dZ MOONSHEE DOCUMENTS. 



Do you recollect that one of your species, whom, vvlien I was in a 

 measure ignorant of your capacities and high endowments, I desired to 

 capture for our great Cabinet ? I could not help loving him, both on 

 account of his /Zf^^ '^^^'^^ ^^'^ natural parts, his pursuits, and withal 

 his healthy proportions. 1 at once formed a union with him, which 

 must yet continue 50 lunations.^ 



Do you wonder then, that I have deep reason to regret my sojourn 

 among you; or, at least, my unwariness in suffering myself to be entrap- 

 ped in a snare, the meshes of which are strangling all the happiness of 

 my existence .'' But a short time since, 1 was thrown into awful convul- 

 sions. Hideous visions of demoniac feathers, fdled at one end with a 

 black fluid, and darting into my inmost spirit, continually haunted me. 

 A terrific monster was following my out-wanderings, and, at a black hour, 

 rushed upon me, wielding a huge club, upon which 1 saw in liery let- 

 ters, the word Naturalist in your language. 1 know not what it means, 

 but suppose no good attaches to it. The very awkward way in which 

 lie handled this weapon, made me apprehend the most fearful results. — 

 With eyes glaring wildly, he clutched my throat; and, whirling his club 

 above his head, gnashed his tusks horribly. I gave up all for lost : but 

 what was my astonishment, when the weapon crashed down upon me, 

 to find it a mere phantom, only enveloping me in a cloud of mist. Find- 

 ing that he had not succeeded, he did not attempt to use upon me, a 

 short, rougb, dirty dagger, wliich swung at his side, labeled, in like 

 manner, Pun, (in your next tell me the meaning of these words,) but 

 contented himself with shaking it in a threatening manner. At length 

 the briglit spirit of Forgiveness came to my aid, and I was enabled to 

 look him steadily in the face ; perceiving which, he endeavored to avoid 

 my gaze. I persisted, when he, with a low muttering, rapidly retieated, 

 casting back an occasional furtive glance, until lie suddenly disappeared 

 among the mountains. 



* We hope wo may be pardoned for allowing this term to stand as it is. It is bet- 

 ter, that the curiosity of the many should be excited, than that the sensitiveness of 

 one should be shocked. — Tr. 



•fThe expression, translated Ivnaiions, would be more properly rendered year, to 

 which it conesponds, not in length oltirne, but in its general signification; it being 

 the period of the revolution of the moon on its axis. The curious fact, here hinted 

 at, deserves some explanation. This mysterious union, or moon-friendsliip, is sub- 

 ject to several curious laws, one of which is the following, "The commingling of kin- 

 dred spirits must, of necessity, as hath been well decreed, continue seventy Luna- 

 tions. Seventy Lunations are the beginning and the end thereof." — Olev, on the 

 Heart, vol. 99, p. 6. 



At the end of the period mentioned, all affection or sympathy is in statu quo ; 

 and, if desired to be continued, must be renewed. When once this union takes 

 place, the sense above alluded to, is called into full activity. Further develop-, 

 ments may enable us to explain its phenomena more fully. — Tk. 



