markable discoveries which have been made of these excavations has appeared in the in the Greek provinces. An excavation Annals of the Archaiological Institute at made by the late General Gordon at the Rome; and the only knowledge the world Heræum, near Argos, at which I was pre- possesses of them, is the singular work of sent, brought to light two interesting frag-Aristocles, which we have noticed; this, ments-a portion of a marble peacock and however, is the best preserved monument a large fragment of a præfix of terra cotta, of the most ancient style of Greek art when painted as a peacock's tail. Several trifles it began to rise towards perfection. in terra cotta and bronzes were likewise found, and an extended excavation at this place would probably yield important results. At Delphi several fragments of the great temple, which it was supposed had entirely disappeared, were accidentally discovered; a small temple was also found, and the late Professor Miller made an excavation into the ancient treasury under the cella of the great temple. A considerable collection of ancient statues from all parts of Greece has been assembled in the Temple of Theseus, several of them belonging to the first school of art, and rendering this little museum of great interest to antiquaries, and worthy of a visit from all admirers of classic sculpture. I hope that this letter will call the attention of some one in England to this subjec*, capable of rendering it more effectual service than lies in my power. GEORGE FINLAY. THE CHINESE FOOT-TORTURE-The means taken to effect the alteration of the women's feet in China are decidedly prejudicial to the health, and frequently attended with fatal consequences. This fact was ascertained by a clever young naval surgeon who was for some time stationed at Chusan. it happened that during an excursion into the country, he one day entered a house where he found a child about eight years old very ill, and suffering under severe hectic fever; on examination, he discovered that her feet were undergoing the process of distortion; he was informed that she had been a year under this treatment. Moved by pity for the little sufferer, he proceeded to remove the bindings, and fomented the feet, which were in shape had already commenced by the depression covered with ulcers and inflammation. The change of the toes. The child was much relieved by, and evidently grateful for, his treatment. On taking his leave, he warned the mother that she would certainly lose her child if the bands were replaced ; ever he returned (and this happened frequently), he always found them on again, tho woman urging as an excuse that her daughter had better die than such a calamity would be her inevitable lot. As remain unmarried, and that without improved feet might be expected, the child grew worse and worse. After a longer interval than usual, he once again revisited the house, but found it untenanted, and a little coffin lying at the door, in which he discover ed the body of his poor young patient.-Loch's Closing Events of the Campaign in China. [AIE will feel the monstrous character of this madness of the Chinese females; but is the waist-constriction of our own any better? The extravagance is not equally bad in kind, and there can be no doubt that with us, perhaps, so very great in degree, but it is it also causes coffins to be laid down at doors for "young patients." We fear it is an extravagance not in the way of being diminished. There has been introduced of late years an atrocious piece of but his remonstrauces were of no avail. When One of the most curious monuments in the collection is the figure of a warrior in low relief, rather above the natural size, and executed with a degree of stiffness, which shows far more affinity to the style of the Egina marbles than to the Attic school of Phidias. Its antiquity, and the visible traces of the painting with which it was adorned, give it great value. This curious piece of sculpture was found at a place called Velanideza, on the coast of Attica, two or three miles south of Araphen, (Rafina), between Hale and Prasiæ, in the year 1839. An ancient demos existed in this plain, and near it there were forty or fifty unopened tumuli, which had excited the attention of several antiquaries. It is said that a society of excavators received permission to open these tumuli, but I have never been able to obtain any exact information on the subject, though I have applied directly to Mr. Pittakis; and Professor Ross was also as unsuccessful as I was. Much mystery attended the whole proceed. ings, for the Greek government has gene-enginery called the French stay, for casing up the rally been extremely averse to all private frames of young ladies in an artificial and unyieldexcavations, and General Gordon was re-ing shape, in which they believe the ideal of form quested to discontinue his at the Heraum; to be realized. Specimens of it may be seen glassI suppose that many of the vases offered to cased in windows in London, and it has also traveltravellers for sale, in 1839, were from Ve-led into the provinces. It leaves its victims hardly lanideza. Mr. Pittakis has published no account of these excavations, and the Archatological Society took no notice of them, as it is dangerous for a body wishing to live in peace with all men to attempt penetrating where there is mystery. No account room to breathe, and entirely takes away the power of raising their arms above their heads. What they might deem its worst peculiarity, if they could judge of it at all, it makes one half of them round-shouldered, and thus adds a real deformity where it only creates an imaginary elegance. But we must cut short, remembering that this is the subject on which it is of no use to speak.