Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-24

It is common received opinion, that the Ma
homedan religion denies that women have souls,
and excludes them from their paradise. The no
ton has given occasion to great many ungallan'
jokes among Christians, at the expense of the
fair sex, but like most jokes of that kind it j,
| founded in error. In work recently published
in England, and reviewed in the Monthly, en-
| titled Observations on the MusseImans of In
dia. descriptive Of their manners, customs, habits
and religious opinions, made during twelve
years. residence in their immediate society,"" BY
Mrs. Nicer Hassan Ali, this subject IS mention
ed particularly and the vulgar opinion contradict
ed. The authoress states that the musselman
faith does not exclude the females from parti.
cipatiOn in the future state, and that contrary
belief could not prevail among those who know
them. She adds that the good mahometan con.
siJers the instruction of the female under his
charge in religious knowledge as much point Of
duty as any other part Of HE household, and that
they are as devout IN their prayers & observances
as their fathers or brothers.
The book from which this correction is taken,
has not been published in this country. 1t must
be quite curious production, containing much
valuable information of domestic manners. OPT
Mons and observances to which strangers are
never admitted, & of which Europeans have here.
tofore had little authentic information. The au-
thoress is said to be an English woman, who went
out to India attached in some capacity to the mis-.
sionary establishment, and who afterwards mar
ried a native
THE Cross ofhs Somh.-Captaiu Basil Hall,
in his second series Of Fragments Of voya-
yes and Travels-a class Of works in which he
is more at home, than in giving his opinions and
dissertations on American institutons-de-
scribes in pleasant manner, the astronomical
novelties, which are seen, IN doubling the Cape
of Good Hope. His description Of the Cross Of
the South is particularly good:
But of all the Antarctic consultations, the
celebrated Southern Cross is by far the most re-
markable, and must in every age continue to ar
rest the attention Of all voyagers and travellers
who are fortunate enough to see it. | think it
would strike the imagination even Of person
who had never heard of the Christian religion:
but OF this it is difficult to judge. seeing how in
extrcabIy our own ideas are mingled with asso-
Citations linking this sacred symbol with almost
every thought, word and deed of our lives. The
three great stars which form the Cross, one at the
top, one at the left arm, and one which Is called
Alpha, at the foot, are SO placed as to suggest the
idea of crucifx, even without the help Of a
small star, which completes the horizontal beam.
When on the meridian it stands nearly upright;
and as it sets, observe ii lean over to the west
ward. am not sure. whether upon the whole,
this is not striking than its gradually bpcoIn
ing more and more erect 1t rises from the east.
In every position, however, it is beautiful to look
at. and we'll calculated, with little prompting
from the fancy, to stir upOur thoughts, to solemn
purpose. know not how others are affected by
such things, but, for myself, can say with truth.
that during the many nights, have watched the
Southern Cross, remember no two occasions
when the spectacle interested me exactly in the
same wav, NOR an one uponwhich dit not dis.o' :
er the result to be somewhat different, aud al
ways more impressive, than what l had looked
for.
This constellation being about thirty degrees
from the South pole. is seen in its whole revolu-
ton and, accordingly, when Oft the Cape, have
observed it IN every stage, from its triumphant
erect position, between 60 and 20 degrees above
the horizon. TO that of complete inversion, with
the top beneath and almost toaching the water
This position, BY the way, always reminded me
of the de ath Of St Peter, who is said to have
deemed it too great an honor to be crucihed with
els head upwards. In short, defy the stupid.
est mortal that ever lived, to watch these changes
in the aspect of this splendid constellation, and
not be in some degree struck by them"
To Rent.