ou, as in our; th, as in thin; TH, as in this; N, nearly like ng. in ancient or modern times, have successively extended their sway over the neighbouring kingdoms. For this independence it has been chiefly indebted to those peculiar means of defence, with which it has been furnished by nature. Its vast and parching deserts have stood as a "wall of fire" against the encroachments of foreigners; at the same time the general sterility of the soil has afforded no sufficient motive for undertaking the conquest of a country, in which so many formidable, not to say insurmountable, difficulties must be encountered. This country is also remarkable as the birth-place of Mahomet, and the cradle of the Moslem religion, which, in a few years, extended its dominion over a large portion of Asia, the northern regions of Africa, and thence over the greater part of Spain.-Adj. AR-A-BI-AN, ARABIC, âr'-a-bik, and ARABESQUE, år-a-besk'.-Inhab. ARAB, âr-ab, and ARABIAN.

ARACAN. See ARRACAN.

ARAD, Ŏrl-od', the name of two small towns of Hungary, situated in a county of the same name.

OLD ARAD, (Ger. Alt-Arad, ålt å/-råt; Hung. O' Arad ;) is on the r. Marosch. Lat. about 46° 10' N., Lon. 21° 20′ E. Pop. 5,000. (B.) NEW ARAD, (Ger. Neu-Arad, noi å/-råt; Hung. Uj Arad, oo-e õr-od ;) an important fortress, on the opposite side of the Marosch, 24 m. from the old town.

ARAGON, âr-a-gon, (Sp. pron. år-å-gone',) a large prov., formerly a kingdom of Spain, bounded on the N. by the Pyrenees, E. by Catalonia and a part of Valencia, S. by Valencia, and W. by Navarre and Old Castile. Length, from N. to S., about 200 m.; greatest breadth, from E. to W., about 130 m.—Adj. and inhab. Ar`-ṛ-GON-ESE'.

ARAGUAY, år-a-gwi, a r. in the central part of Brazil, which flows into the Tocantins.

ARAL (âr/-al), SEA OF, a great inland lake of Asia, situated E. of the Caspian Sea, between the 43d and 47th degrees of N. Lat., and the 58th and 62d of E. Lon. Its length is about 290 m. from N. to S., its breadth varies from 130 to 250 m. The southern extremity is studded with innumerable small islands, at the mouth of the r. Amoo; and from this circumstance it has received the name Aral, which, in the Tartar language, signifies island. It has no communication with the ocean, and though it receives several rivers, among which are the Amoo and Sihon, the level of this lake is constantly lowering. The waters are saline, but the exact proportion of salt has not been ascertained. (P. C.)

ARANJUEZ, á-rån-Hweth', (Lat. A'ra Jo'vis, "altar of Jove,") a t. and royal palace of Spain, on the Tagus, 25 m. S. by E. from Madrid. It is the residence of the court ordinarily from Easter till the end of June. Permanent pop. about 4,000. (B.) Lat. 40° 2' N., Lon. 3° 36′ W.

ARARAT, ar-a-rat', a celebrated mountain of Armenia, situated to the S. W. of the t. of Erivan, about 5 m. from the river Aras. It rises from the midst of a great plain, in two conical peaks, one of which ascends far above the limit of eternal snow, its height being about 17,260 feet above the level of the sea. It does not, however, rise to this great elevation, immediately from its base, but stands on the table land of

Fåte, får, fåll, fât; mẻ, mit; plne or pine, pln; nỏ, nôt; õõ, as in good; Armenia, which is stated by Ritter to be 7,000 feet above the level of the sea. The smaller cone is separated from the greater by a plain of considerable extent, and is much lower. The surrounding people regulate their agricultural operations by the melting of the snow on the little Ararat, from the summit of which it entirely disappears in summer.

ARAS, ȧr/-as, (Anc. Araxes), a r. of Armenia, which rises about 20 m. S. of Erzroom, and, flowing easterly, empties itself into the Koor (Kur). Length estimated at above 500 m.

