The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-06 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1834.

wallaba (a resinous tree, common in the Demerara
woods—Somewhat resembling mahogany), if cut down
in the dark, a few days before the new moon,
is one of the most durable woods in the world for house-
building, ,posts, &c.; in that state attempt to split it, and,
with the utmost difficulty, it will be riven in the most
jagged unequal manner that can be imagined ; cut down
another wallaba (that grew within a few yards of the
former), at the full moon, and the tree can be easily split
into the finest smooth-shingles of any desired thickness, or
into staves for making casks ; but, in this state, applied to
house-building purposes, it speedily decays. Again, barn-
hoes, as thick as a man's arm, are sometimes used for
paling, &c. If cut at the dark moon, they will endure for
ten or twelve years ; if at full moon, they will be rotten in
two or three years ; thus is it with most, if not all, the fo-
rest trees. Of the effects of the moon on animal life, very
many instances could be cited. I have seen, in Africa, the
newly littered young perish, in a few hours, at the mother's
side, if exposed to the rays of the full moon ; fish become
rapidly putrid, and meat, if left exposed, incurable, or un-
preservable by salt ;—the mariner heedlessly sleeping on
deck, becoming afflicted with nyctalopia, or night-blindness,
at times the face hideously swollen if exposed during sleep
to the moon's rays, the maniac's paroxysms renewed with
fearful vigour at the full and change, and the cold damp
chill of the ague superveninm on the ascendancy of this
apparently mild, yet powerful luminary. Let her influence
over this earth be studied, it is more powerful than is ge-
nerally known."—Page 19.
It may almost be doubted whether the settlement of

Honduras, in the province of Yucatan, does not hold out
even greater inducements to emigration than Guiana,
though it has been yet more neglected by this country,
which Martin affirms, and truly, to be altogether igno-
rant of its value. It abounds in game of every
variety,' and the fineness of the climate may be
easily inferred from its fruits, its oranges, shaddocks, limes,
mangoes, melons, water-melons, pine-apples, avocato-pears,
cashew and cocoa-nuts. Logwood and mahogany are at
present its staple, but thousands of acres are covered with
the pinus occidentalis, which would prove a valuable com-
modity in England. This tree grows to the height of sixty
feet, and, owing to its durability, is much used by builders,
for it not only resists the action of the atmosphere, but is
also proof against the chemical agency of the soil even in
the dampest situations. Posts of it, after having remained
in the earth for years, have bean dug up, perfectly sound,
and exhibiting no other change than that of increased soli-
dity and hardness with a strong bituminous smell.
Jamaica, it may be supposed, is too well known to detain
us many minutes. Of four millions of acres little more
than one half is occupied, while by the fertility of its soil,
the healthiness of its climate, and its numerous local ad-
vantages, this beautiful island holds out prospects to which
there is no counter-balance but in our own fiscal regula-
tions. And will any government, more especially a liberal
government like the present, persist in upholding such a sys-
tem ? Will they compel the poor man in this country to
abstain from the free use of sugar and coffee by excessive
duties, that actually lessen the receipts of the re-
venue, for that such is the fact may be proved
beyond the shadow of a doubt ? The progressive increas-
ing rate of taxation—we quote from our author—was as
follows :—ln 1661 at ls. 6d. per cwt. ; in 1669 at 35., in
1703 at 3s. 4d., in 1747 at 4s. 10d., in 17.59 at 6s. 4J, in

1779 at 6s. Bd., in 1781 at 11 s. Bd., in 1782 at 12s. 31;
in 1787 at 12s. 4d., and in 1791 at 15s. The natural re-
sult of this impolitic taxation was to check consumption ;
in 1787 but 77,35.5 tons of sugar were retained for home
use, while ten years previously the consumption had been
81,000 tons ; in 1790 the consumption decreased to 76,811
tons ; 1791 it fell to 70,160 tons, in 1792 to 68,000
tons. The financier of the day, however, would not take
warning, and in 1796 the duty on British plantation was
raised to 17s. 6d. per cwt., and ss. 2d. per cwt. was levied
on the East India sugar, in addition to a previous ad valorem
duty of 37!. 16s. 3d. per cent. The result was a further
reduction of consumption, which in 1797 amounted to only
63,000 tons, being a reduction of nearly 20,000 tons in the
course of a few years, owing to taxation."—p. 429. After
such pregnant proofs as these, it is unnecessary to waste
another word upon the subject, and the same train of rea-
soning is of course equally applicable to all the settlements.

