General Literature. 475 



5. Island rent asunder. 



Japavoy llthJan. 1820. 

 " During the late stormy weather, since the 3d instant, an 

 island, which we find by the map of Java is called Fisherman's- 

 island, has been rent asunder. It is known to the natives under 

 the name of Pulo Pentangan. As soon as the weather will 

 permit a further investigation will be held respecting this ex- 

 traordinary event." — Bat. Courantj Feb. 1. — Phil. Mag., 56, 

 p. 396. 



6. M. Soret requests us to mention that the apparatus, de- 

 scribed at p. 168, are not of his invention, but belong to M. 

 Biot. We have described them only as being " quoted" by 

 M. Soret. 



7. Mr. Salt. — Information from Egypt. — The earnest zeal 

 with which Mr. Salt has investigated the antiquities of Egypt, 

 the liberality which has induced him to do this at his own 

 expense, and the very valuable fruits which have already 

 resulted from his efforts, make every information respecting him 

 highly interesting and important. We understand that he has 

 been very ill for nearly ten months, but is now slowly recovering; 

 that Nathaniel Pierce, after fourteen years* residence in Abyssi- 

 nia, is returning to England, with all his papers ; and that he is 

 intrusted by Mr. Salt with several papyri, two fine vases, and 

 many inscriptions, as a present for the British Museum. The 

 following are extracts from one of Mr. Salt's letters : 



" We have not lately had any great discoveries of antiquities, 

 except of some Greek mummy-cases. They have short Greek 

 inscriptions, mentioning the birth, death, and age of the per- 

 sons ; they are covered externally and internally with hiero- 

 glyphics ; some have the zodiac painted inside, which is much 

 like that on the ceiling of Dendera, and probably of the same 

 antiquity. They have all got papyri inside, in a character 

 much like the inscription on the Rosetta stone. One of these is 

 of a commandment of Hahes, and another of his son." 



** The Pacha having finished his Hidjas expedition, is now 



2 I 2 



