TÔPOGEAPHY. 



477 



birthplace of De Ruyter, and one of the first towns from which the Spaniards were 

 expelled, has lately grown ambitious of attracting the carrying trade which now 

 enriches Antwerp. Vast docks have been constructed, and steamers daily sail to 

 England, but the insalubrity of the climate must ever prove a great disadvantage. 

 It was the fevers of Walcheren which destroyed the English army landed for the 



Fig. 267.— Walcheren. 

 Scale 1 : 210,000. 



I 10 E.of I'aris 



1ST1,l8B1,etc., Dites of embankment of Poldt't 



BtnKt which Uhccrtr M 2^ fâtis • 



2fto5F«tln. Depth over S Fttht 



2 Miles. 



purpose of investing Antwerp. As a fortress Ylissingen commands the mouth of 

 the Schelde. 



Zierikzee (7,617 inhabitants), the capital of Schouwen, was formerly an important 

 seaport, where the gueux procured many of their recruits, but the silting up of 

 the Schelde has destroyed its trade, whilst Bromver shaven, on the northern coast 

 of the island, is rising into importance. 



South Holland. — The Waal, on entering the province, washes the walls of 

 Gorinchem (Gorkum, 9,301 inhabitants), an important agricultural mart, and then, 

 assuming the name of Merwede, flows past SUedrecht (8,087 inhabitants), and 