AR-AU-CA-NI-ANS, a nation of Indians of S. America, inhabiting a country bounded on the N. by the r. Bio-bio, E. by the great Cordillera of the Andes, S. by Valdivia, and W. by the Pacific Ocean; extending along the coast about 180 m., with a breadth, from the sea to the crest of the Andes, of perhaps 150 m. They are a brave and hardy people, very jealous of their honour, hospitable, honest, grateful, generous, and humane; but when not at war, indolent, haughty, and addicted to intoxication. The Araucanians have sustained an almost uninterrupted war against the Spaniards from the first invasion in 1537, until the present time. Their independence was formally acknowledged by Spain in 1773, and they were allowed to send an ambassador, who should reside at Santiago de Chili. (P. C.)

ARBE, AR/-ba, an i. in the Gulf of Venice, containing an area of about 29 sq. m., and between 3,000 and 4,000 inhabitants. Also, a small t. on the above island. Lat. 44° 45′ N., Lon. 14° 50′ E. (P. C.)

ARBROATH. See ABERBROTHOCK.

ARCHANGEL, ark-anel-jel, (Russ. pron. åRK-ång/-gel,) a prov. the most northern and the most extensive of Russia in Europe. Its superficial extent is estimated at 300,000 sq. m. Pop. perhaps 280,000. (P. C.) ARCHANGEL, an archiepiscopal t.; the cap. of the above, on the Dwina, with a fine harbour, which, however, is ordinarily free from ice only from July to September. It was the only town in Russia of any commercial importance, previously to the founding of St. Petersburgh, in 1703; since which time its trade has diminished, though it is still the depository of foreign merchandise destined for Siberia. Pop. 19,262. (B.) Lat. 64° 32′ N., Lon. 40° 43′ E.

AR-COT', a decayed city of Hindostan; the Mahometan cap. of the Carnatic. It is a place of great antiquity, and was once an important Indian fortress. Lat. 12° 54' N., Lon. 79° 22′ E.

ARDÈCHE, AR-daish', a small r. of France, which flows into the Rhone ARDÈCHE, a dep. in the S. E. of France, W. of, and bordering on the Rhone. Pop. 353,752. (B.) Capital, Privas.

ARDENNES, AR -denn',* (Lat. Arduen/na Silva,) a celebrated forest of France, which gives name to the dep. of Ardennes.

* In the works of some of the poets, this name is spelled Arden, in which case it is to be accentuated on the former syllable.

"Beyond old ARDEN, in his sister's home"

"The warrior who from ARDEN's fated fount
Drank of the bitter waters of aversion."

SOUTHEY'S Joan of Arc, Books I. and IV

ou, as in our; th, as in thin; тH, as in this; N, nearly like ng. ARDENNES, a dep. in the N. of France, bordering on Belgium. Pop. 306,861. (B.) Capital, Mezières.

AR-DRAH, a small kingdom of Africa, on the coast of Guinea.-Also, the cap. of the above. Lat. near 7° N., Lon. 2° 30′ E. Pop. estimated at 20,000. (B.)

AREQUIPA, år-à-kee/-på, cap. of a prov. of the same name, and, after Lima, the largest and finest city of Peru, near the r. Quilca (keel/-kå), about 50 m. from the sea. It was founded by Pizarro, in 1539. The houses are built chiefly of stone; low and very substantial, with a view to resist the shock of earthquakes. Its manufactures and trade are considerable. Pop. estimated at above 30,000. (B.)

AREZZO, ȧ-ret'-so, (Lat. Arre/tium,) an ancient and still considerable t. of Tuscany, 40 m. S. E. of Florence. Arretium was one of the most wealthy and populous cities of ancient Etruria, and has ever since held an important place in the history of Italy. Arezzo is remarkable for having been the birth-place of many distinguished men, among others, Guido, the first restorer of modern music, and the celebrated Petrarch. Lat. 43° 28′ N., Lon. 11° 52′ E. Pop. 9,000. (B.)

ARGENTAN, AR`-Zhån`-tân', a t. of France, in the dep. of Orne, 23 m. N. of Alençon. Lat. 48° 44' N., Lon. 0° 1' E. Pop. about 6,000. (P. C.) ARGENTEUIL, AR`-zhan'-tul', a t. of France, in the dep. of Seine and Oise, on the right bank of the Seine. Lat. 48° 56′ N., Lon. 2° 14' E. Pop. 4,700. (P. C.)