-Chambers's Edinburgh Jour. DISCOVERIES ON THE NORTH COAST OF discovery at an enormous expense, and AMERICA. Fom the Athenæum. Narrative of the Discoveries on the North composed of individuals having plenty of zeal, but who, possessing very little experience of the polar climate, necessarily found difficulty and danger in journeys which, to the practised fur-trader, would have been safe and easy. In July 1836, Messrs. Dease and Simpson received the commands of the Company to conduct an expedition northwards in the following year, and, in the first place, descending Mackenzie River, and proceeding westwards to Return Reef, the furthest point plore the coast onwards from that point to Point Barrow, which had been reached by Mr. Elson in Beechy's voyage. Returning from this western exploration, the expedition was to winter at the north-eastern angle of the Great Bear Lake; thence to descend, in the following summer, the Coppermine River, and to follow the coast eastwards, as far as the mouth of the Great Fish River, discovered by Back in 1834. This eastern survey eventually proved to be the work of two summers. THIS modest, unpretending volume contains the lively history of one of the most remarkable expeditions, or rather series of expeditions, on record;-remarkable, as filling up and giving continuity to our reached by Sir J. Franklin in 1826, to exknowledge of the northern circumpolar coasts of America, through seventy-four degrees of longitude, or, following the windings of the shore, above 2,000 miles, all explored by British enterprise; remark. able as an example of bold and compre. hensive plans, carried into execution with a rare union of consummate prudence and indomitable courage, and completely successful, without a serious accident or mishap, during three trying campaigns. With out accident or mishap, we say; but alas! in the train of so signal a triumph there followed at no great distance a sad disaster, to which we shall return in the sequel. Owing to the untimely fate of the author of this narrative, the task of vindicating his share in the expedition has devolved on his brother, who says, "Although Mr. Simpson's name appears only as second or junior officer of the expedition,—the senior being Mr. Peter Warren Dease, an old and experienced officer of the Hudson's Bay Company, who co-operated with Sir John Franklin on his last expedition,-yet a glance at the narrative in the following pages will prove that Mr. Simpson was really the main spring of the expedition. He alone was at all conversant with science and the most arduous parts of the service performed by the expedition-the completion of the survey between Mackenzie River and Point Barrow; the exploration of the country between Great Slave Lake and the Coppermine River-essential to the transport across that rugged and sterile country (well called the Barren Grounds) of the boats and provisions of the expedition; and the pedestrian journey along the coast, of the summer of 1838, which opened the prospect of a clear sea to the eastward, securing the success of the expedition in summer 1839,-were performed by him alone." Mr. Simpson started to join the expedi tion at its first winter quarters, near Lake Athabasca, from the Red River settlement, which is situate in the heart of the North American Continent, about 300 miles W. N. W. from the remotest borders of Canada, above Lake Superior. This colony lies so far from the ordinary track of tourists, and is in itself of so interesting a character, that we cannot refuse to glean from our author's pages some information respecting it: "Situated under the 50th degree of north latitude, and 97th of west longitude, at an elevation of eight or nine hundred feet above the sea, and stretching for upwards of fifty miles along the wooded borders of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, which flow through a level country of vast extent, it possesses a salubrious climate and a fertile soil'; but summer frosts, generated by undrained marshes, sometimes blast the hopes of the husbandman, and the extremes of abundance and want are experienced by an improvident people. Horses, horned cattle, hogs, and poultry, are exceedingly numerous. Sheep have been brought by the Company, at great expense, from England and the United States, and are reared with success. Wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, turnips, and most of the ordinary culinary vegetables, thrive well. Pumpkins, On the failure of Sir G. Back's attempt melons, and cucumbers come to maturity in the to reach the Polar Sea by Wager Inlet, or open air in favorable seasons. Maize, pease, Repulse Bay, the Hudson's Bay Company and beans, have not been extensively cultivated; determined to lend its aid in completing hops grow luxuriantly; flax and hemp are poor and stunted; orchards are as yet unknown. the geography of that nearly inaccessible The banks of the rivers are cultivated to the region. It had often smiled at the expedi- width of from a quarter