Page images
PDF
EPUB

ou, as in our; th, as in thin; TH, as in this; N, nearly like ng. sected by a r. of the same name, which flows into the Loire. Pop. 361,765. (B.) Capital, Laval.

MAYENNE, a manufacturing t. of France, in the above dep., on the r. Mayenne, 18 m. N. N. E. of Laval. Pop. 8,790. (M.)

MAYN. See MAIN.

MAY-o, a co. in the W. part of Ireland, prov. of Connaught, bordering on the sea. Pop. in 1831, 367,956. (P. C.)

MAYSVILLE, a t. of Ky., in Mason co., on the Ohio, about 60 m. N. E. of Lexington. Pop. 2,741.

MAZANDERAN, må-zån'-der-ản', usually pronounced, by the Persians, Må-zån/-der-oon', a prov. in the N. of Persia, S. of, and bordering on the Caspian Sea.

MAZZARA, måt-så/-rå, (Anc. Mazarum,) a fortified seaport t. of Sicily. on the S. W. coast, near the W. extremity of the island. Lat. 37° 40′ N., Lon. 12° 34' E. Pop. estimated at 8,000. (B.)

MEADE, a co. in the N. part of Ky., bordering on the Ohio r. Pop. 5,780. Co. t. Brandenburg.

MEAD-VILLE, the cap. of Crawford co., Pa., on French creek, a branch of the Alleghany r., about 32 m., in a straight line, S. of Erie. It is the seat of Alleghany College, founded in 1815.

MEATH, meеTH, a co. in the E. part of Ireland, prov. of Leinster, bordering on the sea. Pop. 176,826. (P. C.)

MEAUX, mo, (Anc. Jatinum, afterwards Meldi,) a t. of France, in the dep. of Seine and Marne, on the r. Marne, 25 m. E. N. E. of Paris. It contains a museum, a public library of 11,000 vols., and other institutions. Lat. 48° 58′ N., Lon. 2° 53′ E. Pop. in 1831, 8,481. (P. C.)

MEC-CA, a celebrated city of Arabia, in the prov. of Hedjaz, remarkable as being the birth-place of Mahomet, and the great centre or capital of the Moslem religion. It is situated in a sterile valley, in the midst of mountains, about two days' journey E. of its port Jidda, on the Red Sea. The most remarkable edifice is the temple of the Kaaba (kåå-bå); a massive structure, forming an oblong square, 18 paces long, 14 broad, and nearly 40 ft. high, covered by an immense curtain of black silk, on which is inscribed, in letters of gold, the sentence which imbodies the essential part of the Mahometan's creed: "There is no god but God; Mahomet is the prophet of God." The sacred fountain of Zem-zem-said to be that found by Hagar, when her son Ishmael was dying of thirst-is enclosed in a substantial square building, with marble basins for ablution, and a room appropriated for pilgrims, who come in crowds to taste, and to be purified by, its waters. Mecca appears to have lost the reputation which it once possessed as a seat of Mahometan learning. Lat. about 21° 30′ N., Lon. 40° 15′ E. Pop. uncertain, said to be above 80,000 during the period of pilgrimage (B.); at other times, it may be between 20,000 and 30,000—Adj. and inhab. MECCAWEE, mek/-kå-wee', sometimes written MECCAWAY.

MECHLIN, mek/-lin, or MECHELEN, mek'-el-ẹn, (Fr. Malines, må`leen',) an archiepiscopal city of Belgium, in the prov. of Antwerp, on the Dyle, 14 m. N. N. E. of Brussels. It is regularly laid out with

Fåte, får, fåll, fåt; mě, mět; plne or pine, pin; no, not; öõ as in good; broad, clean, and well-paved streets. The lace manufactured in Mechlin has long been in high repute, and brings a great price: it is said, however, that this branch of business has declined of late. The town has recently acquired additional importance from being the central point at which several railways in Belgium meet. The archbishop of Mechlin is the primate of the kingdom. Lat. 51° 2′ N., Lon. 4° 29 E. Pop. 24,000. (B.)

