sea by three remarkable mosques in the middle of it. There is a reef of coral rocks fronting the place, having a sandy beach inside of it. Long. 46. 30. E. Lat. 2.

8. N.

MAGANJA, a small river of Eastern Africa, which runs into the Zambeze, Long. 33. 40. E. Lat. 16. 20. S.

MAGARABA, a range of mountains in Algiers, extending about 30 miles along the coast of the Mediterranean, inhabited by a tribe of Arabs bearing the same

name.

MAGARZAN, a small island in the Red sea, near the coast of Africa. Lat. 21. 10. S.

MAGDALEN RIVER, a river of Canada, which runs into the river St Lawrence, Long. 65. 5. W. Lat. 49. 12. N.

MAGDALENA, a large river of South America, in New Granada, which has its rise in the province of Popayan, and has a northerly course in the valley between the great longitudinal ridges of the Andes. It runs a course of 900 miles before it enters the sea; and first receives the tribute of numerous subordinate streams. By this river you pass to the New Kingdom of Granada, and on it is brought every kind of merchandise, and a great traffic carried on by means of large flat-bottomed boats, but the navigation is rendered exceedingly irksome, not only on account of the heat, but through the great number of musquitoes with which this river is infested. At its entrance into the sea it forms a small isle or rock, which is desert, and is called the Isla Verde. The waters of this river do not embody themselves with the sea for a distance of more than 20 leagues; and as far as this they are perfectly pure and sweet to drink. Its mouth is about 63 miles to the N. E. of Carthagena, in Lat. 11. 2. N.-It is also the name of numerous inconsiderable settlements dispersed throughout South America.

MAGDALENA, a large, convenient, and beautiful bay, on the western coast of Mexico. Lat. 25. S.

MAGDALENA, a river of Mexico, in the province of Texas, which runs into the sea, between the rivers Flores and Mexicano. There is also a river of the same name in New Granada, which runs into the Pacific ocean, opposite the island of Gorgona; and another in Peru, in the province of Guamalies, which enters the Guallaga.

MAGDALENE ISLANDS, a cluster of islands, seven in number, situated in the gulf of St Lawrence, about 42 miles north-west from the island of Cape Breton. They are thinly inhabited by a few hundred persons employed in the fisheries. They are situated in Long. 61. 40. W. and between Lat. 47. 13, and 47. 42. N.

MAGDEBURG, a government or province of the Prussian states, in Saxony, comprising an extent of nearly 4400 square miles, and a population of 446,000. It is composed of the old duchy of Magdeburg; of the part of the Old Mark lying to the left of the Elbe, the principality of Halberstadt, the abbey of Quedlinburg, the county of Wernigerode, the barony of Schauen, and the bailiwics of Kloetze, Barby, and Gommern. It is now divided into 15 circles, viz. Magdeburg, Halberstadt, Kalbe, Oschersleben, Wanzleben, Osterwick,

Wolmirstedt,

Neuhaldensleben,

Jerichow-Loburg, Jerichow-Genthin, Aschersleben,

Stendal, Salzwedel,

Osterburg, Gardelegen.

This government is one of the finest parts of the Prussian monarchy. It consists almost entirely of a fertile level track, the few hills in the south-west, belonging to the Harz district, being insignificant, and the surface, in other parts, being varied only by gentle elevations. Corn is raised, not for consumption merely, but for exportation; and the quantity of flax and hemp is very large. Chicory, for making coffee, is also raised to some extent. The culture of tobacco does not succeed; and wood is scarce. The principal minerals are coals in various parts; metals in the mountains of the Harz; with salt and porcelain earth in the south and centre of the province. In the principality of Halberstadt the pasturage is rich; but in the duchy of Magdeburg it is bare. The silk-worm has been introduced here, and silk has become one of the manufactures of the province; but the chief fabrics are woollen and linen. The Elbe traverses this government from south to north, throughout its whole extent, and gives an impulse to its trade, which centres chiefly in the town of Magdeburg.

The duchy of Magdeburg must not be confounded with the province of that name, since, though a part of it is included in the latter, another part belongs to the Prussian province or government of Merseburg. The area of the duchy is 2060 square miles; its population 290,000.

