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V •I . \ \ \ \ \ ■s*' CATECHISM OF GEOGRAPHT, JIASY INTRODUCTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OP THE r WORLD ANDMTS INHABITANTS: '•v# TBB VHOLK or WHICH HAT BX COMMITTXn TO XXMOST AT AN EARLY AGE, ▲HD SX8I6HXD FOX PVPILB IH t ■ i'>'t'^>iH . .( INFANT PREPARATORY SCHOOLS. ;" J, f..:f. .. A iiri- f::p '■ ADAPTED FOR THE SCHOOLS OP NEW BRUN3WrCK, ANB BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT STATE OF GEOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE. . .. ri- ■ I ■ 'i ■:. BY EDWARD MANNING, English and Mathematical Master of the Saint JoKn Grammar School. # ,*. U-:..^ ..... .- /■•^^ ■ "- 1.. SAINT JOHN, N. B. PUBLISHED BY J. b A. MoMILLAV. vs.- -A. M< :*■ .*.f'^ h . , ,.J :. .;• /■ v^fe^;; PRE , The compiler of (his little work begs of his brother teachers a* favorable reception for it, on account of the end aimed at. The want of a manual of geography for junior classes, in which British America should occupy the largest space, has long been felt by many. Lovell's recent book is an important step in the right direction ; but it is only suitable for senior pupils, and dues scant justice to the Lower Provinces. And his smaller manual is both expensive and inferior. The low price of the present book has of course prevented the insertion of mops. This want will however be least felt in those Schools where geography is best taught ; for in such Schools the constant use of wall maps, as well as of those drawn on the black- board by the teacher, will go far to remedy the deficiency. And the writer feels sure, that the less a teacher trusts to the pupil's own use of the small maps in such text books as LovelPs and Morse's, the better will it be fur all concerned. It is well known that in the preparation of lessons at home, very little use is made of these maps, and that the only safeguard lies in the frequent* use of wall and blackboard maps in School. Saini Johrtf N, B., August 1, 1864. #- t 'V: :#. ^ CATECHISIVI OP GEOGRAPHY. ' .' lie 1. What is Geoouaphy ? A description of the earth. 2. How may it be divided ? Into physical am] political: the first, treating of the rtirth in a state of nature ; and the second, describing it as uflVctod by man. 3. Of what shape is the earth, and of what size ? Nearly round like an orange. It measures obout 24,000 miles round and 8000 through. 4. Of what does the surface consist? Land and water, the latter occupying about two thirds of th« whole surface. ^ !4r 5. What are the six largest divisions of the land 1 Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceanica. Formerly, Europe, Asia, Africa and Araerlca were called the four quarters of the world. /■ Jl 6. What are the largest masses of l^nd called 1 Continents. Of these there arc three, viz:— the Old World, the New World, and Australia. The OKI World or Eastern Continent, includes Europe, Asia and Africa. The New World or Western Continent, includes North and South America. Aus- tralia, with the numerous Islands which form the Archipelagoes (or clusters of islands) of Australasia, Mnlnysia and Pulynesia makes up the sixth division, viz : — Occanicn. 7. What are the smaller divisions of the Innd 1 Islands, peninsulas, isthmuses, promontories, couits, Ae» 8. What is an island ? A smaller tract of land surrounded by wateri as Ncwfoundlattd. Catkohism ov OxoamipiiT. 9. What is a peninsula ? A tract of land almost surrounded by water, as JKova Scotia* 10. What is an isthmus? A narrow neck of land joining two larger pieces, as the isthniM ofChignecto. '^ 11. What is a promontory ? A point of land projecting far into the sea, the end of whieh !• called a eapCypointt headt d:c., as Gaspe, which ends at Cap* Gaspe. 12. What part of the land is the coast 1 The coast, beach, or shore, is the part of the land bordering on the sea. 13. What other names are given to various parts of the landt Mountains, hills, valleys, plains, plateaus, deserts, 4cc. 14. Explain these terms. * A mountain is an elevated peak or ridge of land. If not voijT high it is called a hill. Several in a line form a range or ckaM of mountains, as the Tobique Range. A valley, or pass, is a lower space between hills. Jjevel spaces of land are called plainii but if elevated throughout, plateaus. 1 5. What is a desert ? Land which, on account of its rocky, sandy, or marshy natvra^ is barren, and therefore deserted by man. 16. Of what does the water consist ? Of oceans, seas, gulfs, straits, rivers and lakes. 17. What is the ocean 1 That vast collection of water which surrounds the land. It li iSivided into the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antaretio Oceans. ^ J 8. Describe their position t The Aftantic lies west of the Old World and east of the New { the Pacific, west of the New World and east of the Old ; the Indian^ south of the Old World and west of Oceanica ; the An^ ««rrounds the North Pole of the earth, and the Antarefie llie South Pole. f- /• ., , i9. W hat is a seal A smaller collection of water than an ocean, as the CaribbeM '.Sea. 2(1. What Is a gulf; ,, . ,». r *v< A is^ or bay is a part of the sea running far inland« ee the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Bay of Fondy. , . , 21. What is a lake 1 V\, ; '' A body of water surrounded by land, aa Grand Lake* Catbcbiim or Gkookapht. t er lit *•» 88. What is meant by a strait, or chonnel ? A narrow part of the sea joining two broader parts, as North> •nberland Straits, the Gut of Canscnu, &c. HOTB. Thus a continent of the land correHponda to an ocean of watcr^ slake to an island, a promontory to a gulf, and a strait to an isthmus. 83. What is a river? A atreann of water rising in the land and flowing down to the m, as the 8l. John, the Annapolis, &c. The place where it rises^ is called its siiurce, the place where it empties into the sea it» anuth. A river running into another is called its tributary. Thus- fhe Kenncbrcasis is a triiiutary of the St. John. The right and left hanks are so named looking towards the mouth of the river.. The whole extent of land drained by a river and all its tributaries is called the basin of the river. The lino dividing one of these- basins from another is called the watershed, and is generally jformed by a range of hills. 34. What names are given to those lines or circles that surround the globe ! The principal circles which surround the globe are, the equator^ the ecliptic, the tropics, the polar circles, and the meridians. 85. What is the ecliptic 1 The ecliptic is a great circle described liy the sun in the space of a year. It surrounds the globe between the two tropics, and crosses the equator at two opposite points, culled equinoctial points.- 86. What are the meridians 1 • All lines drawn from one pole to the other are called meridians.- When the sun comes to the meridian of a place, it is then noon «r mid-day at that place. We mny imagine as many meridiana as we please, for every place has a meridian. The meridian, or line drawn from north to south over Greenwich, is calle'l the first ■leridian, and the longitude of places is reckoned froi. "J either- east or west. * 87. What is meant by the horizon t The sensible horizon is tho boundary of our sight, being that' circle where the sky and earth seem to meet. • '^tf.---, 88. What arc the poles of the horizon called ? The Zenith and the Nadir : the Zenith point is that pari dKrectly over head ; and the Nadir is that point opposite to it •nder our feet. t , ,:y 89. What are the four cardinal points of the horizon called ? '^ North, south, east, and west. % 30. How is a degree divided ? -'^i^.^^^^. ''^ A degree is divided into 60 minutes, and every minote into fO seconds. Catkchian of GsoonArHT. 31. How many kinds of cirdcs are there T " ' Two ; the great and /esH circles. " 32. What is a great circle ? A great circle is that which divides the earth into two equal parts 33. What is a less circle ? A less circle divides the eartli into two unequal parts. 34. What is the ndrneasurcinent of a degree in a great circle 7 A degree in a great circle contains 60 geographical, or 69| English miles : but the admeasurement of a less circle varies ac- cordingly as it approaches towards the poles.* 3.5. What is a mile called in geography ? A minute. 36. How many degrees make an hour of time 1 Fifteen. , 37. What is the equator, and why is it so called t The cquatofj" is a great circle, which divides the earth into two «qual parts, at an equal distant^e from each pole ; and is so called because, when the sun is in this circle, the days and nights are equal to all the inhabitants of the earth. 38. What are the poles ? The poles are two points of the earth opposite to each other, the one called north, and the other south. These points are only imaginary, as also are the circles. 39. Why are these points distinguished by the names of the north and south poles ? Because they arc opposite to the north and south parts of the heavens. . 40. Of what use is the equator ? All parts of the earth, with respect to their situations, are either to the north or south sidt; of the equator; and the distance of places, called their latitude, is counted from it towards the north or south pole. 41. H«w fiir are the poles from the equator 1 Ninety degrees, which is the fourth part of a circle, called a quadrant ; half a circle is 180 degrees ; and a whole circle, whether great or small, is 360 degrees. 42. What are the tropics ? * The degrees of longitude are not equal, like thoae of latitude, but diminish in proportion as the meridians incline towards the poles. Hence, in 60 degrees of latitude, a degree of longitude is but half the quantity of a degree upon ' quator, and so in proportion for the rest. t The Equator is soraetitnes called the sometimes only the Line. Equinoctial Linr, aad Caticrum op GEooniPiiT. d le y le le Dr Df a Br at 10 It. i4 Two lesser circles, called Cancer and Capricorn. The tropic •of Cancer is 23^ degrees north of the equator^ and the tropic of Capricorn 23^ south of the equator. 43. What are the polar circles '' . Two lesser circles, called Arctic ond Antarctic; the arctic or north pole circle, is 66^ degrees from the equator, and the antarc- tic, or south polar circle, is the same dintance south of the equator. The polar circles are also 23^ degrees from the poles. 44. How are places upon the earth distinguished ? By their situations, which are obtained by their latitude and longitude. 46. What is meant by the latitude of a place ? Its distance north and south from the equator. If it be on the north side of the equator, it is said to be in the north latitude : If on the south side, in south latitude. All places on the earth are either in the north or south latitude, excf-pt at the equator, where there is no latitude, because bititudc begins there. 46. What is the greatest latitude a place can have ? Ninety degrees ; and there are only two places which have so much, which are the poles. ' 47. What are the parallels of latitude ? Parallels of latitude arc lines drawn at an equal distance from the equator. 48. How is the latitude of a place found ? Upon a globe it is found by turning the globe round till the place comes under the brass meridian in which the globe is sus- pended, which shows the distance from the equator. But upon a map the latitude is found at the sides ; if it increases upwards, it is north ; if downwards, it is south. 49. What is meant by longitude ? Longitude is the distance of a place from the first meridian to the east or west. If it be on the east side it is east longitude. 60. What is the greatest lon^^itude a place can have 1 One hundred and eighty degrees, which is ni:e half of the cir- cumference of the globe. All places are either in eastern or western longitude, except under the first meridian, which has no longitude, it being there where longitude begins. 61. How is longitude found 1 .. v. Upon a glube it is found at the equator, but upon a map at the >top and bottom. 62. What are the Zones t -^,i -^ Certain spaces that encompass the earth like a girdle. 63. How many zones are there 1 i Catkcdiim or GiooRArnT. There arc five zones ; namely, one torrid, two temperate, and two frigid or frozen zones. . . 54. Where is the torrid zone, and why is it so called t The torrid zone includes all that part of the earth which issita- ated between the tropics ; and is denominated torrid, or burning, because of the great and continual heat of the sun, under whose eourse it lies. 6fi. Where are the temperate zones, and why are they so called T The temperate zones include all those parts of the earth which are situated between the tropics and polar circles; wilhin the two extremes of heat and cold, which renders the nir more temperate, on which account these parts arc much more improved. * 66. Where are the fiigid zones situated, and why so denomi- nated 1 They are situated between the polar circles, extending round each pole, and are called frigid or frozen, from the rays of the sun falling so very obliquely on those parts, which renders it excessively cold. EUROPE. ^, 67. How is Europe bounded ? By the Arctic Ocean on the North, Asia on the East, the Mediterranean Sea on the South, and the Atlantic Ocean on the West. . 58. What is its size and population ? It contains 3,700,000 square miles, and a population of 275,- 000.000. 69. For what is it noted ? For being the centre of civilization, learning, and refinement, and for sending out colonics to all other parts of the world, espe- cially to America and Oceanica. • 60. What is chiefly to be noted concerning the north coast 1 . Its cold climate and consequent fewness of inhabitants. The only port of note here is Archangel. The chief inlets are the White Sea, and the Sea of Kara, with the Straits of Waygatz. The chief peninsula is Lapland. The chief capes are Capes North and Nordkyn. The islands — Iceland, and the Spitzbergen, Nova Zambia, and Loflbden groups. , -^-.r^... 61. What is most remarkable about the vjtsl coast 1 Commerce is carried on here to a greater extent than on any other coast in the world. Among the chief ports are London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Cork, Belfast, Copenhagen, Stockholm, St.. 1 'r'- ;■..■•( CATiCNrtH or OsoOBAPUt. I ■1 Peteraburg, ilftmburg, AmstcrdAin, Havre, Dourdoaux, and Liabon. The cbi«r lnl«ta are tbo Baltic Sea (with the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland)* tbo North and Irish Seas, and the Bay of Biscay. The straiU are the tfkagcr R^ck, Catlegat, the Belts, the Sound, the English, North, and St. George's Channels, and the Minch. The ehief peninsulas are Norway, Sweden. Denmark, ard Spain ; and Ibet'hief cupfs, the Niiz(',the Skaw, Land's End, and Capes Wrath, Clear, Ushanl, and Finisterrc. Tho chief islands are the British lilandit, Faroe Islands, Zealand, Funen, Gothland, ^c, 62. Describe the ioufh coost. It presents a suceession of largo and remarkable inland seas, yh : — the Mediterraneon, Sen of M nrmora, Black Sea, Sea of Azof, and the Cnspinn. The Idrgcnt inlets are the Gulfs of Lyons and Genoa, the Bicilinn and Adrintie Scnp, and the Archipelago ; and the chief straits those of Gibraltar, Bonifacio, Messina, Otranto, and KafTa, the Euripus, the Dardinclles and the Busphorus. The chief islands are the Balearic islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, the Illyrian and loniiin Islands, tho Grecian Archipelago, Negropont, and Candia. The chief capes are Print Tanfa, Spar- tivento, Di Leuca. Matapnn, and Khersonese ; and the chief peninsulas, Italy, Turkey and Greece, the Mores, and the Crimea. The chief ports ore Dfircclonn, Marseilles, Leghorn, Naples, Venice, Constantinople, Odeftsa, and Afitrnkhan. 