million dollars; and the total wealth of the nation may be estimated at not less than seven times that amount. The army now consists of nearly 12,000 men: and the navy of 62 vessels. The government is representative and republican, as already described, (p. 111); and the religion is chiefly protestant, of various denominations. There are now about 95 Colleges in operation in the United States; besides Academies, and Common Schools. The number of Indians in the U. S., chiefly in the Western Territory, cannot be less than 500,000; and they are divided into almost innumerable tribes; of which the Cherokees, Creeks, and Choctaws, are perhaps the most civilized and best known. The following is a table of the extent of the several states, with their population, in 1830, and in 1840; and their capitals. Missouri, Oregon, and the Indian Territory, have no organized territorial governments. Texas, formerly belonging to Mexico, has been mostly settled by emigrants from the United States. Its chief river, is the Brazos ; and its principal towns, are Houston, the late capital; Austin, the new capital; both centrally situated; and Nacogdoches, and Matagorda, in the east. The government is republican; and the popula tion rapidly increasing. § 3. The Southern Division of North America, including Mexico, and Central America, was colonized by the Spaniards; and * Returns incomplete. retains their language, with the Roman Catholic religion. The governments are now republican; but these countries are in an unsettled state; and education is not generally diffused, though much needed, for their improvement. Mexico, formerly called New Spain, includes the peninsulas of Yucatan, in the south-east, and California, in the west. It is traversed by the great American chain of mountains, here called the Cordilleras; and its chief rivers, are the Del Norte, and Western Colorado; the latter flowing into the Gulf of California. The Great American Desert, lies east of the Rocky Mountains, partly in Mexico, and partly in the United States; and the Great Sandy Desert, is in the north-western part of Mexico. The chief cities of this country, are Mexico, the capital; Puebla, south-east of it; Guanaxuato, and Guadalaxara, north-west of it; San Luis Potosi, and Oaxaca, south of Puebla: and the principal sea-ports, are Vera Cruz, and Tampico. Mexico is celebrated for its gold and silver mines; many of which are now neglected. The antiquities of this country, and particularly the pyramid of Cholula, and the ruins of the ancient city Calhuacan, near Palenque, attest the power and civilization of its former inhabitants. The government of Mexico, is nominally republican; but controlled for the most part by military force. Yucatan has recently become a separate and independent republic, of which Merida is the capital. The settlement of Balize, on the Bay of Honduras, belongs to the British. Guatimala, now called Central America, extends southward to the isthmus of Darien; and contains the Lake Nicaragua; with some volcanoes, in the Cordillerian range of mountains. Its chief cities, are St. Salvador, the capital; Guatimala, and Leon. The climate is hot, and less healthy than on the table lands of Mexico. Its most valued productions are logwood, mahogany, indigo, and cochineal; but here, as in Mexico, the country is not highly cultivated. § 4. The West Indies, are a numerous group of islands, so named from the supposition of Columbus, that they were a part of the Indies known in preceding times. They are all, excepting Hayti, subject to different European powers; and their commerce is of much value. The four largest islands, Cuba, Hayti, Jamaica, and Porto Rico, are known as the Great Antilles. The names Lesser Antilles, and Caribbee Islands, are variously applied to the islands south and east of these; but we prefer to call them all Caribbee Islands, including the Windward, or more eastern, and the Leeward, or more western. Hayti, Hispaniola, or St. Domingo, is now occupied by Africans, having a distinct and independent government, under a president, chosen for life. Its chief towns, are Port au Prince, and Cape Haytien; the latter being the capital. Cuba, and Porto Rico, are still subject to Spain. Their chief towns, are, in Cuba, Havana, and Puerto Principe; and in Porto Rico, St. Johns. The interior of Cuba, being mountainous, has a cool and healthy climate, though within the torrid zone. The British possessions in the West Indies, are Jamaica; and Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, Barbadoes, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, the Bahamas, and