CLIMATE.-Ireland, owing to its numerous and deep inlets of the sea, and to its insular position, enjoys a mild and genial climate. The prevailing winds are from the W. and bear with them a more than average quantity of moisture. This, however, is so favourable to Irish vegetation that from very early times the country has borne the name Green," or "Emerald Isle." Plants flourish here in the open air, which cannot be cultivated in England without artificial heat. The mean annual rainfall is about 36 inches. PRODUCTIONS. Animals.-Ireland has neither toads, nor moles, nor snakes. Her peculiar breeds of cattle, and the Irish greyhound are rapidly becoming extinct. In other respects her animal productions are the same as those in Great Britain. Vegetable Productions are, for the most part, identical with those of England. Ireland has, however, some additional species, such as the broad leaved myrtle, the arbutus, and some alpine plants, which are unknown in the sister isle. Mineral Productions are of the same species as those in the adjacent islands, but neither so abundant nor of so valuable a quality. Ireland possesses also, black and grey marble, and valuable deposits of peat. PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE.-The population of Ireland is 5,412,377. It is of Celtic origin, but has been largely mixed, especially in the N. and E., by immigrants from England and Scotland. Although English is generally spoken throughout the country, the people in the centre and W. of the island still continue to speak Erse, a dialect of the Celtic language. POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY. POLITICAL DIVISIONS.-Ireland is divided into four Provinces, viz., Ulster, Connaught, Leinster, and Munster. The division into counties was begun by King John, carried on by Elizabeth, and finished by James I. Ulster includes 9 counties; Connaught, 5; Leinster, 12; and Munster, 6. 1. DONEGAL 2. LONDONDERRY 3. ANTRIM.. 4. TYRONE.. 5. DOWN 6. ARMAGH 7. MONAGHAN 8. CAVAN 9. FERMANAGH.. I. ULSTER-NINE COUNTIES. Belfast (174,412), Carrickfergus,2 Lisburn. Downpatrick, Newry (13,364), Newtownards. Armagh (10,192), Lurgan, Portadown. Cavan (3,389), Belturbet. Enniskillen 3 (5,836), Newtown Butler. Obs. The Province of Ulster occupying all the N. of Ireland has an area of 8,568 sq. m. and a population of 953,423, and is the most important division of the country. Its shores are bold and rocky, especially on the N. and E., but are everywhere deeply penetrated by arms of the sea. The surface is mountainous in the W. and E,, and more than three-fifths of the soil is under cultivation. The Province is agricultural and manufacturing. It is the chief seat of the Irish linen manufacture, and is traversed by the Ulster Railway and the Ulster Canal. Carrick a castle or tower. 3 Ennis or Innis an island. 1 Bally a town or village. The people are mostly Protestants, and are better educated and in more comfortable circumstances than the populations of the other provinces. NOTES ON THE TOWNS. Belfast, the capital of Ulster, and the second town in Ireland, is an important sea-port, and the chief manufacturing seat in the island. It is 86 m. N.E. of Dublin. The Irish linen and cotton manufactures have their focus here, and afford constant employment to the towns, Antrim, Lisburn, Newtownards, Downpatrick, Newry, Armagh, Portadown, Lurgan, and Coleraine. Besides being the "Manchester" of Ireland, Belfast is the seat of one of the "Queen's Colleges," and possesses many other educational institutions. Londonderry is the chief port in the N. of Ireland, and has manufactories of table linen. It is famous for its heroic defence, under the Rev. G. Walker, against the forces of James II. in 1689, when it stood a siege of 105 days' duration. Downpatrick, with holy wells, which attract many Roman Catholic pilgrims, Newry, a flourishing sea-port with important linen and cotton works, and Armagh, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, with two cathedrals, are other noteworthy towns of Ulster. Obs. Connaught, embracing the most Westerly Counties of Ireland, has an area of 6,862 sq. m. and a population of 845,993. Its coasts are remarkably bold and rugged; but they include numerous bays and sounds which embrace several commodious harbours. The surface is hilly in the N. and S. and mountainous in the W. In the centre it is flat, and there are numerous peat bogs. The soil is moderately fertile and about half the province is arable. The prevalent industries are agriculture, pasturing, linen manufacture, mining, and fishing. Nearly the whole of the people are Roman Catholics, and many of them are steeped in poverty and ignorance. NOTES ON THE TOWNS. Sligo, at the head of Sligo Bay, is a port of growing importance, the entrepôt of a large district. It exports flour, provisions, linen, and flax; and imports English manufactures and colonial produce. Galway is a sea-port town, 105 m. W. of Dublin, and the seat of one of the "Queen's Colleges." It exports great quantities of provisions, and has some manufactures. It is also a fishing station. Tuam is an Episcopal city, and the See of a Protestant Bishop, on the river Clare, with Roman Catholic and Protestant cathedrals, two episcopal palaces, the Roman Catholic College of St. Jartath, and many other educational institutions. It also possesses linen and canvas manufactories. Westport on Clew Bay, and Ballina on the river Moy, are thriving ports. 