63. Into what parts may the surface of Europe be divided 1 Into three. The centre and East is a great plain. North West and South West of this are mountain regions. 64. What parts form the Great Plain 1 Most of Russia (whidi itself takri.4 up half of Europe), 8. Swe- den, Denmark, N. Germany, and the Netherlands. The extreme 8. E. of this plain is called the tteppea. 65. What mountain region lies to the N. W. 1 The pliiteaus of Sasndinavia (i. e. Norway and Sweden) and Finland. On tho Atrmer plateau are the Dofrefield Mountains, which in one part ris» to the height of about 8,000 feet. 66. Describe the mountain region S. W. of the Great Plain 1 It is on a far larger •I'ale than that just mentioned, both aa to its extent and height. It stretches E. and W. and contains the Pyrenees and other Spanish ranges, the Alps, Apennines, Car- pathians, Sudelic Mountains, Balkan, and Caucasus ; besides the plateaus of Castile and Bavartn, and the plains of Hungary, the Loire, the upper Elbe, tower Danube, and Lombardy. Mont Blanc in the Alps (tA,7dO feet), Mulhacen in the Sierra Nevada M::'-'._ n Catichism or Geoorafht. hi ill (11,660 feet), and Eibuiz in the Carpathians (18,500 feet), ore it8 highest peaks. Mont Bianc is the highest peak in Europe, Elburz being on the 8. E. bouiidary. 67. Describe the general drainage of Europe 1 The main watershed runs from S. W. to N. E.and is formed by the Geltib*;rian Mountains, Pyrenees, Cevennes, Alps, Carpa- thi.tns, Valdai, &,c. The great N. W. slope from this watershed is drained by the Petchora (90U miles), Mezene, N. Dwina, Neva, S. Dwina, Neimeu, Vistula, Odt-r, Elbe (700 miles), Wcscr, Rhine (760 miles), Meui^e, i^cheldt, Seine, Loire, Garonne, Douro, Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadulquivor ; while down the opposite (8. £.) slope flow the Ebro, Rhone, Po, Danube (1650 miles), Dneister, Dneiper (1200 miles), Don (1 100 miles), Volga (2200 miles, with the tributaries of the Kama, Oka, &c.), and Ural ( 1 150 miles.) The Dahl and Gotha of Sweden, and the Arno and Tiber of Italy, cannot be reduced under this clas^jification. 68. How may the lakes be classified 1 In three groups. Lakes Geneva, Constance, Lucerne, Zurich, Neufchatel, Como, Garda, Maggiure, Balaton, &c., form the Al' pine group; Wener, Wetter, Miosen, Lulea, Ac, form the Scan' dinavian group i and Ladoga (the largest in Europe, occupying 6,300 square miles), Onega, Peipus, Saima, lelton,* &c., form the Lakes of the Plain. 69. How may Europe be divided with regard to climate' and vegetation 1 Into a northern, middle, and southern region. 70. Describe briefly the northern region. It lies N. of a line drawn from Christiana to the Southern end of the Urals. Here the cold is severe, the summer short and hot, the spring and autumn hardly perceptible, and the winter long and rigorous. The vegetation consists chiefly of pines, fir, larch, birch, &c., with mosses and berries. The chief crops are rye, oats, and barley, with hemp and flax in the £. 71. D^i&cribe the middle region. It lies between the last and the line of 4.*)° N. latitude. Here the temperature is moderate, and the four seasons distinct and equal, and in the western part the sea breezes temper both heat and cold, and render the rains frequent. Here deciduous trees (i. e. those whose leaves fall off every year, as the oak, elm, poplar, beech, ash, &c.,) and pastures prevail, the corn plants and kitchen ▼egetables flourish, with the fruits most common in temperate cli- * This little lake in the S. E. of Russia is the saltest lake in the world, and supplies a grri-at part of the RusHian Rmpire with salt. *: CiTECHisM or Groouapht. ti mates, as the vine, apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach, walnut, chestnut, hazel, &c. 72. What ha\'e.you to say of the southern region 1 It includes all the Mediterranean countries and islands. The summer heat sometimes reaches lOti'*, and the winter is short and moderate except in the eastern part. Long droughts alternate with heavy rains. Many of the trees are evergreens, and some of them of a tropical character ; tobacco, rice, olives, myrtle, cork, oak, mulberry, oranges, lemons, figs, grapes, currants, and pome- granates ripen well, nnd the corn crops where the soil is well worked are niont luxuriant. 73. W.hat are the chief animals of Europe. The wild animals are not remarkable, the more formidable having long since been exterminated in the more thickly peopled coun- tries. The bear and wolf are still found in the Alps, Pyrenees and Dofrelield, the white bear on the northern coasts, the chamois in the Alps, and the ibex in the Caucasus. The wild bull ie preserved in central Russia. The reindeer is used as a beast of draught in the N. W., and the camel (introduced from Asia) in the 8. E. The domestic animals have been brought to great per- fection. The birds are more noted for their song than their plu- mage. The eagle is found on the N. W. coasts and in the Alps. The eider fowl off the N. W. cojsts are valuable for their down. Reptiles and insects are unimportant; but the fish are numerous and excellent, especially the herring and pilchard off the N. W., the tunny and anchovy in the Mediterranean, the sturgeon in the great rivers of the S. E., and the salmon in most of the rivers N. of 450 N. lat. 74. What are the chief minerals 1 Europe is poor in the precious metals and gems, bui very rich in the more common and useful minerals. One third of the whole mineral wealth consists of iron — of which Britain alone pro- duces one third ; the othor countries noted for it being Russia, France, Sweden, &c. The iron of the last named country is the best for making steel. Nearly all the lead comes from Spain and Britain, and most of the tin from England. Britain and Russia supply most of the copper. Britain also produces most of the coal; the othor countries noted for it being Belgium, Prussia and France. Salt is generally diffused, espocially in England, Polish Russia and Hungary. Most of the volcanic products, (as sulphur, vitriol, pumice, &c.) come from the volcanoes of Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli in Italy. Hecia in Iceland, the only other active vol- cano in Europe, is noted for the boiling springs in its vicinity. 13 Catechism or GKoenAPHT. Germany is noted for the variety of its metals and for its mineral fprings. Fine murble is cut in the Apennines and in the Archi- pelago. Hungary produces much saltpetre. 76. Name the countries in Europe. Sweden, Norway, 5ind Denmark, in the N. ; Russia in the S.; the British Isles, France, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, in the W. ; Italy, Turkey, and Greece, in the S. ; and Austria, Prussia, and the other German States, with Switzerland, in the centre. 76. Classify these according to their importance. Britain, France, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, are called the five great powers. Sweden and Norway, Spain, Italy, Bavaria, and perhaps Turkey and Belgium, are second rate powers. The others are third and fourth rate. 77. Classify them according to their modes of government. In Britain, France, Prussia, Holland, Belgium, Sweden and Norway, Greece, Italy, and about half the German States, the power of the monarch is limited by an assembly chosen by the people. This sort of government is called a limited monarchy. Switzerland is a republic. In the rest of Europe the monarch rules almost as he pleases. This sort of government is called an unlimited monurchy or despotism. 78. Classify them according to religion. All the Europeans arc Christians, except the Turks and the Tartars of the Steppes, who are Mahometans, and the Jews, who hre most numerous in Germany and Polish Russia. Russians, Greeks, and the races of the Danubian Principalities of Turkey form the Greek Church; the English, Scotch, Dutch, Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, and about half of the Swiss and Germans are ProtCitants. All the rest are Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholics form about half, the Protestants a quarter, and the Greek Church about a fifth of the whole population of Europe. 79. Classify them according to race and language. The European races are grouped in four great families, the Celtic, Teutonic or Gothic, Slavonic, and Greco-Latin or Classic. It is remarkable th?t the Teutonic races correspond mainly to the Protestant nations, the Celtic and Latin to the Catholic, and the Slavonic to those of the Greek Church. Thus the Celtic na- tions are the Irish, Highlanders, Belgians, French, Spanish and Portuguese, (the last three mixed Celtic, Teutonic, and Latin) : the Teutonic nations are the Germans, Dutch, Danes, English, Lowland !^cotcii, Swedes and Norwegians; and the Slavonic, the Russians, Poles, (Catholics), and the races on the Save and 1 Catkchish of Gkoorapht. tl Lower Danube both in ' tstria and Turkey. The Classic races are the Italians, (Call . cs), and the Grctks, (Greek Church). The Hungarians, Turk^, Lapps, Finns, Jews, Gypsies, as well as the Cossacks and other Tartars, are not of European but Asiatic origin. 80. Classify them lastly according to their leading occupations. Spain, Switzerland, Austria, S. Germany and Turkey, are mostly agricultural and pastoral. Russia, Sweden and Norway, Denmark and Greece, agricultural and commercial. The British Isles, Prance, Belgium, Prussia, and N. Germany, manufacturing and commercial. The others are more of a mixed character. It will thus be seen that this classification mainly depends on the amount of mineral wealth (especially coal and iron) and tha extent of coast which the various countries possess. Sweden and Norway. 81. Where are Sweden and Norway 1 They form a peninsula 1 1 00 miles long, in the N. W. of Europe, and are together sometimes called Scandinavia. They are divi- ded from each other by the Dofrefield Mountains. Oflf the W. coast are the Loflfoden Isles ; and off the E., Gothland Island, Oland Island, &c., in the Bnltic Sea. 82. What is the nature of the country ? Ail but the S. E. is a rugged plateau, highest in the W., where it forms a number of bare precipices, cleft by deep inlets of the sea called fiords. This coast is the resort of vast flocks of sea fowl, and shoals of cod, herring, &.c. The level S. £. is fertile. 83. What is the character of the people? Both Swedes and Norwegians are brave, robust, and hardy of frame, cheerful and hospitable in disposition, and make good sailors. 84. What are the chief riches of these countries 1 The products of their forests, mines and fisheries, viz: — copper, and iron, timber, tar, pitch, and abundance of fish. Only domes* tic manufactures are carried on, and the most profitable part of the farming is the dairy work. The extensive coast and favor- able position of the country has greatly fostered commerce. 85. Were these countries always united 1 No: Norway was, till the present century, united to Denmark. Each country has its own laws and its own parliament. 86. What is the most northern part called ? Lapland, part of which however is in Rusiia. Its climate ie 14 Catecuibm of Gkoouaput. severe, its people few an<] wretched. Their only wealth consists in their herds of reindeer, which animal draws (heir sledges, gives them milk when living, and food and clothing when dead. 87. What are the chief cities of Sweden 1 Stockholm, the capital, a fine seaport on lake Malar, Gotten- burg, the second town in importance, on the Gotha; Carlscrona, the station of the Swedish navy ; Fahlun, noted for its copper mines, and Upsal and Lund, the two Swedish universities. 88. What arc the chief cities of Norway? Christiana, the capital, Bergen, Drontheim, and Drammen, all on fiords of the same name. The following questions (with the references to the answers) are given as an example of the manner in which the general account of Europe may be applied to each particular country. Name the capos (Q. 60). What is the greatest height of the Dovre- field (65)? What-are the chief rivers of Sweden (67)? The lakes (68)? Describe the climate and vegetation (70)? What wild animals are found in the Dovrefield (73)? What birds on the N. W. coast (73)? What fish (73)? What fisli in the rivers (73)? What is said of tho Swedish iron (74) ? In whnt rank is Sweden as a power (76) ? What is the nature of the government (77) ? The religion (78)? Of what race are the Swedes and Norwegians (79)? What are the leading occupa- tions (80)? Denmark. 89. Where is Denmark, and of what does it consist 1 • It is S. of Scandinavia, and consists of the peninsula of Jutland, the isthmus of SIcswick, Holstein, (reckoned as part of Germany as well as of Denmark), and the inlands of Zealand, Funen, Laaland, Falster, &c., at the entrances of the Baltic. The Faroe Islands, north of the British Isles, and Iceland, still further N.W., belong also to Denmark. 90. Of what nature are the soil and products 1 The soil is sandy but moderately fertile. Dairy husbandry and commerce are the chief occupations. The Eyder is the only river. There are no minerals. The exports are corn, cattle, hut* ter, and cheese. i 91. What is the character of the Danes? Brave, frugal, industrious, and generally well educated. 92. Describe Iceland. It is a cold barren island, noted for its hot springs or geysers, and its volcano of Hecla. Reekavik is the chief town. The people are noted for their peaceful and simple nature, and their ancient traditions. t # Catkcbisx of Gkographt. 15 93. What arc the chief towns of Denmark 1 Copenhagen, the capital, a fortified seaport in Zealand ; Al> tona, near Hamburg, a thriving port ; and Kiel, on a canal which runs quite across the country. Name the waters which surround Denmark (61). To what zone of climate does it belong (71)? How does Denmark rank as a power (7^) ? What is the form of government (77)? Religion (78)? Race (79)? Lead- ing occupations (80) ? Russia. 94. What is the extent of the Russian Empire? About 8,000,000 square miles, being the second in size in the globe. It consists of Russia Proper, Poland, Lapland and Finland, Circassia and Georgia. Siberia (occupying one third of Asia), and Russian America. The Ural Mountains separate European from Asiatic Russia, and form the only break (and that an inconsider- able one) in the vast plain which stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. 95. How is European Russia divided ? Into Russia Proper in the N. and centre, Finland, Lapland, and the Baltic Provinces in the N. W. — taken from Sweden, Poland in the W., and various province.^ in the S. E. taken from the Tartars. 96. Was not Poland formerly independent? Yes, and the largest state in Europe at that time. But in the I&st century it was purtitionod between Rustiia, Austria, and Prussia — Russia taking about two-thirds. 