ered leaves and buds, and give a free passage to the air, to the internal parts. Where this fails, the method is to cut them down to the quick, and, if no part of the trunk appears in a growing condition, they must be taken off down to the level of the ground.-Philos. Trans. No. 165. SHUCKFORD (Samuel), a learned English divine, who was curate of Shelton in Norfolk, prebendary of Canterbury, and chaplain in ordinary to the king. His manners were those of a philosopher, uncorrupted by the manners of the world. He wrote a History of the World, sacred and profane, to serve as the introduction to Prideaux, in 3 vols. 8vo. It is heavily writdeath, in 1756, prevented him from carrying it ten, but displays a great deal of erudition. His down to the year 747 B. C., where Prideaux begins.. He wrote also a treatise on the Creation and Fall of Man, to serve as a supplement to the preface to his history. SHRUG, v. n. & v. a. Belg. schricken, to tremble. To express horror or dissatisfaction by motion of the shoulders or whole body; to contract; draw up. Like a fearful deer that looks most about when he comes to the best feed, with a shrugging kind of tremor through all her principal parts, she gave these words. " Sidney. The touch of the cold water made a pretty kind of shrugging come over her body, like the twinkling of the fairest among the fixed stars. Id. Be quick, thou wert best As 'prentices or school-boys, which do know SHRUB (frutex), is a low dwarf tree, or a woody vegetable, of a size less than a tree; and which, instead of one single stem, frequently from the same root puts forth several sets of stems. See PLANT and TREE. Such are privet, phillyrea, holly, box, honey-suckle, &c. Shrubs and trees put forth in autumn a kind of buttons, or gems, in the axis of the leaves; these buttons are as so many little ova, which, coming to expand by the warmth of the following spring, open into leaves and flowers. By this, together with the height, some distinguish shrubs from suffrutices, or under shrubs, which are low bushes, that do not put forth any of these buttons, as sage, thyme, &c. The two hardiest shrubs we have in this country are the ivy and box; these stand the severity of our hardest winters unhurt, while other shrubs perish, and trees have their solid bodies split and torn to pieces. In the hard winter of 1683 these two shrubs suffered no injury any where; though the yews and hollies, which. are generally supposed very hardy, were that winter, in some places killed, and in others stripped of their leaves,and damaged in their They bow, they snarl, they scratch, they hug. bark. Furze-bushes were found to be somewhat hardier than these, but they sometimes perished, at least down to the root. The broom seemed to occupy the next step of hardiness beyond these. This lived where the others died, and where even this died the juniper shrubs were sometimes found unhurt. This last is the only shrub that approaches to the hardiness of the box and ivy, but even does not quite come up to them; for, while they suffer nothing in whatever manner they are exposed, the juniper, though it bears cold well under the My blood runs backward, and my faultering tongue shelter of other trees, yet cannot bear the vicissitudes of heat and cold; insomuch that some juniper shrubs were found half dead and half vigorous; that side which faced the mid-day sun having perished by the successive thawings and freezings of its sap; while that which was not exposed to the vicissitudes of heat, had borne the cold perfectly well. Such shrubs as are not hardy enough to defy the winter, but appear half dead in the spring, may often be recovered by Mr. Evelyn's method of beating their branches with a slender hazel wand, to strike off the with Cleaveland. He shrugged his sturdy back, ties. Addison. Swift. SHUD'DER, v. a. Belg. schuddren. To quake with fear or aversion. All the other passions fleet to air, The fright was general; but the female band Dryden. I love-alas! I shudder at the name, Is it not a firmer foundation for contentment to believe that all things were at first created, and are continually disposed for the best, than that the whole universe is mere bungling, nothing effected for any purpose, but all ill-favoured cobbled and jumbled together, by the unguided agitation and rude shuffles of nature. Bentley. SHUN, v. a. SHUN LESS, adj. cape: shunless is Sax. arcunian. To avoid; decline; endeavour to es unavoidable. Consider death in itself, and nature teacheth Christ SHUNAMITE, a native of Shunem. SHUNEM, a city of Israel, belonging to the tribe of Issachar, five miles south of Tabor. Josh. xix. 18. A lady of rank in this city was extremely hospitable to the prophet Elisha; in recompense for which, being previously barren, she got a son, who was afterwards restored to life by the prophet. 