GEO 
exactly united with the part of the coast that had been 
first seen, and from which the departure had been taken 
in the circumnavigation, by which the insular character 
of Georgia was now fully proved. Fr 
_ From what was observed of Georgia in the progress 
around it, it would appear to abound with * and 
harbours, ly on the north-east coast. These 
however, from the : quantity of ice, either within 
ves, or in the vicinity, must, for. the greatest 
_ part of the year, be rendered inaccessible, or at least in 
of the occasional breaking up of the’ ice-cliffs, 
they can afford but a very insecure station for ships. 
The whole coast in general, particularly the south- 
western of it, were observed, notwithstanding that 
_ it was then the height of summer, to be in a manner 
wholly covered, even to the depth of many fathoms, 
with sal snow. The sides even, and craggy sum- 
_ mits of the lofty mountains, were cased with snow and 
_ ice, while the coast at the bottom of the bays was ter- 
__ minated by a wall of ice of considerable height, and the 
4 uantity of snow that lay in the wvallies was quite incre- 
_ dible, . There seemed reason to believe, that though a 
_ great. deal of ice might be formed upon, or around the 
_ island during the winter, which in spring might be 
d pees broken off and dispersed over the sea, yet so 
of the quantity that was actually seen there could 
be so uced, that there must be somewhere, at no 
4 _distance,-a much more extensive tract of land, 
F not then discovered, or otherwise the ice must 
be formed independently of any connection with land. 
The dangerous nature of the navigation in the circum- 
stances alluded to may easily be conceived. Indeed 
it is mentioned that from the ice-cliffs, situated at the 
head, and on each side of one of the bays, pieces were 
continually breaking off, and floating out to sea, and 
that the noise from a great fall that took place while 
our navigators were there, was like that of discharged 
_ It is stated as a remarkable circumstance in re 
to this island, that upon the whole of its coast there 
was not observed any where a single river, or even so 
as a stream of fresh water. The conclusion to 
which this appearance not unreasonably led, was, that 
there are in the country no perennial springs, while the 
interior parts, from their great elevation, never enjo 
heat enough to admit of the snow being melted in suc 
ery as to uce a river or stream of water. In- 
it is on the coast alone that there is, at any sea- 
son, a sufficiency of warmth to melt the snow, and that 
_too.only on the north-east side; for in the other parts, 
not only are the sun’s rays in a t measure exclu- 
ded by reason of the uncommon height of the moun- 
tains, hg the cold cage winds, to which they. 
are so m exposed, might almost of themselves be. 
sufficient to prevent this takin lace. 
_ So far as the interior yet i Beor ia were observed 
the appearance which “2 exhibited. was found to.be 
not less savage and horrible than that of its coast. The 
wild rocks raised their lofty summits till they were lost 
in the clouds, while the vallies lay covered with ever- 
snow. Not the vestige of a tree, or even of 
the minutest shrub, was to be seen. The only vegeta- 
tion that was discovered, Was a coarse strong-bladed 
grass, growing in tufts, wild burnet, and a plant like 
moss, which sprung from the rocks. 
Of animals, or sea bears were observed to be 
pretty numerous ; the shores, indeed, even swarming 
v3 
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a 
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247 
GER 
with their cubs. There were also seen several flocks 
of penguins, of a very large size; some of them that 
were killed weighing not less than from 29 to $8 
pounds. These were of the class of penguins which had 
previously been noticed at Falkland islands: The 
oceanic birds were albatrosses, common gulls, likewise 
that sort of them to which has been given the name of 
Port Egmont hens, terns, shags, divers, the new white 
bird, and a small bird like those of the Cape of Good 
Hope, called yellow birds, which were found to be 
most delicious food. The only land birds that were 
observed, were a few small larks, No quadrupeds were 
seen, nor any vestige met with of the existence in the 
island of any, except some dung, which it was judged. 
might have proceeded from a. fox or some such animal, 
Though the lands, or rather the rocks, bordering on: 
the sea-coast, were not like the inland parts,. entirely 
covered with snow, the only vegetation that could be 
seen on the clear places, was the grass already men- 
tioned. These rocks seemed to contain iron. They 
are of blackish horizontal slate, probably approaching 
to hornblende. See Cook’s Second Voyage, vol.ii. (Kk), 
GEORGIUM Sinus. See Astronomy, page 4 
The new discoveries relative to this planet will be found 
under Uranus, the name which is now universally 
adopted among astronomers to designate this. celestial: 
body. 
GERA, is a town of Saxony, and capital of the estates: 
of the count of Reuss. It is situated ina pleasant mea 
dow on the right bank of the river Elster. The town, 
which is well built, was destroyed by a dreadful fire,. 
but has been rapidly recovering its importance. The: 
manufactures of this town are so numerous and flou- 
rishing, that it has received the name of Little Leipsic. 
They consist principally in woollen stuffs, and of stuffs: 
made of wool and silk, which are well known by the 
name of stuffs.of Gera. The musical:instruments ma~< 
nufactured here by M. Frederici, have been. greatly es- 
teemed. The house and residence of the Count of 
Reuss is near the town. The baths of Rennebourg are 
about 14 leagues from Gera, and are situated in a charm- 
ing country, in which both nature and art have combi-. 
ned their embellishments. 
The meadow on which the town stands, is surround-. 
ed on the east and the west by fertile mountains, and: 
profitable forests, which produce plenty of wood both. 
for carpentry and fuel, as well as excellent building. 
and paving stones, lime, gypsum, and other valuable. 
minerals. Game and fish abound in the neighbourhood. 
Gera is a great thoroughfare, as the great roads of Leip-. 
sic pass through the town. 
ERMAIN EN Lave, Sr. a: town of France, in the- 
department of the Seine and the Oise, situated on high 
ground on the western bank of the Seine. The cha- 
teau or palace, which was-erected by. Francis I. and en- 
larged by several succeeding kings, is an ugly buildin, 
surrounded with a fosse, and built chiefly of brick. It 
has for some time been used as a‘ military school; but. 
in 1814, when visited by the writer of this article, this 
establishment was removed to-some other place. On 
one side of the palace is. the front of a superb church, . 
which has never been completed. The view from the. 
terrace is most extensive and magnificent, the ground 
before it up. to. Maisons sloping beautifully down to 
the river. The principal manufactures in this t6wn are 
those of leather and skins, similar to those of Liege and 
Rheims. Population 9000, 
6 om 
Sidus 
St Germain, 
—_—— 
