THE EARTH. 187 



the Western Ocean, performs a course of more 

 than twelve hundred leagues.* The breadth and 

 depth of this river is answerable to its vast 

 length ; and, where its width is most contracted, 

 its depth is augmented in proportion. So great 

 is the body of its waters, that other rivers, though 

 before the objects of admiration, are lost in its 

 bosom. It proceeds, after their junction, with 

 its usual appearance, without any visible change 

 in its breadth or rapidity ; and, if we may so ex- 

 press it, remains great without ostentation. In 

 some places it displays its whole magnificence, 

 dividing into several large branches, and encom- 

 passing a multitude of islands ; and, at length, 

 discharging itself into the ocean, by a channel of 

 a hundred and fifty miles broad. Another river, 

 that may almost rival the former, is the St Law- 

 rence, in Canada, which rising in the Lake Assini- 

 boils, passes from one lake to another, from Cris- 

 tineaux to Alempigo ; from thence to Lake Su- 

 perior ; thence to Lake Huron ; to Lake Erie ; 

 to Lake Ontario j and at last, after a course of 

 nine hundred leagues, pours their collected waters 

 into the Altantic Ocean. The river Mississippi is 

 of more than seven hundred leagues in length, 

 beginning at its source near the Lake Assiniboils, 

 and ending at its opening into the Gulf of Mexi- 

 co. The river Plate runs a length of more than 

 eight hundred leagues from its source in the 

 river Parana, to its mouth. The river Oroonoko 

 is seven hundred and fifty-five leagues in length, 



* Ulloa, vol. i. p. 388. 