2 Kings, iv. 8-37. SHUR, in ancient geography, a city of AraDia on the north-east side of the Red Sea, which gave name to the adjacent desert, where the angel appeared to Hagar, the mother of Ishmael. Gen. xvi. 7; Exod. xv. 22. It appears to have been seated on the west border of the Amalekites (1 Sam. xv. 7; and xxviii. 8); and is supposed to be the Surratte of Ptolemy. These SHUS, a mass of ruins in the province of Khusistan, in Persia, extending for the space of about twelve miles from the Kerah to the Alzal. Like the ruins of Ctesephon, Babylon, and Cufa, they consist of hillocks of earth and rubbish, covered with broken pieces of brick and colored tile. The two largest and most remarkable of these mounds stand at the distance of about two miles from the Kerah. The first, at the lowest computation, is a mile in circumference, and nearly 100 feet high; the other, though not quite so high, has double the circumference. mounds bear some resemblance to the pyramids of Babylon, with this difference that, instead of being formed of brick, they consist of clay and pieces of tile, with irregular layers of brick and mortar, five or six feet thick, intended, it should seem, as a kind of prop to the mass. The Arabs, in digging for hidden treasure, often discover here large blocks of marble, covered with hieroglyphics. Major Rennell and Mr. Kinneir seem to fix this site as that of the ancient capital of Susa, instead of Shuster. SHUSHAN, or SUSA, in ancient geography, a city of Persia, capital of the province of Susiana, or Khusistan. It had a palace, the residence of several of the Persian kings. When it was taken by Alexander the Great he found in it 50,000 talents of gold, besides jewels and plate to an immense value. It has been long in ruins, and is now called Valdak, or, as others say, Tuster. See SUSA. SHUSTER, a principal district and city of the province of Khusistan, in Persia. It forms the fairest portion of the ancient Susiana, being watered by four fine rivers, and a number of smaller streams. The oppression of the governor, however, joined to the depredations of the tribes who occupy the fortresses of the neighbouring mountains, have reduced it almost to a desert. SHUSTER, the capital of the province of Khusistan, at the foot of a range of mountains, and on an eminence overlooking the rapid course of the Karoon, is defended on the western side by the river, and on the other sides by an old stone wall. The houses are good, and principally built of stone. The population exceeds 15,000; and there is a considerable manufactory of woollen stuffs. This city has been generally believed to be the ancient Susa. It contains ruins which testify it to have been a place of vast extent, and considerable magnificence. The most remarkable are the castle, built on a small hill at the eastern extremity of the town; the dyke erected by Sapor across the Karoon, with the view of directing the waters into a channel more advantageous to agriculture; and the bridge, of hewn stone, and consisting of thirty-two arches, twentyeight of which are still entire. Long. 48° 59′ E., lat. 32° 0' N. SHUT, v.a., v.n., n. s., adj., Į Pret. I shut; SHUTTER, n. s. [& part. part. pass. shut. Sax. rcittan: Belg. schutten. To close; confine; prohibit; bar; exclude (taking out); and often taking up: to be closed: as a noun substantive the act of shutting; a small door: as an adjective, rid; clear: a shutter is a door or cover. They went in, male and female of all flesh; and the Lord shut him in. Genesis. To a strong tower fled all the men and women, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top. Judges. Psalms. Isaiah. Thou hast known my soul in adversities; and not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. Kings shall shut their mouths at him. Woe unto you, scribes! for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men. Matthew. Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Galatians. Beat in the reed, The juster you drive it to shut out the rain. Tusser. Although he was patiently heard as he delivered his embassage, yet, in the shutting up of all, he received no more but an insolent answer. Knolles. To shut me out! pour on, I will endure. Shakspeare. He is shut up in measureless content. Bacon. The wind-gun is charged by the forcible compression of air; the imprisoned air serving, by the help of little falls or shuts within, to stop the vents by which it was admitted. Wilkins. She opened, but to shut Milton. Id. Id. Id. Shut up a desart shore to drowning men, mal's ears, that any loud noise might awaken it. Ray. which her husband or son had died. Newton. Pitany. SHUTER (Edward), an English actor of some SHUTTLE, n. s. Į Isl. skutul; Goth. skut SHUTTLECOCK. Stul, i. e. shot tool. A weaver's tool for throwng the weft: shuttlecock or cork, one thrown backwards and forwards in a manner similar to the shuttle. My father's hours. I know life is a shuttle. Hubberd's Tale. The SHUTTLE, in the manufactures, is an instrument used by the weavers, which guides the thread it contains, either of woollen, silk, flax, or other matter, so as to make it form the woofs of stuffs, cloths, linens, ribands, &c., by throwing the shuttle alternately from left to right, and from right to left, across between the threads of the warp, which are stretched out lengthwise on of cavity, called the eye or chamber of the shutthe loom. In the middle of the shuttle is a kind tle, wherein is enclosed the spool, which is a part of the thread destined for the woof; and this is wound on a little tube of paper, rush, or other matter. The riband weaver's shuttle is very différent from that of most other weavers, though it serves for the same purpose; it is of box, six or seven inches long, one broad and as much deep, shod with iron at both ends, which terminate in points, and are a little crooked, the one towards the right and the other towards the left, representing the figure of an horizontally placed. See WEAVING. SHY, adj. Swed. & Dan. sky; Ital. schifo. Reserved; not familiar; not free of behaviour; suspicious. A shy fellow was the duke; and, I believe, I know the cause of his withdrawing. Shakspeare. Measure for Measure. Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of their successors; and there may be supposed in queens regnant a little proportion of tenderness that way more than in kings. We grant, although he had much wit, As being loath to wear it out, Wotton. Hudibras. We are not shy of assent to celestial informations, because they were hid from ages. Glanville. I am very shy of employing corrosive liquors in the preparation of medicines." Boyle. She is represented in such a shy retiring posture, and covers her bosom with one of her hands. Norris. But when we come to seize the inviting prey, Like a shy ghost it vanishes away. The horses of the army, having been daily led before me, were no longer shy, but would come up to very feet without starting. Swift. I know you shy to be obliged, And still more loth to be obliged by me. Southern. SIAM, or SYAMA, BLACK, a kingdom of India beyond the Ganges, situated principally between lat. 10° and 15° N. To the north its boundaries are unknown; on the south it has the sea and the Malay peninsula; on the east are the countries now comprehended in the Cochin-Chinese empire; and the west the dominions of the Birmans. Before its extent was so much contracted, by the victories of the latter nation, its length was estimated at 360 miles by 300 the average breadth; but these must have been the extreme dimensions, and liable to annual fluctuation. The proper seat of the Thay, or Siamese race, is along the banks of the great river Menam; but their sovereignty and language have, in prosperous periods, had a much wider range. Siam may be described as a vast plain intersected by the Menam, on the banks of which all the principal towns are situated, and separated from the Birman and Cochin-Chinese empires by two long ridges of mountains. In addition to this it possesses a great extent of sea-coast along the Gulf of Siam, which is, however, but thinly inhabited, the Siamese having an aversion to settle on the margin of the sea, probably through dread of the Malay pirates. Like the provinces of Bengal it is subject to annual inundations, which begin in July, and when at their height overflow the country, except the artificial sites of the villages and the trees. The stalks of rice rise with the flood, and keep on the surface until it subsides. Near the shores of the Menam, the only part of the country to which Europeans have recently had access, the land is flat and the soil alluvial, on which account, after the rainy season is over, many extensive morasses remain, and render the climate extremely pestilential to European constitutions, causing fluxes, dysenteries, and acute fevers. In the more elevated tracts, remote from the river, the country is parched and dried up. To the overflowing of the river the land in