Bermudas, with several smaller islands. The capital of Jamaica is Kingston: but the other towns of these islands, are too small to find mention in this place. Slavery has recently been abolished in the British West Indies; but in Cuba, and Porto Rico, it still continues to exist. Guadaloupe, and Martinico, belong to the French; St. Eustatia, Curaçoa, and St. Martin's, to the Dutch; Santa Cruz, St. Thomas, and St. Johns, to the Danes, and St. Bartholomew, Mariegalante, and Deseada, to the Swedes. CHAPTER V. SOUTH AMERICAN GEOGRAPHY. SOUTH America, colonized by the Spaniards and Portuguese, was, like the preceding grand division, made known to the civilized world by the genius and labors of Columbus. He was its first European discoverer, and first visited it, as before mentioned, in 1497. In the year 1500, Alvarez Cabral, when on his way to the East Indies, under the orders of the Portuguese government, discovered the coast of Brazil. The river La Plata, is said to have been discovered in 1512; but the more southern part of South America, was first explored by Magellan, in 1520, under Spanish authority, and on his voyage around the world, the first which was ever made. In 1524, Peru became known to the Spaniards, which led to its conquest by Pizarro, begun in the following year. Buenos Ayres, was visited by De Solis, in 1517; and by Sebastian Cabot, in 1526. Chili, was invaded by Almagro, in the year 1535. We have only room to add, that Orellana, or Ovellana, a Spaniard, is regarded as the discoverer of the river Amazon, and the region of Amazonia, about the year 1541. The following is offered as an approximate statement of the extent and population of the countries of South America. Sq. Miles. Inhabitants. 300,000.. 600,000 Patagonia.... 450,000.. 1,600,000 TOTAL.... Sq. Miles. Inhabitants. 170,000.. 1,500,000 750,000.. 2,000,000 100,000.. 300,000 110,000.. 150,000 380,000.. 40,000 6,930,000 15,870,000 We proceed to speak of these divisions, in the order above named. § 1. The Eastern Division of South America comprises Brazil and Guiana, colonized by other nations than the Spaniards. The climate of this region is hot, and in some parts unhealthy; but it has generally a fertile soil, and produces cotton, coffee, sugar, rice, maize, Brazil wood, and various tropical trees and plants. Among the animals of this region, are the jaguar, or American tiger, the tapir, resembling the African hippopotamus; and the large aboma snake, almost vieing with the East India anaconda. Brazil, is an extensive, though thinly peopled empire; and nominally includes the central region of South America, called Amazonia, still chiefly inhabited by the Indians. Indeed, various Indian tribes are scattered over all its wide territory: but these we have no room to name. It is watered by the Amazon in the north, with its branches, the Negro, Madeira, Topayos or Tapajos, and Xingu or Chingu: in the central part is the Araguay or Tocantins; and, in the east, the river St. Francisco. The Brazilian mountains extend along the south-eastern coast. The chief cities of this empire are Rio Janeiro, the capital; Bahia, or St. Salvador, and Pernambuco, farther north; and between the two latter Sergippe del Rey, all in the eastern part; Cuyaba, in the centre; Para and Maranham, in the north; and St. Paul, in the south. Brazil has rich mines, especially of gold and diamonds. It was formerly a Portuguese colony, but is now an independent monarchy; and the religion is the Roman Catholic. Guiana, north of Brazil, is now limited to the French, Dutch, and British possessions of that name; the part which formerly belonged to Portugal, being now merged in Brazil. Cayenne is the capital of Cayenne, or French Guiana; Paramaribo, of Surinam or Dutch Guiana; and Georgetown is the capital of Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo, or British Guiana. The commerce of this region is of some value; but owing perhaps to the climate the people are said to be indolent; and the greater part of the population are slaves. § 2. The countries in the North Western Division of South America, were all colonized by Spain; and though now independent, retain the Spanish language and manners, with the Roman Catholic religion. Their governments are all nominally republican; but imperfectly administered, from the want of general education and knowledge among the people. Venezuela, is a part of the recent republic of Colombia, which included also New Grenada and Equador. Its chief river is the Orinoco; the island of Margarita belongs to this state; and Lake Maracaybo is near its western border. Its