15. LOUTH 16. MEATH 17. LONGFORD 18. WESTMEATH 19. KING'S COUNTY. 20. KILDARE 21. DUBLIN 22. WICKLOW 23. QUEEN'S COUNTY 24. CARLOW 25. WEXFORD 26. KILKENNY III. LEINSTER-TWELVE COUNTIES. Dundalk, Drogheda (16,165), Ardee. Wexford (12,077), New Ross, Enniscorthy. Obs. Leinster occupies all S. E. Ireland. Its area is 7,620 sq. m., and its population 1,339,451. The coasts are steep and precipitous in places, and generally unbroken and devoid of good harbours. The surface is mostly even, but there are mountains in the E. and W. The soil embraces numerous bogs and morasses, but it is generally fertile and well cultivated. The province is agricultural and pastoral, yielding much corn and many cattle. Nearly all the people are Roman Catholics, and more than a fourth part of them are totally illiterate. Anciently the province formed the petty kingdoms of Leinster and Meath. NOTES ON THE TOWNS. Dublin, the metropolis of Ireland, is a port, the residence of the LordLieutenant of the country, the See of an archbishop, and a university city. Its two fine cathedrals, its numerous churches, its castle, its college buildings, its bank, post-office, and custom-house, its monuments, parks-especially the Phoenix Park, and squares, contribute to make it one of the handsomest cities in the British Empire. Literary, scientific, educational, and benevolent institutions abound in Dublin and are, for the most part, well endowed. The chief manufactures of the city are poplins, and porter. Drogheda, a port on the Boyne, has a large brewing trade, and cotton manufactories. The Battle of the Boyne (1690), was fought 2 m. W. of Drogheda. Kingstown is a sea-port and favourite watering-place on the Bay of Dublin, and 7 m. S.E. of that city. It is the station of the Royal Mail Packets which ply between Ireland, Liverpool, and Holyhead. Wexford is a sea-port, which is extensively engaged in the export of Irish agricultural produce. It has ship-building yards. Dundalk, Wicklow, and Arklow, are other sea-ports of this province. 27. CLARE 28. TIPPERARY. 29. WATERFORD 30. LIMERICK.. 31. CORK 32. KERRY IV. MUNSTER-CONTAINING SIX COUNTIES. Ennis (6,503), Kilrush. Clonmel (11,112), Carrick-on-Suir, Nenagh. Cork (78,642), Queenstown, Youghal, Kinsale. Obs. Munster, the largest of the Irish provinces, occupies the whole of S. W. Ireland, has an area of 9,481 sq. m., and a population of 1,393,485. The coasts are wild, grand, deeply penetrated by arms of the sea, and embrace some excellent harbours. The surface is mountainous in the W., but includes large plains in the N., E., and S. Much of it is bog and stony waste, but there is also much of the best land in Ireland. The province is agricultural and pastoral, but there are valuable mines of copper and limestone in the county of Cork. The population is nearly all Roman Catholic, and two-fifths of them are illiterate. NOTES ON THE TOWNS. Cork, the third city in Ireland, and an important port, is the emporium of the provision trade in the S. of Ireland. Its unrivalled harbour lies 11 m. below the city, and is a naval station of some consequence. It is the seat of a "Queen's College," and has breweries, distilleries, and manufactures in iron, glass, and leather. Limerick, a city and port, lies 50 m. from the Atlantic, and 108 m. S.W. of Dublin. It is the great emporium of the provision trade in the W. of Ireland, and exports very large quantities of corn, meal, butter, and meat. Its chief manufactures are lace, linen, and fish-hooks. The town is built on an island in the Shannon, and on both banks of that river. Waterford is a sea-port, and a great provision depôt of S.E. Ireland. Its principal exports are dairy and agricultural produce, cattle, and cotton goods. Kilrush, Dungarvan, Youghal, Kinsale, Tralee, and Dingle, are other ports of Munster. 1 Cork (Corcach "a marsh"). The city sprang up around a monastery founded in the 6th century on the edge of a marsh and a part of the city is still called "the Marsh.' INDUSTRIES.