its vicinity owes its fertility, and is very productive of rice and other plants that require a redundant supply of moisture. Wheat is also raised on the higher grounds, but in very small quantities; the Europeans formerly settled here, having been obliged to import what they required for their own use. Besides these the soil is capable of raising all the richest of the productions for which Bengal is celebrated; but little comparatively is cultivated, owing to the miserable government by which the peasantry are oppressed and harassed. Here are many medicinal plants and gums; also oil of jessamine, benzoin, lack, crystal, emery, antimony, cotton, wood, oil, wax, lac, varnish, wild cinnamon, cassia buds, and iron wood, the last of which is much used by the natives, Malays, and Chinese, as anchors for their vessels. Betel nut is produced and exported in considerable quantities by the Portuguese ships and Chinese junks. Most of the fruits of Hindostan thrive in Siam, and there are in addition the durian and mangosteen. buffaloes, sheep, goats, and elephants; and, in The domesticated quadrupeds are horses, cows, the jungles, tigers, rhinoceroses, deer, and hares, are found. There is great abundance of common poultry; besides which there are peacocks, pigeons, partridges, snipes, parrots, and other birds. The cows give but little milk, which is mostly supplied by the female buffaloes, but the natives have not the art of converting it into butter. The horses are of a very inferior race, the best being imported from Batavia. The insects and vermin are the same as in other parts of India, and the sea and rivers yield excellent fish, upon which a great proportion of the lower classes subsist. In addition to these there are fine lobsters, turtle of a good quality, oysters, and the mango fish, so much esteemed in Calcutta. The mountains in the interior yield diamonds, but little inferior to those of Hindostan, sapphires, rubies, and agates. Among the mountains and rivulets gold is also collected, and probably in considerable quantities, as much is used in Siam for the gilding of idols, temples, and other public edifices, and there is none known to be imported by sea. In the interior, iron, tin, lead, and, copper, are procured-the latter of a good quality, but scarce. The Siamese have never been in the habit of carrying on foreign commerce in their own vessels, the tonnage being principally supplied by the Portuguese, Chinese, and Cochin-Chinese, comparatively little intercourse subsisting with Hindostan. The Menam, by which ships enter, discharges itself into the Gulf of Siam; but has a bar at its mouth, to cross which the assistance of a pilot is required. The southerly monsoon is the best season for ships to visit Siam, and the northerly for returning to Hindostan through the Straits of Malacca. Bancok, or Bancasay, situated on the river near the bay, is the principal place of trade, and the king is the chief merchant. No private merchant here dares to trade in tin, tutenague, elephants' teeth, lead, or sapan wood, without permission from his majesty, who monopolises these articles, and receives them from his subjects in lieu of revenue. The excellent sauce, named ballachong, is best procured here, where it is composed of dried shrimps, pepper, salt, and sea-weed, beaten together to the consistence of a tough paste, and then packed in jars for sale. Vessels bound for Siam, by taking out a fresh port clearance at Malacca, escape a number of charges. Unlike the Malays, although so near them, the Siamese have the utmost aversion to quit their own homes, and have consequently made no maritime excursions, and planted no colonies. The constitution of the Siam government is despotic, and there are no hereditary nobility. All the inhabitants are liable to be called on for military services, and very few standing troops are maintained. Their arms are matchlocks, always in a bad condition, spears, and creeses. They make their own gunpowder, but it is of so very inferior quality that considerable quantities are imported. Their fortifications are stockades of trees and posts encircled by a ditch, but the real defence of Siam consists in the natural obstacles presented to invaders by the jungles, morasses, and numerous branches of rivers; to which may be added the unhealthiness of the climate, which soon thins the ranks of an army. As in the Malay states, the heir apparent to the throne possesses a legitimate authority almost equal to that of the reigning monarch. A small part of the taxes are levied in money, but much the greater part of the