chief cities, are Caraccas, the capital; Maracaybo, Coro, and Valencia, west of it, and Cumana, farther east. Venezuela produces domestic animals, sugar, and cocoa, in great abundance; and the inhabitants are said to be making considerable progress in education and the arts. New Grenada, recently a part of Colombia, and now an independent republic, is rich in the productions of all climates, and has mines of gold and silver. It is traversed by the Andes mountains, on which its climate is cool, though in the torrid zone. The Magdalena is its principal river; and its chief towns are Bogota, (Santa Fé de Bogota), the capital; Popayan, south of it; and Carthagena, and Panama, in the north and west. Coffee, cotton, indigo, and tobacco are among its productions; but agriculture and the arts are in a backward state. Equador, (Ecuador or Equator), the remaining part of Colombia, and now independent, borders on the Pacific Ocean, and lies chiefly south of the equator, from which it derives its name. It contains Chimborazo and numerous other lofty peaks of the Andes, some of which, including Cotopaxi, are volcanoes. In its eastern part, the rivers Ucayale and Tunguragua unite to form the Amazon; and the Yupura or Caqueta forms a part of its northern boundary. Its chief cities, are Quito, the capital; and south of it, Guayaquil, Riobamba, and Cuenca. Its productions and characteristics are nearly the same as those of New Grenada. Peru, south of Equador, is also traversed by the Andes, and contains the river Ucayale, the chief source of the Amazon. Lake Titicaca lies in its southern part, among the mountains. Its chief cities are Lima, the capital; and south-east of it Cusco, and Arequipa; but the principal seaports are Callao near Lima, and Truxillo. Peru produces the Peruvian bark, and various tropical fruits; and it is the native country of the llama, which is used as a beast of burthen. This country is rich in mines of gold and silver; and abounds in interesting antiquities. It has been divided into two states, North Peru and South Peru; but the government is at present in an unsettled state. § 3. The Central Division of South America, colonized also by the Spaniards, has a cooler climate than the preceding, but still abounds in tropical productions. Its state in regard to religion, government and civilization, is quite similar to that of the preceding division. Bolivia, sometimes called Upper Peru, contains Mount Sorata, said to be the highest peak of the Andes, or nearly four miles and three-fifths, in height. The Madeira river runs from it northward to the Amazon; and the Pilcomayo and Vermejo run south-eastward into the Paraguay. Its chief cities are Chuquisaca, the capital; and north of it Cochabamba, and La Paz. It raises grain for exportation to Peru, and contains the rich silver mines of Potosi ; but here as in the contiguous countries, the arts are in a backward state. Chili lies south of Peru, or the Desert of Atacama; and between the Pacific ocean and the Andes. The islands of Chiloe, on the south, and Juan Fernandez, on the west, belong to Chili. Its chief towns are Santiago, the capital, in the interior; and Valparaiso, near it, on the coast. The climate is temperate, and Chili produces various grains, with cotton, sugar, oil, and wine. It has some mines of the precious metals; and is more advanced in the arts than the preceding states. The southern part is still inhabited by the Araucanian Indians; a brave and hardy race. La Plata, or the Argentine Republic, called also Buenos Ayres, lies east of Chili, and is named from the river La Plata, which runs through its eastern part. It contains also the Salado, which is a branch of the La Plata; and, in its southern part, the rivers Colorado and Negro. Its chief cities are Buenos Ayres, the capital, in the east; and Cordova and San Juan, more central. Among the animals of La Plata are the rhea, or American ostrich; and wild horses and cattle; which are hunted by horsemen, on its extensive Pampas or plains. Paraguay, north-east of La Plata, and formerly a part of it, lies between the rivers Paraguay and Parana. Assumption is its capital, and though small, its largest city. Most of its inhabitants are Indians. Its government is an absolute monarchy, under a selfconstituted Dictator; and its religion is the Roman Catholic. Uruguay, or Monte Video, formerly called the Banda Oriental, lies east of La Plata, and borders on the river Uruguay, from which it is named. Montevideo is its capital and chief city. In productions and characteristics, it resembles La Plata, of which it was formerly a part. |