97. Does not the Great Plain vary much in its character? Very much so. Finland and L.iplaiid are rocky plateaus — the N. E. belongs to the marshy Siberian Tundra (see Siberia) ; the S. E. forms a sandy tract called the steppes ; the centre a vast forest, the largest in Europe, and the S. an expanse of fine veg- ctable soil, producing luxuriant crops of wheat, &c. The E. of Poland is an immense bog. 98. What is to be noticed concerning the rivers ? Their vast length and their gentle current owing to their very fmall slope. The Volga only fills 6 inches per mile. This ren- ders them navigable throughout, and in winter when they aro frozen they form the best roads. Their usefulness is extended by canals which connect all the seas surrounding Russia. 99. Name the principal products? iS . -- Timber, wheat, flax, hemp, tallow, hides, leather, furs, copper, ironf coal, and salt. Mining and hardware manufactures are brisk- y y/ t4 Catkcrism or Oeoobapbt. ly carried on, and much leather, sailcloth, and cordage is mad*. But agriculture is the leading pursuit. 100. What is the character of the Russians ? They are robust, hardy, and docile, and make good farmers and traders. The present Czar (or Emperor) has abolished serfdom. The brave and high spirited Poles and Circassians have always borne the Russian yoke with impatience. Over the steppes roam tribes of Cossacks, Calmucks, and other Tartar Tribes, with their herds of horses, cattle, and camels. )01. What are the chief ports ? St. Petcrriburg, the capital, on the Neva River, (which drains lakes Ladoga, Onega, dec.,) one of the finest and largest capitals of Europe ; Cronstadt, a most strongly fortified port below the city, defends it. Other ports on the Baltic are Riga, on the 8. Dwina, Revel, and Memel; on the White Sea, Archangel, on the N. Dwina ; on the Black Sea, Kherson, and Nicolaef, both on the Dneiper, Odessa, and Scbastopol ; and on the Caspian, Astrakhan on the Volga, noted for its fairs and fisheries. 102. Name the largest inland cities. Moscow, the old capital, noted for its history and manufactures; New Novgorod, noted fur fairs; Kalouga. Kazan and Saratov, alt on the Volga or its tributaries ; Novgorod the Great, on lake Ilmen; Kiev and Moghilev, on the Dneiper; Orel and Tula, on the Don; Warsaw, on the Vistula, the capital of Poland when an indepen- dent state ; and Wilna, on the Niemen. Germany. ^ 103. What sort of country is Germany t It is a land of varied character, but it may be generally de* scribed as consisting of three natural regions, viz : — A plain in the N., a mountain system in the centre, and a hilly plateau in the S. 104. What is remarkable about its political condition t It is formed of a largo number of independent States which form a political union, and send delegates to a Diet or General Assembly at Frankfort on the Main. 105. Name these States. They may be arranged according to their importance in four ranks. In the Ist, are the Empire of Austria and the Kingdom of Prussia. In the 2nd, the Kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony, Han- over, and Wirtemburg, and the grand Duchy of Baden. In th$ 3rd, are Hesse Cassel, Hesse Darmstadt Mecklenburg, NaeetUf " Catechism of Geographt. IT \ " Oldenburg, Brunswick, and Saxe Weimar. In tho 4th, the smaller States, with the four free cities of Hamhurg, Brotnon,. Lnbec, and Frankfort. The first three of those cities form tho ehief ports, and the fourth is the federal capital. 106. What is the soil of Germany ? Rich and fertile, though somewhat sandy in the N. Wheat, lye, oats, barley, flax, hemp, madder, chicory, and beet root are generally grown ; and in the centre and in the B. tho vine. 107. What is the character of the Germans 1 They are frank and open, though not very polished ; dexterous in manufactures, patient and inventive. Their learned men aro noted for their profound scholarship. Education receives great attention, and universities abound. The governments tire gen- erally despotic, and great reverence is shown for authority. 108. Describe Bavaria. It is a fine upland plain, abounding in corn and wine. It in the third in size and importance of the German States and is en* tirely inland. 109. Name its chief cities. Munich on the Iser (a tributary of the Danube,) tho third city in size in Germany. Passau on the Inn, a groat fortress. Nu^* remburg, Ratisbon, Augsburg, &c. 110. Describe Saxony. It is small, but the most thickly peopled part of Germany ; and one of its most flourishing states; foremost in mining and manu- factures — the chief of which are porcelain, woollen cloth, anil hardware. It is also inland, and is situated like a wedge between Austria and Prussia. 111. What are its chief cities 1 Dresden, the capital, on the Elbe, Leipsic noted for itM book fairs, and Chemnitz, near the Ertzgebirge or Ore Mountainii noted for mining. 112. Describe Hanover. It is a sandy and heathy plain of but moderate fruitfulnes»,, 8. of the North Sea, chiefly agricultural, though in the Hartr. Mountains to the S., much mining is carried on. The capital {» Hanover, on the Weser, and the chief port Embden. 113. Describe Wirtemburg, It is a small but fruitful agricultural region in the B,p and quite inland, lying between Bavaria and Baden. The chief towns are Stuttgard the capital, and Ulm, a great fortress. 114. Describe Baden. It lies along the Rhine. East of France, and is a region ^ t8 Catkchism of GEoomipiiT. vineyards, though near the Black Forest pine woods prevail. The capital is Carlsruhe, and the largest town Manheim. 115. What are the other chief cities of Germany 1 Gassel, Darmstadt, Mayence, and Brunswick, all inland. 116. What are the chief exports of Germany 1 Corn, liye stock, wool, timber, iron, lead, glass, porcelain, 4cc* The States of the N. have organized a union for commercial pur- poses, called the Zollverein or Toll union. Austria. \ 117. What makes Austria one of the five great Powew 1 Its size, population, and military strength. 118. Where is Austria? It lies partly in Southern Germany and partly to the 8. E. of it. The provinces out of Germany have been taken from Hun* gary (formerly a powerful kingdom), Italy, and Poland. So un- like are the races of this compact state that seventeen different languages are spoken in it. Many of these races are difaflfeeted to the government, which renders a powerful army necesaary. 119. What kind of a country is Hungary t It forms a beautiful plain, second in size to the Great Plain ; "watered by the Danube, and its tributaries the Theiss, Drave^ Save, &c. ; and surrounded by the Carpathians. 120. What constitutes the wealth of Austria ? Its agriculture and mining. With but a small extent of iea coast and no colonies, it has little commerce. The chief porta are Venice, Trieste, and Fiume. The German and Italian prov- inces are the most flourishing, and have manufactures of woollen and linen goods, glass, and hardware. The Hungariani and Poles are engaged in farming and mining, though in many parts the farm work is carried on in a very rude manner. The exporti are corn, wine, wool, timber, salt, &c. 1^1. What are the largest cities 1 Vienna, the capital on the Danube — a splendid city, and the largest in central Europe, Trieste, Prague, Gratz, and Brunn, are In the German provinces ; Buda and Pesth, a double city, on the Danube, the capital of Hungary, Debreczin, Pressburi^, Theree- ianopol and Cronstadt in the Hungarian Provinces ; Lemberg end Cracow in the Polish ; and Venice, Padua, and Verona in the Italian. u Catechism of Geogbafht. 10 \ Prussia. 122. In what does Prussia resemble Austria 1 Both are partly in and partly out of Germany : both are g^eat military States, and both have been aggrandized in modern timet by diplomacy and conquest. 123. In what do they differ? Prussia leads the opposite party to Austria in the Diet, and is there looked up to as the leader of the Northern States, of the commercial interest, and of Protestantism ; whereas Austria is the representative of the Catholics, of the agricultural interest, and of the Southern powers. 124. Of what does Prussia consist ? Of two parts ; the smaller of which, lying on the Rhine, is separated by small German States from the larger part, which lies South of the Baltic. The Eastern part of this larger division was taken from Poland, and is therefore not reckoned in Germany. 125. What kind of surface has Prussia 1 It forms part of the Great Plain. The soil is moderately fer- tile, producing flax, hemp, and corn ; and in Rhine Prussia, wine. The Southern Provinces, and some of the Western, are rich in minerals. Agriculture, mining, manufactures, and commerce> about equally divide the attention of the people. 126. What is the character of the Prussians ? They are of strong constitution, laborious, and brave. 127. What are the chief exports 1 Corn, timber, wool, zinc, amber, and manufactured goods in woollen and linen, iron, copper and brass work, glass, porcelain, hams and wine. 128. What are the chief cities 1 Berlin, the capital, a manufacturing city on the river Spree, a tributary of the Elbe ; Breslau, on the Oder, noted for mining ; Cologne, Coblentz, Elberfeldt and Barmen, all on the Rhine, and the last two noted for manufactures ; Magdeburgh and Potsdam* on the Elbe ; Aix la Chapelle and Posen, Coblentz and Magde- burgh are fortresses. The chief ports are Konigsberg, the old cap- ital ; Dantzic, on the Vistula ; and Stettin, on the Oder. Holland. 129. What is meant by the Netherlands 1 The Netherlands, or Low Countries, are so called from their low •ituation, they being in many parts even below the l^vel of the i u Catbcuism of Gkoqbafht. which is only kept out by embankments, called dykes. The term^ includes Holland and Belgium — the whole district forming the deltas of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt, which rivers are joined by numerous canals. 130. What is the character of the Dutch? They are plain, frugal, and industrious, great smokers and drinkers, eager in money making, and excellent sailors. They were once the greatest carriers of Europe, but their pre*eminenc« in this respect has long since passed to the British. 131. What are the products of Holland ? Cattle, butter, cheese, clover, flax, hemp, linen, earthenware, •alt fish, and gin are exported. Dairy farming and commerce are mostly pursued. There are no mines or woods, and the climate is too damp for crops of corn. 132. Name the chief cities. Amsterdam, the commercial capital, on the Zuyder Zee ; Rot- terdam, on the Meuse ; the Hague, which is the political capital ; Leyden and Utrecht, two universities, both on the Rhine. 133. What Colonies has Holland 1 Java, parts of Sumatra and Borneo, the Moluccas, the Banda Islands, some ports in Guinea, Dutch Guiana, and some Islands in the West Indies. Belgium. 134. Describe Belgium. It is like Holland, but not quite so low. The soil, though not naturally fertile, has by hidustry been made to produce good crops of rye, oats, wheat, barley, beet root, clover, and flax. There are manufactures in wool, linen, lace, and hardware. Rich mines of coal, iron, copper, zinc, lead, &,c. occur. Thus husbandry, manu- factures and mining, are carried on with equal zeal and success. 135. What is the consequence? That Belgium is the most thickly populated country in Europe,, though it is one uf the smallest. The people are sometimes called Belgians, and sometimes Flemings, from Flanders, the chief pro- vince. 136. What great advantage has the Belgian farmer and trader? There being more railways in the same space than in any other country, besides canals, excellent roads and navigable rivers, com- munication, and therefore trade, is much facilitated. 137. Name the chief cities. Brussels, the capital, on a tributary of the Scheldt ; Antwerp,,. n.t leon Buonaparte. 146. Name the French colonies. In Africa, Algeria, some places on and near the Senegal, and Bourbon Island ; in Asia, Pondicherry in India, and some portg in Cochin China ; in America, French Guiana, three insignificant islands south of Newfoundland, and several West India islands ; in Oceanica, settlements in New Caledonia, the Society Islands, and the Marquesas. Spain. 147. Describe Spain. It is a mountainous peninsula. From the Pyrenees, which bound it on the north, a chain called the Celtiberian Mountains runs south ; and from this four other chains run west, called the Castillian Mountains ; and the Sierras (or saw shaped ranges) of Toledo, Morena and Nevada. This last rises 11,660 feet, and is the highest point in Spain ; and north of it stretches the lovely plain of Andalusia, the finest part of the country. AH the centre forms the plateau of Castile. 148. Is Spain a flourishing country 1 By no means. The climate, which is so ho^ as to accustom all to take a siesta, or sleep, after dinner ; the ntountains, which check communication between different parts ; the indolence of the peo- ple, and the restrictions of the government, — all tend to hinder manufactures and trade. The central plateaus are chiefly used as pastures for immense flocks of the celebrateu Merino sheep. Agriculture is the chief employment, but is of a very rude char- acter. The chief plants grown are the vine and mulberry. 149. What Vj the character of the Spaniards? Haughty, biave, sober and patriotic ; but indolent and bigoted. 150. What are the chief manufactures and exports 1 The manufactures are silk at Valencia, Spanish leather at P ;V" ille, sword blades in Biscay, and wine. The exports are winoa and brandies, fresh and dried fruits, wool, silk, barilla,* qi.iick' silver, lead, olive oil, cork, cobalt, &c. \; 151. What are the chief cities 1 On the Taguh,, Madrid, the capital, a fine, but gloomy city ; on * An earth made from « glass, and in bleachliv> -vAC one or two fortified towns opposite Gibraltar. Portugal. 163. iJescribo Portugal. It r' ifax, Bradford and Huddcrsfield ; with ^annf/!r at Welshpoolin Wales, and hosiery at Nottingham and Lei cester. 3. The hard' 30 Catechism of Geoosapht. 34) UP i* i ! ware at Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, and at Merthyr Tydvil in Wales; with cutlery at Sheffield. 4. Silk at Macclesfield, Coventry and London. 5. Earthenware at Burslem and the surrounding villages (called « the Potteries"). 6. Leather at several towns in the centre and East. 7. Various manufactures in London. 194. What can you say of English commerce 1 It surpasses that of any other land. The chief imports are among raw materials, cotton, wool, silk, flax, and hemp ; among manufactured goods, silk, leather and linen ; among articles of food, tea, coffee, sugar, fruits, and wheat ; among luxuries, wines, spir- its, tobacco, and spices ; sundries, every kind of timber, oils, and guano. The exports, in order of importance, are cotton and wool- len goods, yarn, wrought iron and steel, hardware and cutlery, linen goods, copper and brass goods, coals, earthenware, silk, ale, leather, glass, tin, &c. 195. What are the chief ports 1 For the foreign trades, London, Liverpool, Hull, Stockton, and Southampton ; for the Irish trade, Bristol and Liverpool ; and for the coasting trade, Newcastle, Gloucester, Plymouth, Whitehaven, Sunderland, and Swansea. 