MECK-LEN-BURG (Ger. pron. mek'-len-bŎŎRG'), a territory of Germany, between 53° 3′ and 54° 20′ N. Lat., and 10° 40' and 14° E. Lon., and divided into two grand-duchies, viz., Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN (shwẻR-een') constitutes the western and much the larger division of the above territory. Area, 4,833 sq. m. Pop. 482,925. (M.) Schwerin is the capital.

MECKLENBURG-STRELITZ (strel'-its) is bounded on the W. by the above, and contains an area of 997 sq. m. Pop. 89,528. (M.) Strelitz is the capital.

MECKLENBURG, a co. in the S. S. E. part of Va., intersected by the Roanoke, and bordering on N. C. Pop. 20,724. Co. t. Boydtown.

MECKLENBURG, a co. in the S. S. W. part of N. C., bordering on the Catawba and S. C. Pop. 18,273. Co. t. Charlotte.

MEDINA, med-eel-na, (i. e. the "city," so called by way of eminence,) one of the cities held sacred by Mahometans, and, next to Mecca, their principal place of pilgrimage, is situated about 260 m. N. of Mecca, and about 100 m. N. E. of its port Yembo, on the Red Sea. It is not open, like Mecca, but surrounded with walls about 40 ft. high,* flanked by 30 towers (M.), and is entered by three fine gates. The glory of Medina, is the possession of the tomb which contains the remains of the Prophet. We may remark, that the story long current in Europe, of Mahomet's coffin being suspended in the air by a loadstone, is unknown in the East. Medina has but little commerce, and scarcely any manufactures. The inhabitants, too numerous to be supported by the productions of the sterile country by which they are surrounded, are said to be maintained, in a great measure, by the gifts which are sent or brought to them by the faithful. Pop. estimated at 18,000. (M.)

ME-DI-NA, a co. in the N. part of Ohio, a little W. of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Pop. 18,352. Co. t. Medina.

MEDINA SIDONIA, med-eel-nå se-do'-ne-å, an ancient t. of Spain, in Andalusia, 22 m. E. by S. of Cadiz, with extensive manufactures of earthenware. Pop. 9,000. (B.)

MED-IT-ER-RA-NE-AN SEA (Lat. Ma're Mediterra'neum; i. e. "midland sea," and Ma're Inter/num; i. e. the "inner or inland sea"); a large inland sea, situated between Africa, on the S., and Europe and Asia on the N., extending from about 30° 20′ to 45° 40' N. Lat., and from

* Balbi says "ninety feet high" (hauts de 90 pieds). This, however, is perhaps a typographical error.

ou, as in our; th, as in thin; тH, as in this; N, nearly like ng. about 5° 30′ W. to 36 E. Lon. It is rather more than 2,200 m. in length; its greatest breadth, from Venice to the S. extremity of the Bay of Sidra, is about 1,100 m. Area estimated at 690,000 sq. m. The Mediterranean communicates with the Atlantic by the Strait of Gibraltar, with the Black Sea by the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmora, and the Bosporus. The depth of this sea is very great, it being, in most places, unfathomable. It is said, however, that between Sicily and Tunis, the channel is nowhere more than 30 fathoms deep. The Mediterranean, though poetically termed a "tideless sea,' is not strictly so in the Adriatic, as well as between that sea and the coast of Africa, the tides rise from 5 to 7 feet, and their influence is also felt more or less along the shores of Sicily and the W. side of the Morea. A great number of rivers flow into the Mediterranean, particularly from the N., and a strong current comes down through the Dardanelles from the Black Sea; yet, so rapid is the evaporation, that a constant influx takes place through the Strait of Gibraltar, in order to preserve its equilibrium with the Atlantic.

MED-WAY, a r. in the S. E. of England, which flows into the estuary of the Thames, on the right.

MEGNA. See BRAHMAPOOTRA.

Mehallet-el-kEBEER (or el-kebir), meh-hål'-let-el-kçh-beer', i. e. "the great place," an important t. of Lower Egypt, though now much decayed, situated on a canal communicating with the E. branch of the Nile. Lat. 31° N., Lon. 31° 12′ E. Pop. estimated at above 17,000. (B.) MEIGS, megz, a co. in the S. E. part of Tenn., bordering on the Tennessee r. Pop. 4,794.

