LIVERPOOL, situated on the south coast, about seventy miles from Halifax, carries on a flourishing trade in lumber and fish.

LABRADOR, a large peninsula of eastern Continental British America, is included in the government of Newfoundland. Several hundred schooners come annually to the east coast of Labrador, from the neighboring provinces, bringing with them, it is estimated, not less than 20,000 men for the purpose of fishing off the coast. Besides these, the crews of about 400 United States vessels visit this coast during the same time. The fish here caught are chiefly whales, cod, salmon and herring. The resident inhabitants are mainly occupied as furriers and seal-catchers. Nain, a Moravian establishment, is the chief settlement in Labrador.

LESSON XVI.

THE ISLAND OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

Area in square miles, 36,000. Population, 100,000.

Geographical Position, etc.-This island, an insular province of British America, and a colonial possession of Great Britain, lies southeast of Labrador, from which it is separated by the Strait of Belleisle which is about 12 miles in width.

Surface. The surface is mostly marshy, and the shores are deeply indented by numerous bays.

Soil, etc. The soil is ill-suited to agriculture, and its cultivation, therefore, is pursued to a very limited extent. The climate in the winter is severe; and during a great part of the year the atmosphere is humid, and fogs are very prevalent. Pasturage is plentiful, and the plains abound with deer. Timber is scarce; and the chief resources of the inhabitants, are in the fisheries, of which the cod fishery is the most important.

The banks of Newfoundland are extensive submarine elevations, which lie in the Atlantic to the south of the island, and spread over between 600 and 700 miles in length. The depths of water on these vary from 15 to 80 fathoms. At these banks are the celebrated fishing grounds, that have for many years, attracted not only English, but French and American fishermen to these quarters.

Inhabitants. The inhabitants are chiefly Irish.

Manufactures and Exports.-The manufactures are limited to a

few articles of warm woolen clothing. Ship-building is carried on to a small extent; but the materials are imported from New Brunswick. The exports are mainly the produce of the fisheries.

ST. JOHN'S, the capital of the island, on the south-east coast, is much resorted to during the fishing season; and is the only town worthy of note on the island.

THE ISLAND OF CAPE BRETON.

Area in square miles, 8,100. Population, 55,000.

Geographical Position.-This island, an insular colony of Great Britain, lies north-east of Nova Scotia, of which province it forms a part. Surface, etc.—The surface is broken and hilly, and the island is very irregularly shaped, being indented by numerous bays, and almost intersected by an arm of the sea, called Bras d'Or.

The soil is fertile, and the climate is not so rigorous as in the continental colonies. Fish and coal are the chief articles of export.

Inhabitants.-The inhabitants are mostly emigrants from the Scottish Hebrides, and their descendants. Fishing is the leading object of pursuit.

SYDNEY, the capital, is situated in the eastern part of the island on Sydney Bay. In the vicinity are extensive beds of bituminous coal. A steamer plies between this place and Halifax during the summer.

PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND.

Area in sq. miles, 2,100. Population, 68,000.

Geographical Position. This island, an insular colony of Great Britain, lies east of New Brunswick, and north of Nova Scotia.

Surface, etc. The surface is level, or undulating, and well watered; the soil fertile; and the climate is milder than that of the neighboring colonies. The pastures are rich, timber is abundant, and the fisheries are extensive.

Inhabitants, etc.—The inhabitants are chiefly Acadian French settlers and Highland Scotch. The chief pursuit is agriculture, and the commerce of the island consists in the exchange of its agricultural products, timber, dry and pickled fish, for manufactures and other articles of consumption.

CHARLOTTETOWN, the capital, is situated on Hillsborough Bay, near the south coast. It is a small town, and many of the inhabitants are extensively engaged in ship-building.

ANTICOSTI.—This is a desert island, containing an area of about 2600 square miles, situated at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, dividing the river into two channels, from twenty to forty miles in width. On the south-western point of the island stands a lofty and magnificent lighthouse, which is visible for a distance of 25 miles. The island belongs to Canada East.

MAGDALEN ISLES.—These consist of a chain of islands, situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, about 70 miles west of Newfoundland. They are inhabited by about 2000 persons, chiefly French Acadians, whose principal dependence is upon the cod and mackerel fishing on the banks in the vicinity of the group.

