ON THE USE OF ROCKET LIGHTS, AS AUXILIARIES TO LIGHT-HOUSES.

MR. EDITOR,-It is stated that His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, accompanied by seven Admirals, recently assisted at the firing from Brighton Pier, of a certain number of variously-coloured rockets, proposed to be used as signals, by Lieut. Hughes, of the R.N.

From the remotest antiquity, the Hindoos and Chinese have used rockets as the medium of imparting intelligence or orders to a distance; and for these three hundred years past, they have been used on board of every European ship-of-war for the same purpose. Hence the French have no other name for rockets of a larger size, than such as are usually made by firework-makers, their fusées de signeaux.

The purport of the Brighton experiments seems to have been, to show that the signals, or communications conveyed by rockets, might be more extensive and comprehensive in their imports and details, than they had hitherto been made; and this is to be achieved by sending up a greater number of them; and this greater number of rockets is to be distinguished one from the other, by a difference in the colour of the light they throw out. The novelty, then, exhibited to the Duke of Sussex and the seven Admirals is, in the use of rockets with variously-coloured lights.

The paper which I submitted to you some time before the above-named experiment took place, on the use of variously-coloured rockets for the prevention of shipwreck, by applying them as auxiliaries to light-houses, (especially on low coasts,) during nocturnal tempests, was a translation of one I had addressed, in November 1829, to the Capitan Pacha, and to several of the Foreign Ambassadors at Constantinople. Trusting that you will have the goodness to publish that paper in your next Number, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, FRANCIS MACERONE.

Upper George-street, 2nd Jan. 1832.

TRANSLATION of a Letter addressed by Colonel Macerone to the Turkish Government, and to the different European Ambassadors at Constantinople.

From the remotest antiquity, the Black Sea has enjoyed the melancholy celebrity of being the most dangerous of all those which ever were, or are now, frequented by navigators. Thus it was named by the Romans, Axenus, sive inhospitalis. The nature and the direction of the winds which predominate in that Sea; the conformation of its coasts and of its shallows, of its ports, and of its atmosphere, spread dangers around, even in the summer; in the winter, these perils are increased a hundred fold.

By means of lights set up at the entrance of ports, upon certain headlands, or upon rocks, the navigation of vessels in the proximity of the coast during the night, is greatly assisted, and the dangers thereof considerably diminished. But unless these lights are of a sufficient size and quality, and at an elevation sufficient for them to be seen from a competent distance, it will often happen in bad weather and in the darkness of the night, that the unfortunate navigator does not perceive the light in time to avoid the dangers which it announces, or to take refuge within the harbour, of which it indicates the entrance.

The dangers of the Black Sea, which proceed from the nature of its shores, are infinitely increased by the fogs with which it is generally covered in the winter, particularly in blowing weather, and with a north wind. Under such circumstances, a vessel attempting to enter the Bosphorus, in the

night, will run the greatest risk of missing the entrance, and of being driven to leeward on a lee shore, should he not see and recognise the light at the entrance from a very considerable distance. The number of vessels thus lost every year in the Black Sea, is truly terrific; especially as from the nature of the coast, no part of either crew or cargo is ever saved!* I beg leave to propose a method, by which I flatter myself that the danger and consequent losses would be greatly abated.

Rockets of only six pounds weight, properly constructed, will arise perpendicularly into the air about five hundred toises, (a thousand yards;) when arrived at that elevation, they can be made to send forth a mass of light of extraordinary intensity, and which will endure, according to pleasure, from thirty seconds to one or two minutes, suspended in the air by means of a little parachute taken up with the rocket, and which is of the most simple and easy construction. The mass of light diffused, at such a height, will be distinctly visible at thirty leagues (ninety miles) distance+ in fine weather, and in the very worst weather it will be seen at five times the distance at which will be visible any light which is situated at but an inconsiderable elevation from the surface of the water.

Depôts of the above-mentioned rockets should be established at the mouth of the Bosphorus and at other necessary points, and it would be an improvement to distinguish the rockets of one station from those of another by causing their lights to be of different tinges, such as white, red, green, &c. During every nocturnal storm, either in summer or winter, a rocket is to be thrown up vertically, every five, ten, or fifteen minutes, according to circumstances, or to regulations to be established. The crews of any vessels, within sight of the rockets, being under such circumstances on the sharpest look-out, will not fail to descry the deflagrations, at a distance sufficient to avoid the dangers that await them, and to take advantage of the knowledge thus imparted, by their colour, of their precise situation. Lights which flash out of a sudden, like the rocket heads I recommend, will, independently of their intensity and vast elevation of three or more thousand feet, be seen further, attract the attention, and be more recognizable, than any fixed light whatever. It must be a very dense fog indeed, that would prevent such a deflagration from being observed at the distance of ten miles.