ARGENTIERE, AR`-zhån`-te-aiR', a small t. of France, in the dep. of Ardèche, 20 m. S. W. of Privas. It derives its name from the mines of silver (argentum), wrought here in the 12th century. (M.) ARGOON OF ARGUN. See AMOOR.

ARGOSTOLI, ar-gos/-to-le, the chief t. of Cephalonia, with the best harbour in the island, and considerable commerce. Lat 38° 10' N., Lon. 20° 30′ E. Pop. about 5,000. (B.)

ARG-YLE (often written Argyll), a shíre in the W. of Scotland, bordering on the sea. Pop. 97,371.

ARGYRO-CASTRO, ar-ghe-ro-cas/-tro, (Mod. Gr. Arguro-kastron, Turk. Ergree Kastree,) an inland t. of Albania. Lat. 40° 7' N., Lon. 20° 13′ E. Pop. estimated at from 15,000 to 20,000. (P. C.)

ARICA, å-ree/-kå, a seaport t. of Peru, once a flourishing and populous place, but now a miserable village. It has suffered much from earthquakes, particularly in 1608. During the war of independence, it was entirely desolated. Present pop. not above 400. (P. C.)

ARIÈGE, à-re- aizh', a small r. of France, tributary to the Garonne. ARIÈGE, a dep. in the S. of France, on the sources of the above r., and bordering on Spain. Pop. 260,536. (B.) Capital, Foix.

AR-KAN-SAS or AR-KAN-SAW', a r. of N. America; next to the Missouri, the largest affluent of the Mississippi. It rises in the Rocky Mountains, and, after a course of more than 2,000 m., flows into the Mississippi, in Lat. 33° 54' N., Lon. 91° 10′ W. It is navigable almost to its source.

ARKANSAS, one of the U. S, between 33° and 36° 30′ N. Lat., and

Fåte, får, fall, fåt; me, met; pine or pine, pin; nỏ, nôt; õõ as in good; 89° 50′ and 94° 40′ W. Lon.; bounded on the N. by Missouri, E. by the Mississippi r., which separates it from Tennessee and the state of Mississippi, S. by Louisiana, and W. by the Indian Territory; and divided into 41 counties.* Length, from E. to W., 264 m.; breadth, from N. to S., about 240. Area estimated at 54,500 sq. m. Pop. 97,574; of whom 77,174 are whites, 465 free coloured persons, and 19,935 slaves. Arkansas was admitted into the Union in 1836. Little Rock is the seat of government.

ARKANSAS, a co. in the E. part of Arkansas, intersected by the Arkansas r. Pop. 1,346. Co. t. Arkansas.

AR-KEE-KO (Arkiko), a seaport on the W. coast of the Red Sea. Though a small and miserable place, it is the point through which all the maritime intercourse of Abyssinia is carried on. (P. C.) Lat. 15° 38′ N., Lon. 39° 37′ E.

ARLES, arlz, (Fr. pron. anl; Lat. Arela'te,) an ancient t. of France, on the left bank of the Rhone, about 50 m. W. N. W. of Marseilles. It formerly held a conspicuous place among the cities of Europe, but has fallen greatly to decay. The numerous existing ruins attest its former magnificence, and constitute its principal claims to our attention. Lat. 43° 40′ N., Lon. 4° 38′ E. Pop. 13,342. (M.)

ARMAGH, ar-mål, an inland co. in the N. of Ireland. Pop. in 1831, 220,651. (P. C.)

ARMAGH, a city of Ireland, and cap. of the above co. In the middle centuries it was celebrated as a place of learning, and, according to the Irish historians, had, at one time, 7,000 students at its college. At present it possesses several establishments for education, an observatory, a lunatic asylum, and a fever hospital. Armagh is the residence of an English archbishop, who is styled Primate of all Ireland. The Observatory is in 54° 21′ 12′′ N. Lat., and 6° 38′ 52" W. Lon. Pop. in 1834, 10,764. (M.)

ARMAGNAC, AR -mån`-yåk', formerly a county of Gascony, in France; now chiefly comprehended in the dep. of Gers.-Adj. and inhab. AR

MAGNAC.