MEIGS, a co.in the S. E. part of Ohio, bordering on the Ohio r. Pop. 11,452. Co. t. Chester.

MEINAM (må-nåm/). See CAMBODIA.

MEININGEN, mil-ning-en, or MEINUNGEN, mi/-nõõng-en, a small t. of Germany, cap. of the duchy of Saxe-Meiningen-Hildburghausen, on the Werra, It is regularly laid out, and well built; and contains a lyceum, a library of 25,000 vols., and other institutions. Lat. 50° 35' Ñ., Lon. 10° 24' E. Pop. about 5,000. (B.)

MEISSEN, mil-cen, a manufacturing t. of the kingdom of Saxony, in a circle of the same name, is situated on both sides of the Elbe, 15 m. N. W. of Dresden. The porcelain manufactured at Meissen is said to rival or surpass that of China in beauty and durability. Pop. 5,000. (B.)

MEK-I-NEZ or MEK-NAS, also written MEQUINEZ, a large t. of Morocco, situated in a beautiful and well-watered valley, about 35 m. W. by S. from Fez. Among its various manufactures, that of leather is the most important. Lat. about 34° N., Lon. 5° 30′ W. Pop. 56,000. (P. C.)

MEL-ROSE', a small village of Scotland, in Roxburghshire, remarkable for the remains of Melrose Abbey, the finest monastic ruin in that country. It is about 31 m. S. E. of Edinburgh.

Fate, får, fåll, fåt; mẻ, mêt; pine or pine, pin; nỏ, nôt; õõ as in good;

MEL-TON-MOW-BRAY (mo-bre), a small t. of England, in Leicestershire, 92 m. N. by W. of London. Pop. of the parish, 3,740.

ME-LUN (Fr. pron. m'lux'; Anc. Melodu'num); cap. of the French dep. of Seine and Marne, situated on the Marne, 25 m. S. E. of Paris. Pop. 6,830. (B.)

MEM-EL or mal-mel, a fortified seaport t. of E. Prussia, cap. of a circle of the same name, and the most northern town in the Prussian dominions, situated near the N. extremity of the Kurische Haff, about 50 m. N. N. W. of Tilsit. It has a large and safe harbour, with deep water, and a flourishing commerce. Lat. 55° 42′ N., Lon. 21° 8' E. Pop. near 10,000. (B.)

MEMEL RIVER. See NIEMEN.

MEM-MING-EN, a commercial and manufacturing t. of Bavaria, 44 m. S. W. of Augsburg, with a lyceum and several other institutions. Lat. about 48° N., Lon. 10° 12′ E. Pop. above 7,000. (B.)

MEN-ARD', a co. in the W. central part of Ill., intersected by the Sangamon. Pop. 4,431. Co. t. Petersburg.

MENDE or månd, an ancient t. of France, the cap. of the dep. of Lozère, on the Lot. It is badly built, but is well supplied with water from numerous public fountains. Lat. 44° 31' N., Lon. 3° 30′ E. Pop. 5,109. (B.)

MEN-DO-ZA (Sp. pron. mên-do'-thå), a t. of S. America, in the republic of La Plata, cap. of a prov. of the same name, on the W. side of the L. of Mendoza. Lat. about 32° 50′ S., Lon. 69° 15′ W. Pop. estimated by Balbi at 7,000 or 8,000, but some other geographers state it as high as 20,000.

MENIN, me-nåN, (Flemish, Meenen, mål-nẹn,) a manufacturing t. and fortress of Belgium, in the prov. of W. Flanders, on the Lys, 11 m. N. of Lille. Lat. 50° 49′ N., Lon. 3° 5' E. Pop. 7,909. (P. C.)

