Geographical Collections. 39 



ling from Astrakhan, along the Volga, to Tsarytsin, and thence to the Don, and 

 along this river to the new city of Tcherkask. 



Rivers of Australia. — '^ Captain Sturt, Mr. G. Macleay, and a government 

 party, have followed the Murrumbidgee river, which arises in the southern moun- 

 tains beyond Argyle, about 1000 miles westwards, through a fine pasturable' 

 country, until it united with many other waters, and formed a lake of about sixty 

 miles long and forty broad, afterwards emptying into the ocean at Encounter Bay^ 

 near Kangaroo Island, lat. 35° 25' 15", and long. 139° 40', a little to the south and 

 westward of the Gulf of St. Vincent. The river, at its junction with the sea, ap- 

 pears to be unfavourable to navigation, except for small craft, and the lake itself is 

 full of sand-banks ; but, as the fact is established that nearly all the rivers in 

 Argyll and Bathurst countries are drawn by the dip of the earth to the south- 

 west point, it is only fair or reasonable to conclude that more rivers and conve- 

 nient harbours will hereafter be found, in the vast body of waters which are 

 formed by the descent of the country between Spencer's Gulf and Port Philip. 

 Here there opens a rich tract of pasturable country, of an extent sufficient to main- 

 tain more flocks of sheep than would furnish all the fine wool required for British 

 manufacture, and equal to receive and give bread to all the superabundant popu- 

 lation of the parent state. The discovery is of incalculable importance in many 

 points of view, — from the delightful climate forming a medium of transition be- 

 ween those of Sydney and Van Dieman's Land, — and from the ease with which 

 herds and flocks can be driven to any part of the south-west coast, owing to the 

 facility which rich pasturage and abundance of water give to the removal of stock." 

 —'Extract from a London paper. 



Collection of the Costumes^ Ornaments, <^c. of the Pacific Islanders — M. Mer- 

 tens, of the Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburgh, before mentioned, during 

 his voyage round the world, collected various articles used in the islands of the 

 Pacific. He remarked that the inhabitants make more rapid progress towards 

 civilization than those of the interior of large continents, owing to the English and 

 American whalers frequenting the greater part of these islands, and carrying thi- 

 ther specimens of European art and industry. The former objects of indigenous 

 industry are now only looked upon as curious and rare antiques ; and, in the Sand- 

 wich Islands, it is now impossible to procure articles which were in constant use at 

 the period of their discovery. In those parts of the world different portions of dress 

 cost as much as 2700 francs, and even at that price it is difficult to procure them. 

 M. Mertens has offered his curious and valuable collection to the Academy of St. 

 Petersburgh ; and it is to form a private museum, consisting of the costumes, oma- ' 

 ments, and utensils of savage nations. 



Increase of Russian Territory and Population since 1476. 



Sq. Geog. Miles. Inhabitants. 

 In 1476. Ivan III. last Duke of Muscovy, inherited - 18,208 6,000,000 



In 1505. he died, leaving 24,238 10,000,000 



In 1535. the first Czar, Vassili IV. died possessor of, - 37,217 



In 1584. Ivan IV. died possessor of, - - - 144,040 12,000,000 



In 1598. Feodor I. died possessor of, . - - 150,414 



In 1645. Michel Romanof died possessor of, - - 237,933 



In 1676. Alexis Romanof died possessor of, - - 267,116 



In 1682. Peter the Great inherited - - - 271,37115,000,000; 



In 1725. Peter died, leaving - . - . - 280,379 20,000,000^ 



In 1740. The Empress Anne died, leaving - - 325,567 



In 1762- Catherine II. inherited . - - - 325,609 25,000,000 



In 1795. Catherine died, leaving - - . - 336,646 36,000,000 



In 1825. Alexander died,. and left to Nicholas I. • 60,000,000 



