: 



CORDOVA. 



i OBI v 



industry to Marocoo, uul their leather haa sino* assumed that name. 

 Dupont, ill French general, entered the city in Jane 1808 without 

 resutann-, yet be not only plundered the cathedral, the churches, and 

 other public building*, but nissssiHiil the people. The Alaraeda, or 

 public walk, it outside the walla; it is not much frequented. 



Cordova wu the Corduba of the Romans. It wa one of the chief 

 cities of Hispania, and appears to have been a Roman colony from its 

 first foundation in &c. 152. It wai regarded a* the capital of Bicturia, 

 or the countrj- between the Itotis (Guadalquivir) and the Anas 

 (Ouadiana). Numerous coins of the city are extant, but most of the 

 other antiquities hare been destroyed, ft was the birthplace of the 

 two Seneoas and of the poet Lucan. Abel-el-Rahman I. obtained 

 posMsoion of Cordova in 756, and assumed the title of kalif, making 

 Cordova the capital of his kalifato, and it so continued till 1036, 

 when it was converted into one of the email Moorish kingdoms of 

 Andalucia. [AXDALVCIA.] In 1234 it was taken by Fernando III. of 

 Castilla, and u said to have then contained 300,000 inhabitants. 



(Ford, Handbook of Spain ; Borrow, BibU in Spain.) 



CORDOVA, the most important next to Buenoa Ayrea of the pro- 

 vince* of the Argentine Confederation, South America, comprehends 

 the Sierra cle Cordova and the surrounding hilly country, with some 

 adjacent plains. It is divided on the N.E., N., and N.W. by the 

 Oran Salina from Santiago, Catamarca, and Rioja, and on the W. by 

 a travesia, or desert country overgrown with stunted prickly trees, 

 from San Juan. A sterile and thinly inhabited country lies on the 

 south-east between it and San Luis. On the south it extends to the 

 Pampas of Buenos Ayres. The low sterile tract in which the rivers 

 Segundo and Primero are lost, and the Laguna Salados de log Porongoe 

 is situated, separates it on the east from Santa Fe\ It has a population 

 variously estimated at from 65,000 to 90,000. Cordova is much more 

 fertile than the countries which surround it Numerous rivers 

 descend from the Sierra de Cordova, but all are lost in the desert, except 

 the Rio Tercero, which, during part of the year, finds its way to the 

 Carcarafial, which falls into the Parana near Santo Espiritu below 

 Santa F<5. This river would be navigable for six or eight months in 

 the year, but for two small rapids, which however might easily be 

 removed. The valleys within the Cordova Mountains, and those 

 which extend along their sides, have a fertile soil, and maize and 

 fruits are raised there in abundance, but the plains, as well as the 

 declivities of the mountains, are only fit for pasture. Cattle and 

 beep constitute- the principal wealth of the republic. Hides in large 

 numbers and wool are exported to Buenos Ayres. At present the 

 produce of this province U all sent to Buenos Ayres, but when steam 

 navigation is established on the Parana, the commercial intercourse 

 will probably be largely carried on through Santa F<5. The province 

 is niled by a governor, assisted by a junta occasionally convoked ; 

 but the authority of the governor U in effect almost unlimited. 



C'ordora, the capital, is situated in 31 2o' S. lat.; it is built on the 

 banks of the Rio Primero, in a narrow valley considerably depressed 

 below the general surface of the country. This situation is in many 

 respects disadvantageous, but it is thus sheltered from the north and 

 south winds, which blowing alternately on the higher grounds produce 

 sudden changes in the atmosphere which are injurious to health. 

 Thn town contains about 15,000 inhabitants. The streets are regu- 

 larly laid out, and the houses are built of brick, and better than in 

 other towns in the interior ; most of them have balconies. In the 

 centre of the town is a spacious square, on one side of which is a neat 

 town-hall, and on the other a fine cathedral. There are also ten 

 other well-built churches of old date and chiefly Moorish in style ; 

 and one modern church erected in a very costly manner. The 

 University erected by the Jesuits is on a scale of great magnitude, 

 covering an area of 4 acres. In former times it was famous, being 

 the principal college (the Colegio Maximo) of the order in this part of 

 the world. It contained also a very important library, which on the 

 expuluon of the Jesuits was sent to Buenos Ayres. The university 

 is .till maintained, but U now hardly bettor than a provincial college. 

 There an two nunneries and two convents of Dominicans and Fran- 

 ciscans. A fine public promenade occupies a considerable space ; it 

 include* a square sheet of water of about 4 acres supplied by a 

 running stream, which is surrounded by walks, w, 11 shaded by trees, 

 and ha* in the centre a lantern-shaped temple. The Segundo which 

 water, the town is in summer a shallow stream, but in winter becomes 

 a deep and wide river ; to preserve the town from the effect* of its 

 overflow a strong wall has been built, yet destructive floods still 

 MB*""** oceur. Cordova was formerly the depot of the European 

 merchandise intended to be sent to Peru, but this branch of commerce 

 no longer exist* There is a mint in the town. The only manufacture 

 is that of Uather. There are no foreigners in the town and scarcely 

 any in the province of Cordova. Religious toleration is unknown. 

