When the population is expressed without a date, it is for 1840.

In the six New England states, and also in the state of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, the counties are subdivided into townships, and in Delaware, into hundreds; but in the rest of the states no such subdivision as that of township is known.

In the New England states these townships are commonly styled towns. They differ considerably in size; generally varying from about 5 to 6 miles square. In South Carolina the state is divided into districts instead of counties, and in Louisiana these divisions are termed parishes. In New England the principal village almost always takes the name of the township in which it is situated. In the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, the towns or villages commonly take different names from the townships in which they are situated. In the states south of Pennsylvania, and the Ohio river, the word town is used for a compact collection of houses.

NORTH AMERICA.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

Extent.

NORTH AMERICA extends from the Isthmus of Darien, N. lat. 8° to the utmost known regions of the north, and spreads from Behring's Straits to those of Bellisle, or rather, to embrace Greenland. Its breadth is very irregular, not exceeding 15 or 20 miles near Panama; whilst from Behring's Straits to the Straits of Bellisle, it extends to a distance of 3,300 geographical, or 3,800 English miles, bearing N. 76° W. From the Straits of Bellisle to the isthmus of Darien, is 4,500 geographical, equal to 5212 English miles.

Mountains.

North America is traversed by two great chains, and several minor ranges of mountains. The Appalachian or Alleghany mountains, extend through the United States from NE. to SW. from the state of New York to Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, with a mean width of about 50 miles. Several detached ranges or groups rise NE. off the Hudson, and SE. off the St. Lawrence. The Masserne, or Ozark mountains, extend from the centre of the state of Missouri towards Texas, in a direction nearly parallel to the Appalachian chain. The length of the Appalachian is about 900 miles, with a mean elevation of from 1,200 to 2,000 feet. The extent of the Masserne chain, is not very accurately known, but must exceed 600 miles; its mean height cannot, in the present state of geographical knowledge, be estimated with any ap proximate degree of accuracy. The great spine of North America, is the Chippewan, Rocky, or as it is termed in Mexico, that of Anahuac. This immense chain reaches from the peninsula of Tehuantepec, N. lat. 16°, to the Frozen Ocean at N. lat. 68°, or through upwards of 50 degrees of latitude; encircling nearly one-seventh part of the globe. In neither the Appalachian, or Masserne chains, nor in any of their neighboring groups, have any active or extinct volcanoes been discovered; but in the southern part of the great central chain, an immense range of volcanoes or volcanic summits rise to from 10,000 to 17,700 feet. It is generally supposed that the mountains of the isthmus of Darien, are continuations of the chain of Anahuac; but there is strong reason to believe, that the former are distinct and unconnected with the latter. A nameless range skirts along the Pacific Ocean, which, from the defective surveys yet taken, cannot be very distinctly delineated. That part of North America west of the Chippewan mountains, and north of Colorado river, except the central parts of the valley of Columbia, remains either imperfectly or entirely unknown. North America has five great systems of rivers; that of the Atlantic Ocean; that of the Gulf of Mexico; that of the Frozen Ocean; that of Hudson's Bay; and that of the Pacific Ocean. In the Atlantic system, the principal rivers are, St. Johns of Florida, Altamaha, Savannah, Santee, Pedee, Cape Fear, Roanoke, James, Potomac, Susquehanna, Delaware, Hudson, Connecticut, Kenebec, Penobscot, St. John's of New Brunswick, and St. Law

rence.

Rivers.

In the system of Hudson's Bay are included, besides many streams of lesser note, Rupert's, Albany, Severn, and Sashasshawin rivers. Into the Northern Ocean, M'Kenzie's river is the only stream of considerable magnitude yet known, to enter from the continent of North America. The rivers of the central valley of North America, are discharged into the Gulf of Mexico, amongst which the Mississippi presents its overwhelming flood; but besides that vast river, the Appalachicola, Mobile, Colorado of the Gulf of Mexico, Rio Grande del Norte, and several others, are streams of great magnitude. The Santiage, Hiaqui, the Colorado of the gulf of California, and the Columbia, are the only

extensive rivers, the courses of which are correctly known, which enter the Pacific Ocean from the continent of North America.

North America comprises three great divisions; 1st, British AmerDivisions. ica, in the north; 2d, the United States, in the middle; and 3d, Mexico and Guatimala, or Central America, in the south: in addition to these, Greenland, in the north-east, belongs to Denmark; and there are Russian sessions in the north-west.