AR-ME-NI-A (Turk. Erminee/ych), a country of Asia Minor. It is not defined by any permanent natural boundaries. In the course of its history, we find its limits exposed to continual changes. In its widest application, it may be said to embrace the country from L. Ooroomeeyeh (Ourmiah), and the junction of the rivers Koor and Aras, on the E., to the upper course of the Kizil Ermac, on the W.; and from the upper course of the rivers Tchorak and Koor, on the N., to the Taurian Mountains, in the direction of Beer, Mardeen and Nisibis, on the S., The country, in general, is mountainous, and, owing to its height

Arkansas, Benton, Bradley, Carroll, Chicot, Clarke, Conway, Crawford, Crit. tenden, Desha, Francis. St., Franklin, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Indepen dence, Izard, Jackson, Jefferson. Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sevier, Union, Van Buren, Washington, White.

81

ou, as in our; th, as in thin; TH, as in this; N, nearly like ng. above the level of the sea, is colder than might have been expected from its geographical position. (See ARARAT.) The principal productions are wheat, barley, cotton, hemp, tobacco, and manna, besides various fruits. Many of the Armenians are engaged in trade, and bear a high character for integrity in their dealings. They form the chief class of traders in the Persian empire, and are found scattered over various other parts of the world. Their religion is a species of Christianity.-Adj. and inhab. AR-ME-NI-AN.

ARMENTIÈRES, AR`-måN`- te-air/, a t. of France, in the dep. of Nord, near the Belgian frontier, on the Lys, 10 m. N. N. W. of Lille. Lat. 50° 41' N., Lon. 2° 52′ E. Pop. 7,700. (M. B.)

ARM-STRONG, a co. in the W. part of Pa., N. E. of Pittsburg, and intersected by the Alleghany г. ARN-HEM (Supposed to be the Roman Arenacum), a fortified city of Pop. 28,365. Co. t. Kittaning. the Netherlands; cap. of Guelderland. It was formerly one of the Hanse towns. Lat. 52° N., Lon. 5° 52′ E. Pop. about 11,000. (B.) AR-NO (Lat. Ar'nus), the principal river of Tuscany, rises in the Apennines, and, passing through Florence and Pisa, flows into the sea, about 5 m. W. of the latter town. Length about 150 m. It is navigable to Florence.

ARNSBERG, arns/-beRG, or ARENSBERG, a t. of the Prussian States; cap. of a circle of the same name; the largest of the three circles which form the prov. of Westphalia. Lat. 51° 24' N., Lon. 8° 1' E.

Pop. 3,200. (B.)

ARNSTADT, ARD/-stått, a t. of Saxony, on the Gera, 11 m. S. of Erfurt. Lat. 50° 49′ N., Lon. 10° 57′ E. Pop. about 5,000.

(B.)

AR-OOS-TOOK, a co. forming the N. E. part of Maine. Pop. 9,413. Co. t. Houlton.

ARPINO, AR-peel-no, (Anc. Arpi/num,) a city of Naples, near the confines of the kingdom, about 60 m. S. E. of Rome. It is celebrated as the birth-place of Cicero and Marius, to which circumstance it was once indebted for its preservation. In the wars between the houses of Anjou and Aragon, for the possession of the kingdom of Naples, Arpino took part with the French against the Aragonese and the Pope. pontiff (Pius II.) generously commanded Orsini, his successful captain, The to " spare Arpino for the memory of Caius Marius and Marcus Tullius." It has manufactories of parchment, leather, paper, and of the best cloth made in the kingdom. Lat. 41° 41' N., Lon. 13° 37′ E. Pop. estimated at above 8,000. (B.)

AR-BA-CAN or ARACAN (called by the natives Rakhaing), a country of Chin-India, lying along the E. shore of the Bay of Bengal, between 17 and 21° 30' N. Lat., and 92° 20' and 94° 30′ E. Lon. belonged to the Burmese empire, but in 1826 became one of the posIt formerly sessions of the East India Company. Its extreme length, from N.N.W. to S. S. E., is, perhaps, 230 m., and its average breadth about 50 m. (P. C.)

ARRACAN, the ancient cap. of the above prov., on a small river of the same name. It was once a flourishing and populous city, so that the