to half a mile. All the tions fitted out by Government for Arctic | back level country remains in its original state- a vast natural pasture, covered for the greater on the region of oak terminated; but fine part of the year with cattle, and also furnishing woods of elm are found much further the inhabitants with a sufficiency of coarse hay northward, when these in turn give way to for the support of their herds during the winter. The length of this severe season exceeds five pine, poplar, and willow. Much of the months, the rivers usually freezing in Novem- country now lying desert on the western ber and opening in April, when there is a fine side of the Manitobah and Winipegoos sturgeon fishery; but Lake Winipeg, the grand lakes, is capable of producing wheat and receptacle of the river waters, does not break other grains. The cold now became inup till the close of May. The most common tense. On the 23rd, a strong westerly sorts of wood are oak, elm, poplar, and maple; wind, at a temperature of at least 40° bepines are likewise found towards Lake Winipeg low zero, seriously threatened the safety **The generality of the settlers dwell in frame or loghouses, roofed with wooden slabs, bark, or of the party, and notwithstanding every shingles, and, for the most part, whitewashed or precaution, two men were injured by the painted externally. Not a man, however mean cold. After two months' toil, our author or idle, but possesses a horse; and they vie in arrived at Fort Chipewyan, on Lake Athagay carioles, harness, saddles, and fine clothes. basca, and concludes this part of his narA great abundance of English goods is import-rative with the following observation :ed, both by the Company and by individuals, in the Company's annual ships to York Factory, and disposed of in the colony at moderate prices. Labor is dear, and produce of all kinds sells at a higher rate than could be expected in such a secluded place." "Thus happily terminated a winter journey of 1277 statute miles. In the wilderness time and space seem equally a blank, and for the same reason-the paucity of objects to mark or diversify their passage; but, in my opinion, the real secret of the little account which is made of distance in these North American wilds is, is promptly rendered to the traveller without fee that there is nothing to pay. Every assistance or reward, while health and high spirits smile at the fatigues of the way.” The forts or trading establishments of the Company, constitute so many fixed points of Indian resort. The Indian finds The land at the Red River colony is, in general, given gratuitously to the Hudson's Bay Company's retired servants. These traders, scattered over the country in their early years, and far removed from civilized society, usually marry Indian women, and consequently, the population of the Red River settlement, which now amounts to five thousand souls, consists, in a great in them a market for the produce of the degree, of half-breeds. The restless, tur. chase, a refuge in case of war, and at all bulent passions of this race, have gradually times relief and instruction. It requires driven from the Red River the original all the eloquence and personal influence of Scotch settlers, who have, for the most the trader to persuade the Indian to spare part, migrated to the United States; and the young of the beaver, and other valua there now remain, in the vicinity of Lake ble fur animals. So obstinate are the red Winipeg, less persevering industry, and men in their improvident habits, so deeply more wild recklessness, than might be ex- seated their destructive propensities, that pected in a British colony of thirty years our author does not hesitate to pronounce standing. At the same time, the Red them irreclaimable. He gives the followRiver colonists are elevated far above saving curious illustration of their innate love age life, and as the fur-traders now take of slaughtering game their wives from that settlement, rather than from the hut of the wild Indian, a steady improvement in the character of the half-breed population, may be looked forward to as a certain result. On the 1st of December our author started on his journey northward. There was not yet any snow on the ground. The dogs were allowed, therefore, to draw empty sledges, while the travellers amused themselves with a wolf-hunt, a favorite pastime in the plains around the colony, where the horses are trained to the pursuit of the buffalo and wolf, and to stand fire at full speed. On the ice of the Lake of Manitobah, or the Evil Spirit, the labor of the dogs commenced. A little further : "Near York Factory, in 1831, this propensity, contrary to all the remonstrances of the gentlemen of that place, led to the indiscriminate destruction of a countless herd of reindeer, while crossing the broad stream of Haye's River, in the height of summer. The natives took some of the meat for present use, but thousands of carcases were abandoned to the current, and infected the river banks, or floated out into Hudson's Bay, there to feed the sea fowl and the Polar bear. As if it were a judgment for this barbarous slaughter, in which women and even visited that part of the country in similar numchildren participated, the deer have never since bers." On the shore of Athabasca lake, were built two sea boats, each twenty-four feet long, so much alike, and, in the eyes of the with the rest, he was in an agony of fear; and, when I first went up to him, with impotent hand he made a thrust at me with his long knife. He was, however, soon convinced of our good inof which we found men, women, and even chil tentions; and his first request was for tobacco, dren inordinately fond.