MAGDEBURG, a large city of the Prussian states, the capital formerly of a duchy, now of a government, in the province of Saxony, situated in a very beautiful, though flat country, on both sides of the Elbe. It is one of the strongest fortresses in Germany, being surrounded with a number of outworks, and having a citadel in an island in the river, with an arsenal and store-houses. In this citadel are shewn the cells where baron Trenck and La Fayette were successively confined. The town itself is divided

into five parts; first, the Old Town, the Neumarkt, and the Friedrichstadt or tower fort; next, the New Town, and the quarter called Sudenburg, which have their own magistrates, and are treated by the government as separate towns. The whole contained, in 1816, a population of 30,250, of whot 23,000 were Protestants, the rest Catholics and Jews. The New Town lies towards the Elbe, to the north-east of the Old Town, from which it is separated by the fortifications. Magdeburg having been rebuilt since 1631, is better constructed than cities of old date. Of its squares, or open spaces, the principal are the Cathedral square, which has a number of neat houses; the Old Market, with a statue of the emperor Otto the Great; and the prince's market, adjoining to the public walks. The most remarkable public buildings are the royal exchequer, the house where the different courts used to assemble; the ducal palace, the regency house, the government house, the new and old arsenals, &c. The cathe dral, which is of old date, is built of freestone, with two spires. Magdeburg has also three houses of council or assembly, a Catholie church in the citadel for soldiers, 12 Protestant churches, one Catholic, and three Protestant convents, five hospitals, two orphan houses, a house of correction, and a workhouse. The principal public walks are the prince's rampart, the cathedral square, the free-masons garden, and the banks of the Elbe. The public establishments are, the courts of justice for Prussian Saxony, the offices for the civil affairs of the government of Magdeburg, a Protestant consistory, a medical board, the Lutheran establishment of Notre Dame, which serves as a gymnasium, and gives a good course of education; the cathedral school, with the town's gymnasium; two mercantile schools, and a school of midwifery. Magdeburg has several public libraries and collections of paintags. It is accounted a pleasant residence, having several literary and other clubs, pubhe concerts and balls, a German playhouse belonging to the town, and another to a private society. The environs also are very pleasant. At a short distance from the town is the monastery of Bergen, with its school, its library, and collection of machinery and natural history; also the salt works of Schoenebeck, producing about 30,000 tons annually. Like other towns in the north of Germany, Magdeburg contains extensive breweries and distilleries. The manufactures of the place derived, in the 17th century, much advantage from the number of Protestant emigrants who settled here from France and the Netherlands. The largest are of woollen, linen, stockings, hats, leather, tobacco, soap, and wax. The navigation of the Elbe

is of great importance to trade, particularly since relieved by the congress of Vienna, (1815) from a part of the numerous tolls collected at different places.

Magdeburg is a town of old date, having been mentioned in history in the reign of Charlemagne, and greatly improved b he Emperor Otto, or Otho I. Being of importance from its position, it obtained various privileges from succeeding emperors; but, in the 15th and 16th centuries, was involved in disputes, first between its archbishop and the pope, and afterwards with Austria, on account of the protection which it granted to Lutheranism. This drew upon it the ban of the empire, followed by a siege in 1550 and 1551. In 1629, it was besieged, during 28 weeks, by the Austrians under Walstein, who were obliged to retire ; but, in 1631, it was again besieged by the Austrians under Tilly, and taken by storm on the 10th of May, when the town was given up to pillage, and burnt to ashes, with the exception of the cathedral, a convent, and a few adjoining houses. It was entered by the French in 1806, and was annexed to the kingdom of Westphalia. In 1813, on the retreat of the French from Germany, it continued to be occupied by a strong garrison, and did not surrender till the fall of Bonaparte. 75 miles W. S. W. of Berlin, 62 N. N. W. of Leipsic, and 120 S. S. E. of Hamburgh. Long. 11. 38. 46. E. Lat. 52. 8. 4. N.

MAGDELAINE, La Prairie de LA, or La PRAIRIE, a flourishing village, situated on the south side of the St Lawrence, consisting of 100 well built houses, nearly onefourth of them of stone. It is almost opposite to the city of Montreal, from which there is a ferry of six miles. Through this place is carried on the communication between Montreal and St John's, and the commerce also between the United States and Lower Canada. Long. 73, 15. W. Lat. 45. 32. N.

MAGE, a river of South America, in the province of Darien, which falls into the bay of Panama.

MAGELHOLM, a small island of Denmark, in the Baltic, near the south coast of the island of Laland. Long. 11. 17. E. Lat. 54. 43. N.

