Of that fair tree, alas! nor fruit, Nor golden stem is left us: Nor can we trace one little shoot Of what fate hath bereft us. Its very place is now unknown, "T has vanish'd like a vapour, And in its stead stand Public Loan And Promissory Paper. "The Sacrifice," by Miss Roberts is a very pleasing poem, but too long for entire quotation, and being a continuous narrative would only be injured by partial extracts. The following little song by Mr. A. F. Lind is very fervid in the sentiment and very neat and spirited in the expression : Mr. Rattray has given an excellent blank-verse poem entitled "Camoens' Dream," and Dr. Tytler, some very pleasing and pathetic verses entitled Exile." The following energetic address "To the Table Mountain" is by Mr. P. Wynch: TO THE TABLE MOUNTAIN. BY P. WYNCH, ESQ. Magnificent and mighty Land! till now To that bold Mariner, what time he cleared Calder Campbell is as usual a liberal and valuable contributor. The following little love-song is very sweetly written: As we must not forget the Editor, we quote his " Stanzas for music," which must form our last extract from the Bengal Annual for 1832. STANZAS FOR MUSIC. BY DAVID LESTER RICHARDSON. I. They tell me health's transparent flower grows freshly on thy cheek, II. 1 well might weep to learn that care had blanched thy lovely brow, III. I should not thus forget, dear Girl, that early years are bright, That hearts so young and pure as thine, are touched with holy light, IV. They tell me too that mid the crowd thou hast a smile for all I doubly feel my lonely state, and breathe an envious sigh, To think the stranger hears that voice and meets that radiant eye! V. And yet I do not, dare not, doubt thine innocence and truth, VI. In fancy's trance I kiss thy brow, and clasp thee to my breast- VII. And yet not wholly comfortless is home's deserted cell, ; For there thy written words remain of faithful love to tell E'en when the hand that traced the lines is mouldering in the grave! VIII. And still around my neck is hung, that last dear gift of thine, So like a fairy talisman, a spell almost divine! I hold it in my trembling hand-I touch thy braided hair I do but press the secret spring-and see thy features fair! EDITORIAL NOTE. We feel a little flushed in the cheek at the apparent egotism of reprinting so many compliments to ourselves as are contained in the above notices, but as the articles which really give a character to the Bengal Annual are not from our own pen, and as we have no difficulty in understanding that the prominent mention of our own name, is the result of our position as Editor, and not of any peculiar desert, we think it right, in justice to our Contributors and to our Publishers, to record these testimonies to the merits of a work, which could never have been established without their co-operation. An Editor or Compiler of a work of this kind can have very slight claims to literary distinction; but yet, in a country like India, where it has been hitherto so difficult to arouse and concentrate the talent scattered through society, he may, perhaps, deserve some little applause for the industry and care with which he executes his task. As far, therefore, as the general commendations of the Bengal Annual imply that the Editor has done his duty, we are willing to accept the compliment, and accordingly make our bow of grateful acknowledgment to the critics. As to the warm praises bestowed on our Contributors, we are quite certain, that they are not less just than they are generous and sincere.-Ed. Cal. Mag. and Ben, Ann. THE BENGAL GENERAL REGISTER. COTTON. With reference of major Burney's paper on the cultivation of cotton in Ava, read at the last meeting of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society; it is stated that the Burmese cultivate the same in almost every part of their country. The largest quantity, however, is grown in the districts lying between Ava and Prome. It is not grown as a supplementary, or secondary crop to rice, but on distinct lands allotted for the purpose. The seed is sown about the same time with the paddy, in the beginning of the rains; i. e. in April or May, and the cotton is gathered in October and November. The seed is sown broad cast, after being well washed with water, and the ground is weeded three times before the plant attains the height of three feet. A scanty second crop is sometimes gathered in February or March. Frequently at the same time with the cotton, brinjalls and other esculent vegetables are sown, the seeds of the two being mixed and thrown on the mould together. The Burmese know only the animal plant. The napkin, called wa-nee, or red cotton, is often grown in the same fields with the white. In fact, no trouble is taken to keep the two seeds distinct. The red cotton is used by the Burmese to manufacture a description of cloth of which the women make their jackets. It does not require frequent washing, a grand consideration with the Burmese. The mye lat, or middle-ground Shans, situated between Ava proper and the Saluen river, cultivate more of the nankin cotton, and manufacture a better kind of the cloth alluded to above, or phyen nee, which they annually bring for sale to Ava. It is in pieces of 60 cubits long, and 1 cubit wide, each piece seling for 7 ticals, or 9 Rupees 12 Annas. The Burmese clear their cotton from the seeds, as it is done in Siam, by a simple machine called kyait, consisting of two cylinders revolving close to each ether, and moved by a handle. The person who separates the seed, it is said, can prepare 10 viss, or 36 pounds, of clean cotton per diem; and his usual hire is 3 Annas a day. The price of cotton fluctuates from 10 to 15 ticals for the undressed, and 30 to 50 ticals for the cleared, but the average price of 40 ticals per 100 viss will be about 10 Rupees 14 Annas per Bengal maund. The cotton of the Martaban province, (Tenasserim cotton,) appears to major Burney to have a much longer staple than that of Ava. The Karions are the cultivators of cotton in Moulmein province, and their plantations are always in alluvial soil, on banks of rivers or islands in their course, which are overflown during the height of the rains. The Burmese use the cotton seed extensively for lights, particularly in the open air, at their dances and entertainments. Two or three pounds of the seed, with some earth oil, are put into a vessel, (usually a broken cooking pot,) and when lighted, this simple cresset affords, for several hours, a good large flame. The Burmese, as has already been observed, cultivate cotton very extensively, and the larger portion of the produce is exported-being conveyed to China by the inland routes, and to Arracan and the districts of Chittagong and Dacca either overland by the passes of Aeng and Talak, or by sea, from Bassein round Cape Negrais. At the expiration of the Burmese war, Mr. Crawfurd obtained information from two British merchants, who had resided for some time in Ava, that the quantity exported to China annually could not be less than 70,000 Bengal bales of 300 pounds each; i. e. 21,000,000 pounds; and that the quantity annually taken to Dacca, by Burmese boats, might be about 20,000 bales of 100 viss, or 360 pounds each; i. e. 7,200,000. Major Burney is of opinion, that the estimate of the quantity exported to China is far too high. In fact, there is great difficulty in obtaining any accurate information on the statistics of Burmah. The cotton exported to China is carried on mules and ponies.-Govt. Gaz. |