America, from Florida northward; the Danes settled Greenland, Iceland, &c.; the French were the first settlers of the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi. Numerous Dutch colonists settled at New-York and in New-Jersey. To these have been added Swedes, Germans, Swiss, Scotch, both Celtic and Saxon, and Irish in great numbers; and out of all these has been formed the great Anglo-American family, which is now rapidly spreading over all the habitable portion of North America, subduing nature and nations in its progress to universal dominion. The Russians have some settlements in the extreme north-west, but these being merely temporary sojourners, cannot be taken into a general account of the population.

AFRICAN NEGROES have, for the last two centuries, been imported into North America, and are now continued in the Southern United States as slaves. Pure negroes still form about one-eleventh of the population; while the races sprung from intermixtures are also very numerous. These have never attained to excellence, either in literature or the arts, but are still looked upon as an inferior race; and even where slavery does not exist, their social condition is not one of the happiest description.

All the European colonists, and many of the aboriginal inhabitants, profess Christianity; but several of the independent tribes are still addicted to Fetichism, or to what may be called Sabeism or Dualism. It is very remarkable, that among all the tribes, however savage, we find an idea, more or less clear, of a Supreme Being, who governs the heaven and the earth; of an evil spirit, who shares with him the dominion of nature; and of the immortality of the soul, or rather of a future state of existence. Several of the tribes have priests or conjurors; some have neither; but all believe in the existence of invisible beings, and of a future life. Some represent God under the form of a star; some as an animal; some, on the contrary, see him only in the phenomena of nature. A great number of religious creeds, based on supposed revelations, as well as the religion of the ancient Mexicans, have disappeared with the conversion to Christianity of those who professed them; but some part of the creed or religious practices of the Aztec nation, seem still to be preserved among their descendants. It is even curious to observe in the creed of the Tlascalteks the doctrine of transmigration; and to find among the Mexicans, traditions of the mother of mankind having fallen from her estate of innocence and happiness; of a great flood, in which a single family escaped on a raft; and of a pyramidal edifice raised by the pride of mankind, and destroyed by the wrath of the gods; ceremonies of purification at the birth of children; images, made of maize flour, and distributed in portions to the people assembled in the temples; confession of sins made by penitents; and religious associations, resembling those of the monks and nuns of Catholic countries. At the arrival of the Spaniards human blood flowed in the teocallis, or temples, of the Mexicans.

The Sioux, the Chippeways, the Sakis, the Foxes, the Winnebagoes, the Menomenes, and other tribes of North America, all believe, perhaps, in a Great Spirit; but there is no individual among them who has not a favorite object of reverence, in some animal, tree, herb, or root. Every chief of a family, every old woman, and almost every individual, has a collection of herbs and medicinal roots, which they call the medicine bag, and regard as a sanctuary of so many divinities. They keep it carefully in their tents, and never separate from it when they are at war or on a journey. Among several of these tribes, when they are settled for a portion of the year,

there are huts, where girls are placed to watch over the fire which is kept burning in the centre, like the Roman vestals, the Peruvian Virgins of the Sun, the guardians of the Prytaneum at Athens, and the Guebres of Persia and India. It seems to be considered as an emblem of the sun, or at least is consecrated to that vivifying luminary.

The religion of the Natches, Choctaws, and some other tribes, is a kind of Sabeism. The Cahans make the most extravagant gestures in addressing the Supreme Being. The Knisteneaux regard as spirits the fogs which cover the marshes of their country. The Chippewas believe they are descended from a dog, and, consequently, regard that animal as sacred; they represent the Creator of the World under the form of a bird, whose eyes flash lightning and whose voice produces thunder. They have also traditions of a great flood, and of the long life of the primitive human race.

Among several of the North American tribes fanaticism occasions scenes not less cruel, than those with which the Hindoos celebrate their Currackpûja; but our space does not allow us to enumerate ceremonies which are almost as various as the tribes that practice them.

North America is politically divided into a number of independent states, and the colonial possessions of several European nations. These we shall describe in the following order :-1. Danish Possessions. 2. French Possessions. 3. Russian Possessions. 4. British Possessions, (with Mosquitia.) 5. The United States of America. 6. The United States of Mexico. 7. The Independent States of Central America, viz.: Guatemala, San Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

DANISH POSSESSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA.

Greenland, with Iceland, Jan Mayen's Land, &c., form the possessions of Denmark in North America. The following table will exhibit the extent and population of each separately:

GREENLAND lies to the north-east of the continent, having Davis' Straits on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east; how far it extends north has never been ascertained-Cape Farewell, in latitude 59° 49′ north, is its most southerly point. This country is of a triangular shape, with its apex to the south, and was for a long time supposed to be united to the continent on the north-west; but further researches of navigators have ascertained this to be untrue, and it is probable that Greenland will eventually be found to be a large island.