Islands.

pos

The most important islands are Newfoundland, Cape Breton, St. John's, Rhode Island, Long Island, and the Bermudas, on the eastern coast; Queen Charlotte's Island, Quadra and Vancouver's Island, King George's Island, and the Fox Islands, on the western coast.

Bays, Gulfs, The five largest Bays, or Gulfs, are Baffin's and Hudson's bays; and Lakes. and the gulfs of St. Lawrence, Mexico, and California. The Lakes of North America are the largest collections of fresh water in the world. Some of the principal ones are lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario, Winnipeg, Athapescow, Slave Lake, and Great Bear Lake. The largest of these great lakes is lake Superior, which is 490 miles in length, and is as much af fected by storms as the ocean. It is remarkable for the transparency of its waters, and abounds in fish. The Pictured Rocks, on the south side of lake Superior, are a range of precipitous cliffs, rising to the height of 300 feet, and are regarded as a great curiosity.

The inhabitants may be divided into three classes-Whites, NeInhabitants. groes, and Indians. The whites are descendants of Europeans, who have migrated to America since its discovery. The negroes are mostly held in slavery, and are descendants of Africans forced from their native country.

Indians.

The Indians are the aborigines of the country, and generally savage. They are of a copper complexion, fierce aspect, tall, straight, athletic, and capable of enduring great fatigue. They are hospitable and generous, faithful in their friendship, but implacable in their resentments. Their common occupations are hunting, fishing, and war. At the time of the discovery of America, the natives, in some parts, particularly in Mexico and Peru, were considerably advanced in civilization. For the most part, they continue a distinct people, and retain their savage customs; but in some instances they have mingled with the white population. In North America, they possess almost all the country, except the southern and eastern parts; that is, the northern part of Mexico, most of the territory of the United States which lies west of the Mississippi, and nearly all the vast regions which lie north of the United States' territory, and west of the St. Lawrence.

Customs

sitions of the

The following account is mostly taken from the American Encyand Dispo- clopedia:-When the Europeans first arrived in America, they N. American found the Indians quite naked, except those parts which even the Indians. most uncultivated people usually conceal. Since that time, however, they generally use a coarse blanket, which they buy of the neighboring planters. Their huts, or cabins, are made of stakes of wood driven into Huts, &c. the ground, and covered with branches of trees or reeds. They lie

on the floor, either on mats or the skins of wild beasts. Their dishes are of timber; but their spoons are made of the skulls of wild oxen, and their knives of flint. A kettle and a large plate constitute almost the whole utensils of the family. Cartwright assures us, that in Labrador, he met with a family of natives who were living in a cavern hollowed out of the snow. This extraordinary habitation was seven feet high, ten or twelve in diameter, and was shaped like an oven. A large piece of ice served as a door. A lamp lighted the inside, in which the inhabitants were lying on skins. At a short distance was a kitchen, likewise constructed of snow. They describe a circle on the frozen snow, and cutting it into segments with their knives, build it up with great reg.

ularity, till the blocks of snow meet at the top, and constitute a graceful dome. Captain Parry says their huts are numerous in many parts of Melville Islands, in latitude 74° N., and that he saw many of the natives in the islands of the Archipelago of Barrow's Straits, though their timidity prevented any intercourse. These polar men are little, squat, and feeble; their complexion partakes less of a copper hue, than of a reddish and dirty yellow.

Form of

There is established in each society a certain species of government, which prevails over the whole continent of America, with ex- Government. ceeding little variation; because over the whole of this continent the manners and way of life are nearly similar and uniform. Without arts, riches, or luxury, the great instruments of subjection in polished societies, an American has no method by which he can render himself considerable among his compan ions, but by superiority in personal qualities of body or mind. But, as nature has not been very lavish in her personal distinctions, where all enjoy the same education, all are pretty much on an equality, and will desire to remain so. Liberty, therefore, is the prevailing passion of the Americans; and their government, under the influence of this sentiment, is, perhaps, better secured than by the wisest political regulations. They are very far, however, from despising all sort of authority: they are attentive to the voice of wisdom, which experience has conferred on the aged, and they enlist under the banners of the chief in whose valor and military address they have learned to repose a just and merited confidence. In every society, therefore, there is to be considered the power of the chiefs and of the elders. Among those tribes most engaged in war, the power of the chief is, naturally, predominant; because the idea of having a military leader was the first source of his superiority, and the continual exigencies of the state requiring such a leader, will continue to support and even to enhance it. His power, however, is rather persuasive than coercive; he is reverenced as a father, rather than feared as a monarch. He has no guards, no prisons, no officers of justice, and one act of ill-judged violence would pull him from his humble throne. The elders in the other form of government, which may be considered as a mild and nominal aristocracy, have no more power. In most countries, therefore, age alone is sufficient for acquiring respect, influence, and authority. It is age which teaches experience, and experience is the only source of knowledge among a savage people.

semblies.

