Chap. 6.] America. 501 



or rapidity ; and, if we may fo exprefs it, remains great 

 without oftentation. In fome places it difplays its whole 

 magnificence, dividing into feveral large branches, and 

 encompafllng a multitude of iflands ; and at length, 

 difcharging itfelf into the ocean, by a channel of an 

 hundred and fifty miles broad. Another river, that 

 may almoft rival the former, is the St. Lawrence, in 

 Canada, which rifing in the lake Affiniboils, pafles 

 from one lake to another, from Chriftinaux to Alem- 

 pigo ; and thence to lake Superior; thence to the 

 lake Hurons ; to lake Erie ; to lake Ontario ; and, at 

 laft, after a courfe of nine hundred leagues, pours 

 their collected waters into the Atlantic ocean. The 

 river Miffiffippi is more than feven hundred leagues 

 in length^ beginning at its fource near the lake Affi- 

 niboils, and ending at its opening into the Gulph of 

 Mexico. The river Plata runs a length of more than 

 eight hundred leagues from its fource in the river Pa- 

 rana, to its mouth. The river Oroonoko is feven hun- 

 dred and fifty leagues in length, from its fource near 

 Pafto, to its difcharge into the Atlantic ocean. 



Such is the amazing length of the greateft rivers j 

 and even in fome of thefe, the moft remote fources 

 very probably yet continue unknown. In fact, if we 

 confider the number of rivers which they receive, and 

 the little acquaintance we have with the regions through 

 which they run, it is not to be wondered at that geo- 

 graphers are divided concerning the fources of mod 

 of them. As among a number of roots by which 

 nourimment is conveyed to a (lately tree, it is difficult 

 to determine precifely that by which the tree is chiefly 

 fupplied; fo among the many branches of a great 

 river, it is equally difficult to tell which is the ori- 

 ginal. Hence it may eafily happen, that a fmaller 

 Branch is takqn for the capital ftream -, and its wind- 

 K k 3 ings 



