27, Susquehana

Senegambia

.... Senegambia

Nigritia...

Places passed by.

Discharge.

Rise.

Length in Eng.Miles

Canga, Concobella, Esseno, Gonda Atlantic Yonga, Voonda, Sonho.

Toulou, Rumbde Iala, Cacagne, Man- Atlantic

gelli, Pisania, Contou, Kayee, Tende

bar, Bathurst.

1200

1300

mosa.

THE SHANNON.

The Shannon, in Ireland, originates in a small lake, a few miles south of Sligo; and, soon afterwards, falls into Lough Allen. Here it seems to be lost; but it comes out from the southern extremity, with an increase of water, and passes successively, with similar advantages, through Loughs Esk and Ree, into which, also, several considerable rivers and brooks empty themselves. The Shannon, thus increased, now becomes a noble river, and after flowing through Lough Derg, where it receives fresh accessions, it passes Limerick, and expands into a grand æstuary, or arm of the sea, opening into the Atlantic Ocean. The Shannon is, therefore, a collective stream, rather than an original river.

THE THAMES.

The same may be said of our Thames, which rises on the south-eastern side of the Cotswold hills, in Gloucestershire, in which spring the four rivulets of the Lech, the Coln, the Chiron, and the Isis; each of which is so small, that a man may check its progress with his foot. The first three fall into the Isis, by which name the river is known till it has passed Abingdon, in Berkshire. By this time, from the junction of several streams, some of them larger than itself, it becomes a broad river. At Dorchester, about seven miles below Abingdon, it is joined by the Thame, a moderately broad stream formed by the union of many rivulets in the centre of Buckinghamshire. This junction, though with a stream of less size, is fatal to the Isis, so far as its name is concerned; for, during the remainder of its progress, it is known by the appellation of Thames, formed, as is believed, by a combination of the two titles Thame-Isis. From this point, it proceeds by a very circuitous course to London, and thence, in a general easterly direction, to the North Sea, of which it forms a grand æstuary between the Kentish and Essex coasts.

easterly course through Montgomeryshire, receiving in its way several rivulets, and reaches Shrewsbury, in Shropshire: it then makes a bold sweep through the counties of Worcester and Gloucester, and, suddenly widening below Bristol, opens into the Bristol Channel. This river has more of an original character than many others; for, though en riched by other streams, it retains its name from the foun tain-head till it enters the ocean, and is uninterrupted by lakes. It is remarkable for the impetuosity of its tide, which sometimes rushes in, with a head of water, called a bore, at a height of three or four feet, accompanied with an astounding noise. This is occasioned by the sudden contraction which the river gives, at its mouth, to the waters of the Atlantic, as they flow in.

THE SEINE.

The Seine, one of the most picturesque rivers in France, is more indebted for magnitude to its tributary streams, than to the resources of its spring. All the rivers are considerable, and have their auxiliaries, the waters of which fall into one common channel, called the Seine, from one of the lesser rivulets which contribute to the supply.

THE GARONNE.

The Garonne, another river of France, issuing from the Pyrenées, is a small stream, till joined by the Arriège, the Tarn, the Aveiron, and the Lot; after which it becomes a large river. Below Bordeaux, it is further increased by the Dordogne: it then obtains the name of Gironde, and opens into a large æstuary of the Bay of Biscay.

THE RHÔNE.

The Rhône affords an instance of an auxiliary super seding its principal, and giving name to a river, to which, naturally, it is tributary. From a vast mass of ice, in an Alp, rising ten thousand feet above the level of the sea, between the canton of Uri and the Valais, gushes the Rhône; and as it rolls about 90 or 100 miles across Switzerland, its waters are augmented by an almost infinite number of torrents and streams, from the adjacent mountains. At length, it pours its vast volume of water into the lake of Geneva; and re-issuing from the opposite extremity,

enters France. There it joins the Saône, and, according to the direction of the two streams, the one flowing in nearly a straight direction, from north to south, and the other joining it from the east, it ought to lose its name; but, being the most powerful, it retains its original appellation till it enters the Mediterranean, by several mouths, a few miles west of Marseilles. THE RHINE.

