Grouse 
N 
Guadalaxa- 
ra. 
—_——_ 
Grotto del 
ane. 
era. & 580. GUA 
unknown; but in modern times, Don John of Arragon, 
Viceroy of Naples, and Peter of Toledo, under Charles V. 
brought it to its present state, and now it serves for 
an ordinary, ocatl disagreeable road from the city, 
with a glimmering light from two apertures above. 
In the side of a hill, beside the lake Agnano, in Italy, 
there is an artificial excavation, unskilfully executed, 
called the Grotto del Cane. It is of limited dimensions, 
being only twelve feet deep, four broad, and nine in 
height at the entrance, but always decreasing as it re- 
cedes. The celebrity of this grotto, which has long 
been known, is owing to pestilential exhalations arising 
from the earth; and it) receives its name from the ani- 
mal which is usually selected to demonstrate their pre- 
sence. If adog be brought within the sphere of the de- 
leterious vapour, which remains within eighteen inches 
of the surface, its respiration immediately becomes af- 
fected—the abdomen contracts—the eyes are fixed— 
and the tongue, now of a livid hue, hangs out during 
the first minute, while, in the next, the animal is to- 
tally deprived of motion. Death would inevitably fol- 
low, but, on being speedily withdrawn, the lungs re- 
sume their play, and the creature gradually recovers its 
wonted strength and vigour; nevertheless a severe 
shock is sustained, as the same dog cannot support the 
experiment above twelve or fifteen times without de- 
struction ; in which event it dies in convulsions. The 
Abbe Nollet, on stooping to inhale the vapour, felt as” 
if he had swallowed boiling water on the first inspira- 
tion, yet producing no painful sensations. On lowering 
his face, a kind of suffocation was experienced ; and 
probably, had the experiment been continued longer, 
dangerous consequences would have ensued. The va- 
pour is whitish, and possesses some degree of heat: It 
never rises above eighteen inches from the earth; and 
a torch immersed in it is extinguished, while the black 
smoke rolls over its surface without penetrating deeper. 
See Macleay, Description of the Spar. Cave in Skye. 
Cateott, Account of a Descent into Penpark Hole, 
Lloyd’s Account of Elden Hole, Phil. Trans. vol. 
lxi. Leigh’s History of Lancashire. Pilkington’s View 
of Derbyshire. Farey’s Survey of Derbyshire. Rud- 
der’s History of Gloucestershire. Hamilton, Campi Phla- 
grei. Voyage Pittoresque d Italie, tom. ii. Decouvertes 
des Savans iyeneire: tom. i. p. 133. -(e) 
GROUSE. See Ornituotoey Index. 
GRUYERES, is the name of a smal] town of Swit- 
zerland, in the canton of Friburg. It is situated at the 
foot of the mountains of this canton. The territory of 
Gruyeres, is 8 or 10 leagues long and 4 broad ; and it 
is principally celebrated for the excellence of its cheese, 
which is esteemed the best in Switzerland. The best 
is made in the pastures of Molesson, and in the moun- 
tains of the vallies of Bellegarde and Charmey. It sells 
at 24 louis per quintal ; and the merchants of the coun- 
try sell it at 6 batz, or 18 French sous per pound. There 
are large magazines of this cheese at Bulle, a town about 
a league from Gruyeres. The view from the summit 
of the Mollesson, which is near the town, is very grand, 
It may be ascended in three or four hours, 
GRYLLUS. See Enromonoey. 
GUADALAXARA, an intendancy of New Spain, 
and part of the kingdom of New Gallicia, is situated 
between 19° and 23° North Latitude. Its greatest 
breadth, from the port of San Blas to the town of La- 
gos, is 100 leagues; and its greatest length from south 
to north 118 leagues. It is traversed from east to west 
by the Rio de Santiago, a considerable river, which 
communicates with the lake of Chapala. It contains 
two cities, six villas, and 322 villages. The principal 
‘valuable of the Caribbee islands, lies between Antigua 
city Guadalaxara, the residence of the intendant, the bi- 
shop, and the high court of justice, is situated on the left 
bank of the Rio de Santiago, and contains about 20,000 
inhabitants. San Blas, a sea port, and the residence 
of the marine department, is situated at the mouth of 
the Santiago, and is a very unhealthy place. The east< 
ern part of the province is the Table Land, and western 
declivity of the Cordilleras of Anahuac. The mari- 
time district, especially towards the great bay of Bay+ 
onne, is covered with forests, and supplies excellent. 
timber for ship-building. The interior of the country 
enjoys a temperate and salubrious climate. The Vol- 
can de Colima, in the northern extremity of the pro- 
vince, is the most western of the volcanoes of 
Spain, which are placed in one parallel on the same 
line. It is estimated to be 10,000 feet in height, but 
is rarely covered with snow. The lake of Chapala, in 
the vicinity of Guadalaxara, is nearly 160 square: 
leagues in extent. The superficial extent of the pro- 
vince is 9612 square leagues ; and the population in 
1803 was 630,500, which gives 66 inhabitants to the 
square league. The value of its agricultural) pro- 
duce in 1802, consisting in maize, wheat, cochineal, 
&c. amounted to £568,531 sterling; and the value 
of its manufacturing industry, composed chiefly of 
woollen and cotton stuffs, tanned hides, and soap, was 
estimated at £722,351. The revenues of’ the Vato 
are 90,000 double piastres. This province abounds in ~ 
silver mines, and affords excellent pastures. On the 
coast, in 21° 28’ North Latitude, are the three Marias’ 
islands, the most northern of which is about 13 miles 
in length, and 9 in breadth, surrounded by white rocky 
cliffs ; and another, about 24 miles in circuit, separated 
from the last by a strait six miles broad, and which. 
Dampean called Prince George's island, abounds in ve+ 
getable productions, but is deficient in fresh water. 
See Humboldt’s Political Essay on the Kingdom of 
New Spain, vol. ii, and Mod. Univ. Hist. vol. xxxix. (q) 
GUADALOUPE, the largest and one of the most 
and Martinique. Its length is between 60 and 70 Brit 
tish miles, and its greatest breadth about 25. ‘The 
middle of the island is situated in about 16° 20’ North 
Latitude, and 62° West Longitude. Guadaloupe has ,, 
somewhat of the form of a crescent, and may be consi- 
dered rather as consisting of two islands than of one; 
for it is divided into two parts by a narrow strait called 
Salt River. For a short distance on each side of this 
strait, the breadth of the island is not more than four 
miles. By this remarkable channel, the sea on the 
north-west communicates with the sea on the south« 
east. Its breadth varies from about thirty to eighty 
yards; and it is navigable for vessels not exceedi 
fifty tons burden. The north-west of the island is di- 
vided into Basseterre and Cabesterre; the eastern divi« 
sion of it is named Grandeterre. That portion of the 
island from which the whole takes its name, is, towards 
the middle, full of high and rugged rocks, where the 
climate is so cold, and the soil so barren, that little ves - 
getation is to be seen. Over the summit of these rocks, 
the mountain called La Soufftiere, or the brimstone 
mountain, rises to a great height. This mountain of 
sulphur continually sends forth, through various aper- 
tures, a thick black smoke, frequently mingled with 
sparks of fire. It is of a singular form, being divided 
into two parts by a remarkable channel, navigable by 
boats. There are many marks of volcanoes in other 
parts of the island. On a part of the western shore, 
the sea is so. hot-at a small distance from the beach, as _- 
to boil eggs; and the sand on. being stirred, emits a 