revenue is received in kind, and realized by sale to foreign traders. In 1750 the population was computed, by the French missionaries, at 1,900,000, but apparently without any proper foundation for the estimate. The Siamese nation, properly so called, consists of two races, the Thay, and the Thay Jhay. Of these the latter are the most ancient, and were formerly famous for their learning and the power of their empire, of which many monuments are said still to exist. The Thay Jhay inhabit the country between the Menam and the Mekan, or river of Cambodia; but the Thay, for the most part, inhabit on the west of the Menam or Siam River, or between that and the frontiers of the Tinnaw (Tennasserim), Mon (Pegu), and Barma (Birman) nations. By the Birmans they are denominated Syan, whence the Portuguese seem to have borrowed their Siam and Siaom, and from whom the other European nations have adopted the term. The former capital of Siam was named Yudia, or Yoodra; from which circumstance the Siamese are frequently, by the Birmans, called Yoodras. In their manners and customs they greatly resemble the Birmans and Peguers. The females here are obliged to drudge in all the laborious employments; by them the woods are cleared, the earth cultivated, and the harvest reaped. Both males and females take as much pains to blacken their teeth as the Europeans do to preserve them white. The men eradicate their beards, but allow their nails to lengthen like the Chinese. They are extremely gross feeders, in which they resemble the other nations east of the Ganges. Among their edibles are rats, lizards, grasshoppers, and other insects, disgusting to the natives of Hindostan. Their houses are raised on posts, and are ascended to by a ladder on the outside. Like all the semibarbarous nations in this quarter of the globe, their artists in gold are remarkably expert, and their fillagree work singularly beautiful. They excel also in beating out gold leaf, of which a great deal is expended in adorning their temples and idols. The Chinese practitioners, who are their chief physicians, have long been accustomed to the use of the bath in fevers and other distempers, and if they are not successful in the cure they receive no pay. The Siamese generally are so addicted to singing, on all occasions, that the missionaries found the best way of imprinting their precepts on the memories of this people was to form them into short Latin songs adapted to popular tunes. They have a variety of musical instruments, but all disagreeable to a European ear; of the European instruments they prefer the organ, on account of the loudness of its melody, and were much attracted by it to the Roman Catholic churches. Time is still measured by vessels having a small hole perforated and placed in a tub of water, the construction of clocks being beyond their mechanical powers. The Thay language is that which is used by the Siamese, who in their own tongue assume this name as their national appellation. It appears to be in a great measure original, and is purely monosyllabic, and more powerfully accented than any of the other Indo-Chinese languages. The Siamese contains a great variety of compositions; their poems and songs are very numerous, as are their Cheritras, or historical and mythological fables. Many of the Siamese princes have been celebrated for their poetic powers, and several of their historical and moral compositions are still preserved. The Siamese Cheritras, or romantic fictions, are very numerous; and the personages introduced, with the exception of Rama, and the heroes of the Ramayuna, have seldom much similarity to those of the Brahmins. On the eastern coast of the peninsula the Siamese language extends as far south as Patani, where it meets the Malay dialect. Besides the natives there are many colonies of foreigners established in Siam, particularly Chinese, Portuguese, Malays, Macassars, and Buggesses. At an early period the English, Dutch, and French, had also settlements, but none of them continued permanent. The commerce of the country is, at present, almost entirely conducted by the Chinese and native Portuguese; the latter of whom have now scarcely any thing of the European but the name. The national religion of Siam is that of Buddha, or Sammonacodom, and entirely resembles that of the Birmans described under the article Ava, but all sects are tolerated. The doctrines of the Siamese faith are singularly severe, and admit of no indulgencies whatever; but the bulk of the nation are persuaded that rigid virtue and perfection are not prescribed to them but only to |