196. What are the other chief cities? London, on the Thames, the most important city in the world and the metropolis of the empire ; Oxford and Cambridge, the two great universities ; York, once the second city in Britain; Norwich, the largest city in the eastern counties ; Brighton, a watering place, and Portsmouth and Chatham, great naval ports. Scotland. 197. Describe the East coast of Scotland. It is generally lower and less wild and barren than the West. The chief inlets are the Friths of Dornoch, Moray, Tay and Forth. The chief capes arc Duncansby Head, Tarbet Ness, Buchan Ness, Fife Ness and St. Abb's Head. 198. Describe the West coast. It is high, deeply indented, and studded with islands. On the North are the Orkney and Shetland Islands, the former separated from Scotland by the Pentland Frith. On the West are the He- brides (outer and inner) separated from it by the Minch, Little Minch, &c. The largest of the outer Hebrides are Lewis and the Uists; and of the inner, Skye, Mull, Isla, Jura, Bute, and Arran. The chief inlets on the West are Lochs Broomi Linnhoi and Fine, Catechism op Geoorapht. 81 Lnce and Wigton Bays, and the Friths of Clyde and Solwty. The chief capes are Wrath, Ardnamurchan Point, and the Mulli of Cantyre and Galloway. 199. How may the surface be divided] Into four highland and three lowland regions. The highland regions are formed by the Ben More Mountains, Orampiana, Ochill, and Sidlaw Hills, and Lowther Hills ; by far the higheat of which are the Grampians, which divide thes trictly mountainous parts or Highlands" as they are called from the ** Lowlandi" The three lowland regions are Glenmore, Strathmore and the Plain of Forth and Clyde. Glenmore is a long narrow valley between the Ben More Mountains and the Grampians ; Strath- more, a wide plain, lying South East of the Grampians* The plain of Forth and Clyde is the finest and flattest part of the country. Ben Nevis in the Grampians (4,570 feet) is the high- est peak in the British Isles. All these seven regions stretch in a North East and South West direction, and this is the direction also of the largest arms of the sea. 200. Name the chief rivers and lakes. On the East, the Spey, Don, Dee, Esk, Tay, Forth and Tweed. On the West, the Clyde, Ayr, and Nith. Of these the largest is the Tay, 100 miles long ; but by far the most important is the Clyde. The largest lakes are Loch Lomond, Tay, Earn, Nesi, Awe, Shin, and Maree. 201. What are the chief minerals 1 The greater part of the Plain of Forth and Clyde is occupied by an important coal field, on which are also mined iron and lead in large quantities. Much building stone is quarriedt 202. What are the chief manufactures 1 Cotton at Glasgow and Paisley ; iron and hardware in and near Glasgow ; linen in the East, at Dundee and Dumferline ; woollen around Galashiels (tweeds), and at Glasgow and Paisley ; and carpets at Kilmarnock. 203. Describe the commerce. It resembles that of England ; the chief imports being raw ma- terials, chiefly cotton and Colonial produce, as tea, co^ee, sugar» &c. ; and the chief exports, cotton and iron goods, machinery, coals, &c. Agricultural produce is extensively sent to England, including large numbers of cattle. 204. How is the country divided 1 Into the Highlands and Lowlands, and also into thirty-throe counties. 205. What are the chief ports 1 .*ii 'I 9Z Catechism of Geobraphy. Glasgow, the third port in tho British Islands, and the largeai town in Schotland. Lnith the port of Edinburgh, Greenock, Port Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Montrose, and Perth. 206. What is the Capital ? Edinburgh, a fine city near the Frith of Forth. Edinburgh* Glasgow, St. Andrews and Aberdeen, contain univerMitioN.. Inverness is the chief place in the Northern Highlandu, and Inverary in the Western. Ireland. 207. Describe the coast of Ireland 1 On the South and East it is low, but on the North and West mountainous and much indented. The chief inlets arc Loughs Swilly, Foyle, and Strangford ; Dundalk, Dublin and Wexford Bays; Waterford and Cork Harbours; Bantry, Kinmaro and Blacksod and Donegal Bays. The chief capes are Malin Head* Fair Head, Howth Head, Carnsore Point, Cape Clear, MIzen Dingle Bays ; the mouth of the Shannon ; and Galway, Clew* Head,Dunmore Head, Loop and Kerry Heads, Slyne Head, Urrii Head, and Rossan Point. The chief islands are Achill, Valontia and the Arran Islands, all off the west coast. 208. Describe the surface 1 A mountain region runs North Last, from Slyne Head, to Pair Head, and another from twe extreme South West, across to Dublin. The hills in the first region form the Galway, Mayo and Donegal Groups, and the Antrim and Down Range. Those in ^he second region form the Kerry, Galtee and Slieve Bloom Ranges* and the Wicklow Group. The highest peak is Currane Tual (3,404 feet) in the Kerry range. Between these two regions lies the central plain, slightly elevated, the East part of which forms the Great Bog of Allen. Many other parts of the country form bogs of less extent, the peat of which, being used by the poor fijir fuel, in some measure compensates for the absence of coal, which is only mined in the North. 209. What are the chief rivers ? The Bann and Foyle, running North ; the Boyne and Lif&y* flowing East ; the Slaney, Barrow, Suir, Blackwater, and Lee* flowing South; and the Shannon and Erne, running West. Tho Shannon is the largest, being 224 miles long. 210. Name the chief lakes, or loughs. Lough Neagh, the largest in tho British Islands ; lakes Erne* II Catbcbiim ov Gboobapht. 33 ne. Maik and Corrib ; Ukes Ree and Derg, in the Shannon ; and the lovitly lakes of Ktllarriey. 311. What are the chief employmentnl Agriculture is the most common, the chief crops being the po- tato, oats and flax, and dairy farming being carried on to a great extent. Ad there are few minerals, and little capital, manufac- tures do not thrive greatly : the chief are the linen trade at Bel- fast and Armagh; and miscellaneous manufactures at Cork, Lim> erick, Dublin and Kilkenny. The commerce is chiefly with Britain, and consints of the exporting of cattle, meat, butter, eggs, and linen ; and the imp<«rting of coal, British goods, tea, coffee, tobacco, sugar, timber, &,c. 212. How is Ireland divided ? Into the provinces of Ijeinster, Ulster, Connaughtand Munster. Also, into thirty-two counties; of which Leinster contains twelve, Ulster nine, Munster six, and Connaught five. 213. Name the chief cities. The sea ports are Dublin, the capital, on the LifTey, with a university ; Cork and Belfast, the second cities of importance ; Limerick, on the Shannon ; Drogheda, Galway, Londonderry, Sligo, Newry, Wexford, and Tralee. The chief inland towns are Kilkenny, Clonmel, and Armagh. ASIA. 214. Describe the situation of Asia. It lies East of Europe, bein;; hounded on the North by the Arctic, East by the Pacific, and South by the Indian Oceans. It occupies 17,500,000 square miles, and has a population of about 480,000,000. 21.5. Descrilie the North coast. It borders on a frozen ocean, and therefore has no commerce. The only important cape here is Severo; the only inlets the Gulfs of Obi and Venesei ; and the only islands the Liakhov group. 216. Describe the E. What are the exports of British India, &c. Indigo, opium, cotton, coilee, sugar, silk, wool, drugs, and teak« from Hi' loostan ; coflee, cocoa nut oil, and cinnamon, from Cey- lon ; and valuable woods, gums, and raw silk and cotton, from Farther India. 236. How is India held in subjection ? By a large army, partly composed of British troops, but chiefly of native soldiers in British pay, called Sepoya. There are not ■50,000 Europeans in the whole country, to hold in sultjection « population of more than 150,000,000. AFRICA. 237. For what is Africa chiefly noted 1 P'or its great deserts, and its being the least prosperous division of the world. It is bounded on the North by the Mediterranean 6ea, on the East by the Indian Ocean, and on the West by the Atlantic Ocean. It has an area of 12,000,000 square miles, and ,tt population of about 70,000,000. A- Catkchism ok Geooraput. 39 I f 238. Describe the coast. It is more iron-bound than any in the worid. The chief inlets are — on the North, the Gulfs of Sidra and Kabcs ; on the West, the Gulf of Guinea, Bights of Benin and Biafra, and St. Helena and Table Bays; and on the East, Delagoa and Sofala Bays, Mozambique Channel, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea, with the Gulf of Suez. The Isthmus of Suez joins Africa to Asia; the Straits of Gibraltar separate it from Spain ; and Mozambique Channel divides it from the Island of Madagascar. The Straits of Babelmandel form the entrance to the Red Sea. The chief capes are — Bon, Raz al Krun, and Spartel, on the North : Boya- dor, Blanco, Verde, and Palmas, on the West; the Capes of Good Hope and Agulhas on the South ; and Corrientes, Delgado, and Guardaui, on the East. Cape Ambro is the North, and Cape St. Mary the South point of Mndagascar. . The chief islands arc the Madeiras, Azores, Cape Verdfs, Canaries, St. Helena, Ascen- sion, Fernando Po, Madagascar, Mauritius, Bourbon, the Seychel- les, &c., and Socotra. 239. Describe the different natural regions. The interior forms three great divisions, all, so far as is known, of a level character. The northern region formi the low plateau of the Sahara, which is the most terrific waste of sand and rock in the world. The middle part is the fertile plain of Soudan, or Negroland ; and the southern part is little known, but seems of varied character, and partly consisting of desert. These central regions are mostly divided from the coast by mountain ranges, — all the chief ranges, so far as known, running parallel to the shore. Along the North runs the Atlas Chain, about 11,000 feet high; on the West are the Kong Mountains and West African Chain ; on the South are the Nieuveldt and Sneeuberg. descending by terrace-like plains, called karroos, to the Cape of Good Hope; and on the East are several chains, as the Lupata Mountains, the Geesh Mountains (a group), and a range of hills on each side of the Nile throughout its course. In the Lupata mountains occur the peaks of the Kilimanjaro and Kenia, which rise to about 20,000 feet, and are the highest known points in Africa. 240. What are the chief rivers and lakes! The only important river in the North is the famous Nile, which is more than 3,000 miles long ; on the West are the Sene- gal, Gambia, Rio Grande, Niger (2,300 miles), Congo, Coanza, and Orange (1,000 miles); on the East are the Zambezi, Lufiji, Jubb, &c. The chief lakes are Tchad (receiving the Shary river), Taganyika, Nyassi, Victoria, Ngami, Dembea, &c. Ii^ 40 CATJECHrssf or GsoeiArnT. 341. Describe the climate. It is geneially hot and dry, the temperature being higher throughout than in other pans in the same latitude. There is little difference between summer and winter, Ixyond the violent tropical rains of the latter season, and the destructive droughts of the former. 242. How may the vegetation be described ? North of the Sahara, the date, palm, fig, olive, orange, cork, melon, mulberry, cotton, sugar, tobacco, wheat, barley, rire, and maize, are grown. In the auscs, or fertile spots in the drsert, a few palms, berries, and grnfFes flourish. South of this, immense tropical forests prevail, in which the baobab, oil palm, cam wood, cassia, ebony, and butter tree grow : the f'uod plants here being the yam, papaw, ground nut, millet, sorghum, banana, inni7.e, tamarind, cocoa nut, &c. The extreme East is the region of cof- fee and spices, as myrrh, cassia, cinnamon, and frankincense. In the South are heaths, aloes, bulbous roots, gorgeous floweis; nnd the crops are wheat, the vine, and cotton. 243. Is not the zoology interesting? Extremely so; the tropical cliniaie and pparFe population tend- ing to foster the higher orders ol animal lile. More than a fourth of all the mammalia in the globe are native. 'I he lien a! ounds in the North West and South, the hytna in ibe South and East, the wolf and jackal in the Noilb. 'J here aie sixty specie*, of an- telope. The giraffe, hippopotamus, zebra, and true ostrieb, vvliich are generally distributed, are pi i uliar to this division of the v^erld. The elephant, buflalo, civet, buge jijes. morkrys, and the eioco- dile, arc found in most paris ; llie < iiux 1 in ibe North and centre; the sun birds in thu West ; and the tei miles, or white ants, in the l^outh. 244. What races occupy Africa ? The chief native race is tbe n«gro, or black, distributed ever the greater part of the continent. 'J'he Northern nations (Moors, Arabs, Berbers) are of the Caucasian race; and the Soutliejn (as the Kafirs, Hottentots, Bojehnu.iis) and Eastern races (as the Copts or native Egyptians, and the Som.iuli), differ from the true Negroes in many poirtt^. The Negro races of the centre, where they are not vitiated by the infiinious slave trade, are a mild and comparatively industrious people*. 245. What minerals are found ? Gold abounds in the centre, and is wasbcd down to the coast by the rivers. Silver, iron, lead, and copper are found, but are f Catechism or GEoampnT. 41 1 very little worked. Salt, the chief product of the Sahara, is largely exported thence by caravans to Soudan, where it is wanting. 246. What may be observed concerning the political divisions! They are vague in the extreme, scarcely any having definite boundaries inland. On the North arc Eg)rpt (capital Cairo) and the Barbary States, viz.: Morocco, Algiers (a French colony), Tunis, and Tri, jII, each with a capital of the same name. On the East are Abyssinia and Nubia, partly subject to Egypt ; the lands of the Somauli and Galla ; Mozambique and Sofala, claimed by Portugal; Zanzebar, claimed by the Sheikh of Muscat in Arabia; and Natal, a British colony. On the South, Cape Col- ony, also a British possession. On the West, Senegambia, Up- per and Lower Guinea, containing many small British, French, and Portuguese trading posts ; besides large stretches of sterile coast, almost deserted by man. In the interior, tlio many native states are small, unimportant, and constantly fluctuating. The only slates of note are Egypt, exporting cotton, rice, wheat, indigo and opium ; the Barbary States, exporting wool, leather, gums, wax, oil, and fruit; and the colonies of Algiers and the Cape. 247. What are the prevailing religions of Africa ? The Copts and Abyssinians are degenerate Christians ; most of the rest of the Northern nations are Mnhommctans ; and most of the Negroes embrace a rude kind of idolatry caWed fetishism. 248. What are the other chief towns'? On the North coast, Alexandria, Rosetta, Damietta, Bona, and Oran. On the West, Mogudor, St. Louis (a French port),E!mira, (Dutch ^ and Loando (Portuguese). On the East, Mozambique (Portuguese), Zanzibar (Arab), Beibera, Massuah, Suakim, Cos- seir, and Suez. The chief inland towns are Mouizouk, Kairwan, Constantina, and Fez, in the Barbary States; Koomnssie and Abomey, in Guinea ; and Sackatoo, Timbuctoo, Scgo, and Angor- mou, in Soudan. Madagascar is divided into a number of native tribes. The largest town is Tananarivo, and the chief port Tarn- atave. The British towns will be mentioned by themselves. THE BRITISH EMPIRE.— IH. In Africa. 