MAGELLAN, STRAITS OF, a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific ocean, at the southern extremity of the continent of America, upwards of 300 miles in length, from Cape Virgin, in the Atlantic, to Cape Desire, in the Pacific ocean, in some places several leagues over, and in others not half a league. The straits were discovered, and passed through, in the year 1520, by Ferdinando Magellan, a Portuguese, in the service of the crown of Spain, while in quest of a

western passage to the East Indies; which he accordingly performed, but was unfortunately killed in the Molucca islands. His ship, however, returned by the Cape of Good Hope, and was the first vessel ever known to have surrounded the globe. It is said to have many safe bays, encompassed with high mountains, sheltering them so close on all sides, that ships may safely ride in them with the least anchor. Admiral Drake also passed these straits, in his voyage round the world. Various other navigators have gone through the same passage, which they generally agree in reporting to be dangerous in the extreme, both from the violence of the currents, the tempestuous weather even in summer, and in winter from the long and dark nights. Long. 70. to 77. W. Lat. 52. 30. to 54. S.

MAGEROE, an island in the northern extremity of Norwegian Lapland, containing Cape North, in Long. 26. 0. 45. E. Lat. 71. 11. 30. N. This island is of considerable size; the interior is rocky and mountainous, although in the clefts of these rocks, there are some favourable spots to which the inhabitants resort during winter in calm weather, and uncover the grass, at a depth of 15 or 20 feet below the surface of the snow. There are in the island about 600 rein-deer, and a number of ermines. The better class of inhabitants have a few cows and sheep. Bears and wolves, the dread of the Laplanders, are here unknown.

MAGES, a river of Peru, in the province of Camana, which runs west, and enters the Pacific ocean.

MAGGS, a village of Upper Egypt, 30 miles south of Abousaid.

MAGGENTA, a small town of Austrian Italy, in the Milanese. Population 4000.

13 miles W. of Milan.

MAGGERI, a town of the south of India, disuiet of Mysore. In the vicinity there is a considerable quantity of iron ore; and the sandal-wood tree is also produced. Long. 77. 37. E. Lat. 12, 57. N.

MAGGI, a village of Tunis, 40 miles southwest of Gabs.

MAGGIA, a river of Switzerland, in the canton of Ticino, which rises among the Alps in the valley of Livinen, and, after a course of 20 miles, falls into the Lago Maggiore.

MAGGIA, a river of Italy, in the Milanese, which falls into the Lake Maggiore near Lo

carao.

13 miles

MAGHREMORE BAY, a bay on the southeast coast of Ireland, 5 miles S, of Wicklowhead.

MAGI, a river of Peru, in Paraguay, which runs north, and enters the Curitiva, MAGILLAGAN POINT, a cape of Ireland, on the north-west extremity of the county of Londonderry, at the entrance of Lough Foyle. 18 miles N. E. of Londonderry. Long. 6. 50. W. Lat. 55. 12. N.

MAGILLYCUDDY's Rocks, mountains of Ireland, in the county of Kerry, 15 miles S. of Tralee.

MAGINDANO, a large island in the Eastern seas, and the most southerly of the Philippines. It is extremely irregular in its form; but in length it may be estimated at about 300 miles, and its average breadth is about 105; and it is about 800 miles in circumference. It has three remarkable capes or promontories; one, near Samboangan, where the Spaniards have their chief settlement, to the westward; Cape Augus tine or Pandagitan, to the eastward; and Suligow to the northward. The island may be divided into three parts; cach under a distinct and independent government. The first division is under the sultan, who resides at the town of Mindano or Selangan, by far the largest and most ancient it formerly comprehended the greatest part of the sea coast. The second is under the Spaniards, comprehending a large portion of the sea coast, to the west, north, and north-east, where they have planted colonies of Christians from the Philippines, called Bisaya. The third is under the Illano or Illanon, sultans and rajahs, a sort of feudal chiefs, who inhabit the banks of the Great Lake or Lano, and thence a good way inland, towards the hills. The Illa nos possess also the coast of that great bay situated on the south side of the island. This island has so many points running into the sea, with large bays of corresponding depth, that it is extremely favourable for piracy, as it affords so many harbours and lurking places in case of pursuit. It is at these harbours that the piratical rows are fitted out. To the north of Magindano town is the harbour of Sugud or Pollok, one of the finest in India, and distinguished by a peaked hill 200 feet high. The harbour of Tuboc, formed by the island of Ebur, is a great rendezvous for the piratical armaments; and in the bay of Panguil,