** Confidence being now fully established, I told them that I requir travellers, so handsome, as to obtain the classical appellations of Castor and Pollux. On the 1st of June, the boats being finished, the expedition commenced the descent. We shall say nothing of the ice still lingering in Great Slave Lake, nor of the cheerful verdant scenery of Mackenzie River. Barley is cultivated at Fort Simp-ed one of their oomiaks, or large family canoes, son, in latitude 62°; and even at Fort Nor- to take us two or three days' journey--or sleeps, man, 200 miles lower down, European peras they term it-to the westward; after which we should return. These skin boats float in severance is exhibited in the cultivation of half a foot of water. No ice was visible from the ground; "At this northerly spot, in the tents; and, from the trending of the coast, latitude 64° 40', a small quantity of green it was more than doubtful that our journey could barley, and of potatoes, almost as big as have been accomplished in any reasonable time pigeons' eggs, is now annually raised." on foot. They acceded to my demand, without The wood coal, on the banks of the Mac-a scruple. We selected the best of three oomiaks; kenzie, is, for several miles, in a state of obtained four of their slender oars, which they ignition, and these natural fires appear to fitted the oars with lashings; and arranged our used as tent-poles, besides a couple of paddles: have extended since the time of Dr. Rich-strange vessel so well that the ladies were in ardson's visit. They locally affect the cli-raptures, declaring us to be genuine Esquimate; a richer herbage and riper berries maux, and not poor white men. Whilst my being found in the vicinity of the fires. companions were thus employed, I procured, Near Fort Good Hope, in latitude 66° 16', from the most intelligent of the women, a our author writes-"The majestic river, and its high banks, were steeped in a floud of light, and except the diminutive size of the wood, there was nothing in the landscape to suggest the thought that we had penetrated so far into the regions of the North." Let us hasten now from Mackenzie River, to the unexplored sea shores towards the west. With great exertions the boats were forced through the ice about 150 miles beyond the Return Reef of Sir J. Franklin; but the progress being so slow, and the obstructions so formidable, it was thought advisable to prosecute the remainder of the required exploration on foot: with this view, therefore, Mr. Simpson set forth with five companions. The sequel of his story shall be told, as much as possible, in his own words: sketch of the inlet before us, and of the coast to the westward, as far as her knowledge extended. She represented the inlet as very deep; that they make many encampments in travelling round it; but that it receives no river. She also drew a bay of some size to the westward; and the old man added a long and very narrow projection, covered with tents, which I could not doubt to mean Point Bar row." The wind blew violently and the sea ran high, but the Esquimaux boat rode gallantly over the waves. At night, propped on the paddles, it formed a shelter on the shore, which is here formed of frozen mud. A fine deep river, named the Bellevue, was discovered further on, and, immediately after, our author descried, with unfeigned joy, the object of his search. He thus describes his arrival at Point Barrow :— "We had now only to pass Elson Bay, which "After travelling about ten miles, and wading is for the most part shallow. It was covered through many a salt creek, the waters of which with a tough coat of young ice, through which were at the freezing temperature, the land, to we broke a passage; and then forced our way our dismay, turned off to the eastward of south, amid a heavy pack, nearly half a mile broad, and a boundless inlet lay before us. Almost at that rested upon the shore. On reaching it, and the same instant, to our inexpressible joy, we seeing the ocean spreading far and wide to the descried four Esquimaux tents, at no great dis-south-west, we unfurled our flag, and with three tance, with figures running about. We imme-enthusiastic cheers took possession of our disdiately directed our steps towards them; but, on coveries in his Majesty's name. Point Barrow our approach, the women and children threw is a long low spit, composed of gravel and coarse themselves into their canoes, and pushed off sand, forced up by the pressure of the ice into from the shore. I shoutedKabloonan teyma numerous mounds, that, viewed from a distance, Inueet' meaning 'We are white men, friendly might be mistaken for gigantic boulders. At tofthe Esquimaux ;' upon which glad news the the spot where we landed it is only a quarter of whole party hurried ashore, and almost over- a mile across, but is considerably wider towards powered us with caresses. The men were ab-its termination, where it subsides into a reef sent, hunting, with the exception of one infirm running for some distance in an easterly direcindividual, who, sitting under a reversed