249. What possessions have the British in Africa ? Cape Colony and Natal, in the South ; Sierra Leone and sev- eral small settlements on the Gambia and the Guinea coast, in the West; and the islands of Mauritius, the Seychelles, St. Helena^ and Ascension. The most important of these are Cape Colony^ 42 Catechism or Gkoobapiiy. Natal, and Mauritius, which are agricultural settlements, expoit- ing wool, hides, wine, flour, tallow, whale oil, salt meat, cotton, and sugar. The settlements on the West coast are chiefly kept as trading posts, and export gold dust, ivory, teak wood, palm oil, hides, &c. St. Helena and Ascension are stopping places for ships. 250. What arc the chief towns 1 In Cape Colony, Capetown, the capital, Graham's Town, and Port Elizaheth. In Natal, Picter Mauritzberg, and D'Urbnn. On the Gambia, Bathurst. On the Guinea Coast, Cape Coast Castle. In Sierra Leone, Freetown. In Mauritius, Port Louis. NORTH AMERICA. 251. What is the situation and extent of North America 1 It forms the Northern and larger portion of the New World, and has the Arctic Ocean on the North, the Atlantic on the East, the Pacific on the West, and the Gulf of Mi^xico on the Snuth, where it is joined to South America by the Isthmus of Panama. Including the West Indies, it occupies 9,600,000 square milcr, and has a population of over 47,000,000. 252. Name the inlets and straits of the East coast. BaflTin's Bay, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Bay of Chaleur, Bay of Fundy, St. Mary's Bay, Passamaquoddy Bay, Massachusetts Bay, Narragansptt Bay, Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Albemarle Sound, besides many important harbors, as those of Miramichi, Halifax, St. John, Portland, Boston, New^)ort, Provi- dence, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wilmington, N. C, Charleston, and Savannah. The straits are Belleisle, Northtm- berland, the Gut of Canso, Long Island Sound, and the Florida Channel. 253. Name the islands on this coast. The chief are Newfoundland, Anticosti, Prince Edward, Cape Breton, Grand Manan, Mount Desert, Nantucket, Rhode Island, Long Island, and the Bermudas. 254. What are its chief capes and peninsulas ? The headlands are Chudleigh, Gaspe, Breton, Canso, Sable (N. S.), Cod, Montauk Point, Sandy Hook. Capes Mary and Henlopen, Charles and Henry, and Sable (Flor.). The penuisu- las are Iiabrador, Gaspe, Nova Scotia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Florida. 255. Describe the South coast. It is generally low and sandy. The chief inlets are Apalachi- cola and Mobile harbors, Black, Barataria, and Galveston Bays, Catbchisjuc op Geogkapiit. 43 I 4 Lake Pontchartrain, and the Gulfs of Campeachy and Honduras. The chief capes arc Catoche and Gracias a Dios ; and the only important peninsula Yucatan. 256. Describe the West coast. It is generally high and iron-bound. The chief inlets are the Gulfs of Darien, California, and Georgia, Acapulco Harbor, the Golden Gate, the straits of San Juan do Fuca, Queen Charlotte's Sound, and Behring's Sea and Straits. The chief headlands — Point Gorda, and Capes San Lucas, Mendocino, Flattery, and Prince of Wales. The chief peninsulas — Cid California and Ali- aska. The coasts of the West Indies, and the North coast, will be described separately. 257. How may the surface be divided 1 Into six great sections, viz. : 1. and 2. 'J'he northern and south- ern slopes of the Great Central Plain, the largest in the world, continuous from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of jMexico. 3. The basin of the St. Lawionce and it«« lakes. 4. The Atlantic, or eastern slope. 5. The Pacific, or western slope. 6. 'J'he isthmus of Mexico and Central America. Greenland and the Arctic is- lands on the North, and the Archipelago of the West Indies to the South, are of course additional. 258. Describe the mountain ranges. 1. The Rocky mountains, with their continuations, the Sierra Madre of Mexico, and the Andes of S. America form an immense chain running through the entire length of the New World oir its Western side. It is the longest range in the world, and in height inferior only to the Himalaya. 2. On the East side of North America run the Alleghanies, a chain of less importance. 3. The Laurentian Hills form the North edge of the Great Cana- dian Basin. 4. The West Coast Mountains run parallel to and West of the Rocky Mountains, and are by some considered a part of them. In this chain is the highest peak in North America, viz., Mount St. Elias (a volcano) which rises 17,860 feet, while the highest peak of the rocky mountains Popocatapetl (also a volcano) 18 but 17,117 feet. The Alleghanies rise only 6,500 feet, the Lau- rentian Hills still lower. In the central part of the Rocky Moun- tains is the Plateau of Utah, and in the South, that of Mexico. 259. Of what character is the Great Plain? Much of the Northern or British slope is useless by reason of its frigid climate. But the Southern slope, which lies entirely in the United States, is all t'ertile (except a broad strip of desert next the Rocky Mountains), and is being ranidly peopled. All the centre is occupied by the grassy prairies, while the East is a forest region rising gradually to thi* AlU*gh!inirs. m CaTKCIIISM of GEOOnAPRT. li 1 I 260. Of what nature are the Atlantic and Pacific slopes t The northern third of the Atlantic slope is rugged, hut render* ed fairly productive by human skill, the central part is richer, ond the southern portion still more so, and is chiefly tilled hy slave labour. The Pacific slope is mostly rocky and sterile, except near the coast. 261. Of what nature is the Isthmus? Mexico is chiefly a plateau generally fertile, hut little cultivated; and the mountain chain running through the centre is noted for the great number and violence of its volcanoes. 262. How may the rivers be classed ? According to the slopes before mentioned. The North slope of the Great Plain is drained by the McKenzie and Coppermine, fall- ing into the Arctic Ocean, by the Churchill, Nelson, Severn, Al- bany, Abbittibbie, East Main, and Great Whale rivers, fjlling into Hudson Bay; and by the Saskatchawan, falling into lake Win- nipeg. The South slope is drained by llic Appalachicola, Mobile, Pearl, Mississippi, Sabine, Trinity, Biazos, Colorado, and Kio Grande. The Canadian basin is entirely drained by the St. Law- rence and its tributaries. The Atlantic slope by the Resiigouche, Miramichi, St. John, Penobscot, Kennebec, Me.nimac, Connecti- cut, Hudson, Delaware, Susquehana, Potomac, James, Koxnokc, Cape Fear River, Pcdee,Santee, Savannah, Altamaha, and Saiit John's. And the Pacific slope by the Colora«!o, Sun Joaquin , Sacramento, Oregon, Frazer's and Simpson's Rivers. The Rivers of the Isthmus are short, — ihc chief arc the Yiiqni ami Rio Grande, running West; and the Santander, Tula, J'abafco. Ciipe River, and San Juan, running East. The lakes are Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario, Chaniplain, Great Siill Kake, Winnipeg, Great Bear lake. Great Slave Lake, Athabasca, Nicaragua, &c. 263. Describe the Mississippi. It is the longest river in the glt)be, rising in the low watershed in Minnesota, which divides the North from the South slope of the Great Plain, and running South for 2,?( mil« t*. But its whole length, measured up the Misshouri, wMib is iti fart the main stream, is near 4,500 miles. Its great afllui nts from the West are the Missouri, Arkansas, and Red rivers; and that on the East, the Ohio. The Missouri receives the Yrllovv Stone and the Platte; the Arkansas receives the Canadian rivers ; and the Ohio the Cumberland and Tennessee, — all larger rivers than any of the Atlantic slope. 264. What is peculiar about the climate? It is generally colder, moister, and subject to greater extremes Catkcuisk or GsooiiAraT. 46 in the more tliickly settled parts, than in corresponding latitude! of the Old World. The Ea^itcrn coast is colder and more extreme in cliinittt than the Western. On the great Mexican plateau the weather ti« almost a perpetual spring. 265. Describe the vegetation. In the tropical parts, the mthogany, logwood, vanilla, jalap, and many species of cactus prevail ; and rice, cotton, sugar, the bana- na anJ the pjach are cultivated. In the temperate regions, oaka, cypre^ises, mdiples, pines, ash, elm, beech, birch, cedar, chestnut, hickory, locust tree, and walnut. Maize, the potato, and tobacco, are nitivc plants. Wheat, and the other chief grains and fruit'', have b«;en iiitroJuced, and immense crops of the first-named gram are grown in the centre. Approaching the North, the pinea are more num^^rous. with the larch, hazel, willow, and poplar. Be* yond the Pal.ir circle, not a tree is seen, and the vegetation mostly consist.4 of mouses, lichens, and dwarf shrubs. 266. Describe the animals. The native races are strikingly different from those of the Old World ; from which however America received her farm stock, at well as the prominent food plants. The fur bearing animals and aquatic birds of the North, are the only tribes common to both continents. The jaguar, or native panther, is found in the South; the grizzly bear, and a peculiar breed of sheep and goatu, are found in the Rocky Mountain region. The bison belongs to the prairies, where are likewise found native species of deer and beara. The musk ox, beaver, lynx, wolf and fox, abound in the far North. Am >iig the birds, the eagle, vulture, passenger pigeon, and turkey, deserve mention ; among the reptiles, the turtle, the rattlesnake and other venomous serpents, besides the alligator. 267. What are the native races of men ? The red, or American race, originally roamed over the entire continent, except the extreme northern parts, where their place !• taken by the Esquimaux. War, hunting and Bshing, were their chief occupations, and fostered astern, vindictive, and cold dispo- sition. They have long been diminishing in number, and aro now almost confined to those parts less peopled by European col* onists, viz. : the United States West of the Mississippi, the Hud* •on Biy territory, and the interior of the Isthmus. 263. What are the political divisions of North America*! The Colonial possessions of Britain, Denmark, and Ruaiia; and the Republics of the United States, Mexico, and Central Am* erica. 46 Catechip:^ of Geoorapht. •'■I u THE BRITISH EMPIRE.— IV. In North America, 269. Name the colonies of British North America. Cnnadii ; the lower provinces, viz., New Brunswick, Novji Sco- tia (including Cape Breton), Prince Edward Island, and New- foundland; Hudson Bay Territory; British Columbia, and Van* couvcr's Island ; and the West Indian Colonies. New Brunswick. 270. What are the boundaries of New Brunswick? On the North, the Bay of Chaleur and Canada, on the East, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the South, Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy, and on the West, the State of Maine. 271. What is the area and population t New Brunswick contains 27,G20 pquaro miles, and has u popu- lation of over a quarter of a tnilli(>n. 272. What are tin; most important features of the coast 1 The chief capes nrr- Points Miscou and Escuminac, and Cupc Tormcntine in the E;',-f, and Capes Enrage, Meranguin, Spencpr, Mispec and Leprcau, on the South. At the North-east are tho Isles of Shippeg.in njuj Miscou, and at the South-west, thoBO of Grand Manan, Campo Brllo, Deer Island, &c. The chief inlctf are Dalhousic and Bathurst Harbors in the Bay of Chaleur, Shippegan Harbor, Miramichi River, Richibucto, and Shediac Harbors, and Bay Verle in the Gulf ©■f St. Lawrence; and Shep- ody Bay, St John Harbor, and Maces and Passamaquoddy BpyH in the Bay of Fundy. This last Bay which is 200 miles long, has a high and rocky shore, while the Gulf, or North Shore, In low and sandy. The tides in the Bay are the highest in the world. 273. How does New Brunswick lie with respect to the other Provinces ? It is joined to Nova Scotia at the South-east by the IsthniUfi oi Chignecto, which is less than fifteen miles wide, and separated from Prince Edwar Catechism ok GKOGiiAPiir. 49 richest in inincral». WeBtniorland coiituinu the mobt marsh land. St. John is the most populous, and Victoria is the most thinly settled. St. John, Northumberland and Charlotte are foremost in shiphuilding and commerce, and Victoria and Rostigouche in lumbering. York contains the capital. 285. What are the chief occupations 1 Lun bering, shipbuilding, fishing, and comnien-e; and to a less extent, manufactures and mining. The chief crops arc hay, buck- wheat, rye, potatoes, turnips, Indian corn, oats, &c. The chief exports are ships, timber, and fish. 286. What is the nature of the government? That of a colony, which, though presided over by a liitutenant Governor appointed by the Britisli crown, has entire control over its internal affnirs by electing its own legislators. Yet there is no more loyal part of the British dominions, nor one in which the moral force of deference for the Mother Country, and for its Sov- ereign, is more felt. 287. What are the chief religious denominations 1 Koman Catholics, comprising the Irish, French, and Indians, form the the largest religious body, and have Sees at St. John and Chatham. Next in order of numbers are the Presbyterians, Baptists, Cliuivh of England, and Methodists. The Province forms the Protestant Diocese of Fredericton. 288. What is the state of education 1 The sparseness of the population and the smallne:^s of rnofit of the settlements arc unfavorable to it ; but in the larger towns it is probably equal to that of any other country. There is a University at Fredericton, with two Wesleyan Academies at Sackville, a Baptist Seminary at Fredericton, a Free Kirk College at Wood- stock, Grammar Schools in each county town, and Training and Madras Schools at St. John. 289. What is the government capital 1 Fredericton, situated 85 miles up the St. ,Iohn. It is a well built city of 8,000 inhabitants, containing the Government House, the Parliament Buildings, the University of New Brunswick and the English Church Cathedral, some of which are fine structures. It is also the business centre of one of the finest agricultural regions in the province. 290. What is the commercial capital ? St. John City, at the mouth of the St. John, one of the most thriving ports in America. With the suburbs of Carleton, Port- land, and Indiantown, it has nearly 45,000 inhabitants, and iv rapidly improving in an architectural as well as a commerciat \ 60 Catkciuhm ok GKOftiiAfiiT. \ 1 Soiiit of view. Among it.s finest buildings inny be mentioned the >oman Catholic Cathedral nnJ the Bishop's Pal.\cc adjacent, the new Hospital, the Custom House, Penitentiary, Lunatic Asylum and the Suspension Bridge near it. It carries on a large and most important trudc in shipbuilding and the export of lumber. 