MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE WEST INDIES. There are valuable copper mines in mixture of these races. the eastern part of the island. Santiago-de-Cuba has a fine harbor, and is the shipping port for copper. Find out what happened in this city during the Spanish-American War. The people are largely of Spanish and of Negro descent, with a 161 Only the wealthier classes have been educated. Already, under the United States, better schools have been established for all children. The western part is most thickly peopled. MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE WEST INDIES. (See maps of North America and United States.) MEXICO. In what part variety of cli of North America does Mex ico lie? Bound it. Trace its water boundary and name any projections or indentations you find. From the relief map of North America describe the surface of Mexico. What mountains border the Mexican Plateau? What lake is on this plateau? From the direction of the rivers tell the general slope of Mexico. From its position what would you judge the climate to be? How does the elevation of the greater part of its surface affect the climate? In what part would you expect to find great dampness and unhealthfulness? From the map, page 118, tell the principal products of this country. Locate the grain region; the fruit region; the cotton, rice, and sugar regions. Locate the mining section and tell what minerals are mined. Mexico is a republic comprising twentyseven States and three Territories. WOMAN MAKING BREAD mate, with prod ucts vary ing from lands, to those of the tem perate regions, in the highlands. In the dry northern part the cactus grows abundantly. Some species of this plant are cultivated for their sap, which is made into a drink called pulque. (Page 164.) This is the principal drink of the natives. Mexico has great mineral wealth, the silver mines being of the most importance. The people are Indians, Whites of The difference in elevation causes a Spanish descent, and a mixture of Span 162 MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE WEST INDIES. ish and Indian called Mestizos. There are no schools for the masses. As a rule, the people are not energetic or progressive. Can you think of any reason for this? Name and locate the capital. Locate Vera Cruz, the principal seaport. Name two seaports on the western coast. Mexico, the capital, is the principal city. It is beautifully located on the plateau and contains some fine buildings. It is the great railroad center of Mexico, being connected by railroad with Vera Cruz, Acapulco, and with the principal Two-thirds of the entire number live in Guatemala and San Salvador, these being the most progressive divisions. BALIZE.-Find Balize. It is a small dependency of Great Britain. THE WEST INDIES. Locate the West Indies. How are they separated from the United States? How from Yucatan? What sea do they inclose? Name the four largest islands of the group. Which of these belongs to the United States. Which is a protectorate of the United States? To whom does Jamaica belong? What two names are given to the island which lies between Cuba and Porto Rico? By what strait is this island separated from Cuba? By what from Porto Rico? What is the capital of this island? What name is given the group of islands southéast of Florida? To whom do they belong? (Page 125.) New Providence is the most important of these islands. Nassau, the capital of the cities of the United States. CENTRAL AMERICA. Locate Central America. Can you tell why it is so named? Trace its boundaries and tell what waters and what land surround it. From the relief map describe its surface. Central America has five divisions; name them. Name and locate the capital of each. From the product map name the important productions. Honduras is especially noted for its mahogany. The people are like those of Mexico. group, is on this island. Haiti and Santo Domingo are two republics with native rulers. The people are mostly Negroes, and everything is in a backward state. The climate and products of all of the West Indies are similar. The people of these islands comprise Whites, Negroes, and Mulattoes. Havana is the leading seaport of the West Indies. In what part of North America is Canada? Bound it. Trace the water boundaries. Name the projections and indentations on the northern, eastern, and western coasts. Which do you think the most important? of western United States and In what belts of climate is Canada? Compare the northern part with the southern part as to length of winters and of summers. What great production sections lie in Canada? (Page 118.) Which part is engaged in fur-trading? Where would you find lumbering a principal occupation? Farming? Mining? In which part would you expect to find few people? Why? In which part are the cities located? What is the capital? Locate Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Victoria, Halifax. Which is a lake port? Which are river ports? Which are seaports? Why are Victoria and Toronto of importance? Canada comprises seven provinces similar to our States and several divisions similar to our Territories which are all united under one government-the Dominion of Canada. The highest official is the Governor General, who is appointed by the ruler of Great Britain. New. foundland and Labrador form a separate province under Great Britain. The Dominion of Canada and Newfoundland are called British America. Why? Canada was settled by the French. It contains many French and English people, together with Indians and Halfbreeds, a mixture of French and Indian, and Eskimos. The Eskimos live in the northern part. The Indians and the half-breeds are engaged in trapping and hunting. Farming is the principal occupation. Ottawa, the capital, is in the heart of a large lumber region. Montreal is the largest city. It is one of the leading lumber and grain markets in North America. It is an important railroad center, and has steamship communication with Europe. Quebec, a walled city, is one of the oldest cities in North America. Halifax has one of the finest harbors in America. NOTE.-Europe is a great peninsula of Asia, and with Asia forms Eurasia. Because of its importance we study it as a separate division. Study all of the pictures of Europe carefully; by means of pictures you will learn more of the people. Locate all cities named in the text. Point to Europe and tell its direction from us. Across which ocean is your direct route to Europe? From the globe and maps tell the direction of Europe from each of the other grand divisions. Which grand divisions lie nearest to Europe? Which are farthest away? Trace the outline; tell what large water boundaries and what land boundary Europe has. Trace the coast-line. Of what advantage is the great irregularity of coast? What arm of the Arctic from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, and tell through what bodies of water one would pass. Through what strait would a vessel sail from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic? Name two arms of the Mediterranean which extend northward into the southern coast of Europe. What group of islands or archipelago between Greece and Asia indents the northern coast? What two seas indent the northwestern coast? Name three arms of the Baltic Sea. Between what two peninsulas would a vessel sail in passing from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea? By what two routes can a vessel sail from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea? What bay indents the western coast? By what sea and strait is Europe separated from Africa? What two seas lie between Europe and Asia? Trace a route Minor? Of the arms which indent the coast of Europe, which do you think are frozen in winter? Which arms do you think the most important for commerce for the entire year? Name two peninsulas which project from the northwestern coast; three which project into the Mediterranean; one which projects into the Black Sea. Locate the following capes: North, Finisterre, St. Vincent, Matapan. What island belonging to Denmark lies near the Arctic Circle? What important group of islands lie northwest of the mainland near the coast? By what channel and strait are they separated from the mainland? Europe is an important division of the world because of the great intelligence and learning of its people in all the arts and sciences. This is shown in |
