Growth of the Mississippi Delta. — Upham. 1 1 1 
hundred miles long-. Only a few centuries before the discov- 
ery of America, the principal channel was extended beyond 
that general and normal delta front, and acquired an abnormal 
or at least unique projecting termination, there emptying to 
the sea, as observed in 1498, by the three main passes shown 
in its earliest map. Once it has advanced again, as described 
by the preceding paragraph, nearly duplicating its first stage of 
projection, and thereby forming the present system of passes, 
which was fully established before the time of La Salle; and 
this s}Stem. in each of its branches, has since grown several 
miles outward. 
The great depth of the gulf adjoining the present mouths 
tends to prolong this stage, and by engineering aid it may be 
continued many centuries. At some future time, however, 
instead of stretching forward in a third stage beyond these two, 
probably the main current will forsake this lower course, and 
will descend to the sea level by some shorter and easier way, 
as the Bayou Manchac. or the Atchafalaya river, or some other 
of the many bayous and sm^all rivers that branch off from the 
great river throughout its delta. 
LIST OF THE MOST IMPORTANT VOLCANIC 
ERUPTIONS AND EARTHQUAKES IN 
WESTERN NICARAGUA WITHIN 
HISTORIC TIME. 
[Compiled from various sources.] 
By J. Crawford, Managua, Nicaragua. 
1609. Momotomho, at the west end of lake Managua — and volcanic 
cones northwestward to and including Cosaquena on the peninsula 
of that name between the gulf of Fonseca and the Pacific ocean 
were in violent activity, Momotombo's ejecta burying deeply 
in ashes, cinders and fragments of rocks the old city of Leon, 
a large city, then the capital of Nicaragua. The locality is now 
the terminus of a railroad ; the new city of. Leon is forty miles 
westward. 
1680. Vicio was in violent activity ; the present town of Chinendega 
is a few miles southwest from volcano Viejo: numerous earth- 
quakes. 
1764 Momotomho again active accompanied by very severe earthquakes. 
1772. Masaya very active for about 10 days ; when subsiding its 
crater appeared to be full of a yellow substance that two Spanish 