291. What arc the other chief ports ? Dalhousic aiul Bathurst, the ports of the Bay Chaleur ; the four adjacent towns of Newcastle, Ciinthuni, Douglastown, and Nelson, on the lower Miramichi, which are generally called collec- tively " Miramichi," and do a large business in ships and lumber; Kichibui'to; SShediac, important as the eastern terminus of the railway from St. John, and as the depot of the trade of Prince Ed- ward Island ; Moncton, at the bend of the Petitcodiac, also on the railway just referred to ; St. Andrews and St. Stephens, the chief ports on Passamaquoddy Bay — the former also important on ac- count of its being the sea terminus of a railway running thence \oilh to Woodstock, on the St. John. Minor ports are Shippegan, Cambclltown, Buctouchc, Dorchester, Hillsborough, Quaco, St. George (or Magaguadavic), &c. 293. What are the chief inland towns 1 Besides the county towns already mentioned, there are few of any size. The largest are Boiestown on the upper Miramichi, Sussex in Sussex Vale, Hampton (K. C.) and the river ports on the St. John, as Sheffield, Maugerville, Stanley (on the Nashwaak), Grand Lake (the settlement at thd head of that lake in Queen's County), Eel River, Florenccville, Tobiquc (at the mouth of that tributary), &c. Nova Scotia. 293. What is the general description of this province t It is a triangular peninsula lying South East of New Bruns- wick; to which it is joined by the isthmus of Chignecto. Cape Breton, to the North East, belongs to it. 294. What are its area and population t Nova Scotia proper has an area of 15,615 square miles, and a •population of 255,000. Cape Breton has an area of 3,125 square .miles, and a population of about 65,000. The united area is there- fore 18,740 square miles, and the total population 320,000. 295. Describe the coast. On the North is the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Straits of Northumberland, which latter separate the province from Prince Edward Island. The chief capes on this coast are St. George, John, and Malagash ; and the chief inlets are Tattamagouche, Pictou, Antigonish, and Chedabucto harbors ; besides the Gut of .. Catnciiinm or GEoonAPar. 51 Canso, separutinig^ tlio peninsula from Cnpo Breton. The East coast is high and rockv nrid much indented, bordering on the open Atlantic. The chief intoti hero are St. Mary's Bay, Sheet, Ship, Jeddure, Musquodohoit, and Halifax harbors, Mahone Bay, and Lunenburg, Liverpool, Hhclburnc, and Barrington harborg. The capes are (Janso, Hiunbro, La Have, La Tour, and Sablo. The West coast is also high, hut more iron-bound. The chief capes here arc Fourchu, St. Mary, Black Rock, Digby Neck, Chignecto, and Split. The chinf inlotK are Tuskct Bay, Yarmouth Harbor, St. Mary's Bay (with the (irnnd and Petite Passages), Annapolis Basin, Basin and Channel of Minas, Mouth of the Avon, Cobe- quid Bay, and Cunttu'rhnd Basin. The chief islands of Novtt Scotia, besides Cupi) Broton, are Pictou on the North ; Sable Island, far out to sea, on thit Kast; Cape Sable Island, close in on the South; Seal Island, nho on the South; and Long and Briar Islands, on the Went, 296. Describe thn voanl of Cape Breton. That part facing thn open sea is precipitous and iron-bound. But a noble sheet of water, called the Bras D'or, nearly cuts the island in two, and ii navigable throughout. The other chief bays arc Mire, Gabarus, Bl. Ann's, Aspy, and St. Peter's. The chief capes are North, FIgtnont, Murgain, and Breton. Adjacent are the isles of Boulurdariti, separating the entrance to the Bras D'or into two pacts; Hcalaric, ofT the East; and Madame, off the South. ' . 297. Describe the watershed of Nova Scotia. It runs East under the namo of the Cumberland Mountains, Cobequid Mountains, T^ >m, &,c., to Canso, and thence South- west to Cape SiiblUf 1*arts of this latter section of it are the Ar- dois Mountain, tho North and South Mountains of Cornwallis, and the Blue Hills ot Hhiclburne. West of the range are the fine valleys of the Annu^'ulin and the Cornwallis. The Cobequid moun- tains rising to 1,100 feet form the highest land in the Province. 298. What are tha largest rivers 1 The three rivers ot I'ictou, and the Antigonish running North, the Country Harbor River, St. Mary's River, Musquodoboit, Sack- ville. La Have, Port Medway, and Liverpool, flowing East, the Roseway, Clyde and Tuskct, flowing South, and the Sissiboo, An- napolis, Cornwallis, Gaspereau, Avon, and Shubenacadie, flowing into the Bay of Fundy. Those in Capo Breton are the Mire, Margarie, and Inhabitants. The largest of all these are the Anna- polis, and St. Mtryif each over 80 miles long, and the Liverpool Kiver. / 62 Catechism or GEoeRAPHT. 299. Name the chief lakes. They are numerous but small. Rossignol, 30 miles lung, ancT drained by the Liverpool River, is the largest: next are Malaga, Fairy Lake, the Tusket Lakes, Ship Harbour Lake, and College Lake. 300. What is the nature of the soil ? Fertile on the North Shore, round the Basin of Minas, and through the Annapolis Valley thence South West. The Eastern shore and most of Cape Breton is rocky and unfruitful. As usual, the intervales everywhere are fertile. 301. Compare the climate with that of adjoining provinces. It is rather milder, especially in the Southwest, than that of New Brunswick, but less so than that of Prince Edward Ishnd. The animals and vegetables arc the same as those of New Bruns- wick. 302. Name the counties. There arc fourteen in Nova Scotia and four in Cape Breton. Those in Nova Scotia are Cumberland (county town Amherst), Colchester (Truro), Sydney (Dorchester or Antigonish), King's (Kentville), Hants (Windsor), Queen's (Liverpool), and the Counties of Pictou, Guysliorough, Halifax, Lunenburg, Annapolis, D'gby, Shelburne and Yarmouth, each with County Towns of the same name. Those in Cape Breton are Inverness (county town Port Hood), Victoria (Baddeck), Cape Breton (Sydney), and Richmond (Arichat). 303. What are the chief occupations? Similar to those in New Brunswick, but farming and fishing are more extensively carried on, and lumbering and shipbuilding less so. The Cornwallis Valley is called the Garden of Nova Scotia, and is noted Ic. its potatoes, apples, peas, cherries and plums. Timber is cut in considerable quantities on the East coast. The main crops are hay, oats, barley, potatoes, turnips, fruit, rye, maize, dec. Dairy produce is an important item. 304. What can you say about the commerce ? It is considerable ; the Province exports timber, cordwood, coal, gypsum, potatoes, apples, cider, fish, cattle, salt meat, &c. ; and imports British goods of all kinds, Hour, American manufactures, tea and West India produce. 305. Fs :-'ii .- Catkchism UK Geo»rapht. 63 • (draining Lake Winnipeg — which again receives the Saskatche- wan and Red Rivers), Severn, Albany, Rupert's, East Main and Great Whate Rivers. East of the Bay lies the vast peninsula of Labrador. On the north coast is a labyrinth of islands (South- ampton, Cumberland and Cockburn, Victoria, Prince of Wales, and Baring's Islands, North Devon, Bathurst, Melville and Prince Patrick's Islands, &c.,) on w^hosc desolate shores so many brave men have perished in searching for the northwest passage. 355. Where are the chief trading posts ? At the mouths of the rivers running into the Bay, in the valleys of the Saskatchewan and McKenzic, and on the Labrador coast. The chief of them are York Fort, on the Nelson ; Fort Garry, on Red River; and Nain, in Labrador. .356. What are the chief exports 1 The furs of the black, silver and other foxes, which are very valuable ; also, those of the ermine, beaver, seal, dec. The seal and whale fishery are prosecuted off th6 east coast, and whale and seal oil, whalebone, and walrus ivory arc exported. British Columbia and Vancouver s Island. 357. Give a general description of these colonies. British Columbia comprises that part of British America lying west of the Rocky Mountains, and drained by the Frazer and Simpson Rivers, as well as by the north fork of the Oregon or Columbia River. West of it lies Vancouver's Island, the largest on the west coast of America. Their united area is about a quar- ter of a million square miles, but their population is little more than 20,000. They are under one government, which is admin- istered at Victoria, Vancouver's Island. 358. For what are they noted ? British Columbia for its recently discovered gold mines, which are fast attracting settlers thither, Vancouver's Island for its coal, and both for their fertile soil and their mild and equable climate. Besides the gold, coal, furs, fish, and farming produce form ele- ments of wealth. The chief and almost the only towns are Vic- toria, on the Island, population 3,000, and New Westminster, in British Columbia, on Fraeer River, population 1,000. Russian America, , 359. Where is Russian America 1 - . . At the extreme northwest of the continent, forming a penin- •ula, ending in the smaller peninsula of Aliaska, which is noted 64 Catechism of Geouhapht. for its volcanoes. From this the Aleutian Island stretches acrosa Behring's Sea to Asia. 360. What sort of a country is it"? It is a frozen wilderness, a little larger than Canada, with a population of only about 7,000 — mostly Indians and Esquimaux. The soil is sterile and the climate severe, but fish and fur bearing animals are plentiful. New Archangel, on Sitka Ibland, is the Russian capital and the chief trading post; population 1,000. " Greenland. 361. What sort of a country is Greenland 1 A vast peninsula, separated from America by Baffin's Bay and ending at the South at Cape Farewell. It is claimed by Den- mark, which maintains a few small settlements on the west coast. The natives resemble the Esquimaux. Greenland is perhaps the most inhospitable region in the world. THE UNITED STATES. Introductory 4^u(?»/io7w.— Describe the East coast, (see questions 251-3). The South, (254). The West, (255). What are the chief ranges? (257). Describe the drainage, (261). State what is mentioned about the Mis- sissippi, (262). Describe the Atlantic and Pacific slopes, (259). How may the great central plain be divided ? (258). What lakes are in the Northern States? (261, 333). Characterize the climate, (263). Name the chief animals, (265). The vegetables, (264). The native races of men. (266). i 362. Name the area, population, and position of the United States. They lie south of British North America, and have an area of over 3,000,000 square miles, with a population of 32,000,000. They form a political union, called a Federal Republic, and con- stitute one of the most important countries of the globe. 363. How may they be classified ? Into the Northeastern or New England States, the Middle, Southern, and Western States, and the Territories. ' • ' '-'.;■ . 364. Name the New England States. ^^^^ i> :;Mi/..-v Catkcmimm or Gboorafht. 65 State. Conirwtml. Townp.* of Maine, Me., Portland, Bangor, Auoubta. New Hampshire, N, H., Manchester, Concord, Nashua. Vermont, MaasachusettN, Rhode Island, R. I., Connecticut, Vt., MontptUier. M«Nii., Boston, 178,000 ; Lowell, Worcester, Now Bedford, Salem, Lynn, Law- rence, Taunton, Springfield, Fall River, Newburyport, Chelsea, Gloucester, Haverhill. PnoviDENCB, 61,000; Smithfield, Nbwport. Conn., Njswjiavbn, 40,000 ; Hartford, Nor- wich, Bridgeport. Nev London^ Waterbury. -^- 365. Give a general description of them. They lie in the norlhttast of the Union and east of the Hudsoa River. Peopled by colonists of the British races, and possessing much coast, they are famous for their manufactures, commerce, and fisheries. The soil, though not naturally fertile, is made 'j careful culture to produce good crops of hay, corn, wheat, <'cc. Other agricultural wealth, farm^ stock and their products, as but- ter, cheese, wool, dtc, also apples, maple sugar, &c., abound. 366. What are the ehief manufactures ? Cotton and woollen, at Lowell, Taunton^ Providence, Man- chester ; shoes at Lynn ; various articles of hardware, woodsn ware, &c., at Hartford, Norwich, &c ; and shipbuilding at Port- land and Bangor. Worcester and Springfield, Massachusetts, are also manufacturing towns. 367. What are the chief ports 1 Portland, Bangor, Portsmouth, Boston, Salem, New Bedford, Providence, Newport, Bristol, R. L, New Londoi. New Haven, Bridgeport, New Bedford (the greatest whaling poii < . the world), Gloucester, Nantucket, Newburyport. New London and Ston- ington are noted for fisheries. 368. What are the exports from New England? ' 4 -'s- Ships, lumber, pot and pearl ashes, fish, beef, pork, man«ft^«>* twee, grain, and Ice. A large part of these goes to other pants oC th« Union. .■ f *In order of size: State eaplials in small cai^^Is; those of under lOJQOO inhabitants, in itolies. No other towns unfer 10,000>are giyeu*. From the census of 1860' 6« Catechism of Gkographt. 369. Name the Middle States. State. Contracted. Cities. New York, N. Y., New York, 805,000 ; Brooklyn, 265,000 ; Buffalo, 81,000; Albany, 62,000; Ro- chester, 48,000 ; Troy, Syracuse, Utica, Oswego, Kingston, Newburg, Pough- keepsie, Newtown, Lockport, Hemp- sted, Yonkers, Auburn, Flushing. New Jersey, N. J., Newark, 72,000 ; Jersey City (suburb of New York), 30,000; Patterson, Tren- ton, Camdon (suburb of Philadelphia), 15,000 ; Elizabeth, New Brunswick. Philadelphia, 565,000 ; Pittsburg, 49,000 ; Alleghany City(contiguous to Pittsburg), 29,000; Reading, Lancaster, Harris- burg. Cincinnati, 161,000; Cleveland, 43,500; Dayton, Columbus, Toledo. Wilmington, Dover. Baltimore, 212,500; wlnnaj9o/t3. Pennsylvania, Pa., Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, O., De., Md., 370. Give a general description of them. Their surface is of a varied character, but the soil generally fertile, and the climate milder than in New England. Large crops of wheat, corn, rye, oats, barley, tobacco, fruits, &c., are raised, while coal, iron, salt, and lime abound. Ohio and New York are noted for their farm stock and wool, Pennsylvania for its coal and iron, and Maryland for tobacco. This section con- tains the greater part of the Germans and Dutch in the United States. 371. In what do these States resemble New England? In possessing in a greater degree than the rest of the Union the advantages of general education, density of population, and such accompaniments of superior civilization as railways, canals, telegraph lines, steamboats, and public works. 372. How do they rank in tommerce ? Though they have little sea coast,* they excel all other sections in extent of trade — New York importing more largely than any other American city. The other ports are Philadelphia, Balti- more, Trenton, Wilmington ; besides Oswego and Rochester, on * They occupy, however, all the southern shores of Lakes Brie and Ontario. » .X * *■ Catbchisk of GsOaBAPHT. 67 on Lake Ontario; and Buffalo, Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio, on Lake Erie. The chief exports are wheat, flour, coal, tobacco, iron, meat, books, &c. 373. What are the chief manufactures T Iron and glass, at Pittsburg ; shoes and carriages, at Newark ; various articles at New York and Philadelphia ; flour, at Balti- more, Buffalo, Rochestir, Gennessee and Wilmington; tobacco, at Baltimore ; machinery, at Cincinnati and Pittsburg. New York, Philadelphia and Cincinnati (with Boston) are the great publishing centres of America; and these four cities, with Balti- more and St. Louis (in the Western States), are the six largest cities of the Union. Baltimore is the greatest flour market, and Cincinnati the greatest pork market on the globe, while New York and Philadelphia are the largest cities in the New World. 