The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-07-13

being love OF God, but tear or the DeVll,
they manage to propitiate their neglect
ed Satans by terrific humping Of tom
toms, and fzzle and splutter of fire.
works, which lasts three days. On the
present occasion, they constructed large
framework on the Praya, which was COW
cred with muslins, silks and spangled pa
per, SO as to represent the shrine of
temple. 1t was about 15 feet high, by
80 in length, and hung with lamps of ev-.
cry quality and fashion, from Bohemian
crystal to horn and mica. A variety of
hideous diyinities, with black or copper
colored faces, squatted on shrines or
stood stif1ly erectin inches; and ina recess at
one end, three or four Musicians made an
internal din with gongs, tom-toms and
long, hollow bamboos, which emitted
shrieks that made your nerves quiver.-
| doubt if the word harmony" is to be
found in the Chinese language. Not e.
ven a sense of rhythm could be extracted
from the dreadful discord, but each In
strument of torture raved in its own way,
regardless of the other. What must be
the nature of those who take delight in
such sounds?
The lovelest spot in Macao is the
garden and grotto of Camoens, and thlth-
or the stranger first turns his steps
During my first visit here, in March last,
it was the only thing l saw. The Sus-
quehanna was to leave for Shanghsi ear
ly in the morning, and as there was
chance that I might not return, L sue
ceeded with much difficulty in making the
swarthy landlord of the National Hotel"
comprehend what it was [ wanted to see.
He called me before daybreak, and gave
me an old Chinaman as guide to the
place We threaded a number OF crook
ed streets in the duck, passed the facade
of an ancient Jesuit church, which was
destroyed by fire, and at length reached
little grassy square on the Hill, IN the
north western corner of the city. BY
dint of knocking and calling, my guide
aroused sleepy servant, who opened a
gate and admitted me into trim par
terre, redolent Of rose and jessamine, and
opening into a deep garden, wherein the
shadows still fingered thick and dark
under the trees. a large and stately
mansion now occupies the site of the
Franciscan Convent in which Camoens
lived. The property belongs to Count
Salyi, who offers it for sale for the sum
of s., 900, without finding purchaser.
I took my way at random through the
garden, seeking in the gray morning
twilight for the grotto whose shelter gave
birth to the "Lusiad." 1t was wilder
ness of large trees, made still more in
tricate in some places by thick under
growth, and the rank parasitic vines
which clung from bough to bough. 1t
followed the slope of the hill, terraced
here and there, while the highest part
was overhung BY immense granite bould
ers, hcaped one upon the other, till the
top most masses lowered above the trees
[ found an aviary with dead tree in it
showing that birds had once been there
fountain, dry and cracking to pieces
and finally, noticing a small chapel rear
ed upon a rock in the thickest part of the
wood, was led to the object of my search
The grotto is simply natural portal
formed by three great boulders of gray
granite within whose arch the poet fount
shade and GOODNESS and privacy. 1t i
not cavern of jeremiah, to feed auster'
tho'ts and gloomy prophecies, but grott
just too stern not to be Arcadian ant
idyllic. The portal is now closed at eacI
end by an iron grating, and within
stands bronze bust of the poet, elevate'
on lofty pedestal, containing thre
stances from the Lusiad, in bronze letter;
The dawn gradually frightened, as
stood beside the grating the darknes
under the trees faded into twilight, bu
the features of the poet were not discern
ible in the gloom which filled the recess
, Fit monument to him who turned int
glory the shame of banis isbment ard th
sorrow of exile-who made the powe
and the injustice of the land that CAV
him birth alike immortal :!
have been there since by dayligh
, but the gems loci was less distinct an
4 impressive than in that silent mornin
: hour. The Chevalier di Rienzi, a Frcncl
man who styles himsol "yoete exile" h'
: had tablet cut upon the rock beside IL
/, grotto, and poem Of his own in praE
) of Camoens inscribed upon it. The poe
! is good, considering that it is French, ,an
f if the Cheyalcr di Rienzi had a name
D literature, we might pardon, and eve
t approve, his desire to couple 1t with Il
t ilIustrious Camoens To me, who new
: heard of him before, the need is presum
5 tuous and profane; though thousal
h times less SO than some French doggr
r upon Camocn8 written in the visitor
0 book. From the terrace on the we3tel
1t side of the garden there are lovely vie
e of the inner harbor, especially towa
l. sunset; and the "Casa Gardens as th
Is are called, are frequent resort OF t
2, foreign residents at that hour,
d But the band, after in vain attempti
ID to conjure up little animation by o
ct of Lanner's waltzes, is breathless. L
sun hangs directly overhead and POI
n down flood of white heat. Sounds
al the streets have ceased, and the city