The Rhine affords an instance of a large river losing its name before it reaches the ocean. It arises amidst deserts of ice and snow, near the summit of the Alps, in the Grisons' country, and being quickly joined by two other streams, called the Middle and Upper Rhine, which descend from the same mountainous regions, from heights exceeding 6000 feet, the united waters work their way through the solitary valley of Rhinewald, sometimes flowing secretly beneath arches of perpetual ice, at others, descending with impetuosity over rocks of granite, and appearing to gain new strength from every opposing obstacle. After quitting the Rhinewald, and receiving various torrents, the Rhine vasses through the Lake of Constance, and forms the

The Volga, though commonly reckoned among the rivers of Asia, is in reality the longest river in Europe, and, with the exception of the Danube, contains the largest volume of water. It originates in two small lakes, southeast of Lake Onega, among the Valdai mountains, and before it reaches Kasan, receives many secondary rivers. Below that city, it is joined by the Kama, which brings in the waters of a great extent of country. It then turns southward, and forms the boundary between Europe and Asia, for nearly four hundred miles; after which, resuming its easterly direction, it enters Asia, and rolls its majestic volume of waters, by many mouths, into the Caspian Sea.

THE ENESEI.

The Eneser, or Yenesei, consists of a series of streams, one of the least important of which gives name to the whole. The Enesei, properly so called, rises among the Altai Mountains, in the high lands of Mongolia, and penetrating between the hills, takes a northerly course through the governments of Kholyvan and Tobolsk, to the Arctic Ocean. During its course, which deviates but little from a straight line, it receives several rivers, more considerable than itself, besides some rivulets; so that from being a mere brook, it becomes, at Eneseisk, a broad river. For this accession, it is mainly indebted to the Angara, which flows into it a few miles above Eneseisk, and is, indeed, the stream by which the length of the river is measured, agreeably to the opinion of many oriental writers, who, observing its superior extent and magnitude, say the Angara receives the Enesei, and afterwards flows into the Arctic Sea. This river, the Angara, rises on the south side of the Altai Mountains, or rather on the broad summits of that range, and, flowing in a westerly direction till it finds a declivity, enters the province of Irkoutsk, where it falls into the Lake Baikal, on the south-east side. During this course, it receives the waters of two streams which issue from small lakes on the south-west. From the north-west side of the Baikal Lake, out about fifty miles south of the confluence of the river Just described, flows out the Angara, which is considered a continuation of the same stream; this takes a zig-zag direction, receiving in its progress the waters of the adjoining high lands, and at length falls into the Enesei, above Eneseisk, where it loses its name. In the measurement of the Enesei, therefore, it must be remembered, that the length of the Angara is included, and that from the place of its junction, the original river is neglected.

THE OBI.

The Obi presents a nearly similar instance of irregularity in the estimate of length, but in a contrary order. A small stream, called the Dschabekan, formed by the junction of the Sira and some other rivulets, which issue from the Great Altai range, in Mongolia, passes, first by an underground channel, and afterwards through an opening of the Lesser Altai Mountains, into the Altyn or Teletskoe Lake, from which, on the northern extremity, issues another river, called the Byia. These are considered as one and the same river, under different names. As it proceeds, it receives several other streams, and obtains the name of Obi, between Barnaul and Kholyvan. It then flows in a serpentine direction towards the north and north-west, continually increased by other rivers, till it meets the Irtisch, which rivals it in magnitude; but the Obi still preserves its name; though it is evident that the stream, from this point, is a continuation of the Irtisch. After this junction, the river, which is now several miles in breadth, flows northward, with a curve towards the west, and forms the Sea of Obi, in the Arctic Ocean. Its whole length is estimated at 2180 miles, the greater part of which is navigable. But this is not the river measured by geographers in their comparative scales of rivers: from its junction with the Irtisch, they abandon the Obi, and proceed with the former stream, which, at the point of union, is in a more direct line, though, above Tobolsk, it flows in nearly the same direction as the Obi, at the distance of a few degrees

to the westward. Like the Obi, it rises in the Great Altaian chain; it passes through the Lake Zaizan, and enters Siberia about two hundred miles from its source. Numerous tributary streams afterwards swell its waters; among which are the large rivers Issim and Tobol: so that when it joins the Obi, at Samarova, it fully equals it in magnitude; and, from its direction, seems naturally entitled to retain its name to its confluence with the ocean.

