EUROPE.
63
high water. It is protected from the eneroachment of the
sea by enormous dykes, or banks faced with stone and
wood. Canals, which are numerous, have long formed
the chief highways for traffic, but railways now connect
the prineipal points.
The coast-line is much broken by the estuaries of the
Rivers Rhine, Maus, and Scheldt, which enter the sea by
& number of mouths, and form numerons large islands.
The principal additional inlets are the Zuyder Zee, and
the Dollart. These were formeriy inland lakes, but the
8ea has broken in upon them. From the mouth of the
Zuyder Zee a chain of islands extends north-east along
the coast, the prineipal of which is Tezel. There are
Many lakes near the coast, which are gradually being
drained. The Salt Lake, near Dort, at the mouth of the
Maas, was, in 1440, formed by an inundation of the sea,
which destroyed 72 villages, and more than 20,000 per-
Sons.
The climate is damp and cold, but the soil is rich and
productive, and is industriously cultivated. Horticulture
has been brought to great perfection; and cattle are
reared in large numbers. The manufactures are large
and valuable, consisting chiefly of linen and earthen ware.
Holland, after throwing oT the Spanish yoke, was the
foremost commercial nation in the world ; but successive
wars, and the rivalry of Great Britian and other commer-
cial powers, have greatly diminished its trade.
Its foreign possessions now comprise : Jara, Celdhes, the
Moluccas, or Spice Islanı)s, and parts of Sumatra, Borneo,
and New (/uinea, in the East Indies ; Ouracoa and several
other islands in tho West Indies (see page 44); Surinam,
or Dutch Auiana, in South America; and some forts on
the coast of Guinea in Africa.
{ Amsterdam (338,000), the capital, is one of the first
commercial cities of Europe. "The site of the city is
marshy, and the houses are built on piles. It is inter
sected by canals, crossed by about 300 bridges. ) Rotter-
dam (142,000) is next in importance and commerce,
North of it is‘ The Hayue ” (123,000), the residence of
the Court, and a beautiful ciyy. Leyden is celebrated for
its university, and for its heroic defense against the
Spaniards, in 1573. Utrecht is famous for its treaties,
and has large woollen manufactures, Bois le Duc has
linen manufaetures. Haarlem, Manstricht, and Tuzem-
burg are imnortant towns.
east the country presents a pleasing variety of gentle
eminences and undujlating plains.
The prineipal rivers are the Scheldt, draining the west,
and the Meuse, with its tributary the Sambre, Araining
the east; both flow through Holland into the German
Ocean. "Che coast is low, and the country is protected
from the sea by sand-hills or dunes.
The climate is mild and pleasant: the soil is produc-
tive, and most industriously cultivated. Belgium is the
most densely peopled country in the world, and has large
and important manufactures, chiefly of lacc, cambric, and
woollens, It also possesses extensive iron and coal mines.
Belgium was at one time the foremost commercial
zountry of Europe, but gave place to Holland, which in
turn yielded its supremacy to Great Britali.
Belgium, formerly called Flanders, belongud succes-
sively to Burgundy, Austria, Spain, and France. In
1814 it was joined to Holland, forming the Kingdom of
Hhe Netherlands. In the Revolution of 1880 it achieved
its independence, and in 18831 Leopold of Saxe-Coburg,
nele of Queen Vietoria, was elected king,
{ Frugsels (400,000), the capital, is one of the most beau-
tHful cities of Europe, and has a large trade in the manu-
facture of lace and carpets. Ten miles to the south is
‘he battle-field of Waterloo, where Napoleon was de-
foated by the British, in 1815. „Antwerp (160,000) is
‚he most important port, and carries on the largest trade.
It was formerly the ürst eity in, Kurope for commerce,
and has a celebrated cathedral,) (Ahent (131,000) and
Bruges have large cotton manufacinres. Ostend is an
important seaport. Mons and Namur ave important for-
tified towns: the former has a considerable iron and coal
irade; the latter manufactures cutlery and hardware.
Zourain is the seat of the principal university. Malines
or Mechlin is famous for its lace manufactures, Licge
/120,000) is the most important iron manufacturing town
An +ha eontinent.
FRANCE.
Arca, 204,098 square miles ; about the same size a8 the province of
Quebec; population, 37,672,000 ; persons to a square mile, 185,
France is bounded on the north by Belgium and the
Bnylish Channel ; on the west by the Bay of Biscay; on
the south by Spain and the Mediterranean ; and on the
east by Italy, Switzerland, and Germany.
Previous to the Revolution in 1789, France was divided
into 34 provinces ; after that event it was divided into 86
departments, named from the rivers or mountains within
their boundaries. In 1860, the Duchy of Savoy and
County of Nice were ceded to France by the King of Italy.
At the close of the war of 1871, Alsace and part of Tnr-
vaine were ceded by France to Germany.
Crne gurface of France cansists chiefly of undulating
BELGIUM.
Area, 11,378 square miles ; three-Afths the size of Nova Scotia ; popula-
tion, 5,586,000 ; persons to a square mile, 487,
EBelgium is bounded on the north by Holland ; on the
west ))y the North Sea; on the south by France ; and 01
the east by Germany and Luxemburg.
Tt is divided into nine provinces.
"*ha surface ig in veneral level. In the south and