 Alia Oraeia, a neat town near the base of the Sierra de Cordova, 

 contains nearly SUUO inhabitant* 



COREA U a large peninsula on the eastern coast of Asia, whose 

 sovereign is tributary to the emperors of China and Japan, but other- 

 wise independent The peninsula in surrounded K. by the Sea of 

 Japan, rf. by the Strait of Core* (which divide* it from the Japanese 

 island of Kiou-siou), and W. by the lloeng-hai, or Yellow Sea, which 

 separatee it from China proper. It exUncls from south to north from 

 31* to 40* N. lat., or about 420 uiilc ; but tho countries north of thu 



peninsula as far as 43* are also subject to the sovereign of Cores, so 

 that the whole country from south to north may be 430 miles. Its 

 width, lying between 124* and 134* K. long., varies from 100 to 200 

 miles. Its area may be about UO.OOO square miles, or about the same 

 as the area of Great Britain. 



Corea appears to be a very mountainous country. On its northern 

 boundary is the Chang-pe-shah, a high mountain range partly covered 

 with snow, whioh separates the Coreans from their northern neigh- 

 bours, the Mandchoo. From this chain another branches off in a 

 south-south-east direction, which traverses the whole of the peninsula 

 as far as the Strait of Corea. Its highest part is near the shores 

 of the Sea of Japan, towards which it descends with great rapidity. 

 The numerous offsets to the west, which are less elevated and steep, 

 contain between them large and well-cultivated valleys. 



The largest rivers occur in the northern part of the country, where 

 the Thumrn-kiamj rising in the centre of the Chaug-pe-shan Moun- 

 tains runs north-east, and towards its mouth east, to the Sea of Japan. 

 Its banks though fertile are uninhabited. A belt of land 15 leagues 

 in width along the northern border of the peninsula, in which direc- 

 tion alone it is joined to the mainland, is left uncultivated and 

 uninhabited in consequence of tho mistrustful policy of the ^< 

 ment, which has long condemned this country to a system of excluMim 

 from all external influence. The inhospitable coast that bouu 

 country in all other directions, and the jealous vigilance of t la- 

 authorities, keep the population cooped up as it were in a ; 

 The ralu-kiany rises near the source of the Thumen-kiang, and runs 

 first west, then south. According to the Chinese geographers it falls 

 into the Hoang-hai by twelve mouths. It is said to be navigable 

 for junks 35 miles, and for bargee about 180 miles. 



The coasts of Corea are high and bold. There are few islands along 

 the eastern shores, except in liroughtou's Bay (3tf 30' N. lat), win-re 

 they are numerous. In the Strait of Corea, and between the island 

 of Quolpaerta and the southern coast, are numerous islands and rocks. 

 Between 34" and 85 N. lat, 125 and 126 K. long., Captain Maxwell 

 found the sea literally dotted with islands and rocks, which he called 

 the Vorean Archipelago, and the most south-western group Amherst 

 Isles. Farther north (38 N. lat) is another group called James II ill'* 

 Archipelago. These islands are rocky and high, but generally inhab- 

 ited. They are rarely more than three or four miles in length. The 

 largest, the island of Quelpaerts, south of the peninsula, is about 60 

 miles in circuit, and in the centre a peak rises upwards of 6000 feet 

 above the sea. 



Corea is a very cold country. For four months the northern rivers 

 are covered with ice, and barley only is cultivated along their banks. 

 On the eastern coasts fogs are frequent 



The productions of Corea include rice, wheat, millet, cotton, silk, 

 hemp, ginseng, and tobacco. Cotton and silk are manufactured and 

 supply articles for exportation. 



Horses and cattle are plentiful ou the mountain pastures. The 

 former, which are email, are exported to China. In the northern 

 districts the sable and other animals give fur. The royal tiger, which 

 is a native of tho country, is covered with a longer and clow 

 than in Bengal. Ou the eastern coast whales are numerous. Uul.l, 

 silver, iron, salt, and coals are noticed in the Chinese geography as 

 obtained in Corea. 



The inhabitants, who are of the Mongol race, resemble the Chinese 

 and Japanese, but they are taller and stouter. They speak a language 

 different from the Chinese and Manchoo, though it contains many 

 Chinese words. They have also a different mode of writing it, though 

 the Chinese characters are in general use among the upper classes, 

 lu manner and civilisation they much resemble the Chinese; they 

 are likewise Buddhists, with the exception of a small number who 

 have been converted to Christianity by French missionaries, who visit 

 the country in disguise and at the risk of their lives. Education is 

 highly valued, especially among tho upper classes. They seem to 

 have a rich literature of their own, but their language is very imper- 

 fectly known in Europe. The number of inhabitants is estimated at 

 ten millions. 



The sovereign of Corea sends an embassy with a tribute to the 

 emperor of China every fourth year. The election of the king and 

 his more important acts must be ratified by the emperor. The king- 

 dom is divided into eight provinces. 



ii.i-lao, the capital, which is a few miles north of a consider- 

 able river, Han-kiaug, appears to be a large place, and is said to 

 possess a considerable library. The name of the town ] IT ].. i iy 

 Kin-phu. Tho mouth of the river Tsing-kiang (between .1 ,.i,,l 

 35), on the western coast, is said to have a very spacious harbour. 

 Futhan, according to the Chinese geography, called by Urough- 

 man or Thotan, is a bay at the south-eastern extremity of 

 the peninsula, opposite the Japanese island of Tbu-sima, at the inner- 

 most recess of which the town of King-ttheou is built, which carries on 

 an active trade with Japau, and is the only place to which the Japanese 

 are permitted to come. In industry the Coreans mainly excel in the 

 manufacture of cotton cloth and cotton paper, both of which am 

 brought in groat quantities to Peking. They have attained con 

 able skill in working iron, as swords are sent, with other articles, to 

 the emperor of Chum as tribute. 



European* are not permitted to remain even a few days on any 