MENTZ, ments, or MAINZ, mints, (Fr. Mayence, må`-yånce'; Anc. Magontiacum or Moguntiacum,) a fortified city of Germany, the cap. of the prov. of Rheinhessen, in Hesse-Darmstadt, and formerly of the electorate of its own name, is situated on the W. bank of the Rhine, nearly opposite to its junction with the Main. It is one of the strongest fortresses of Europe, and the chief bulwark of Germany against France. The village of Kastel or Kassel, on the opposite side of the Rhine, is included within its system of fortifications, and is connected with Mentz by a bridge of boats, about 1,800 ft. in length. The town is old fashioned, and, on the whole, badly built, and the streets, with few exceptions, are narrow, crooked, and gloomy. Among the remarkable edifices, we may mention the church of St. Ignatius, which is considered a model of beautiful ecclesiastical architecture; and the magnificent grand-ducal palace, formerly the house of the Teutonic Order. Mentz is remarkable for having given to the world the first complete specimen of a printed book, and for being the centre whence the typographical art has spread itself over the globe. One of the squares of the city is named in honour of Gutenberg (gool-ten-berg), the inventor of the art of printing with moveable types, and a splendid monument

ou, as in our; th, as in thin; TH, as in this; N, nearly like ng. has recently been erected to his memory. Among its various literary and scientific institutions, Mentz contains a city library of above 90,000 vols., in which are preserved some of the earliest extant specimens of printing. The remains of a Roman bridge over the Rhine, and an aqueduct in the vicinity, among other monuments, attest the ancient origin of Mentz. Magontiacum, whence the modern town derives its name, was founded by Drusus, about 10 years before the Christian era. Lat. 50 N., Lon. 8° 11' E. Pop., exclusive of the garrison (which amounts to about 6,000), 31,000. (B.)

MENZALEH, men-za-lch, a small t. of Lower Egypt, near an extensive lagoon to which it gives its name. Lat. 30° 45' N., Lon. 31° 55' E. Lake Menzaleh is above 50 m. long, and near 30 m. wide.

MEQUINEZ. See MEKINEZ.

MER-CER, a Co. in the middle part of N. J., bordering on the Delaware. Pop. 21,502. Co. t. Trenton.

MERCER, a Co. in the N. W. part of Pa., bordering on the Ohio. Pop. 32,873. Co. t. Mercer.

MERCER, a Co. in the S. W. part of Va., bordering on New г. Pop. 2,233.

MERCER, a co. in the E. central part of Ky., bordering on the Kentucky r. Pop. 18,720. Co. t. Harrodsburg.

MERCER, a Co. in the W. part of Ohio, bordering on Ind. Pop. 8,277. Co. t. St. Mary's.

MERCER, a co. in the N. W. part of Ill., bordering on the Mississippi. Pop. 2,352. Co. t. New Boston.

MERDIN. See MARDEEN.

MERGUI OF MERGHI, mer-gee', a t. of Farther India, cap. of a British prov. of the same name, at the mouth of the r. Tenasserim, with a good harbour. Lat. 12° 30′ N., Lon. 98° 35' E. Pop. in 1825, about 8,000. (B.)

MER/-I-DA (Anc. Augus'ta Emer/ita), a decayed t. of Spain, in Estremadura, on the right bank of the Guadiana, remarkable for its magnificent ruins. Among these we may mention a triumphal arch which has been attributed to Trajan, and a bridge over the Guadiana, one of the largest in Europe, remarkable for its solidity and fine preservation. Augusta Emerita was founded by a Roman general, under the Emperor Augustus: it afterwards became the capital of Lusitania, and the most magnificent city in Roman Spain. At the time of the Arab invasion, it was, according to a Moslem historian, 8 m. in circumference, and garrisoned by 90,000 men. Lat. 38° 51' N., Lon. 6° 15′ W. Pop. about 6,000. (B.)

MERIDA, the cap. of the Mexican state of Yucatan, situated about 50 m. from the sea. Lat. about 20° 50′ N., Lon. 89° 40′ W. Pop. 28,000. (P. C.)

MERIDA, a t. of Venezuela, in the dep. of Zulia, the cap. of a prov. of the same name, with a university. Lat. about 8° 15′ N., Lon. 71° 14' W. Pop. about 5,000. (B.)

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »