Star.
London, England, 1823-10-27 00:00:00

'1

his inventions and powers. The latter.were consequently
invoked upon all important occasions. Thus, for ex-
ample, when they became scarce, or rather when the
evil genius took away from the waters and the earth so
her caverns beneath, the animals which constitute the
principal food of the Entice, our Angekok was employed
to bring them back again. This he accomplished, agree-
ably to his own story, by the following means:—He
called to his assistance Torngak, his familiar, and a
friendly spirit, in company with ',bona he journeyed to
'the realms below, to combat with the Evil Genius: with
this aid, and by his own address, he' vanquished the
enemy, and forced her to submit to-his decrees. He
then cut off the lower joints of her four fingers, and im-
mediately the bears were released, and found their way
to the upper regions.
His next operation was to cut off the second joints,
by which the seals were liberated. - The excision of the
upper joints performed a like service for the walruses;
and finally, by amputating the hand, the whales were
freed to revisit the shores of the Esquimau:. To sub-
stantiate the truth of this great this grand exploit, the
bloody knife with which the deed had been done is pro-
duced, and the re-appearance of the seals, walruses,
and whales, infallibly follows.
An immense value is set upon the testimonies of su-
pernatural intimacy : thus the Angekok declared that
he would not exchange the spirits gifts, oneof the stripes
of fur, for anything that could be offered to him; and
it was with much difficulty that Captain Parry did pre-
vail upon him to barter one fur some highly coveted
article; nor would he part with any more,
From the length of time during which the natives.
were daily with them, our people were enabled to pick
up a rather copious vocabulary of their language.
Some of the journals contain from five hundred to a
larger number of words. Their knowledge of figures
is very limited, five and ten being their most obvious,
enumerations. When they wish to express the former,
one band is held up; the latter, of course, requires both:
but when the sum exceeds that number, the Esquimaux
calls on a neighbour to help him out, by holding up
one or two hands, as the occasion requires. One of our
friends related a whimsical anecdote connected with this
sort of dumb spew. He was conversing with a native
aloue, who wanted to make the large and unusual sign
of thirty. He accordingly held up both hands, and was
then sadly puzzled how to go farther. It never occur.
red to him to break off and repeat the signal in any
way ; but at length he happily struck upon ten mote
by getting the officer to raise his digitals. Hem were
twenty ; but the ten to be added was the grand pond
asitioruni of Esquimaux numerals! The difficulty
seemed insuperable, but again his genius befriended
the calculator ; he held up one of his feet—twenty-five.
What was to be &me? Like one of the wise men of
Gotham, our clever native tried to hold up the other
foot at the same time, and his efforts to have• all his
.limbs simultaneously in the air were the most ludicrous
that can be imagined. Hut it could not be managed;
and it was not without an immensity of trouble that the
proposed number was finally expressed by the four
hands and one foot each of the conversing pa: ties.
Other characteie,tic traits of these simi 10 people may
h;:. told in this phce. The wives of two of them, one
with a baby suckling, (which nutriment they supply for
years,) were taken on board the vessels for me-
dical treatment, both being in the last stages of disease.
It was, indeed too late to save them, and they. died.,
The liu,band of the mother evinced some distress, and
howled a little when she expired, but very soon seemed
to forget his loss. Yet he attended very sedulously to
t::e proceedings of the Cablunz. They enveloped the
body deceinly, as is done with sailors, in a hammock,
and dug a :.rivet for its reception. To this it was borne,
accompanitd by the husband, who manifested much
ureasiness. At last he.made himself understood that he
was afflicted by the confinement of the corpse. Having
obtained a knife, he was permitted to gratify his own
feelings, and lie cut all the stitches which held the ham-.
mock together down the front, so :is to give a kind of
liberty to the dead form. The covering in of the grave
with earth and stones also seemed to give him pain; but
he asked leave to bury the living child with its dead
mother. . The reason assigned for this horrid proposal
was, that being a female no woman would take the trou-
ble to nurse it, as that was never done among them. If
it had been a boy, perhaps someone might have adopted
and reared it. In fact, the infant, without sustenance,
.did die on the ensuing day, and was placed at the dis-
posal of its parent, who drew it away in his sledge to'a
short distance, and raised a small mound of snow over
its lifeless corpse. '
It is cu,ieus to remark, that while they dislike the
idea of hurting the dead by putting anything heavy
upon them, they feel no regret at the consequence of
their own insufficient mode of sepulture—the dragging
of the bodies from their light snow tombs to be torn to
pieces and devoured by dogs and wolves, as was fre-
quent), witnessed by our men, who, when the spring dis-
solved the snow, bad to dig graves for the mutilated
'remains of several of the native corpses thus exposed te,
view. There was a considerable mortality among them
no fewer than sixteen, old and young,.dying within the
few months they spent near the expedition in its se-
' cond winter. _ _ _

