The provinces of Thibet in particular, and Cafhemire seem to be very peculiarly circumstanced, in regard to soil, situation, climate, and productions of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms; on which account any farther authentic information from thence will prove very acceptable.

DEAR SIR,

In compliance with your request, I will now give you all the information I am able concerning the formation of borax, at the solicitation of M. Voghet, a German naturalist. I was some years ago induced to inquire after this production, and for this purpose I wrote to the brother of the Raja of Nepaul, Babadur Sab, on the subject, as our missionaries had not for many years visited the province of Nepaul, which extends towards the north as far as the frontiers of Thibet. The Raja's brother, for the better satisfying my curiosity, sent me down to Patna, one of his own servants, a native of that part of the country where borax is found. This man then, who spoke the Nepaleze language, and which I perfectly understood, answered to my different questions in the following manner :

In the province of Marmé, about twenty-eight days to the north of Nepaul and twenty-five days to the west of Lafsa, there is a valley about eight miles in circumference. On the district of this valley there are two villages, the one called Scierugh,and the other Kangle. The whole occupation of the inhabitants of those two places is of digging out the borax, and to carry it to Nepaul, or Thibet, where it is sold. The soil of that valley is so barren that only a few scattered reeds are to be seen. The natives of Ne.

paul call the borax soaga, the same name as the Hind Near the two villages in the valley

doos give it.

there is a large pond, with several small ones, wherein after rain the water remains. In those very ponds after the water has remained for a certain time, the borax is to be found formed. The people then enter into those ponds, and with their feet try to discover in what part the borax is to be met with, because wherever they find the bottom very. smooth as if it was paved, there the borax is formed, and directly dig it out in pieces without much force or apparatus. The The deeper the water, the thicker is the borax found, and always found in its upper part covered with an inch or two of mud. Thus is the borax naturally formed, and not prepared, as all along it has been thought in Europe. The water in which the borax is formed is of such a poisonous nature as to cause death in a very short time to any animal that should drink the smallest quantity of it, bringing first a great turgescence on the abdomen. The ground in which the borax is produced is of a whitish colour.

Four miles from the borax ponds in the same valley there are the salt mines, whereby all the inhabitants of that remote mountainous part of the world are supplied. The natives of the two villages can dig out the borax without paying any sort of contribution: but the strangers are obliged to pay a certain sum to the person that governs there, according to the convention made, and the people of Marmè pay to a Lama called Pema Tupkan to whom the borax mines belong. Ten days more to the north

of Marmé, there is another valley called Tapri, in which likewise borax is dug out. There are also ponds where borax is dug out, in another plain called Cioga; but of this I could not learn the exact situation.

As the borax evaporates very quickly, the natives, to prevent any such lofs before they can sell it,. mix earth with it thinly coated with butter.

In another territory sixteen days distant from, and to the north of Nepaul a great number of arsenic mines are to be found. Mines of brimstone also are to be met with in many parts of Thibet; and besides, gold and silver mines of a richer and purer quality than even the Peruvian. All this is what I could collect from the conversation I had with the man sent to me by Bahadur Sah.

To that intelligence I can add that of a drug called by the European medical world, Terra Japonica; by the natives of Indostan Kat: but I fhall not detain you on its account, as I know it has been fully described and published in England by Dr Kier. Some years ago I obtained the information respecting it: and I sent to one of our missionaries at Bettiah an order to send me down the seeds, the wood, and a small tree of the Kat, which I gave to the learned Dr Hunter, then stationed at Patna, who communicated the whole discovery to his friend Dr Kier then residing also in Patna, from whom I am glad to hear the world has received the information."

Should you wish to have some information concerning the animal that gives the genuine mufk, I can very easily satisfy your curiosity by sending you the skin of one of them; as it appears to me not

yet well described by any of our naturalists. The northern mountains of Nepaul abound with such animals; and I have, when there, seen a great number, and eat the flesh, which is certainly delicious.

This is all that at present I have worth communicating to you, and fhould I in future hear or think of something that would be acceptable to your curiosity, I fhall deem my best duty the imparting it to you. Dear Sir, most obedient humble servant, JH B- A

Anecdote of Dr Franklin.

In his travels through New England, he had observed, that when he went into an inn, every individual had a question or two to propose to him, relative to his history; and that till each was satisfied, and they had conferred and compared together their information, there was no pofsibility of procuring any refreshment.-Therefore the moment he went into any of these places, he inquired for the master, the mistrefs, the sons, the daughters, the men servants, and the maid servants; and having assembled them all together, he began in this man"Good people, I am Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia, by trade a printer; and a bachelor; I have some relations at Boston, to whom I am going to make a visit my stay will be short, and then I shall return and follow my businefs, as a prudent man ought to do. This is all I know of myself, and all I can possibly inform you of; I beg therefore that you will have pity on me and my horse, and give us both some refreshment.”

ner.

HOPE.

For the Bee.

HOPE's a cordial hourly wanted,
And by indulgent Heav'n granted
To comfort us in ev❜ery scene
The cradle and the grave between
No harm befalleth mind or body,
But as a friend, hope's ever ready.
Loath, very loath to give denial,
Is a support in ev'ry trial.

While here on earth, such our condition,
Hope gives ev'n more than does fruition.
If we're with poverty distrest,

66

Hope says our wants may be redrest."
If for an absent friend we mourn,
Hope whispers, "he may soon return ;"
And when impending dangers brave,
Hope says "the powers above will save".
When pain and sickness sore depress,
Hope is a med'cine in distress.
Hopes of returning health and ease,
Somewhat alleviate disease.

Life without hope would torpid be,
'This world a world of misery;
Activity and means would cease,
And dull stagnation would take place.
What man would work for daily bread,
Did he not hope thereon to feed?
Sure none would industry pursue,
If hope had no reward in view.

But hope excites and animates
To what to use or blifs relates.
'Tis this sets all the world a-work,
Heathen, Christian, Jew, and Turk.
The husbandman doth plough and sow,
Hoping a fertile crop will grow.
The workman plods, he labours hard,
Hope stimulates, looks for reward.
How many thousands sail the main,
Riches in hopes thereby to gain?
The soldier fights, he storms the town,
Hoping for vict'ry and renown.

Hope's influence let us now pursue,
As seen in a religious view.
What sufferings did good men endure,
For conscience sake, religion pure?
Hoping that in the world unseen,
All those who here have virtuous been