embroidered with goldthread spread over them. its back toward the family god, and the others on the right and left in front of it. A table stood in the middle. The walls of the room were hung with papers bearing various inscriptions, some of which were expressive of good wishes toward the couple about to be married. When I entered, there were several men in the room preparing for the wedding. At length, the word was given, " coming;" on which a young friend of the parties put on a long light-coloured silk garment over his usual dress, and the father asked if all Soon it was proclaimed again, "comwas ready. ing;" and the young man put on a longer and larger garment of figured light green satin, reaching to his Again they said "coming," and he comfeet. pleted his dress by putting on a dark purple robe of 1 figured satin, and a pyramidal cap with red hair fixed in the apex, and descending on all sides nearly to the rim. This person was the "receiver of guests." The sound of musick was now heard, and they prepared "to meet the bridegroom." He came in a procession preceded by musick, dressed like the "receiver of guests," and attended by six companions, each bearing an immense umbrella, and other persons bearing poles of bamboo with branches and green leaves upon them, and sustaining between each pair a piece of red cloth about three yards long. On his arrival near the door, a kind of paper basket filled with Chinese crackers was carried out, and the crackers burned with great uproar. The receiver of guests met him at the door and performed the usual ceremony. As he entered the door, a nephew of the bride, splendidly dressed in embroidered satin with much tinsel and a little gold, advanced and presented him an orange. The receiver of guests then conducted the bridegroom to the carpet already described, and placing him at one end, and himself at the other, they bowed to each other, and then by three measured long steps they exchanged places and bowed again; and then at last he conducted the bridegroom to his seat at the head of the table, and pretended to arrange the cloth for him. They here bowed to each other over it, then he went to receive others, leaving the bridegroom standing, and performed the same ceremonies with each of the six friends of the bridegroom; they then took their places, bowed, and sat down. groom to see the conclusion of the wedding. The arrangement of the room where the ceremonies were to be performed, was very similar to those at the house of the bride's father. On a table standing before the family altar, were placed at one end more than twenty female garments, and a pair of shoes; on the other end, slips of red paper enclosing dollars with names written upon them; and on the middle, a waiter on which was laid a belt, said to be wholly of gold, and to have cost two hundred dollars, a splendid large buckle for it, a handsome bosom-pin, and several rings. All these were presents to the bride from several relatives and friends. The names on the papers were the names of the donors, who gave as many dollars as their abilities allowed, or disposition prompted them to do. The table was covered with a red velvet cloth, embroidered with gold thread; and at each end of it stood a chair with a similar cloth upon it. While I was waiting the arrival of the procession, two coolies came in, bearing between them a stout pole covered with cajang, (a kind of long leaf like flag-leaves,) stitched together, under the cover of which was something more substantial; I soon ascertained that it was a lady, who was brought in this style to the wedding. The carriage consisted merely of the cajang with a cloth, the ends of which were tied to the pole, and the middle, hanging down two or three feet and spread out, afforded a seat for the lady. Several others were brought in the same way; and as the carriages seemed to have been thoroughly used, I conclude this is the method in which they are usually conveyed from place to place. A more uncomfortable and degrading method could scarcely be imagined. But Chinese custom and opinion do not allow them to be seen, and they are not considered worthy of a better carriage. Tea was then brought, three cups in succession, and finally betel-nut. Soon after these were removed, my attention was drawn toward the interiour of the house, where the bride made her appearance splendidly dressed and veiled, and attended by several females. She advanced with downcast eyes, The report being made that the procession was and a very slow step, designed doubtless to imitate near, a man in the dress of ceremony like that worn that of the little-footed ladies of China. On coming the other day by the receiver of guests, began to to the threshold of the room, she paused, and waited bow and worship: first toward the altar at the winwithout the motion of a muscle, or any expression dow, to the gods, to whom he bowed ten or twelve of sentiment in her face, the coming of her future times with his head to the floor; then toward the companion. As for him when he knew she had family altar, to the family relatives, to whom he come in sight, he cast an eager eye sidewise to bowed four times. Before commencing this, he catch a glimpse of her as soon as possible. He lighted several incense-sticks, and bowed slightly very soon left his chair, walked round before his with them in his hands, and set them in a dish of companions to the door where the bride stood, and ashes upon the altar toward