MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 



471 



principal inhabitants had procured 

 an Italian master for their chil- 

 dren, to whom they paid about 

 seventy-five pounds sterling per 

 annum. 



Though the poor are numerous, 

 there is no public provision for 

 them ; but the charity of indivi- 

 duals is liberal ; and many allot the 

 profits of a share of their vessels, 

 and even sometimes more, to be 

 regularly distributed among the 

 needy. 



All goods, I may say every thing 

 that is necessary for the subsist- 

 ence of man, as the island produces 

 nothing, pay here a duty of two 

 and a half per cent. This serves 

 as a fund for public uses ; and for 

 any extraordinary demands, which 

 the exigencies of the sultan may 

 require. In addition to this, every 

 man capable of bearing arms pays 

 about three shillings sterling per 

 annum of tribute. The Porte is 

 contented with this moderate tax, 

 in consequence of the Idriots fur- 

 nishing a number of sailors for the 

 Turkish navy. They furnished 

 two hundred and fifty sailors last 

 year, whom they paid at the rate 

 of about fifty shillings per man 

 monthly. On some occasions, a 

 subscription has been raised, to 

 help the insufficiency of the ordin-. 

 ary revenue. 



It can hardly be said that this 

 little state, for such it deserves to 

 be considered, as it is governed by 

 rulers of its own choosing, and is 

 rather under the protection of the 

 bultan than subject to his imme- 

 diate authority, has any laws ; but 

 it has many usages, which have all 

 the force of laws. Litigated ques- 

 tions are decided by the magis- 

 trates collectively, whose awards 

 are recorded in the chancery of the 



city, and become precedents. Or- 

 dinary delinquents are punished by 

 the magistrates ; but greater cri- 

 minals, after conviction, are sent 

 to Constantinople, with the au- 

 thenticated evidence of their of- 

 fences. Property in houses is ex- 

 changed by documents, of which 

 copies are lodged in the chancery ; 

 thus giving clearness and stability 

 to the rights of proprietors, like 

 that which is afforded by the in- 

 stitution of the Register Office in 

 Scotland. For the security of the 

 rights of property in vessels, a book 

 is kepi by one of the owners, and 

 in it all that relates to the ship is 

 recorded. 



Character of the People of 

 THE Isle of Man. From an 

 Account of that Island hy G. 

 Woods. 



The Manksare reckoned to be na- 

 turally of an indolentand credulous, 

 often of a superstitious and gloomy 

 disposition. I do not know of 

 any one that has rendered himself 

 eminent by a great proficiency, or 

 useful discovery in the arts or sci- 

 ences, by fire of genius or pro- 

 fundity of learning. Characters 

 endowed with piety, benevolenc»>, 

 and other virtues, in general, 1 

 trust, less remarkable, have not 

 been rare. I would particularise 

 several, were 1 not afraid of omit- 

 ting others of perhaps equal merit. 

 Some of the women of the higher 

 classes are well informed and ac- 

 complished : most of the lower 

 classes, civil and mdustrious. To 

 these may be applied the characte 

 which one of the authors of King's 

 Cheshire gives to the women of 

 that country : they are usually, 



sa)s 