BERMUDA, or SOMERS ISLES.* This group, consisting of about 300 small islands, embracing an area of 20 square miles, is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, about 600 miles east of South Carolina. Many of these isles are so small and barren that they have neither inhabitants nor name. The largest of the group is 20 miles long, and 2 in breadth. On the inhabited isles fruits of both temperate and tropical regions are raised. The group belongs to Great Britain.

A regular steam communication is maintained between Bermuda and New York, and Bermuda and the West India Islands.

VANCOUVER ISLAND.*—This large island, containing an estimated area of 16,000 square miles, lies west of British America, and north-west of Washington Territory.

The native inhabitants subsist chiefly by hunting and fishing. The island has been made over by the British government to the Hudson Bay Company.

LESSON XVII.

DANISH AMERICA.*

Total area in square miles, 838,000. Total population, 69,000.

DANISH AMERICA comprises Greenland and Iceland, together with some lesser islands, lying near their coasts.

GREENLAND.

Estimated area, 800,000 square miles. Population, 9,000.

Geographical Position. This immense region (generally supposed to be an island, though its northern extremity is unknown) lies be

See Map of North America.

tween the waters of Baffins Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It extends from Cape Farewell, in latitude 59° 40′ south, to an unknown distance north.

Surface. But little is known respecting this vast region, as it has never been fully explored. A chain of mountains is supposed to extend the entire length of the island. Along the coast the surface is generally rocky and barren. Numerous small islands lie along the western coast, upon which some of the Greenlanders reside.

Soil, etc.-The soil is generally barren, and the climate is very severe; July being the only month in which there is no snow. Small quantities of kitchen vegetables are produced in the southern part of the island. Various species of seals inhabit the surrounding seas, and are of great importance to the Greenlanders, in supplying them with food and clothing, as well as with various articles useful in their simple arts and domestic economy.

Greenland

Inhabitants, etc.-The inhabitants are chiefly Esquimaux. Their leading industrial pursuits are seal-hunting and fishing. belongs to Denmark.

Exports. The exports (sent chiefly to Denmark) consist of eiderdown, skins of seals and other animals, whalebone, and fish oil; for which the Greenlander receives in return various manufactured articles.

ICELAND.

Area in square miles, 87,500. Population, 60,000.

Geographical Position.-This island lies in the Atlantic about 700 miles west of Norway, and 200 miles east of Greenland.

The highest

Surface. The surface is generally mountainous. mountains are on the east and west coasts. They are in groups, and those called jokuls are covered with snow, and are chiefly volcanic. About 30 volcanoes have been discovered on this island, the chief of which are Skaptar, Jokul and Hecla.

Soil, etc.--The soil is generally barren, and the climate is very variable. The general temperature is higher than in any other country in the same latitude. Storms of extreme violence are frequent. The longest day of summer and the longest night of winter last each of them about a week. The aurora borealis is seen in Iceland in all its brilliancy and grandeur.

No trees grow on the island, only a few stinted shrubs and mosses;

nor do any reptiles here exist. The want of fuel is severely felt, although the gulf stream and the polar currents occasionally float driftwood to the shores. A kind of white turf is used as a substitute,

and coal is imported from Europe in considerable quantities. All the grain, and a great part of the vegetable food, are imported. Domestic animals are numerous, and fish can be had in any quantity. Birds are plentiful, the most valuable of which is the eider-duck.

Natural Curiosities.-The most in

teresting are the

situated in the western part of the island, about 35 miles north of the village of Skalholt.

Inhabitants, etc.-The inhabitants are of the Scandinavian race. The supreme authority of the island is intrusted to an officer, who is appointed by the king of Denmark, with the title of Stiftsamtman.

REYKJAVIK, the capital of Iceland, is a small town on the southwest coast. The resident population does not probably exceed 500, but this is greatly increased during the summer fairs. To these fairs the natives bring butter, skins, live-stock, dried fish, knitted stockings, wool, &c., and receive in exchange various articles from Europe, such as coffee, sugar, tobacco, brandy, flour, salt and soap.