which cuts deep into the island, the pirates conceal themselves from the pursuit of the Spaniards. The interior of the island is intersected by lofty chains of mountains, with intervening plains, which afford pasture for vast herds of cattle. The country is also well wooded, and in many parts towards the sea-coast is covered with impenetrable jungle and forests; and most places in the interior are covered with timber" trees, brushwood, reeds, or grass. The soil is well watered, there being streams everywhere, producing a most luxuriant vegetation. The species of trees that are most abundant are the teak, the larch, the poone, and the cassia tree. Rice is produced in great plenty; as also yams, sweet potatoes, cocoa nuts, pumple-noses, mangoes, jacks, plantains, oranges, limes, and all fruits common to tropical climates. There are no ravenous wild beasts on the island; on which account deer, wild cattle, buffaloes, hogs, goats, and horses, multiply fast, the latter being of a small breed, but remarkable for their spirit. There are several lakes of considerable extent about the middle of the island, the principal being the great Lano, which is from 15 to 20 miles across, and about 60 in circumference, and receives many rivers, while only one is known to issue from it. In one district is a volcano, which occasionally discharges smoke and fire.

In the interior, rice, sugar-canes, potatoes, yams, pumpkins, and other vegetables, are produced, which the Aborigines bring down on rafts of bamboo, to the sea coast, to exchange with the Malay inhabitants for iron, chopping-knives, cloth, salt, &c. All sorts of Hindostan cloth sell well here, especially long cloth, white, blue, and red handkerchiefs of all kinds; chintz with dark grounds; Surat goods of most sorts, particularly pittolies, and all kinds of European cutlery. Many Chinese articles are carried from Sooloo to Magindano, especially kangans, beads, gongs, china basons with red edges; deep brass plates, five in a set; deep saucers, three and four inches diameter; brass wire, and iron. Gold is produced in many parts; besides which, wax, rice, cassia, ratts, tobacco, and pepper, are exported. The form of government is partly feudal, and partly monarchical. The sultan is the head of the state, and next to him is his successor elect. There are various other state functionaries, with extensive powers; also six judges named by the sultan, and six amba rajahs, or assertors of the people's rights. Their office is hereditary in the eldest son. The sultan's vassals possess great estates. Those vassals are sometimes Mahometans, though they are mostly na

tive inhabitants. The latter only may be sold with the lands, and cannot be sold off the lands. They are more oppressed than the Mahometans, who are bound to accompany their lords; but the Haraforas, or native inhabitants, being in a great measure excused from such attendance, pay certain yearly taxes, which are not expected from the Mahometan vassals.

The inhabitants of this island are all given to piracy. They consider it as a resource for subsistence, insomuch, that their chiefs, even if they were inclined, could not restrain their depredations. They cruize among the Philippines, where they attack trading vessels, and frequently extend their depredations to Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes. When the prow is large, they strike the mast, and hide among the rocks and small islands, or up a creek. Canoes are then detached to plunder, and the proceeds are brought to the large vessel, which returns home when a sufficient cargo of slaves and plunder is acquired. When they attack the Dutch possessions, they make slaves of persons of their own religion, which they otherwise endeavour to avoid.

From their intercourse with Europeans, the inhabitants of these islands have acquired a slight knowledge of some of the European arts; but, in others they are remarkably deficient, their blacksmiths being' incapable of making any thing that requires more ingenuity than a common nail. Their culinary utensils they mostly procure from China. The male inhabitants do not suffer their beards to grow, but pluck it out with pincers, which is a general custom among the Malays. They are also remarkably found of cock-fighting. The women do not suffer the same strict confinement as in other Indian countries, the sultanas and other females being frequently present at audiences and other public exhibitions. At the age of thirteen, they have their teeth filed thin, and stript of the enamel, that they may have them stained with black, which is performed with great ceremony. The ladies are very pompous in their manners, visiting each other with great ceremony, and with a numerous train of attendants, sometimes 100 in number, who, as they approach the house, notify their approach by a disagrecable howl, They amuse themselves with playing at draughts, dancing, &c. on which occasion they move slowly round in a circle. The dress of the women consists of a jacket, which is common to both sexes; also a kind of petticoat. The men wear, besides the jacket, a cloth bound about the middle, and coming up between the thighs. They tie up their hair in a singular manner, fixing it round,