The whole country is high and rocky; its surface presenting a chaotic assemblage of sterile mountains, bare or covered with ice, which also covers the intervening vallies. A range of lofty mountains are said to traverse its centre, dividing it into East and West Greenland. The east shore,

above 650 north, is an impenetrable accumulation of ice, and is much colder, more barren and miserable than the transmontane districts. It may be said to consist of one uninterrupted glacier. The western shore is high, rugged and barren, and rises close to the water's edge in cliffs and mountains, which are seen from sea at the distance of 60 miles. The whole coast is indented with a number of bays or fiords; and interspersed with innumerable islands: the principal of these is the island of Disco, in the bay of the same name. The coasts and islands are the only parts of Greenland ascertained to be inhabited.

The rocks are principally of granite, gneiss, clay-slate, porphyry, potstone, &c. Rich copper ore, black lead, marble, asbestos, serpentine, garnets, crystals, and some other valuable stones, are found in abundance. There are no volcanoes, but hot springs are found on the coasts. Coal is obtained on the island of Disco.

Vegetation, even in the south, is almost suspended; a few stunted birch, alders and willow trees, with mosses, lichens, grasses, and fungi, form its whole fauna. On the west coast, however, the cultivation of culinary vegetables has succeeded, and several kinds of wild berries have attained considerable perfection.

Among the animals, are the rein-deer in the south, and the polar bear in the north; white hares, foxes, of various colors, and dogs; seals abound on the southern coasts, where also the walrus is met with. In the north seas are whales of several species, and in the sea, rivers and fiords an abundance of fish turbot, herrings, salmon, halibuts, rays, &c., with a great variety of crustacea. Fishing and sealing are the principal occupations of the natives. Sea-fowl, eagles, ravens, and other birds of prey, are very nu

merous.

The climate is intensely cold. The sun has considerable power, however, during the summer, but fine weather never continues long. Violent storms are frequent in autumn; rain or hail are unfrequent, the latter seldom falls. The aurora-borealis has sometimes a light equal to that of the full moon. In these latitudes there is no night in summer and no day in winter.

There are in West Greenland thirteen colonies, fifteen minor commercial and ten missionary establishments; the most northerly of these is Uppernavic, in latitude 72° 50′; Godt-haab, or Good Hope, the most ancient of the settlements, in latitude 64° 10′, has a good harbor.

The commerce of Greenland is, of course, very limited. The trade gives employment to five or six vessels. Whale oil, seal, bear and rein-deer skins, eider-down, &c., form the catalogue of its exports: the imports consist of such manufactures as are required by the peculiarities of the country, among which are woollens, blankets, coffee, spirits, &c. &c.

The Greenlanders are believed to be of the same race as that which inhabits Northern Asia and America, from whom they differ little in person, manners, or language: those inhabiting the west coast are short in stature, and have long, black hair, small eyes, and yellow or brown skins; but those living on the east coast, only a few hundreds in number, are taller, fairer, more active and robust. These people display skill in the construction of their fishing-boats and hunting implements, which are made of the drift-wood which is brought in vast quantities to the coast. Many have embraced a species of Christianity, and their superstitions are now giving way to a rude sort of civilization. In their homes and persons they are more remarkable for want of cleanliness than anything else. The food of the natives is principally the dried flesh of the seal, with a little game

and fish; coffee, tobacco, snuff, and brandy, are esteemed great luxuries. The whole population numbers about 15,000 souls, of which the Danish and Norwegian colonists form about one-half; the native population, which once numbered 20,000, has been gradually diminishing, and will, no doubt, in the process of a few years, become extinct.

Greenland is said to have been discovered by an Icelander in the first part of the 10th century, and the first colony was formed in 923. Under the Norwegian colonists the country was governed by Icelandic laws, and had a bishop of its own. MSS. have been recently discovered which throw much light on the history of these primitive colonies. Of the subsequent history, however, we have no account, and the fate of the colonists is uncertain. Several expeditions have, from time to time, been undertaken for their discovery, but hitherto without success.

The first of the modern settlements was established in 1721, under the auspices of the Danish crown, by Hans Egede, a Norwegian, who has written an interesting work on Greenland.

ICELAND is a large island in the North Atlantic, on the confines of the Arctic Circle, generally considered as belonging to Europe, but which should rather be reckoned as belonging to America. It is between 63° 30′ and 66° 40′ north latitude, and 160 and 23° west longitude, and is of an irregular triangular shape, having an area of about 30,000 square miles, and a population of 56,000.

This land appears to owe its existence to submarine volcanic agency, and to have been upheaved at intervals from the bottom of the sea. It is traversed by ranges of mountains, the principal ridge running east and west, and from these other chains are given off, which terminate on the coast in bold and rocky headlands. The coast is indented with fiords, and presents much similarity to that of Norway. In the south-east there is an extensive tract of level country, covered with vegetation, but two-thirds of the island is buried under lava and snow. The general aspect of the country is rugged and desolate in the extreme The height of the mountains has not been well-ascertained, but some have an elevation of more than 7,000 feet. The Yökuls or enormous ice mountains are the highest; the most extensive of these is the Klofa-Yökul, which covers an area of 3,000 square miles. The Snafel-Yökul in the west is 4,580 feet high, and OreefaYökul in the east, 6,280 feet, being the highest culmination in Iceland. The celebrated volcano, Hecla, is in the south-west, and about 30 miles inward. It is more remarkable for the frequency and violence of its eruptions than its height, being only 5,200 feet above the level of the ocean. There are upwards of 30 other volcanoes in existence, which occasionally spread frightful desolation over the land. Twenty-three eruptions of Hecla are recorded by Europeans since their settlement in Iceland.

The bays and harbors along the coast are numerous and secure, but little known or frequented; those of Eyafiords on the north, Eyrarbacka on the south, and Reikiavik on the west, are best known. The rivers, which are numerous and comparatively large, have almost a north and south course. There are several lakes, of which Myvatn is the most considerable; it is 40 miles in circumference, and contains upwards of 30 islands composed of lava. Numerous other islands line the whole coast of this inhospitable country, all presenting the same desolate appearance.

The geological character of the island is various; the rocks not bearing external marks of heat, are mostly of trap, and contain all the varieties of

zeolite, chalcedony, greenstone, porphyry, slate, &c.; the celebrated double refracting calcareous spar is found chiefly on the eastern coast. Basaltic columns, similar to the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, occur in many parts, especially on the west coast, where they form several grottos, and that of Stappen bears a great resemblance to the cave of Fingal, in the Island of Staffa.

Few metals are met with; iron and copper have been found, but the mines have not been wrought. Sulphur is abundant everywhere, and formerly was largely exported. The intermitting hot springs form the greatest wonder of these polar regions, and are used by the natives for domestic purposes; food is cooked by them, and huts built over small fountains to form steam baths. In some parts of the island vast cauldrons of boiling mud are in a state of constant ebullition, sending up columns of dense vapor, which obscure the atmosphere a great way around.

The extensive forests with which tradition invests Iceland, no longer exist, and nothing but stunted shrubs, little better than underwood, are now found. Vast quantities of surturbrand, or fossil wood, are frequently found at a great depth beneath the surface.

Of wild animals, foxes are most numerous, and bears of northern aspect brought down on the ice, frequent the shores. The reindeer, introduced from Norway, has greatly multiplied, and is entirely wild. Nearly all kinds of sea-fowl inhabit the coasts and islands, and plovers, curlews, snipes, &c., are found in the interior. The eider-duck abounds, and its feathers form a staple export. The coasts, lakes and rivers produce fine fish, and the seal inhabits the coasts, off which are also vast supplies of cod, haddock, herring, &c. The fisheries are extensive, and employ a great portion of the people, who exist principally on their produce. Large quantities of pickled fish are also exported.

The climate is variable: great and sudden changes of temperature often occur. The cold is much increased by large masses of floating ice, which accumulate on the coasts, and fogs are perpetual. Thunder is seldom heard, but storms of wind and rain are frequent, and the aurora borealis and other meteors are much more common and brilliant than in more southern climates. The sun is visible at midnight at the summer solstice from the hills, in the north part of the island, but the summers are very short, and are succeeded by a cold, dark and dreary winter, not enlivened by a single ray of the great luminary.

Agriculture is on a very limited scale, being confined mostly to the growing of grass and hay for the herds of black cattle with which the island abounds. Potatoes and some culinary vegetables have been introduced, but nothing but the red cabbage succeeds well. In 1834, there were 500,000 sheep, 36 or 40,000 head of black cattle, and from 50 to 60,000 horses on the island. The wool is of fine descriptions, and about 3,00 or 4,00 skuppunds (skuppund= 6,400 lbs.) are annually exported. The whole population is employed in feeding cattle or in fishing, or in both: those who breed cattle, being, as compared with those who live by fishing, nearly as three to one. There are no manufactures, except of a domestic nature, carried on; every man makes his own shoes and clothes, in which employment the bishop and other high functionaries are frequently engaged. Barter is the prevailing system, little or no money being possessed by the inhabitants. The peasantry assemble annuaily at Reikiavik and other principal settlements, and bring down with them wool, butter, skins, tallow, Iceland moss and some fine cattle, and in return for these, take back coffee, sugar, tobacco, snuff, brandy, rye, wheat, salt,