As to the expense of the rocket-lighting system I propose, it would not be, I think, disproportionate to its utility. Such nights as may be rightly called stormy, will certainly not average thirty in the year; it is only during the continuance of the tempest, in the hours of darkness, that the expenditure of rockets will be required; the average hours of which conjunction of darkness and tempests may be taken at three per night, of the above-mentioned thirty nights. We thus have only ninety hours per annum during which it will be useful to throw up rockets, as powerful auxiliaries to the light-house; this at one rocket every fifteen minutes, makes three hun

Out of twenty ships, with which a commercial friend of mine had some connexion, which sailed from Constantinople for Odessa, from the 20th of February to the 20th of April 1830, only seven escaped being wrecked! It is true, that a great proportion of the disasters which occur to English merchant-vessels, is to be attributed to the conduct of the commanders, most of whom, that I have ever known, or heard of, being confirmed sots. I have known some of them to be drunk and helpless (at sea too!) for ten days and nights consecutively, without intermission!

In clear weather, a rocket ascending six hundred yards from the level of the sea, will be seen from the deck of a ship at sixty miles distance. I have invented a composition for the rocket heads, which gives forth much more light than any other composition I have yet seen. It is not necessary that the light should endure more than from ten to twenty seconds, but it should be, as mine is, exceedngly intense.

It would generally be expedient to throw them up more frequently than this.

dred and twenty rockets. Farther, supposing them to cost each ten shillings, the whole expense for rockets per station, will be 1607. a year, and the Bosphorus is the main one necessary. Now, to cover this expense, as also that of the men necessary to perform the duties required, I submit that the Ambassadors or Consuls of the different nations trading to the Black Sea, should agree for each vessel of their respective countries to contribute a certain rate per ton. Above two thousand vessels pass the Bosphorus every year; a very slight contribution from each, would produce ample funds for carrying into effect a measure which may save many of them from destruction, ship, cargo, crew, and all.

vail.

FRANCIS MACERONE.

The above plan may be available wherever a low coast and fogs pre

THE AUSTRIAN FRONTIER FENCIBLES.

THE Austrian territory borders upon the Turkish for an uninterrupted line of nearly two thousand miles, from the banks of the Pruth to the blockhouse of Lostua; this line of frontier is defined either by the course of the Danube, Save, and Unna, the windings of mountainous ranges, or other covenanted limits; and, running parallel with this extensive line, there is a narrow edging of country assigned for the quarters of a peculiar description of soldiery, to whom the safe keeping of the frontiers is entrusted. This force has been hitherto so variously and erroneously described, that it is high time a correct account of it should be given.

The inhabitants of the Austrian "frontier-provinces" (gränz-provinzen*) are of varied extraction; in Transylvania, they consist of Wallachians, who are either Bogdans or Moldavians, or else KaraVlahs, who have emigrated from Rumelia and Wallachia; in the Baunat, they are composed of Rumelians, Bulgarians, Zinzares, Kara-Vlahs, Raazes, and other settlers; and in Sclavonia, they comprise Servians, Bosnians, and Clementines, as they are called in the country itself, or Albanese colonists: but in Dalmatia, the frontiers are covered by regular troops of the line.

The whole strength of the " Frontier fencibles" amounts to seventeen regiments of infantry, a regiment of hussars, and a corps of Csaikists, or seamen. Every regiment has its own colonel; every four regiments are commanded by a brigadier-general; and every two brigades constitute a distinct frontier-division, having a general at its head, who takes his orders direct from the council of war at Vienna. The commandants of regiments have each a fixed headquarters assigned to them, and exercise civil as well as military jurisdiction, even to the dispensing of justice in criminal matters. The officers are paid by the Crown, but not so the frontier fencible; he is remunerated for his services by the gratuitous demise of a por

⚫ They stretch over a surface of six hundred and nine geographical square miles, and contain a population of 1,017,000 souls.-ED.

tion of land for his maintenance and personal advantage, though it is liable to some small rates, and is not capable of being alienated, or inherited by his heir or kindred. The fencible's home is a perfect model of patriarchal habits; his children and grandchildren yield implicit obedience to the will of the Gospodar, or head of the family, and of the Gospodaricza, his wife; the whole household labour for the general good; nay, their very goods and chattels are common property; and the master of the house is sure of support, in case of need, from his military chief.