which he bowed; and they bowed to each other, she raising her hands also burnt incense enough to fill the room with slowly to the level of her shoulders, and letting them fall as slowly, and with the same immoveable, inane countenance as before; and then turned and walked away. He bowed less deliberately, then turned to his companions with a smile of satisfaction playing on his countenance, gave them a slight bow, and followed the bride. Thus ended the ceremony for to-day. It is to be renewed again after two days, and at the house of the bridegroom, whither the bride is to be conducted. When the ceremony was over, I conversed a little with one of the bridegroom's friends who had acted the part of negociator for the parties, (i. e. for the fathers of the bridegroom and the bride,) before the wedding. He told me the bride had been in the inner apartments for eight or ten years; and that the bridegroom had never seen her before. He said also that she could not read. 30th November. Went to the house of the bride smoke. The procession was like that of the former occasion, but less numerous, and the bridegroom and the bride came in palanquins; he, attended by the little boy who presented him the orange on the 28th, and she, by three little girls of the same age, splendidly set off with embroidered silk of very brilliant colours, and gaudy head-dresses. The bride was assisted to descend from her carriage by her attendants, and on coming near the door was presented with an orange by a little girl dressed like those just mentioned. At the door, the bride and bridegroom bowed to each other, and took their places on a mat between the two altars, first facing that near the window, towards which they both kneeled, and he bowing with his head to the ground, while she performed an equivalent ceremony by setting back upon her feet in a very graceful manner. They then rose, and knelt again, repeating the ceremony several times, and then turning toward the family altar did the same. Her attendants carefully arranged the skirts of her long garments as she knelt, that they might not receive injury, nor entangle her feet. Her eyes were downcast, her face uncovered, and her features as immoveable as if made of marble. He appeared rather careless and impatient to be done with the ceremonies. After their worship in this room, they went into the interiour of the house, and performed similar prostrations there. They then returned to the outer room, and their relatives began to come forward. to receive their reverence. They both knelt before each of them. First came three or four men, then as many women, each of whom on going out touched the hand of the bride; then came an old man, an elder brother of the bridegroom's father, who showed much kindness in his manner toward the bride, and helped her to rise from her knees; then followed several women, some of whom were dragged into the room by force, as they manifested much reluctance from real or pretended bashfulness. The bridegroom frequently went into the inner room to call for these persons, and the poor bride stood motionless in her place awaiting his return, till some of the bystanders pitying her weariness, brought her a chair in which she sat when at leisure. NATURAL HISTORY. THE PELICAN.-Pelecanus Onocrotalus. LINN. THE family of swimming birds to which the pelicans give name, is distinguished from all the other subdivisions of that order by the extension of the membrane connecting the three anterior toes in such a manner as to include the posterior also, which is thus brought forward as it were into the same series with the rest. The birds of this family consequently offer the most perfect examples of a completely webbed foot. They were all regarded by Ray as forming a single genus, from which Linnæus subsequently withdrew the tropick-bird and the anhinga, as the types of two new generick forms. Brisson and later naturalists have with great propriety carried still farther the principle of subdivision adopted by Linnæus; and the genus Pelecanus of the latter has been dismembered into four parts, of which the cormorant, the pelican, the gannet, and the frigate-bird, each distinguished by essential modifications both of structure and habits, form the respective types. ous with the base of the bill; the neck is rather long; the body large; the legs short, and naked above the knee; and the wings of moderate length, with the first quill-feathers the longest. The tongue is so short as to have been entirely overlooked by the, earliest writers. In the true pelicans, the bill is of great length, broad in proportion, flattened from above downward, and perfectly straight, with the exception of a slight During the intervals between these ceremonies, I hook at the middle point of the upper mandible; the had opportunity to observe the appearance of the edges of both mandibles are entire, being perfectly bride. She was about eighteen years old, of the free from denticulations; and the lower is formed of middling stature of females here, though shorter two long slender flexible branches, united together than European ladies generally are. Her face was only at the tip, and having the intermediate space pretty enough, but rather too wide, and destitute of occupied by a widely dilatable membranous pouch, expression. Her beautiful black hair was tastefully which extends for some distance down the fore part done up, and ornamented with white and artificial of the neck. The