Amongst these islands, where all are beautiful, Trinidad
has obtained from its azure skies, its deep blue seas, its
fertile glades, and elastic atmosphere, the pre-eminent title
of the Indian Paradise. Hurricanes are unknown there,
and the succession of its rich and delicious fruits seems
almost boundless. Nor is it less remarkable for its natural
curiosities. The principal are the submarine volcano near
Cape de la Brea, the singular mud volcanos, and the
Alsphaltum, or Pitch take. This latter wonder is nearly
circular, somewhat more than half a league in length and
about the same in breadth, the gloom of which is beautifully
contrasted by the surrounding scenery. Tufts of wild pine-
apples and aloes, and a variety of shrubs and flowers, such
as grow only within the tropics, are scattered profusely
around, and amongst them swarm brilliant butterflies, and
humming-birds of colours yet more brilliant. But perhaps
the most extraordinary feature of this phenomenon is its
mobility ; where a small islet has been seen at evening, a
gulf is found the following morning ; and on another part
of the lake, a pitch islet has sprung up, to be in its turn
adorned with vegetation, and then again engulphed.
Most reluctantly do we leave this delightful volume ;
which, while it offers luxurious reading to the indolent, is
pregnant with deep interest to those who are capable of
grappling with its knowledge.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

YORK AUGUST MEETING.

York, Monday Night.
The arrival of horses is much greater than we have known
at our August Meetings for many years, and we have plea-
sure in adding that they all appear to be in a healthy state ;
the lot of two-year-olds is numerous and promising. The
ground is in good order, and the weather bids fair to be as
fine as the most ardent lover of pleasure or sport could desire.
The new stakes have very properly been made free ones, but,
owing to the late period at which they were made public they
have not filled so well as they deserve. In order to encourage
and turn to account the spirit of improvement lately evinced it
is advisable that the most respectable tradesmen should join
with such turf gentlemen as live in the city and neighbour-
hood, and form a Committee for the management of the meet-
ings for the year ensuing. The adoption of this plan cannot
fail to produce beneficial results. The following is a complete
list of the horses arrived :

TWO-YEARS-OLD.
Mr. T. Dundas's ch. c. Weldare
Mr. Houldsworth's Felix
Mr• Watt's Sister to Bubastes
Mr. Gully's ch. c. Pomfret
Duke of Leeds's b. c. by Longwaist—Young Duchess
Duke of Leeds's ch. c. by Actaeon—Gin
Mr. J. Mills's gr. c. Plantagenet
Mr. Foulis's br. c. De Roos
Duke of Cleveland's b. c. by Longwaist--Strathern's dam
Lord Kelburne's ch. f. by Actaeon—Georgiana
Mr. Walker's b. f. Guerdon
Mr. Ridsdale's br. c. by Chateau Margaux—Marchesa
Mr. J. Scott's ch. c. Pilgrim
Mr. Garforth's b. f. by Lottery—Laura
Mr. S. L. Fox's b. f. by Langar—Lady of the Tees
Mr. Skipsey's br. f. Violante
Mr. Walker's ch. f. Alice
Mr. Walker's ch. c. Curtius

THREE-YEARS-OLD.
Duke of Cleveland's br. c. by Muley—Bequest
Mr. S. Fox's b. c. by Figaro—Governcss
Mr. Marson's b. f. Miss Potter
Lord Sligo's b. c. Spume
Mr. S. Fox's b. c. The Count
Mr. D. Ross's b. c. The Pretender
Mr. S. Fox's b. f. Mrs. Oakeley
Mr. Gully's ch.. c. Stapleton
Mr. Walker's b. c. Delirium
Mr. Walker's b. f. Cotillon
Mr. Gascoigness br. c. Zohrab
Duke of Leeds's b. c. by Blacklock—Mrs. Rye
Mr. Salvin's b. f. Isabella
Mr. Maxwell's ch. g. The Buccaneer
General Sharpe's gr. f. Matilda
Mr. Hetherington's b. c. Wyndham
Mr. Skipsey's bl. c. Inheritor
Mr. Bowser's b. c. Logic
Major.Yarburgh's br. f. Omnibus
General Sharpe's ch. f. by Alalek—Bessy
Mr. S. Fox's br. c. Goldbeater
FOUR-YEARS-OLD AND UPWARDS.
'Mr. Marie) Pamtlower, 4 yrs.
Mr. Walker's Consol, 6 yrs.
General Sharpes ch. f. Myrrha, 4 yrs.
Mr. Skipsey's b. h. Physician, 5 yrs.
Mr. Dyson's b. c. Lockingtont 4 yrs.
Captain Hogg's ch. f. Pantomime, 4 yrs.
Mr. Powlett's b. f. The Mystery; 4 yrs.
Lord Kelburne's b. f. by Jerry--Georgians, 4 yrs.
Mr. Houldsworth's ch. f. Fidelity
Lord Sligo's Bran has not yet arrived, but he is expected this
evening. Cotillon is looking well, and appears to be a little tamer
than she was at Epsom.

A roiNvkix.rrs /fox, Tp-310Rnow.

Produce Stakes of 100 each, h. ft. (4 subs. )—Fidelity will walk
over.
The " Great" Yorkshire Stakes of 25 sovs. each. Mile and
three-quarters.--The Bequest colt, the Governess colt, Miss Potter,
and Spume, are here for it.
Entry for his Majesty's Plato.—Palnafiower, Thu Pretender,
ETtune, Consol, tlyrrin, and -