374. Name the Western States. States. Contracted. Cities. Michigan, Mich., Detroit, 45,500 ; Lansing. Indiana, Ind., Indianapolis, New Albany (suburb of Louis- ville), Evansville, Fort Wayne. Illinois, 111., Chicago, 109,000 ; Peoria, Quincy, Spring- FIELD. Missouri, Mo., St. Louis, 160,500; Je^er«on CtVy. - > Wisconsin, Wis., Milwaukee, 45,000 ; Madison. ii ,v ,; Iowa, low., Dubuque, Des Moines. ,:.!'" Minnesota, Minn., St. Paul. < i J !■ .- Kansas, Kan., Lecompton City , 350. "■'"'" California, Cal., San Francisco, 57,000 ; Sacramento City. Oregon, Oreg., Salem. < 375. Give a general description of these States. They occupy the greater part of the prairie region, and are all inland except California and Oregon, which are separated from the rest by the Territories and the Rocky Mountains. Michigan, and Wisconsin, however, border on Lake.? Superior, Michigan and Huron. They differ from the Eastern and Middle States^ in being more thinly peopled — large tracts not being settled at all a« yet. Socially and politically, they resemble the sections just mentioned, rather than the Southern States. The most flourish- ing are Illinois, Indiana, Missouii and, perhaps, California. 376. What are the chief occupations ? Agriculture greatly preponderates; besides which, tommerce ■uid mining engage much attention. Manufactares are chiefly •M- / / 68 Catechism of GEoeBArHT. J. imported from the more Eastern sections and from Europe. Large^ crops of wheat, maize, oats, barley, hay, hemp, cotton and tobac<^ CO are raised, and farm stock is plentiful. These States are very rich in minerals. Coal, lead and iron are found in the central districts ; copper and lead, near the lakes ; and gold, quicksilver and sulphur, in California. The largest exports are wheat, flours- maize, lead, coal, iron, and gold. 377. What ure the chief centres of trade 1 The lake portsj viz : Detroit, Chicago (the great depot of the flour and lumber trade), Milwaukee and Michigan City (Indiana)^: the river portst viz: St. Paul, Galena and Dubuque (trading in leud), Quincy, Alton (Illinois), St. Louis (the great depot of the fur trade), and Cairo (Illinois), on the Mississippi ,• New Albany and Evansville, on the Ohio; Peoria, on the Illinois; Fori Wayne, on the Maumee,- Indianapolis, on a tributary of the Wa- bash j Jefferson City, on the Missouri; Sacramento City, on the Sacramento ; and Salem, on a tributary of the Columbia ; and,, lastly, the sea ports, viz : San Francisco (exporting gold), Mon- terey and Astoria (Oregon). 378. Name and describe the Territories. Nebraska, Dacotah, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Colorado,. New Mexico, Arizona,' and the Indian Territory. They occupy a vast tract (more than one- third of the Union) which is not yeto settled, and much of which, from the nature of the soil, nevep will be. Utah is sufficiently populous for a State, but the pecu- liar creed of its people — Mormonism — stands in the way o" it» admission. The Indian Territory is set apart for those native tribes which have been removed from the eastward. These, with- the Mormons, white hunters, half-breeds, as well as several yet unconquered Indian tribes, form the population of the Territories* The towns are Salt Lake City and Fillmore City in Utah, Santa Fe (New Mexico), Omaha City (Nebraska), and Olympia (Washington). 379. Name the Sodthbrn "States. States. Contracted. Cities. Virginia, Va., Richmond, 38,000 ; Petersburg, Noifiiill,, Wheeling, Stanton, Alcxandiia* North Carolina, N. C, Wilmington, Raleigh, South Carolina, S. C, Charleston, 41,000; Co/umUc^ Georgia, Ga., Savannah, Augusta, MiUeJgevilk,- :r':.-- '-■"^.^ Catxchism of Gkographt. «9 States. Tlorida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Contracted. Cities. Fa., Tallahassee. Ala., Mobile, 30,000 ; Montgomery. Miss., Natchez, Jackson. La., New Orleans, 170,000 ; Baton Rouge. Tez., Galveston, Austin. Ark., Little Rock. Tenn., Memphis, Nashville. Ky., Louisville, 70,000 ; Covington and New- port, 26,000, (suburbs of Cincinnati); Frankfort. 380. How do they differ from the rest of the States 1 In having an almost tropical climate with its productions, in tnaintaining the institution of slavery (which itself induces other fiocial and political differences), and in the elements of their po- tpulation, which, with a preponderance of British races, yet in- 'Cludes, in the southeast and southwest, many persons of Spanish, and in the south, many of French descent, besides over 4,000,000 negroes. In 1861, thee States seceded from the Union, and have since, under the name of the Confederate States, maintained a -war for their independence, the success of which is yet (1864) doubtful. The public feeling in Kentucky and Tennessee (as indeed it is also in Missouri and Maryland) is divided with res- pect to the secession question. Bichmond is considered the capi- tal of the Confederacy. 381. What are the leading occupations 1 Agriculture, and to a much less extent, commerce and manu- factures. The field labors, and indeed all menial occupations, are performed by slaves. The crops are cotton (by far the most important), rice, tobacco, sugar, maize, wheat, fruit, &.c. The war has greatly interfered with these, and has tended to encour- age manufactures instead. Iron, coal, salt, lime and gold are mined, though not to a large extent. The exports are cotton, rice, tobacco, sugar, tar, turpentine, resin, &c. 382. Name the chief manufacturing towns. Louisville, Richmond, Covington and Newport, Wheeling, Stanton, Alexandria, Wilmington, Nashville, Columbus (Geor- gia), and Augusta. ' ' 5^^ 383. What is noteworthy about the commerce 1 It was, before the war, mostly conducted by British and Nor- >thern shipping ; and, during the war, the coast has been block- aded by the Union fleet. The chief sea ports are Norfolk, Wil- 70 Catechism ot Gsooripht. mington, Charleston, Savannah, Key West (Florida), Pensacola (Florida), Mobile, Galveston, and Matagorda (Texas)* The river ports are Wheeling, Louisville, Covington, and Newport, on the Ohio; Memphis, Natchez, Napoleon (Arkansas), and New Or- leans (the greatest cotton mart in the world, and the emporium of the trade of the great basin), on the Mississippi,- Alexandria, on the Potomac; Richmond, on the James; Augusta, on the Savannah; Frankfort, on the Ktni cky; Nashville, on the Cum- berland ; Little Rock, on the Arkansas; and Austin, on the Colorado. '1 I tv I 384. Describe the government of the United States. While each State has complete control over its own affairs, with an elective Governor, Senate and House of Representatives — the whole of them elect a ruler for the whole Union (called the President), as well as a federal Senate, and House of Represen- tatives. The President is assisted by a Vice-President and heads of departments. The whole form the General Congress, which meets at Washington, on the Potomac, the federal capital of the United States. This city is situated in a small tract par- titioned off from Maryland, called the District of Columbia, and contains 61,000 inh-r^bitants. Here, also, the Supreme Court — the highest tribunal in the Union — holds its sittings. 385. What are the prominent social features in the United States 1 Freedom of opinion, the wide diffusion of education, and the levelling of social distinctions. There is no established church — the most nunerous religious bodies being the Baptists, Episco- palians, Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Roman Catholics. Mexico. 386. For what is Mexico noted ? For the remarkable ruins which betoken that its early Indian inhabitants were somewhat advanced in civilization. Also for its numerous volcanoes and rich silver mines. 387. What races form its population? Tht) Spanish colonists, the Indian aborigines, negroes (intro> d;;ct^d — and once slaves), and mixed races derived from inter- marriages between these three races, which inter-marriagcs are very fi-equent here, as in Central and South America. The whole population is about 8,000,000. . 388. Describe the Government. ^ . j , : \ I / /, / CATscHrsM OF Geoorapht. '■ \,^' n It was, till lately, a republic : but anarchy and dissension have always prevailed since its independence of Spain, ^nd now seems likely to result in the establishment of an empire under Maxi- milian of Austria. 389. What are the chief products 1 Indian corn, tropical fruits (as the banana, mague>, dec), wheat, rice, sugar, coffee, and vanilla. Of minerals, the chief are gold, silver, iron, copper, &c. Cattle are numerous, and hides are exported ; mules are the universal beasts of burden, as in the Andean districts of Bouth America. 390. Name the chief cities. Mexico, the capital, a noble walled city of 170,000; Guada- laxara, 70,000 ; Potosi, famous for its silver mines, and Oaxaca, are inland cities. The ports are Vera Cruz, Tampico, Acapulco, and Mazatlan. Central America. 391. Describe Central America. It is divided into live small republics, viz : Guatemala (capital. New Guatemala, 60,000), San Salvador (capital, Cojetepeque), Costa Rica (capital, San Jose, 31,000), Honduras (capital, Com- ayagua), and Nicaragua (capital, Leon). In its races, religion (the Roman Catholic), the low tone of morals, and in the ignor- ance and anarchy that prevail, it resembles Mexico and South America. The exports are indigo, dyewoods, cotton, mahogany, sugar, and minerals. |i^ The West Indies. 392. Where are the West India Islands 1 They fc.Ui a double line between North and South America. Cuba, the largest, separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Carib- bean Sea, and the rest of them lie across the entrances of those waters. The northeast chain is called the Bahamas ; the other, and larger one — tlie Antilles — is divided into the Greater (includ- ing Cuba, Hayti, Jamaica, and Porto Rico,) and Lesser Antilles. 393. Describe their coast, &c. The coasts are generally high an(! rocky, with coral reefs. The chief straits are Florida Channpl, Old Bahamu- Channel, Yuca- tan Passage, Windward Passage, Mona Passage, and the Ser- pert's and Dragon's Mouths. The chief capes are San Antonio and Point de Maysi iu Cuba, Engano and Irois in Hayti, and r ^WA'^' /. 72 Catkcuism of Gkoorapmt. N«grii anJ Morant in Jamaica. Most of the islands are moun- tainous, and some volcanic; the Sierra de Cobre (or Copper Mountains) of Cuba, the Mountains of Cibao in Hayti, and the Blue Mountains in Jamaica being the chief ranges. None of them are very high. 394. What is the nature of the climite, soil, and products? The climate is hot, though the htM^t is tempered by the latij and sea breezes. Destructive hurricanos sometimes occur. VLtast of the islands, except the Bahaiias, are fertile, producing coff^i, sugar, tobacco, cotton, cocoa, mahogany, logv^ood, and fruits^ These, with rum, molasses, turtles, bait, and sponges are the chief exports ; while the imports are maiuifactuten;, tlour, lumber, fish, and salt meat. Slavery now exists only in the Spanish islands. 395. What is the political condition of these islands ? Nearly all aie European colonies, as follows; — Spain owna Cuba anJ Porto Rico, and has lately retaken Hayti. The chief towns in C .??,* are Havana, population 155,000, the largest place in the West indvei.' (noted for its cigars), Matanzas, Santiago, Puerto Principe JOfOOO ; those in Hayti, Port au Prince, 30.000, and San Domitigo ; md in Porto Rico, San Juan, 30,000. The British possessions will be noticed separately. France owns Martinique, Guadaloupe, Marie Galante, Desirade, and part of St. Muftin : the largest towns being Point a Pitro and c*t. Pierre, 30,000, Y Denmark owns Santa Cniz, St. Thomas, and Qt. John : chief town, Ouistian Stadt. Holland owns Saba, St. Eustatia, Cura9oa, Buen Ayre, Oruba, and the rest of St. Martin : Williamstadt is the chief town. Sweden owns St. Bartholomew. Venezuela, a South American State, owns the adjacent isles of Tortuga, Margarita, &c. \ > THE BRITISH EMPIRE.— V. In the West Indies and South America. 396. V7hat possessions has Britain in these parts'? The British West India Islands are Jamaica, all the Bahamas (numbering about 500), Antigua, Dominica, St. Christopher, Montserrat, Nevis, half the Virgin Islands, Barbadoes, St. Vin- cent, Tobago, Granada, St. Lucia, Trinidad, &c. British Hoa- duras and Mosquitia in Central, and British Guiana in South America, besides the Bermudas, are also generally called We«t I Catkchisix of Giosrapht. T8 \* India Colonies, as being of similar character. Hondurai, indeed, is a dependency of Jamaica. Britain alio owns the Falkland Islands, northeast of Cape Horn. The West Indian Colonies haTe representative institutions, as in New Brunswick. 397. What are the chief towns in these colonies 1 Kingston, in Jamaica, 35,000 ; Bridgetown, Barbadoes, 23,000 ; Port of Spain, Trinidad, 18,000; St. John, Antigua, 16,600; and Nassau, in New Providence, the capital of the Bahamas, 9,000. Hamilton, is the capital of the Bermudas ; Georgetown, of Guiana ; and Balize, of Honduras. Spanish Town, Jamaica, population 6,000, is the general capital of the British West Indies. 398. Describe British Guiana. It is tropical and fertile ; hilly in the interior, but low towards the coast, and drained by the Essequibo (460 miles), Demarara (200 miles), and Berbice (250 miles), which rivers give nnmes to the three divisions of the colony. Vegetation is luxuriant—the pine-apple, tamarind, and other fruits abound, and the giant Vietoria Regia lily is prominent among its flora. The chief ex- ports are rum, sugar, &c. The largest towns are Georgetown, 25,500, New Amsterdam and Berbice. 399. For what are the Falkland Islands noted '' As a rendezvous for ships engaged in the southern whale fish- ery, or those bound around "the Horn." SOUTH /n»fiBRICA. 400. Give a general description of South America. It is a vast triangular peninsula joined to North America by the Isthmus of Panama, occupying 6,500,000 square miles, and having a population of 22,000,000. 401. Describe the coast. It is generally unbroken, except at the southwest. The chief inlets are the Gulf; of Darien, Maracaybo, and Paria, and the mouth of the Oronoco, at the north ; the Bays of All Saints and jcio Janeirn, the Gulfs of San Matias and St. George^ and the mouth of the La Plata,1 on the east ; and the Bay of Panama, and the Gulfs of Guayaquil, El Ancud, and Penas, on the west. The islands are generally unimportant : the chief being Ticrra del Fuego, separated from the mainland by Magellan's Straits, the Falkland Islands, Wellington Island, the Chonos Islands, Chiloe Island, the Galapagos Islands, and Joannes Island. The extreme capes are Point Gallina (north), San Roque (east), Cape Froward (south), and Aguja (west); the others being Orange, Do Norte, Frio, San Antonio, Blanco, Horn, and San Lorenzo. 74 Catschism of Geographt. -, : . I I i 402. Describe the surface. ^ It may be divided into three great regions: Ist. The mountain ■yatem of the Andes. 2d. The central plain, su]i>>divided into the three districts of the llanos, selvas, and pampas. 