-The principal industries are Grazing and Cattle Rearing, which are pursued chiefly in the S., W., and central districts: Agriculture, principally in the E.: Manufactures, especially of linens, cottons, woollens, and poplins, in the province of Ulster: Brewing, and Distilling at Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford, &c., and Fishing. Obs. The chief exports are agricultural and pastoral produce, linens, poplins, porter, and spirits: imports, colonial produce and raw material for manufactures. COMMUNICATIONS.-These are very good, embracing excellent Turnpike Roads, upwards of 2000 m. of Railway, a large Waterway by river and canal, and a good Telegraphic Service. Obs. Ireland is connected with England by 5 submarine cables, and with America by the Atlantic cable. RELIGION AND EDUCATION.-Four-fifths of the people are Roman Catholics. Protestant Episcopalians, and Presbyterians are the next most important denominations. National education is largely subsidised by Government. Higher education is cared for by the various academies, colleges, and universities of the country. BRITISH COLONIES AND POSSESSIONS. Great Britain has colonies and foreign possessions in every known part of the world. Their population is 7 times, and their area nearly 63 times that of the mother country. They are in 1. Europe-Heligoland, Gibraltar, Malta, and the Channel Islands. 2. America The Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, and the Bermuda Isles; British West Indies, British Guiana, and the Falkland Isles. 3. Africa The West African Settlement, Cape Colony, British Kaffraria, Natal, Transvaal, Basuto Land, Griqua Land West, Transkei Districts, and the islands St. Helena, Ascension, and Mauritius. 4. Asia-British India, Cyprus, Ceylon, Perim, Aden, Straits Settlements, Labuan, Hong Kong, the Nicobars, and Andaman Isles. 5. Australasia-Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, the Fiji Islands, the Chatham Isles, and several small islands. Obs. 1. These possessions are described under the countries in which they respectively lie. Obs. 2. The entire area and population of the British empire is as follows: NORWAY. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. Latitude. Between 58° and 71° 10′ N. Longitude. Between 5° and 31° E. POSITION AND BOUNDARIES.-Norway forms the W. part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and lies in the extreme N. W. of Europe. It is bounded on the N. by the Arctic Ocean. E. by Russia and Sweden. S. by the Skager Rack. W. by the Atlantic Ocean. COASTS.-The N. coast, and the W. coast from N. to S., are rocky and precipitous. They are also deeply indented by the sea, which penetrates in some instances more than 100 m. into the interior. The chief 1. Capes are Nordkyn and North, on the N.; and the Naze, on the S. 2. Inlets are the Varanger, and Porsanger Fjords, on the N.; the West, Sogne, and Hardanger Fjords, on the W.; and the Christiania Fjord, on the S. Obs. The Fjords form one of the most distinctive features of the Physical Geography of Norway. They generally run between perpendicular rocks of great height, penetrate, often, far into the land, and in many cases send out branches in all directions. 3. Straits are the West Fjord, between the mainland and the Lofoden Archipelago, on the N.W.; and the Skager Rack, between the S. coast and Denmark, on the S. ISLANDS.-These are very numerous, fringing the W. coast from N. to S. and protecting it against the violence of the Atlantic waves and storms. Those of most general interest are Magerö, on the N.; and the Lofoden Archipelago, on the N.W. Obs. The Mälstrom, the famous but mythical whirlpool, lies between Moskenö and Værö, the two southernmost islands of the Lofoden group. SURFACE. The surface of Norway is mountainous, and rugged, and so elevated that nearly a third part of the whole country is covered by perpetual snow. The most salient surface features are the 1. Mountains, which run throughout the country from N. to S., not in a regular and continuous chain, but in a succession of mountain blocks which are connected together by lower elevations. The tops of these blocks form tablelands, which are called "Fjelds" (plains or fields). The chief divisions of these mountains, going from N. to S., are the a. Kiolen Mountains, which extend N. and S. as far as the 63rd parallel. They form the watershed between the Gulf of Bothnia and the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Their highest point is Sulitelma (6,152 ft.). b. Dovre Fjeld, running S. and W. of the Kiolen Mts. Its chief summit is Sneehätten (7,566 ft.). c. Jotun Fjeld which lies S. of the Dovre Fjeld and embraces Galdhöpigg (8,546 ft.), the culminating summit of Norway. d. Hardanger Fjeld, running S.W. from the Jotun Fjeld. Its loftiest point is Jöklen (6,533 ft.). |