In the management of the canoe, the Esquimaux are
very expert. They are amazingly light, and formed of
skin over whalebone. The largest which Captain Parry
obtained is twenty-six feet in length ; and we observed
another between the decks of the Hecla, which is 19
feet long and only 19 inches wide, hail of which are
in the depth.
In these the native pursues his marine chase, and
spears the fish and fowl. The spear is double-pointed
with bone, about six or seven inches in length, and
barbed. The shaft is of very light wood, five or six feet
long, and below the handle of the part by which it is
thrown are three other barbed bones, standing out a few,
inches from the wood, and calculated to strike the prey,
should the bi-forked point miss. They kill at twenty
yards distance. The bow and arrow is also employed
in killing game and wild animals. The arrows are
pointed with stone, smoothed into a lance-head shape
by friction against other stones.
A method of catching seals (and, if• we remember
correctly, fish also) through a hole in the ice is one of
the most dexterous of Esquimaux connivances. A line
is let down, at the end of which is fastened a small
piece of white bone or tooth, above an inch long, cut
into a rode fish-form, and having two morsels of pys
rites stuck into it to resemble eyes. This bait is drawn
through the water, and when seals or other prey approach
lamming it,the watchful native spears them from above.
The knives used by the women are curiously con-
...meted, and as cleverly employed in skinning animals
and carving victuals as the instruments of bunting are
by the ram. They resemble a small cheese or sacler's

knife; the irowor cutting part being semicircular, and
inserted in a bone handle. The whole is three or four
ihch6-long. and the edge three or four inches in breadth.
I With• these they carve away underhanded in a vey dex-
terous style.

Spectacles are another of their asticles, which strnek
us as curious and well contrived. They consist of a piece.
of wood scraped thin, like a bandage,. and perforated
with two narrow horizontal slits, something like pig's
eyes, where we would have glasses s a tial about an inch
broad projects in the same direction as that of a hat
would ; and this simple mechanical process, tied about
the head, protects the eyes from the drifting snow and•'
specula, and improves the sharpness of the sight.

BARCELONA.
The uncertainty in which the French Papers leave us
as te this important fortress, the gallant Mina, Rotten,
Ad their steady, brave, and fearless troops, will cause
the following anecdote to be read with interest:—
During the War of Succession, Barcelona was besieged
almostunntinually, and taken twice by. the English and
French. .1 he way the Earl of Peterborough captured
it in 1700 is thus related:—lt was in possession of the
French, who were well supplied with every necessary;
our valiant and enterprising countryman appeared be-
fore it; bediforribarked his small army, and commenced
the siege With the vigour and activity whick charac-
terised all his actions; but the immense strength of the
fortifications withstoud all his efforts; at length he had
recourse to stratagem,-and succeeded to the extent of
his prudent and . able calculations. He •ordered his
troops to abandon everything and embark; mirth and
gaiety immediately engaged all the time and attention
of the garrison, who, seeing the English fleet sail, were
thrown off their guard, and neglected even the common
precautionary measures; 'at night-fall Peterborough
ordered his fleet tOtack about, and threw ashore a liege
body of his best infantry on the sandy point, just below
the Castle of Monguich. The disembarkation was
effected in silence and unobserved, the Briti h troops
ascended the hill, not a moment was lost, preparations
for assault were immediately made and the fort was
carried by assault before the French recovered from
their surprise. Once masters- of this nearly impreg-
nable place, which commands the •eity arid citadel, the
garrisons of both surrendered within . a few days, and
their example was followed by esLry other fortress in
the province.
By the Census taken in 1821, the population amount-
ed to 98,000, of which 11,000 were national militia ;
the garrison does not exceed 5,000 regular troops, ex-
clusive of the volunteers, and a sacred corps of 80()
men equal to the deservedly praised Madrid Militia.
Mina commands in person, and De Rotten is Governor,
so that it is Uot impossible the Constitutionalists may
make a spirited reply to Ferdinand's. Decree,and sustain
the cause for a time.

At this moment the French cannot have any dis-
posable force in that province; their army, in April,
amounted to .22,000; they have lost 10,000 in the
numerous actions in which they have been engaged
during a bloody campaign, the remainder' have to gar-
ison Rosa% Figueras, and Gerona, and blockade Tarra-
gona, Barcelona,- 1-lostalrich, and Seu deUrgelt
Lauris-
ton corps is engaged in the siege of Ledda, and
Molitor's must dispose of Ballasteros' army (which may
cost some trouble), and attend to Carthagena and Ali-
cant, both strong tortrestes, which were never taken byl
the French in the war of independence.

THE EVENING STAR•

LONDON.

MONDAY, ocrotiut 27, 18'23.
TIIE FUNDS.

STOCK EXCHANGE. TWELVE O'CLOCK.