Among the different tribes, business is conducted with the utmost Public Assimplicity, and which may recall, to those who are acquainted with antiquity, a picture of the most early ages. The heads of families meet together in a house or cabin appointed for the purpose. Here the business is discussed; and here those of the nation, distinguished for their eloquence or wisdom, have an opportunity of displaying those talents. Their orators, like those of Homer, express themselves in a bold figurative style, stronger than refined, or rather softened, nations can well bear, and with gestures equally violent, but often extremely natural and expressive. When the business is over, and they happen to be well provided with food, they appoint a feast upon the occasion, of which almost the whole nation partakes. The feast is accompanied with a song, in which the real or fabulous exploits of their forefathers are celebrated. They have dances likewise, though, like those of the Greeks and Romans, they are chiefly of the military kind; and their music and dancing accompany every feast.

or belts.

To assist their memory, they have belts of small shells, or beads Wampura, of different colors, each representing a different object, which is marked by their color and arrangement. At the conclusion of every subject on which they discourse, when they treat with a foreign state, they deliver one of those belts; for if this ceremony should be omitted, all that they have said passes for nothing. These belts are carefully deposited in each town, as the

public records of the nation; and to them they occasionally have recourse, when any public contest happens with a neighboring tribe.

Their Wars.

If we except hunting and fishing, war is the principal employment of the Indian men: almost every other concern, but in particular the little agriculture which they enjoy, is consigned to the women. The most common motive of the Americans for entering into war, when it does not arise from an accidental rencounter or interference, is either to revenge themselves for the death of some lost friend, or to acquire prisoners, who may assist them in their hunting, and whom they adopt into their society. These wars are either undertaken by some private adventurers, or at the instance of the whole community. In the latter case, all the young men who are disposed to go out to battle (for no one is compelled contrary to his inclination), give a bit of wood to the chief, as a token of their design to accompany him; for every thing among these people is transacted with a great deal of ceremony and with many forms.

Ceremonies

The chief, who is to conduct them, fasts several days, during before setting which time he converses with no one, and is particularly careful to out. observe his dreams; which the presumption natural to savages generally renders as favorable as he could desire. A variety of other superstitions and ceremonies are observed. One of the most hideous is setting the war kettle on the fire, as an emblem that they are going out to devour their enemies; which among these nations, it is probable, was formerly the case, since they still continue to express it in clear terms, and use an emblem significant of the ancient usage. Then, they dispatch a porcelain, or large shell, to their allies, inviting them to come along, and drink the blood of their enemies. They think that those in their alliance must not only adopt their enmities, but that they must also have their resentments wound up to the same pitch with themselves: and indeed no people carry their friendships or their resentments so far as they do. Having finished all the ceremonies previous to the war, and the day appointed for their setting out on the expedition being arrived, they take leave of their friends, and exchange their clothes, or whatever movables they have, in token of mutual friendship; after which they proceed from the town, their wives and female relations walking before, and attending them to some distance. The warriors march all dressed in their finest apparel, and most showy ornaments, without any order. The chief walks slowly before them, singing the war-song, while the rest observe the most profound silence. When they come up to their women, they deliver them all their finery, and putting on their worst clothes, proceed on their expedition.

Quickness of The great qualities of an Indian war are vigilance and attention, their senses. to give and avoid surprise; and, indeed, in these they are superior to all nations in the world. Accustomed to continual wandering in the forest; having their perceptions sharpened by keen necessity, and living, in every respect, according to nature, their external senses have a degree of acuteness, which, at first view, appears incredible. They can trace out their enemies, at an immense distance, by the smoke of their fires, which they smell, and by the tracks of their feet upon the ground, imperceptible to an European eye, but which they can count, and distinguish, with the utmost facility. It is said, they can even distinguish the different nations with whom they are acquainted, and can determine the precise time when they passed, where an European could not, with all his glasses, distinguish footsteps at all. These circumstances, however, are of less importance, because their savage enemies are equally well acquainted with them.

Vigilance

When they go out, therefore, they take care to avoid making use and circum- of any thing by which they might run the danger of a discovery. spection. They lighted no fires to warm themselves, or to prepare victuals: they lie close to the ground all day, and travel only in the night; and marching