184 



GEOGRAPHY. 



Florida. In 1513, Balboa or Balbao, crossing the Isthmus of Darien, 

 discovered the Pacific Ocean, and thus ascertained that America was 

 separated from Asia. Florida was explored by Ponce de Leon, in 

 1512 ; and Mexico by Cortex, in 1519. The attempt to discover a 

 north-west passage to India, was repeated, in 1576, by Frobisher, 

 who discovered Frobisher's Straits; in 1585, by Capt. John Davis, 

 who discovered Davis' Straits ; in 1610, by Capt. Henry Hudson, 

 who discovered Hudson's Straits and Bay ; in 1616, by Capt. Baffin, 

 who discovered Baffin's Bay, and Cumberland Island, now Prince 

 William's Land ; and more recently, in 1818, by Capt. Ross, who 

 penetrated Lancaster's Sound ; and again in 1819, by Lieut. Parry, 

 who wintered at Melville Island, and whose progress in that direction 

 has not since been surpassed. The expedition of Parry and Lyon to 

 the northern part of Hudson's Bay, in 1821-3, was unsuccessful. 



Meanwhile, the Spaniards under Cortez discovered California, in 

 1536 ; and the North West coast, which is said to have been visited 

 by Mendana, in 1595, was explored by Carter et, in 1767 ; by Cook, 

 in 1778; and by Vancouver, about 1794. In 1771, Mr. Hearne 

 discovered the Arctic Ocean at a point south of Melville Island ; and 

 in 1789, Mackenzie, who first crossed the Rocky Mountains and 

 reached the Pacific by land, discovered Mackenzie's River, and the 

 sea at its mouth. Sir John Franklin and Dr. Richardson, in 1826, 

 explored the northern coast of America, from Bathurst Inlet, and 

 Hearne's discoveries, westward to those of Mackenzie ; and thence 

 westward to Point Beechey. Messrs. JJease and Simpson, in 1837, 

 completed the exploration from Point Beechey to Behring's Straits ; 

 and in 1839, they explored the coast eastward, from Bathurst Inlet, 

 to Cape Britannia, (Lat. 68 4' N. ; Lon. 94 35' W.), near which 

 their progress was interrupted by the lateness of the season. It is 

 now rendered nearly certain that Greenland, and the North Georgian 

 Islands, are separated from the continent of America, though closely 

 contiguous to it. Of numerous expeditions to the central parts of 

 North America, we have no farther room to speak. 



The following is the nearest estimate which we can make of the 

 extent and population of the countries of North America. 



Countries. Sq. Miles. 



Greenland 600,000 . 



Russian America 500,000. 



New Britain 2,660,000. 



British Provinces 435,000. 

 United States. . .2,300,000. 

 Texas 200,000. 



Inhabitants. 



20,000 



50,000 



300,000 



1,380,000 



17,500,000 



150,000 



Countries. Sq. Miles. Inhabitants. 



Mexico 1,550,000.. 8,000,000 



Central America 200,000.. 2,000,000 

 West Indies 90,000. . 3,000,000 



TOTAL 8,535,000 32,400,000 



Of these divisions we proceed to treat, commencing at the north. 



1. The Northern Division of North America, is mostly cold, 

 barren, and thinly inhabited. It is valuable to the civilized world 

 chiefly on account of the Fur trade, carried on by the whites with 

 the Indians. In this division we include Greenland; though it is 

 now almost certain that the region, so named, does not belong to the 

 continent of America, but is only to be regarded as a large contiguous 

 island. Greenland belongs to Denmark ; but it is of very little value. 