Independently of Semlin, Peter wardein, Alt-Gradisca, and Brody, the principal frontier fortresses, there is a series of guard-houses, erected along the left bank of the Save and the whole frontier line, at slender distances from each other; these are called Chardaks, (or, more correctly speaking, "Dschardaks;") with a view to their having their next neighbours on each side of them always in sight, as well as for the purpose of protecting them against the frequent overflowing of the Save, these stations are raised on elevated poles of oak, and form the sentinel's quarters; to the exclusion, however, of his family. The very floors of these aërial defences are perforated with shot-holes, so that, in the event of an attack, the post in charge of them, having cut off all access by drawing up his ladder of communication, may fire down upon his assailant. He mounts guard for a week at a time, and provides himself with provisions for that, and even a more extended interval; this is absolutely necessary int consequence of the frequent and violent eruptions of the waters of the Save, which not only preclude all communication with the Dschardak, excepting by means of boats, but, at times, carry away the guard-house itself.

The fencible's duty consists in preventing any Turkish subject from setting foot within the Austrian territory, on pain of being shot sans mercy, excepting on market-days: the Sclavonian's "Rastell," and the Dalmatian's "Bazar." In the event of any hostile attempt, there are alarm-posts, bound round with trusses of straw, erected over every officer's station; as soon as a shot is heard from the Dschardak, they are set on fire, and a mortar, which is always kept ready loaded, is also discharged; by these means, an alarm is speedily raised along the whole line, the fencibles on duty muster immediately at given points, and, in a very few hours, the entire force of the district is assembled in battle-array.

During the Seven Years' War, scattered parties of this corps made their way to the very banks of the Rhine; and there are none of our readers, who have accompanied Trenk on his erratic expeditions, to whom his "red-mantled" myrmidons and their desperate courses, will not occur as a familiar acquaintance. They were ancestors of the Austrian "Frontier fencibles" of the present day.

A RECENT VISIT TO SEVERAL OF THE POLYNESIAN

ISLANDS.

BY GEORGE BENNETT, MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN LONDON, &c. &c.

THE ISLAND OF TONGATABU.

(CONCLUDED FROM LAST NUMBER.)

THE magnificent futu, or Barringtonia, grew near our path, the fruit of which is used for destroying fish, as well as the branches of a small plant, named kava-ho-ho, by throwing it into the water. When the kava root is scarce, they pound the bark of the latter plant, and prepare it in the same manner as the kava root, but are careful not to take it in any large quantity, on account of its poisonous quality. Also a large species of ficus, called by the natives matchi; it attains a very large size and a tree named fo, u, i, (Grewia mallococca,) which is used by them as small spars for their canoes.

Their clubs are elegantly carved, and very neat. Combs are manufactured by the women from the centre stalks of the leaflets of the Coco-nut tree. Their musical-instruments are the fanghu-fanghu, or nasal flute; the mimia, or Pandean-reed; and the nafa, or drum, which is a piece of wood hollowed out. The reptiles are centipedes, a beautiful green lizard, and several other species of the same tribe, and an innocuous water-snake, often found on the trees by the sea side, of an elegant blue colour, with black circular bands around the body, and called by the natives takuhari.

The ship was supplied abundantly with bread-fruit, yams (some of which were very large), hogs, &c. in exchange for axes, cotton cloth, and glass-bottles for their coco-nut oil. The bread-fruit cooked after the native manner is very good, but a bad substitute for the potato.

July 30th. Visited Cook's Observatory Point; on the road I collected several botanical specimens ; among others, a beautiful parasite, bearing clusters of brilliant scarlet flowers: the plant is called by the natives tobuuno (Loranthus species): also specimens of a large tree, whose flowers emerged from the trunk, and were of a white colour; it was named fekikavalo (Eugenia species). We shot a few pigeons, but birds were scarce. On arriving at a village not far distant from the point, we were conducted to the principal personage, who was an elderly female. Kava-root was brought and laid before us, according to custom,* and cooked yams, &c. were offered us. The natives flocked about us, bringing tortoiseshell, shells, and various curiosities, which were purchased for trifling articles we had about us. A concourse of natives followed us, and readily carried our guns, &c. &c. and we never experienced any loss from them, although they will readily steal when on board the ship.

On departing, this was left behind, which was a breach of etiquette; we ought to have taken it away, and have given it to our attendants.