canoe, tion, and partly covered by the sea. One of the was tranquilly engaged in weaving a fine whale-first objects that presented itself, on looking Being unable to make his escape around, was an immense cemetery. There the bone net. animals." miserable remnants of humanity lay on the | The intense cold was of unusual duration. ground, in the seal-skin dresses worn while alive. The average temperature of the latter half A few were covered with an old sledge or some of December was -3340, that of all Janupieces of wood, but far the greater number were entirely exposed to the voracity of dogs and wild ary -30°. In March when the average teinperature was -20°, the thermometer on one occasion sank so low as -60°, or even −66° Among the remarkable features of the (66 degrees below zero!). Our author line of coast discovered by the expedition had the curiosity, when the thermometer is the River Colvile, apparently of great was standing at -49°, to cast a pistol-bullet magnitude, for the sea opposite to its mouth of quicksilver, which at ten paces passed was quite fresh three leagues from the through an inch plank, but flattened and shore. This river is supposed by our au- broke against the wall a few paces beyond thor to flow from the western side of the it. This chilling temperature, however, Rocky Mountains. It appears that our fur did not repress the gaiety nor subdue the traders on the western side of those mount-appetites of the party, as will be manifest ains, not far from the Russian lines, have from what follows:heard of a great river a little farther north, the description of which suits well with the Colvile. With a glad heart, and during a gleam of fair weather, our author saw and relished whatever agreeable scenery these desolate shores possess. He thus paints the view from a hill near Demarcation Point: "On Christmas and New-Year's day we en tertained our assembled people with a dance, followed by a supper, consisting of the best fare we could command. By this time we had, through our indefatigable exertions, accumulated two or three weeks' provisions in advance, and no scarcity was experienced during the remainder of the season. The daily ration served out to each man, was increased from eight to ten, and to some individuals twelve pounds of venison; or, when they could be got, four or five white-fish weighing from fifteen to twenty pounds. This quantity of solid food, immoderate as it may appear, does not exceed the average standard of the country; and ought certainly to appease even the inordinate appetite of a French Canadian." "I ascended the nearest hill, six or seven miles distant, whence I enjoyed a truly sublime prospect. On either hand arose the British and Buckland mountains, exhibiting an infinite diversity of shade and form; in front lay the blue boundless ocean strongly contrasted with its broad glittering girdle of ice; beneath yawned ravines a thousand feet in depth, through which brawled and sparkled the clear alpine streams; while the sun, still high in the west, shed his The barren grounds or country immedisoftened beams through a rich veil of saffron-ately to the east of the Great Bear Lake colored clouds that over-canopied the gorgeous have been explored during the winter, and, Bands of reindeer, browsing on the all the preparations being complete, the exrich pasture in the valleys and along the brooks, imparted life and animation to the picture. Re-pedition started again in June, 1838, as soon luctantly I returned to the camp at sunset." as the ice broke up. The boats ascended the River Dease for some miles; they were scene. The mouth of the Mackenzie was regain-then carried over a short portage to the ed without accident, and the wearied crews at length enjoyed repose. "The night was serene, and not a sound broke upon the solemn stillness, save the occasional notes of swans and geese calling to their mates, and the early crowing of the willow partridge, as the soft twilight melted into the blush of dawn." Dismal Lakes, by means of which, and the River Kendall, they descended into the Coppermine River. This communication between the Coppermine River and Great Bear Lake was frequently examined, and four times crossed by the expedition, with all their luggage: our author must, therefore, be regarded as a competent authority, From the return of the expedition to the when he asserts that the descent is equal Mackenzie, to its arrival in winter quarters on both sides. The consequence is, that at the north-eastern angle of Great Bear the Coppermine River, from the mouth of Lake, a month elapsed; and, in that month, the Kendall River to the sea, or in a course the glow and serenity of autumn had given of seventy miles, has as great a fall as the way to the immitigable severity of a north-Great Bear Lake, the Great Bear River, ern winter. Various accidents had pre- and the Mackenzie altogether, in a line of vented the completion of the buildings and 700 miles. The dangers of so impetuous a the accumulation of provisions, and if the torrent were fully experienced by our whole party-men and leaders-had not author and his companions; their boats, been expert hunters and backwoodsmen, it however, were fortunately steered by exis probable that the expedition would have pert Canadians well used to shoot the experienced the extremities of famine rapids, and thus they reached the sea in |