A TABLE SHOWING THE POPULATION OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES OF EUROPE WHICH CONTAINED ABOVE 50,000 INHABITANTS IN 1840.* * In the towns of the United Kingdom, the population is given from the census of 1841. † See note, p. 60. These numbers include the suburbs. The population of Glasgow and Edinburgh cities is respectively 120,183, and 56,330. See note p. 66. A TABLE SHOWING THE SUPPOSED POPULATION OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES OF ASIA, AFRICA, AND AMERICA, WHICH ARE MENTIONED IN THIS WORK. CHAPTER XI. A GENERAL VIEW OF ONE HUNDRED OF THE PRINCIPAL RIVERS OF THE EARTH. No. Name. Length. Source and Course. Termination and Character. Rises in an elevated valley of the Stony Mountains, in 47 N. Lat. Course first N., then E., SE. and S. Humboldt determines the source in Lake Lauricocha, among the Andes of Peru, about 100 miles from the shores of the Pacific. Course, first N.N.W., afterwards to the E. Terminates in the Gulf of Mexico, where it forms a swampy delta 120 miles wide. American geographers consider this the main trunk of a vast system of rivers, whose basin is 1,400,000 geographical square miles. Lower part of its course subject to great inundations. Navigation impeded by sand and driftwood. Enters the Atlantic Ocean by a mouth whose clear width is 40 miles. Though not the longest, is the broadest and most majestic river in the world, having a basin of 1,412,880 square miles. Feels the tide 192 leagues from the sea. Navigation unimpeded to the Andes. Two streams aspire Mediterranean Sea by to be called the "true" two chief mouths. A Nile. The Abyssi- narrow river, watering one nian or blue Nile rises long valley. Receives no 60 miles south of Lake tributary for 1350 nautical Tzane or Dembea, miles. Course obstructed and, bending gradually by Rapids in Nubia for 100 to the north, is joined miles. Reaches its maxiby the White Nile, mum of inundation in Ocwhich rises in the tober. Banks thickly unknown interior of peopled. No river more Africa, and thence honoured than this. In Termination and Character. fested by crocodiles and hippopotami. Enters the Tung Huan, or Eastern Sea, 150 miles below Nankin, and is 20 miles wide at its mouth. Is the largest river of the Old World. Flows through countries little known to Europeans. Forms a long estuary in reaching the Arctic Ocean. In the Gulf of Guinea, by an extensive delta, not surveyed. Its termination long a problem; first determined by two brothers of the name of Lander, who, navigating it downwards from Boussa, where Park met his fate, came to the sea by a mouth called Nun. Not commonly wider than the Thames at Westminster. Enters the Arctic Ocean, with a wide channel. Remarkable for its fossil remains. Flows through countries little known, into a gulf opposite a large island of its own name, whence the waters communicate with the seas of Japan and Okotsk. Has a basin of 856,944 square miles. In the sea of Obi. An estuary of the Arctic Ocean. Course very meandering. Basin 1,040,000 square miles. All the Siberian rivers are subject to great floods. Joins the River of the Amazons. Is the longest tributary river in the world. Of wide and powerful current. Blocked by isles and rapids for 350 miles of its course. Flows through unexplored regions. |