middle part of the upper mandiyellow flowers, and encompassed by a tiara of black ble forms a slight projection, bounded on either side velvet, on which were eight little yellow images of by a narrow groove, in which, near the base of the "pa seen," or eight genii, which they would have bill, are situated the almost imperceptible nostrils; people think were gold. Her dress was embroider-the eyes are surrounded by a naked space continued satin of different colours, red, yellow, white, and green; she wore fine white stockings, and a pair of Chinese shoes, the fore part only of which being seen when she walked, they made a very clumsy appearance. When the ceremonies were ended, they both went into the interiour apartments, and took tea and other refreshments. While there, I saw for the first time some movements besides those required by the rules of ceremony. After a few minutes they came out and took their palanquins to return to her father's, bowing at the door. The carriage of the bride moved fast, preceded by servants bearing the presents of clothes, &c., noticed above. The din of musick continued during the movement of the procession, as well as during all the ceremonies of this and the former day, and was quite insufferable. On reaching the father's house, they bowed at the door, and proceeded to the upper rooms. She soon returned, and took out the upper stick of the leaf-made pyramid with its flowers and spangles, and bore it away; thus signifying the completion of her wedding, and the change from her former to her present relations. The bridegroom soon made his appearance again, and seated by the receiver of guests, as on the 28th, and joined by five or six relatives, each seated with the same formalities, who partook with him of the same refreshments which were brought forward. This concluded the ceremonies of the day, and the wedding was considered as completed. Chinese Repository. The white or common pelican is, as the first of these names implies, almost entirely white when in its adult state. The quill-feathers, however, which are scarcely visible when the wings are closed, are black; and the whole plumage, as the bird advances in age, exhibits a slight tinge of fleshcolour, which is sometimes mixed with a shade of light yellow. The bill is at this period of a dull lead-colour on the sides of the lower mandible and along the middle line of the upper, which is yellowish in the intermediate part and reddish at the edges, the hooked tip especially becoming of a bright red. The iris is deep brown; the naked part of the cheeks flesh-coloured; the pouch of a light straw-colour; the legs and web dingy-yellow, with somewhat of a leaden cast; and the claw black. On the greater part of the head and neck the plumage is nothing more than a short close even down, gradually passing into feathers, and forming on the back of the head a kind of tuft which falls downward over the hinder part of the neck. When fully grown the common pelican is almost the largest bird of its order, measuring from five to six feet from the extremity of its long bill to the tip of its rounded tail, and from ten to twelve in the expanse of its wings. The extent of these latter organs, together with the extreme lightness of the bony structure, (which is capable of receiving a large quantity of air,) enable the bird to soar to a very considerable height, and to remain long upon the wing. Its bill, frequently sixteen or eighteen inches in length, and two or even more in breadth, has but little strength; but the fish on which it preys are immediately consigned to its pouch, in which it speedily accumulates a sufficient store to serve it for a meal, and then retires to some neighbouring rock to satisfy its voracity, which is by no means trifling, from the contents of its wallet. This part is so highly distensible as to be capable of containing from two to three gallons of water. It serves also as a reservoir for the food which the old birds bring home to their young, and which they disgorge into the throats of the latter by pressing the bill upon the breast; an action that has given rise to the fable of the pelican feeding its young with its blood. In the same manner the males supply the wants of the females when sitting. The white pelicans nest in rocks, on the shores of the sea, of large rivers, and of lakes, in almost every part of the old world, excepting the most northern regions. Buffon gives a curious account of the manner in which they sometimes act in concert when in pursuit of their finny prey; and this fact is confirmed by some late observations of M. Roulin upon an American species. The latter adds that when a single pelican is in search of food it wheels round and round at the height of fifteen or twenty feet, and as soon as it perceives a fish, darts upon it from above with inconceivable rapidity, displacing the water around it for a considerable distance. Should it fail in its attack, which rarely happens, it rises again to repeat the same manoeuvre. THE SEAHORSE. THESE curiously-formed fish have obtained this name, from their resemblance, when they have been dried, to the outline of a horse's head in miniature. The specimen here figured is represented in a dried state, and from its singular appearance, it is frequently found in the cabinets of the curious. It is taken in almost every quarter of the globe, and is generally from six inches to a foot in length: in colour it varies much, according to the climate |