Scientific Intelligence. — Anthropologic. 417 



just spoken of seized a piece of live charcoal, which he put in 

 his mouth ; then did the same with another and another, until 

 his mouth was full, when he deliberately chewed these live coals, 

 opening his mouth wide every moment to shew its contents, 

 which after a few minutes he swallowed ; and all this he did 

 without evincing the slightest pain, appearing during the ope- 

 ration, and after it to be even more lively than ever. The other 

 dervise before alluded to as half naked displayed a remarkably 

 fine and vigorous form, and seemed to be in the prime of his 

 age. After having danced not much longer than the former, 

 his actions became so violent that one of his brethren held him ; 

 but he released himself from his grasp, and rushing towards the 

 chafing dish, took out one of the largest live coals, and put it 

 into his mouth. He kept his mouth open for about two mi- 

 nutes, and during this period, each time he inhaled, the large 

 coal appeared to be almost of a white heat ; and when he ex- 

 haled numerous sparks were blown out of his mouth. After 

 this he chewed and swallowed the coal, and then resumed his 

 dancing" — Ibid. p. 161. From Lane's Manners and Customs 

 of the Modern Egyptians. 



5. African Poisoning. — The following poisoning scene pre- 

 sents some remarkable points of resemblance to similar scenes 

 enacted by the enlightened Athenians, and the effects of the 

 drug, and exercise, and water, in accelerating its action, will 

 strongly remind the reader of the death of Socrates — an inte- 

 resting fact, when we recollect that history points to Africa as 

 the source of Grecian civilization. The composure of the two 

 sufferers seems likewise to have rivalled that of the celebrated 

 sage of antiquity, although based on less philosophical grounds 

 — this too may form a subject worthy of deep reflection. — " I 

 was witness to-day of a poisoning scene, which it would appear 

 \i a favourite punishment at Fundah. The culprits were two 

 women, who were placed under a tree in the court-yard, and an 

 old man beat up the leaves of some herbs in a sort of mortar, 

 the women sitting quietly looking on. The liquid, which was 

 of a greenish colour, was poured into two calabashes, and the 

 women drank it off without any apparent reluctance. They 

 then commenced walking up and down the court, drinking 

 large quantities of water from a calabash placed in the (;entre 