3d. The Plateau of Brazil. The Andes run through the whole length of the con- tinent, and form, in many parts, parallel ranges with great longi- tudinal valleys. They are of great height — Aconcagua, in Chilly rising to 23,910 feet, being the highest peak in America. Many of them are volcanoes, the best known being CotopaxI, in Ecu- ador. The llanos in the north, and the pampas in the south, are grassy plains somewhat like the prairies, and, like them, the bomb of vast herds of cattle and horses, introduced from Europe, which now run wild. Part of the llanos, however, are inundated during the rainy season. The selvas are magnificent tropical forests, the soil being of exuberant fertility. The extensive, but not high, Brazilian plateau comprises about half of the empire of that name. On it run the Brazilian ranges (Sierra do Mar, Sierra do Eptinhaco, Sierra Vertentes, &c.), the highest peak of which rises about 8,000 feet. Another mountain system— the Parime Mountains — separate the llanos from the selvas. Pata^ gonia is chiefly a desert of shingle. 403. Describe the drainage. It is on a vast scale. All the important rivers run into the Atlantic. The Oronoco, 1,200 miles (tributaries, the Meta, Apure, Guaviari, &c.), drains the llanos ,• the Amazon, the largest in the world, 4,000 miles long (tributaries the Modeiro, 2,000 miles, Rio Negro, 1,800 miles, Ucayali, 1,700, Xingu, 1,300, Purus, &c.), drains the yelvas ,- and the Parana and Paraguay, 2,000 and 1,600 miles (tributaries, the Uruguay, Pilcomayo, Salado, &c.), as well as the Rio Negro and Colorado, drain the pampas. The Brazilian plateau is drained by the Tocantine^ 1,100 miles, Parnahyba, San Francisco, 1,500 miles, &>c. Other rivers of note are the Magdalcna und Cauca ; and the riven of Guiana, viz: the Essequibo, Demarara, Berbice, Courantyn, Sur- inam, Maroni, and Cayenne. The largest lake is Titicaca, on the Peruvian plateau, named from it. There arc many imall salt lakes in the western pampas. 404. Characterize the climate, vegetables, and animals. The climate is thoroughly tropical, except in the south and in the Andes. In Tierra del Fuego and South Patagonia it if ex- tremely inhospitable, from cold and mist. The luxuriance of the vegetation is proverbial. The mahogany, logwood, Brazil wood, Jpplms, caoutchouc, the giant mora, and numerous specie! of M Catechism, of Geoorapht. 75 ' cactns, are of most note among the trees. The chief native food plants are maize, manioc or cassava (the common food of the In- dians), bananas, the butter tree of Venezuela, Cayenne pepper, cocoa, and the Paraguay tea (used largely here as a substitute for common tea) ; and among medicines, the famous Peruvian bark and ipecacuanha. All the commoner European grains and fruits, as well as coffee, have been introduced, and thrive well. The most remarkable native animals are : in the Andes, the llama and alpaca, used ns beasts of burden, and the chinchilla, noted for its fur ; and in the plains and plateau, the tapir, peccary, sloth, ar- madillo, ant-eater, jaguar and puma, opossums, bats, and mon- keys ; and among birds, the great condor of the Andes, the beau- tiful little humming birds, toucans, the American ostrich, and the penguins, in the far south. Reptiles are numerous, the chief being the alligator, large serpents, and a great variety of lizards. Offish, the most remarkable is the electric eel. Ants, chigoes, centipedes, musquitoes, and beetles swarm, and are great pests. 405. What is to be said of the native tribes 1 They resemble, in race and language, those of North America. In Peru, as in Mexico, they were partially civilized. The Pata- gonians are very tall, while the Fuegians are stunted : these last are among the most degraded among mankind. The finest tribe is the Araucanian, in south Chili. See question 387. 406. Name the political divisions. Jfame. Style of Oov't. Settled by. Towns (Ports in Italic$), Brazil, Empire, Fortugueso, Rio Janeiro 295,000; Bahia, I'^S.OOO; Maranha- 1, 30,000 ; Pernambues, San Paulo, C neta^rara. Veneznela, New Granada, Ecuador. Peru, Bolivia, Chill, La Plata, Republic, Spanish, Republic, Spanish, Republic, Spanish, Republic, Spanish, Republic, Spanish, Republic, Spanish, Republic, Spanish, Uruguay, Paraguay, Dutch Quian-.,, french do. British do. H^tagonia and \ ilerra del Fuego, j* Republic, Spanish, Republic, Spanish, Colony, Dutch, Colony, French, Colony, British, Natives, Caraccab, '>''i,000 ; Valencia, Cumanaf Maracaibo, Bogota, 4.'<,000 ; Cartagena, Aspin vtalU Pananij,, Popayan. Quito, 70,000 ; Ouayaquily Cueuca, Rio- bamba. Lima, 72,000; Callao, Cuzco, 45,000; Arequipa, Pasco. CnuQuiSACA, 25,000; La Paz, 43,000; Cc chabamba. Santiago, 80,000: Valparaiso, 73,000; Conception, BuKNOB Ayres, 122,000 ; Parana, Men- doza, Cordova. Monte Video, 30,000. ..^ _ Ascension, 25,000; Conceptioq^. ;t^'' Paramaribo, 20,000. . 4*y?^? Cayenne, 6,000. -Vvf*!* See «iue8tion 398. ^ »->W 'tis-' No towns or organized government. 76 Catxcbism of Oeoorapht. The vast interior is as yet peopled only by the Indians and the wild animals. 407. What is the political condition of these States ? The Spanish republics have been mostly a prey to anarchy. Chili and Brazil are the most prosperous States. The universal religion (except, of course, in British and Dutch Guiana, Pata- gonia, &c.), is the Roman Cat' olic ; but the state of public morals and of education is very low. A rude agriculture, cattle, farming, and mining are the prevailing employments. The chief exports are cotton, from Brazil and Guiana ; sugar, coffee, and tobacco, from Brazi!, Guiana, and Venezuela ; dyewoods and drugs, from Brazil ; gold, fronr/ Brazil, La Plata, Peru, and Chili ; pre- cious stones, from Brazil and New Granada ; silver, from La Plata, Chili, Peru, and Bolivia ; quicksilver, from Peru ; copper, from Ch!U ; hides, beef, and tallow, from La Plata, Uruguay, Brazil, and Venezuela ; cocoa, from Venezuela ; guano, cinchona, and chinchilla fur, irom Peru ; Paraguay tea, from Paraguay. i h OCEANICA. ' 408. Give a general description of Oceanica. It is the sixth grand division of the world, lying between Asia and America, composed of the continent of Australia and the myriads of islands dotting the Pacific Ocean. 409. How is it divided 1 Into Australasia, Malaysia, and Polynesia. Atutraleuia is composed of Australia, Van Diemen's Land or Tasmania, New Zealand, Papua or New Guinea, Louisiade, Solomon's Islands, New Britain, New Ireland, New Caledonia, &c. Area 3,430,000 square miles. Population, 2,310,000. Malaysia lies northwest of these, and comprises the Sunda Islands (Sumatra, Java, Borneo— the largest island in the world, Banca, Billiton, ^.c), Celebes, the Soloo Islands, the Philippines (Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan, 6cc.)^ the Moluccas, the Banda Islands, Sumbawa, Bally, Flores, Timor, &c. Area, 900,000 square miles. Population, 27,- 750,000. Polynesia lies northeast of Australasia, and includes the Sandwich, Caroline, Ladrone, Bonin, Marquesas, Society, Cook's, Navigator's, Friendly, and Fejee Islands. Area, 23,550 square miles. Population, 450,000 (steadily decreasing). 410. Name the chief points of interest in the hydrography. ^ The chief seas are the Chinese Sea, south of Java ; Mktdoro Sea, south of Celebes ; Arafoura Sea, and Coralline Sea. The parts of the Pacific around Southern Polynesia are often called X »Aii^::i Catxchibm of Gboobaphy. w the South Sea, and the islands, the ith Sea Islands. Straits ; Malacca, Sunda, Macassar, Molucca i'assage, Dampier's, Torres, Bass, Cook's, and Foveaux Straits. The chief inlets round Aut' tralia are the Gulfs of Carpentaria, Cambridge, St. Vincent, Spen- cer ; Hervey, Moreton, Encounter, Geographic, and Shark Bays ; the Great Australian Bight, and Ports Jackson and Philip; those in Tasmania are Storm Bay, and Macquarie and Launceston Harbors ; in New Zealand^ the Bay of Islands, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes, Blind, and Pegasus Bays and Port Otago. Among the chief capes are Cape Bojador, in Luzon ; Acheen Head, in Sum- atra ; Java Head, in Java ; Capes York, Wessel, Leveque, North West, Leuwin, Howe, and Sandy, with Wilson Promontory, in Australia ; and Capes East and Maria Van Diemen, in Nttw JZealand. 411. Describe the surface. The Sunda Islands, Celebes, and New Zealand have moun- tain ranges running through their entire length. Malaysia and Polynesia surpass all other parts of the world in volcanic phe- nomena, especially Java, Sumbawa, the Philippines, and the Sandwich Islands. Kilauea, a volcanic lake in the latter group, is the largest and most wonderful volcanic crater in the world. Polynesia is also noted as being mostly of coral formation ; and a great barrier reef of coral — the largest in the world — extends for 1>200 miles along the northeast coast of Australia. The interior of Australia is a sterile plain, destitute of water ; the interior of Borneo and Papua are not known, but believed fertile. The Australian Alps or Warragong Mountains (in which the highest known peak, Kosciusko, rises 6,500 feet), is the longest range in Ocean lea ; while the highest peak in this division of the globe iB> Singallang, in Sumatra, which is about 15,000 feet high. .],im\ 412. What are the chief rivers 1 They are necessarily few : the largest being the Murray, in Australia, 2,000 miles long ; tributaries, the Darling, Lachlan, and Murrumbid^'ee. The others in Australia are the Victoria, Bris-^ bane, Clarence, Richmond, Manning, Hunter, Ha.vkfsbury, Shoalhdven, Yarra Yarra, Glenelg, and Swan Rivers; in Tasma- nia, the Tamar and Derwent ; in New Zealand, th«3 Waikato,. Waiho, Duller, Grey, dtc. ; and in Borneo, the Benjarmaswin. 413. Describe the climate. . Malaysia, being under the equator, has a hot, moist climate, causing malaria. The British colonies are in the temperate zone. Australia sutlers from drought, but is healthy. The climate in Bolynesia is perhapa the most delightful in the world. / 78 Catkchism of Geoorapht. k r ' 414. Describe the vegetation. In Malaysia the principal plants are the palms, spices, gums, dyewoods, sago, yams, bananas, bread fruit ; and, among flowers, the giant Rafflesia with a blossom three and a half feet across, being the largest in the world. Rice is here, as in tropical Asia, the chief food plant. In Polynesia are the bread fruit and taro (the chief food plants), plaintain, yam, and sweet potato. The vegetation of Australia is as peculiar as its zoology. Its promi- nent trees (which arc evergreens, and have their leaves set edge- ways on the stalk, so that they afford no shade,) are the gum trees, acacias, palms (in the north), and giant ferns and grasses ; while the food plants are singularly few. The pines a nd iron wood of New Zealand make good timber. Both the animals and plants of Europe thrive every where in Australasia and Polynesia. 415. Name the chief animals. In Malaysia the elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, ourang outang, py- thon, gorgeous birds, huge bats, and alligators. In Australasia the marsupial animals, as the kangaroo, opossum, bandicoot, wom- bat, phalanger, kangaroo rat, and duckbill — races strangely un- like the commoner animals of any other region ; besides sloths, the dingo or native wild dog ; and of birds, the emu, cassowary, the lyre birds, the honey suckers, and cockatoos. In Papua the bird of paradise, and in New Zealand the wingless bird. In Poly- nesia, which has few native animals, were found the dog and hog, and of birds, the parrot, sea fowl, &c. Whales, seals, and cod abound in the South Sea. 416. What are the chief minerals ? Gold in Australia and Borneo ; the diamond in Borneo and Celebes ; copper in Australia in vast abundance, also in New Zealand, &c. ; iron in Australia, New Zealand, Borneo and Bil- liton ; tin in Banca ; coal in Australia, Borneo, &c. ; lead in Aus- tralia. 417. Name the chief native races. The brown races of Malays, who are the ruling tribes, and the black races, Papuans or Oceanic Negroes, who are generally the subjects. The Malays are generally Mahommetans, and given to commerce and piracy. The native Australians and Tasmanians are hopelessly degraded. 418. What European colonies are there in Oceanica ? For the British, see question 421. The Dutch have rule ill Sunda Islands, Celebes, the Moluccas, the Bands Islands, part* of Papini^4cc. Spain owns the Philippines ; and Portugal, Timor, Flores, &c. The Polynesinn islands are moatly independent, and CATfCHiHiti or Geoobapht. 7» their people idolaterM, UioukH miBsiunaries have, in some groupi* introduced Chriiittanity. The Handwich Islanders and the New Zealanders are lemi'CivilixeJ. 419. What aru the chief exports? From Sumatra, pepper, camphor, and gutta percha ; from Ban- ca, tin ; from Java, rice* cnflec, and sugar ; from the Molnccas» cloves; from the Danda Ifdands, nutmegs; from the Philippines^ sugar, hemp, and cigars ; from eastern Malaysia, sago and edible birds' nests (the laitt to China) ; from the Sandwich Islands, whalebone and oil, coffee and sugar; from other Polynesian groups, cocoa nuts, sandal wood, &c. The commerce is mostly in the hands of the British, Dutch, Americans, Chinese, and Malays. 420. Name the chief townfi. (British, see question 421). In Sumatra, Padang and Ben- coolon. In Java, Uatavia (the Dutch East India capital), popu- lation, 120,000 ; Bourabava, 50,000 ; Samarang, 40,000. In Bor- neo, Borneo, Benjarmassin, and Pontianak. In the Philippines, Manilla (in LuKon), the Hpanish capital, population, 200,000 — being the largest city in Oceanica. In the Sandwich Islands, Honolulu. BRITISH fiMPIRE.~VI. In Oceanica, 421. Name the British colonies in Oceanica. New South Wales. ,, (Syrfney, 100,000; Paramatta, Liver- pool, Bathurst, Windsor. Victoria Melbourne, 120,000 ; Geelong, 30,000 ; Castlemaine. South Australia Adelaide, 25,000; Macclesfield, Kor- inga. West Australia Perth. Queensland.* ..... ,, Brisbane. N. B. — North Australia is not settled. ~ Tasmania. ....... ,,Hobarton, 25,000 ; Launceston, 10,000. New Zealand Auckland, 15,000; Wellington, Nelson. Besides these are Labuan Island, and Sarawak in Borneo, and Norfolk Island. 422. What are the chief occupations 1 In Victoria and South Australia, mining and farming. . In New South Wales, cattle rearing, mining, agriculture, and a few manufactures, as le«ther, wine, soap, candles, and cloth. In all 1 80 Catxohism of Gkoorapht. the rest, agriculture. The exports are gold, copper, wool, tallow, leather, and hides from Victoria — the most flourishing of these colonies ; whale oil and bone, gold, wool, tallow, and cotton from^ New South Wales — the oldest of them ; copper, lead, and wheat from South Australia ; wool, wheat, and flour from Tasmania ; and whale bone and oil, wool, and native flax from New Zealand. 423e What is the political condition of these colonies 1 Formeriy, most of them were penal colonies ; but they have new (except Norfolk Island) ceased for many years to be cursed with such a moral taint. Each has its Governor, Legis- lature, dec. The gold discoveries attracted a rush of immigrants some few years ago, and happily the soil and climate were such as to induce them to stay and permanently improve the colonies — thus displaying British enterprise^ hyalty, and sober self-govern- fnent in the remotest regions of the globe. \'i' J. M A. 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