OF

UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY,

POPULAR AND SCIENTIFIC,

COMPRISING A

PHYSICAL, POLITICAL, AND STATISTICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

WORLD AND ITS VARIOUS DIVISIONS;

EMBRACING

NUMEROUS SKETCHES FROM RECENT TRAVELS;

AND

ILLUSTRATED BY ENGRAVINGS

OF MANNERS, COSTUMES, CURIOSITIES, CITIES, EDIFICES, REMARKABLE
ANIMALS, FRUITS, TREES, AND PLANTS.

BY S. G. GOODRICH.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY CARTER, HENDEE & CO.
1832.

ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, by

S. G. GOODRICH,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

PREFACE.

WHEN the Author of this work announced the intention of preparing a system of Universal Geography for publication, he had nothing more in view than a compilation from Malte Brun and Bell. But, after bestowing more consideration upon the subject, and when the task was already begun, it appeared that a volume not only differing in style and arrangement, but consisting, to a great extent, of new materials, would be better suited to the public wants. The first plan was therefore abandoned, and an original work was undertaken. The present volume is the result, and the Author respectfully submits it to his countrymen.

A few explanatory observations may be necessary here. The arrangement of the work can easily be seen by a glance at the table of contents. It will be observed that the general views follow the particular descriptions of countries, instead of preceding them. This plan has been preferred for two reasons; in the first place, it is more useful and satisfactory to the reader to peruse a summary after he is made acquainted with the particular facts it embraces; and, in the second place, new topies may often be introduced, and explanations may be offered, which would be inconsistent with the method that has been usually pursued.

A large space has been devoted to the United States for several considerations. The geography of our country has been overlooked by European writers, and we have ourselves neglected it. On this account, the Author was particularly anxPous to furnish a more ample view of the country, than its mere relative population or extent might entitle it to. He has escribed the character, manners and customs of the people with freedom, but, he hopes, with impartiality. He is not aware that in portraying these, he has been swayed by any other influence than a love of truth. If the sketches he has drawn differ materially from those exhibited by most English travellers, it is believed that the distinction will be only that which must always exist between a faithful portrait and a gross Caricature.