276 Geographical Collections. 



and cleanly dressed, received us at the entrance of the house. In answer to our 

 questions, she assured us that, as they had no children and few relations, they 

 had not the slightest desire to return to England for some time ; but that when 

 the infirmities of age should overcome them, they would quit with joy, on the 

 first favourable occasion, their solitary residence, to pass the remainder of their 

 existence in their native country. They were then in the flower of their age, and 

 perfectly satisfied with their lot. They listened with a sort of pride to our enco- 

 miums on their flourishing condition, and our surprize at seeing the land so well 

 cultivated. The climate being perfectly temperate, and the soil light, they had 

 given all the desired perfection to a great variety of European, as well as tropical 

 fruits and vegetables. They had in their yard the two cows of which we have 

 already spoken, many English pigs, some sheep, goats, and poultry, enough to 

 afford them a daily supply. They seldom killed the wild boars, wild goats, or a 

 species of black-cock which abounded in the island. 



" In the deep waters among the rocks, several species of fish were found. The 

 mountains were literally covered with water hens, petrels, albatrosses, and the 

 different feathered tribes which are met with in the South Atlantic. As seals 

 are very abundant there, our insular inhabitants had preserved a great quantity of 

 skins, to exchange them for other merchandize with the ships which might touch 

 at Tristan d'Acunha. We ourselves having obtained our supply of fresh water 

 at one of the limpid fountains of the mountain, we bade good-bye to this little 

 romantic isle and its two interesting inhabitants." 



Hydrography of Russia. — ( Continued from p. 212.^ 



Few of the great Asiatic rivers can course to the south, because they have their 

 origin at the northern foot of the great mountains which separate Russia from 

 Mongolia and Mandjouria. It is not the same in Europe. In advancing from 

 the east to the west, the first we meet with is the Oural, which forms the limits 

 of the two continents. This river, formerly called Jaik, and Rymnus by the an- 

 cients, has its source on the western acclivity of the chain of mountains to which 

 it owes its present name, under the 54th degree of north latitude. After flowing 

 some distance to the west, from the fort of Orsk to that of Ouralsk, it turns to 

 the south, to empty itself, after a course of about 700 leagues, which divides the 

 Bachkirs and the Kirghese in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea. 



To the west of this river we meet with the Volga, whose long course is of so 

 much importance for the internal commerce of Russia, and for the markets of its two 

 capitals. This river is the longest in Europe ; for it traverses a distance of about 

 a thousand leagues, while the course of the Danube has only about 450 leagues 

 of development. It takes its origin from a lake situated at the foot of the forest 

 Volkhouski, in the government of Tver, in the environs of Ostuchkof. Origi- 

 nating as a rivulet at Reif, where it becomes navigable, it is not more than «(► 

 feet in width. Thence it flows constantly to the east, though with consider- 

 able windings to Kasan, where it attains a width of 600 feet. Its principal navi- 

 gation begins at Tver. Afterwards it traverses OugUtch, Rybinsk, Jaroslarl, 

 Kostroma, Nigni. Novgorod. 



The Kama, a considerable river which descends from the Ural, joins the Volga 

 in this place, after a very long course. In the environs of Saratof, it is above 

 1 200 feet wide, and near Astrakan its width is nearly five leagues at high water. 

 From Kasan it directs itself constantly to the south, and after having received, on 

 the right, the Oka and the Soura, and on the left the Tvertsa, the Mologa, the 

 Chexna, the Kostroma, the Ounga, the Vetlouga, the Kama, and the Saneara, jt 

 throws itself by seventy arms into the Caspian Sea. 