THE YANG-TSE-KIANG, or SON OF THE SEA. Of the Chinese rivers, the Yang-tse-kiang, or Son of the Sea, deserves particular notice; the grandeur of its stream having struck all travellers. It originates in the Desert of Cobi, whence it makes its way between the Kola Mountains, into Tibet, the eastern side of which it traverses, under the name of Kintcha-kiang, in a southerly direction, col lecting, in its way, the waters of many streams. On entering China, it is joined by the large river Yalong-kiang, and then takes a circuitous course, nearly across the middle of the country, towards the west, receiving, as it rolls along, the tribute of many rivers, and connecting itself with, or forming, several lakes of considerable size. Its whole length is computed at 3290 miles; its average breadth is upwards of two miles; and its numerous tributary streams, in some instances, equal the Thames for magnitude. In its course through the central parts of China Proper, it waters several cities; and, after passing Nankin, forms a kind of Delta, and falls into the Yellow Sea, nearly one hundred and forty miles east of that city.

THE GANGES.

rivers of Asia, and the most sacred stream of the Hindoos, The Ganges, one of the largest, though not the longest, issues from an opening, called by the natives Gangoutri, or the Cow's Mouth, situated among the perpetual snows of the Himalay chain, from whence it descends for a con siderable distance among the mountains. This is the Bhagirathi, or most sacred branch of the Ganges; but the Dauli, being much longer, should be considered the principal source. This river proceeds from the immediate base of the highest part of the chain; and from Hurdwar to Allahabad, where it receives the Jumna, its width is from a mile to a mile and a quarter. After this junction, its course becomes more winding, and its bed wider, from various rivers which flow into it so that its channel is sometimes three miles across, and frequently divided by islands. For about five hundred miles above its junction with the sea, its depth, when least, is about thirty feet. Previously to entering the ocean, its breadth suddenly expands, and the current, from being rapid, becomes so weak that it has not power to disperse the banks of mud and sand at its mouth: hence a Delta is formed, which commences about two hundred miles in a direct line from the sea, or three hundred by the course of the stream; and the western branch constitutes the Hooghly river, on the east bank of which stands Calcutta. Between the moun tains and the sea, the Ganges receives the waters of eleven large rivers; some of which are equal to the Rhine, and none less than the Thames. Like other large rivers, in or near the torrid zone, the Ganges is subject to periodical floods, by which, in the latter end of July, all the lower parts of Bengal are overflowed for a hundred miles in width. the villages and trees only being seen above the water.

THE NILE. The Nile, as already stated, has two sources, at a great distance from each other. The first of these is situated nearly in the centre of Abyssinia, and rises in a small spring near the market-place of Sacala. From this fountain issues a rivulet, which flows northward into the Lake of Dembea. From the opposite side of the lake issues a river, supposed to be a continuation of the rivulet, which flows at first in a southerly direction, but afterwards sweeps to the north-west, under the name of Bahr el Azrek, or Blue River, and was supposed by Bruce and others to be the true Nile. On the other hand, at the distance of about seven hundred miles westward of the spring of Sacala, a river, called Bahr el Abiad, or White River, is formed by the confluence of several small streams, descending from the Donga Mountains, and takes a north-easterly course, till it meets the Bahr el Azrek. Their united waters constitute the Nile; and, notwithstanding Mr. Bruce's authority, a preference is now given to the Abiad as the main stream. During its passage through Upper Egypt, the stream is confined between two ranges of mountains, with only a narrow level space on each side; but, in the lower part of the country, the valley expands into the Delta, and the river divides into several streams before it reaches the sea. The ancients

reckoned seven of these outlets; but the only two of mag nitude remaining, are those of Rosetta and Damietta.

THE NIGER.

The Niger is supposed, by Major Laing, to originate near the ninth parallel of north latitude, and about ten degrees of west longitude, in a range of mountains called Lomah; but Mr. Park considers its source to be in a spring near the eleventh parallel of latitude, and fifth degree of longitude. It at first flows towards the north, then, turning to the north-east, passes through Lake Dibbie, and reaches Timbuctoo. In this part, it is called by the natives Joliba. From Timbuctoo, under the name of Quôrra, it takes a south or south-eastern course, passes Boussa, where Mr. Park, unhappily, lost his life, waters Funda, and, soon afterwards, according to Mr. Lander, divides into numerous streams, forming a Delta, of which the Benin river in the west, and the Rio del Rey in the east, are the boundaries; the main stream issuing into the Gulf of Guinea, near Cape Formosa. The course and termination of this River have long been subjects of speculation: but the recent discoveries of the brothers Lander have thrown much new light on the question, which, it is expected, will be greatly increased by the present expedition.

THE ST. LAWRENCE.

The St. Lawrence is an instance of this kind: it was formerly considered as issuing from Lake Ontario; from which it runs a course of more than 600 miles, and empties itself into the gulf called after itself. But it is now usual to take into the account of its length the Lakes Ontario and Erie, with their connecting stream, and the river Miame, which, rising near Fort St. Mary, in the state of Ohio, runs into the Erie, and is the reputed head of the St. Lawrence. In this sense, the length is increased to upwards of 1180 miles. The volume of water which it pours into the ocean is immense; for it is not less than ninety miles wide at its mouth, and its channel, which is very deep, receives nearly all the rivers that have their sources in the extensive chain of mountains, called the Land's Height, which separates the waters that fall into Hudson's Bay from those that enter the Atlantic. Some geographers consider the lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior, with their connecting rivers, Détroit and St. Mary, as a continuation of the St. Lawrence, and thus extend its length to upwards of 2000 miles.

THE RIO DE LA PLATA.

The Rio de la Plata, estimated by the vast body of water that it pours into the ocean, is one of the largest rivers in the world. It is a continuation of the Paraguay, which has its sources in numerous streams, rising among the Cordilleras of Brazil. Most of these streams are themselves large rivers; and the combined waters are often so swollen by the periodical rains as to spread over the flat country to an extent of full three hundred miles; so that the canoes of the natives are navigated over the tops of the tallest trees. At Corrientes, after a splendid course of full 1300 miles, the Paraguay is joined by the Parana, a great river, which, rising in Brazil, brings with it the contents of numerous streams which flow into it during a course of 1600 miles; so that at its junction with the Paraguay it is the larger of the two, and supersedes it as to name. At this point, according to some, both rivers lose their name and, that of Rio de la Plata, or Plate River, is substituted, from the following occurrence: Sebastian Cabot, who first went up this river so far as the union of the Paraguay and Parana, entered the latter channel, and, routing the natives, took from them a vast booty in gold and silver. Supposing, therefore, that these metals abounded in the neighbourhood, he gave the river its present name, which it retains, although experience has proved that it has no precious metals on its banks; the piate of which Cabot robbed the Indians having been brought from Peru. Notwithstanding this anecdote, most writers continue the name of Parana to its junction with the Uruguay, and do not allow the Plata to commence

| till then. The Uruguay is a noble river, and, though not equal to either the Parana or Paraguay for length of course, which is about 1100 miles, surpasses both in the rapid accession of waters it receives, which makes it, near its con fluence with the former, fully equal, if not superior, in breadth. From this, and other accumulations, the Plata now forms an æstuary of fresh water, without parallel in the rest of the world for breadth and magnificence. The current flows into the sea in such quantities, and with such force, that its fresh water remains long unmixed with the briny waves of the ocean. At Buenos Ayres, which lies about 200 miles from its mouth, the river is about thirty miles broad; and at its mouth, between Capes St. Anthony and St. Maria, its breadth is not less than 170 miles.

THE AMAZON, OR MARANON.

The Amazon, or Maranon, was, till lately, esteemed the longest river, not only of America, but of the whole world recent discoveries, however, have transferred that honour to the Mississippi. It is, nevertheless, a magnificent river, and formed by the united waters of the Ucayale and the Tunguragua, aided by the Apurimac and its confluent streams. The Beni, or Paro, which rises among the mountains surrounding La Paz, in Upper Peru, and consists of the waters collected from various streams descending from the hills, is one of the head waters of the Ucayale, and the origin of the Maranon. Among other accessories, it receives the waters of the Tunguragua, which issues from a lake in the Cordilleras of Lima, and by accessions from numerous rivers, some of which are of considerable magnitude, be comes a large river, known by the names of Maranon and Orellana. After this it receives the Ucayale, besides other large rivers, which drain a considerable part of South America; so that at its entrance into the Atlantic it is nearly 180 miles in breadth. The force with which this immense body of water is poured into the ocean is manifested by its remaining unmixed with those of the sea, for a space of eighty leagues. Its banks are covered with forests, and its swellings from periodical rains frequently convert the ad jacent country into a fresh-water lake, several hundred miles in extent.

THE MISSISSIPPI

The Mississippi is the common channel by which all the rivers that have their rise in the immense valley between the Rocky Mountains and the Alleghany chain, are carried to the ocean; and for the length of its course, added to the quantity of water which it discharges, may be justly ranked among the greatest rivers of the globe. The Mississippi has its source in some lakes, among which the principal are the Red Cedar and Leech Lakes, and, following a very winding channel, which receives continually fresh accessions of water by the junction of numerous large rivers, falls into the Gulf of Mexico, by several outlets. Its length is about 2400 miles; and in this sense it falls considerably short of the Maranon: hence, in geographical works of some years' standing, the latter is spoken of as the longest river in the world. But since the Missouri, which flows into it,

and rivais it in breadth, has been explored, the length of that river and its auxiliaries, the Yellowstone and Bighorn, are taken into the measurement, to the extent of 3700 miles; of which the Mississippi occupies only between 1300 and 1400; that is, from its junction, a little above the town of St. Louis. The sources of the Missouri, the Yellowstone, and the Bighorn, are within a few miles of each other, among the Rocky Mountains; and their united stream receives in its way several rivers, particularly the Platte and the Kansas. After its junction with the latter, the Missouri becomes very broad; and, pursuing its westerly direction, joins the Mississippi, at the distance of 2400 miles from its source. It is subsequently enlarged by the Ohio, and the Rio Roxo, or Red River, both of considerable magnitude. After this, the Mississippi inclines to the south-east, and, dividing into several branches, makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico; the main stream passing by New Orléans, and entering the Gulf 102 miles below that city. The Mississippi is subject to two rises in the year: one about January, occasioned by periodical rains that fall towards the lower part of its course; and the great flood, in summer, is produced by the melting of the ice in the upper part of the continent, where the Missouri and other tributary springs have their origin.

THE ORONOCo.

The ORONOCO is distinguished by its very singular and irregular course. It appears to be the outlet to most of the rivers by which the territories of the present Republic of Columbia are watered; the source of many of its waters is in the northern part of the great chain of the Cordilleras, and others arise from the high lands with which the eastern part of that country is covered. It enters the Atlantic by many channels opposite to the island of Trinidad; the most southerly of these is the principal mouth, and full eighteen miles in width; the navigation of all of them is extremely dangerous. The course of the river, when it enters the sea, is so powerful, that it preserves the freshness of its waters for the distance of thirty-six miles from its mouth. The beauty and grandeur of its banks surpass all description. Forests of the most superb verdure are crowded with monkeys, and birds, of the most various and brilliant colours; and sometimes immense plains form an horizon of sixty or ninety miles in extent.

It is subject to an annual inundation, which begins in April, and ends in August, and sometimes extends for 600 miles in length, and from sixty to ninety in width. Its banks are but thinly inhabited, and its streams are much infested by the alligator, which grows there to an immense

size.

TERMINATION OF RIVERS.

The sea is the general receiver of rivers; but some are intercepted in their course, and form lakes, which frequently discharge their waters on the lowest side, or, in the form of cataracts, into the next valley, through which they continue their course to the ocean, or to some intervening lake. In many cases, the superfluity of water is taken off by evaporation and absorption. When the basin of the lake is of sufficient capacity to allow a quantity of water equal to what it receives to be taken away by absorption, or exhausted by evaporation, it becomes the final receptacle of the rivers which flow into it. Such is the case with the rivers terminating in the Caspian and Aral lakes, or seas. In some of the sandy plains of the torrid zone, the rivers divide off into different branches, which are gradually exhausted by the increased absorption and evaporation caused by the heat of the climate.

PERIODICAL RIVERS.

Some rivers are much increased by frequent rains or melted snows. In Peru and Chili, are small rivers which flow only during the day, because they are fed by the melting of the snow from the summit of the Andes, which takes place only while the sun shines upon them. In Hinloostan, and on both sides of the extreme parts of Africa, vers exist, which, though they flow both night and day, are, from the accession of snow-water, much greater by day than in the night. In these places, also, the rivers are nearly dry in the summer, but overflow their banks in the rainy or winter season.

INUNDATIONS OF RIVERS.

All considerable rivers, and especially such as rise in the tropical climates, have their periodical overflowings, which are, in some cases, to such an extent, that the adjacent country is inundated many miles around. The only

instance of this kind with which the ancients were familiar, was that of the Nile; and, being ignorant of the cause, they looked upon it as a prodigy, for which they could not account. Subsequent discoveries have shown that a periodical increase is common to many rivers, and that it is produced by the rains and melted snows upon the mountains whence they derive their source. The inundations of the Nile, the most regular, if not the most extensive of any, are caused by the periodical rains, which descend on the mountains in the interior of Africa, where it originates; the rains commence in April; the river begins to overflow in June; is at its height in September; and returns within its banks in October. The Ganges, the Indus, and the great rivers of Siam, in Asia; the Senegal, in Africa; the Oronoco, the Maranon, and Paraguay or La Plata, in South America, are all more or less subject to similar inundations; but at different times of the year, according to the promoting cause. Such as are swollen by rains, are usually highest in winter, or immediately after the rainy season; those which derive their increase from snow, which is in some places melted in spring, in others in summer, and in some countries between both those seasons, have their inundations accordingly. The Tigris rises twice in the year: first, and most remarkably, in April, in consequence of the melting of the snows in the mountains of Armenia; secondly, in November, through an accession from the periodical rains.

The most remarkable case of the rise and fall of a river in Europe, is that of the Volga, which, in May and June, is filled with water, and overflows its shelves and islands; though, at other times, it is so shallow as scarcely to afford navigation for loaded ships.

EVANESCENT (or DISAPPEARINg) Rivers.

themselves, as it were, in the earth, either partially or Some rivers suddenly disappear in their course; hiding altogether: in the former case, they re-appear at a distance from the point of their immersion, as new rivers; in the latter, they are lost entirely.

The Tigris, about twenty miles from its source, meets it, flows out on the opposite side: after passing through with a mountainous ridge at Diglou; and, running under the lake Erzen, it again disappears, and flows about eighteen miles underground, when it breaks out afresh. In our own country, we have examples of this disappearing and rising again of rivers, in the Mole, in Surrey, and the small rivers Hamps and Manifold, in Derbyshire. The Mole is lost soon after it has passed by Box Hill, and reappears a little before it reaches Leatherhead; the Hamps has an underground passage of seven miles; and the Manifold, a similar course of five miles in extent.

There are also some rivers of Normandy, which alternately lose themselves and re-appear: these are the Rille, the Ithon, the Aure, the Sap-André, and the Drôme. The first three disappear gradually, and rise to sight again; the Sap-André, after being drained of a considerable portion of its water as it flows along, is suddenly lost; but afterwards re-appears: the Drôme, also, loses some of its waters in its course, and ends by falling into a cavity, without being known to rise again. The Rille, the Ithon, and the Aure, pass over a porous soil, composed of thick sand, not well compacted, which sinks suddenly down in some places, and forms large holes: and when the water overflows the meadows, it frequently makes numerous

cavities in them.

vanishes near the pit of Soucy, where it meets with a The Drôme, after losing some of its water in its passage, kind of subterraneous cavity, nearly twenty-five feet wide, and more than fifteen deep, into which it enters, without any perceptible motion, and never appears again.

In the vicinity of Paris, the river Jerre is lost in the same manner as the Rille.

Our limits prevent us from completing this very inte resting subject in one paper; we must therefore return to it, in a future SUPPLEMENT, in which the Cataracts, Waterfalls, &c., to be described, will be illustrated by some beautiful Engravings.

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