Geography and Travels. 41 
Revista states that in 1743, the Jesuit P. Roman passed along 
the Cassiquiare from the Orinoco to the Rio Negro; that Diaz de la 
Fuente and Bobadilla followed the Orinoco nearly to its source and 
87 leagues above the separation of the Cassiquiare; that the Marquis 
of Socorro, with Hurriage and other commissioners deputed to fix 
the boundaries of Brazil, found the latitude and longitude of the 
point of origin of the Cassiquiare, and calculated its altitude at 337 
Spanish yards above sea-level ; and that the mountains which 
M. Chauffanjon has rebaptized bear the title of Parima, though in 
different portions of their extent they are called Tapiraperu, Patui- 
biri, Arihuana, Maritani, Humirida, Pacaraima, etc. 
Geographical News — The principal articles of export from 
Spain, besides wine, are iron, copper, lead, cork, and oranges. The 
values of these articles during the first four months of 1888 were, 
according to the Revista de Oeograiia Comercial, respectively 
82,166,000, $2,921,000, $1,626,000, 13,363,000, $1,351,000, and 
$1,783,000. The value of wine exported during the same four 
months was $20,466,800. 
A project to run a line of steamers between Vigo and New York 
has been set on foot by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce at the 
latter place. Vigo is only 60 miles further from New York than 
Queenstown, and is 231 miles nearer than Havre. The lower lati- 
tude, independent route, and comparative freedom from fog and 
wind, will more than compensate for the slightly increased distance. 
The Manchester ship canal, now in course of construction, will be 
35 miles long, the width varying from 170 to 260 feet at the top, 
a width at the bottom in no case less than 130 feet, and a minimum 
depth of 25 feet. The contract is let for £5,750,000, but the com- 
pany has a subscribed capital of £8,000,000. The opening of this 
canal will practically make Manchester a seaport. As the city with 
its suburbs contains 850,000 souls and will be geographically the 
nearest port for 7,000,000 of people, the construction of this canal 
cannot but be injurious to Liverpool. 
The province of Santandar, Spain, contains in operation 360 zinc 
mines, 312 iron mines, 30 lead, 19 copper, and 17 coal mines. Less 
than a fourth part of its area is cultivated, and rather more than a 
fourth is in pasture. 
The population of Belgium, according to the census of Dec. 31, 
1887, amouQted to 5,974,000. 
