P R E F A CЕ.

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 coun

trymen.

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 topics 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 neg-. Olected it. On this account, the Author was particularly anxious to furnish a more ample view of the country, than its mere relative population or extent might entitle it to. He has Xdescribed 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.

The Author has ventured to give a more extensive view of the remarkable animals in different parts of the world, than has been customary. He has been induced to do this, partly from the opportunity thus afforded for enlivening the pages of the work by interesting details, and partly from a belief that, as a mere geographical topic, they claim more attention than has been bestowed upon them. No perfect idea of a landscape ever can be formed, without imagining the birds that are accustomed to hover in the air, or the quadrupeds that may be seen ranging the fields. The climate of a country cannot be fully understood without a knowledge of the animals which inhabit it; nor can the manners and customs of a people be adequately represented, unless the reader is acquainted with the qualities of those animals upon which many of these manners and customs depend.

The reader will observe that the descriptions of countries are generally divided into two parts-Physical and Political Geography. The former properly embraces only the features of nature as they come from the hand of their Creator, and the latter should include only man and his works. In general, these distinctions have been observed; but it has occasionally happened that topics of a political nature have been introduced under the head of physical geography, and physical details may in a few instances be found under the title of political geography. It was, for instance, sometimes more convenient in speaking of an island, to mention its inhabitants and towns, and thus complete its description, rather than make a separate notice of these topics. These remarks will be sufficient to make the reader understand and estimate the slight inconsistencies alluded to.

It is needless to add farther explanations. The Author has only to express his gratitude to several persons who have assisted him in the preparation of the work. He is indebted to an individual of established literary reputation, for most of the sketches of character, manners and customs which are distributed through the volume; and to another, not less qualified to acquire distinction, for the most material aid in every department of the undertaking. It is but justice to say that a large part of the merit, whatever there may be, in the execution of this work, should be credited to these two individuals.

Boston, July, 1832.

S. G. GOODRICH.

Oregon.

.299

XXXIV. General View of the Western States and Territories.

XXXVI. British America..

300

ERRATA.-Page 152, line 16, for Peterson, read Paterson. 173, line 40, for 1728 read 1828. 316, the cut of
the European Badger is inserted by mistake for the American Badger. Page 859, line 13, for Caffres read Cos-

sacs.

:0:

A SYSTEMNINGN

OF

UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY.

CHAPTER I. STATE OF MAINE.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. Maine is bounded N. and N. W. by Lower Canada: E. by New Brunswick: S. by the Atlantic Ocean and W. by New Hampshire. It lies between 43° 5' and 47° 20′ N. latitude, and 66° 49′ and 71° 4′ W. longitude from Greenwich. Its extent, should the limits be established according to the recent decision of the King of the Netherlands, will comprise about 30,000 square miles.*

2. MOUNTAINS. The great range of mountains, running nearly parallel with the coast of the United States, from the state of Alabama to the Gulf of St Lawrence, constitutes a single chain, although known by different names in different states. The Cumberland mountains of Tennessee, the Alleghany mountains of Virginia and Pennsylvania, the Catskill mountains of NewYork; the Tagkannuc mountains of Massachusetts; the Green mountains of Vermont, the White mountains of New-Hampshire, and the Highlands of Maine, are portions or continuations of the great Apalachian chain. In a general view, this immense range of mountains may be described as a long plateau, crested with various ridges, separated from each other by wide and elevated valleys. Their general course is about N. E. and S. W.; east of the Hudson they are scattered in irregular groups, without any very marked di

The boundary between Maine and Lower Canada has been for some years a subject of dispute between the American and British governments. In the treaty of peace which closed the war of the revolution, the northern boundary of Maine is described in these words. From the northwest angle of Nova Scotia, viz. that angle which is formed by a line drawn due north from the source of St Croix river to the highlands, along the said highlands which divide those rivers that empty themselves into the St Lawrence from those that fall into the Atlantic ocean to the northwesternmost head of the Connecticut river, &c. This line had been always understood as running north of the river St John, and carrying the northern boundary of Maine to the 48th degree of latitude; but a few years since, the British set up a claim to one third part of the whole state, by contending that the boundary line ran to the south of the St John. Agreeably to the treaty of Ghent, the subject was referred to the King of the Netherlands for arbitration, who has decided that "it will be proper to adopt for the boundary of the two states a line drawn due north from the source of the river St Croix, to the point where it strikes the middle of the channel of the river St John; thence the middle of the channel of that river, ascending it to the point where the river St Francis falls into the St John; thence to the middle of the river St Francis, ascending it to the source of the most southwesterly branch,' &c. By this deeision, about two sevenths of the territory in dispute has been awarded to the British, amounting to about two millions of acres. As we suppose this decision will be confirmed, we have marked the northern limit of the state accordingly.