818.32 NARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF THE ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, by in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. WAITT & DOW'S PRESS-BOSTON. PREFACE. 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 countrymen. 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 neglected 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 described 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 cusand toms 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. |