Consols opened this morning at 82k, k, 85, but the moment.lt
was known that an Express had arrived, bringing the French Funds,
of Saturday one per cent. lower, namely, 891.80 c. and Spanish 27
to 1, our Funds fell to 82k, I, but, owing to n very large purchase,
they have recovered to trek. We understand, by private letters
'from Paris, that a certain party who was there. last winter, has
again appeared 'on the Stock Exchange, and occasions every day
various reports to answer certain purposes. On Saturday it was
reported that a number of failures had taken' place on out Stock
Exchange, which threw a great damp on the French Market.
• FOREIGN FUNDS.
Spanish Bonds opened this awning at £6, _sk,;, 26+; New
IND ; Colombian 55 ; Russian 82k ;. Old aqua 10k ; New n.
FOREIGN EXCHANGES.
AXIITZROA)I, October 24.—0 n London. 40. H. to 40. 10; I M.
40. 8. to 4U. 10.

Hassumr.tri Oct. 24.—0 n London, 54. 13-141 1111. 54. 1.
PRICE OF STOCKS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
3 per Cent. Reduced 82 8114 54
3 per Cent.Cnns.B2s/. 1/2
4 per Ct. Old 98% 99-1 per Cts. New 102% 16 3
Bank Long Ans. 20% 13.16—India Bond* 70s. 695.
Elclleg. Rills (C 1,000) 355. 375.
Comolsior Acct. 82A 1/8 4 1/2.

The French Papers of Friday reached us last night,
and this morning we received the silohiteur of Satur-
day, and the Floile of yesterday, by Express. The
French head-quarters are every day transferred nearer
to Madrid. On the 13th instant they were at gtldea
del Rio. The discontent of the army at 1141.LAaTICROS
is said to have been soon put down.—.We have also re-
caved, by Express, a letter from our Private Correspon•
dent, dated Saturday evening, which Announces the im-
portant fact that the remonstrances of the Duke D'Art-
ooucama have succeeded in preventing the vindictive
sentences of the Regency being confirmed, and in sus-.
pending the decrees of the KING. The following is the
private letter:

FROG[ OUR OWN CORRESPOND/MT.

" Omani 25, Smo'Cy3cr,
A private letter from Madrid, dated the 20th, states
that the stun% representations made by K de Chateau-,
briand, through M. de Want, and the still stronger
lemonstrances of the Duke d'Angouleme, have had, the
desired effect on Ferdinand; the sentences of the Re-
gency are not confirmed, ad the exemniun of, his own
decrees are suspended. it is whispered, that the Duke
explicitly declared in his remonstrance, that if His Ma-
jesty did not revoke the decrees, which were calculated
to produce civil war, he would withdraw all the French
troops, aad leave him entirely to his own resource:.
Ferdinand, it is said, was fool-hardy enough to say,'

thent7withdraw, I am powerful enough without them
but his Minister-Confessor thought otherwise; and
though he was the first to suggest the plans of ven-1
geance, he now felt alarmed for the consequences and
the safety of his own dear person,which would inevitably
be one of the first victims of popular vengeance.

el The most difficult part of the French campaign is
yet to act : for how can she give those guarantees to the
Spanish nation that are necessary for its tranquillity,
when the word of the Monarch is so little regarded ?"
The intelligence in the French Papers is interesting, if
it can be relied on. It states that Seu d'Urgel has been
takes, and that hostilities have ceased before Barcelona.
The following are extracts :

FROM THE ETOILE OF SUNDAY.
AX, OCTOBER IS.

We learnt yesterday that the firing still continued at
Seu, and the garrison persisted in holding out ; we fired
a shower of balls and bombs on the place, several of
which fell on the citadel.

• Seven o'clock at night.--We learn, that on the 17th, at
night, a breach was made in the fort of Seu.
AX, OCTOBER 19, Six in the Morning.

The forts of Urgel are taken. Two couriers ate ar-
rived with the ioformation. It was )esterday this event
took place.'

IeATARO, OCTOBER 91 •
Hostilities hive ceased between the garrison of Bar-
celona and the French and Spanish troops who form the
blockade of that place We are assured that the orders
of the King of Spain, brought by a Grandee, arrived
yesterday at Barcelona. Several flags of truce have
arrived yesterday and to-day at the head-quarters of the
Puke of Cornegli..ne; nevertheless, the Marshal sent
this evening to Matato a Captain of the Artillery, with
positive orders. Our naval force has been augmented
by the arrival of several vessels from Cadiz. The Mar-
shal-de-Camp Despres ss as to Strive yesterday at Hos.
tallich, to summon the Governor of that place to sur-
render to the French. It is thought that all the places
which still hold out in Catalonia will acknowledge the
legitimate po tver Of the King before the end of the month.
FAOII THU MONITEUR OF SATCRDAY.—OFFICIAL.
TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCH. .
reir.cElvED FROM BAYONNE, OCTOBER 24..
ALCARAS, BEFORE LERIDA, OCTOBER 19.
NIARSUAL LAORISToN TO TIIE MINISTER Al' WA It.

" I arrived before Lerida on the evening of the 16th,
with my infantry and [he chief of my artillery. On the
17th I summoned the Governor, and on the 18:h a
Convention was concluded between him and Baron
&Emirs, Captain-General of Catalonia. The town and
the castle will, be occupied on the 30th of October.
Ho tiiLies have been suspended. I have ratified the
Convention."