J2 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



This farther fuggefts a reafon why it will be (or 

 ever impoflible for art to produce a perfecl: imita- 

 tion of the human figure, from the difficulty of 



uniting 



tain Portugueze Jefuits, who had come as miffionaries into his 

 dominions, with a view to obtain, through their means, fome 

 women of their country to recruit his feraglio. He began with 

 conferring on them lingular privileges ; had apartments provided 

 for them in the vicinity of his palace, and admitted them to his 

 moft intimate familiarity : but perceiving that thofe good fa- 

 thers difcovered no great inclination to gratify his defires, he 

 praftifed a very ingenious artifice to draw them into compli- 

 ance. He expreffed an extreme partiality to the Chriftian Re- 

 ligion ; and pretending that he was reftrained, merely by rea- 

 fons of State, from openly embracing it, he gave ft rift orders to 

 two of his nephews to attend punftually on the catechetical in- 

 ftruftions of the miffionaries. When the young men had ac- 

 quired a competent degree of knowledge, he enjoined them to 

 get themfelves baptized, and, this being complied with, he thus 

 addrefled them : " It is now no longer in your power to marry 

 " pagan women, and of this country ; for you have made pro- 

 " fefiion of Chriftianity. It is the duty of the fathers, who 

 " baptized you, to procure you wives. Tell them they muft 

 " fend to Portugal for women to be your brides." The young 

 profelytes did not fail to make this demand on the good fa- 

 thers ; who, fufpefting that the Mogul's real intention, in mar- 

 rving his nephews to Portugueze wives, was to procure a fupply 

 of white women for his feraglio, refufed to engage in this négo- 

 ciation. Their refufal highly incenfed Selim Sc/ja, and expofed 

 them to much perfecution : he immediately commanded his ne- 

 phews to renounce Chriftianity. (Memoirs of Thomas Ro<we, 

 Thevenofs Colleftion.) 

 The black colour of the fkin is, as we fhall prefently fee, a 



bleffing 



