Encyclopaedia Britannica [18, 5 ed.]

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Cncpclopactua Britannia OR, A

DICTIONARY OF

ARTS, SCIENCES, AND MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE; ENLARGED AND IMPROVED.

THE FIFTH EDITION.

JiUustcateD ioitj) nearlg sir bunDceti CngcaDtnp. VOL. XVIII.

INDOCTI DISCANT; AMENT MEMINISSE PERITI.

EDINBURGH : Printed at the Encyclopedia Press, FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY, AND THOMSON

BONAR, EDINBURGH:

GALE, CURTIS, AND FENNER, LONDON ; AND THOMAS WILSON AND SONS, YORK.

1815.

■y i,-

ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA.

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HIZOPHORA, the MANGROVE, or Mangle, a Xv genus of plants belonging to the dodecandria "“'V'-—^ clafs ; and in the natural method ranking under the 12th order, Holoracea-, Thefe plants are natives of the Eaft and Weft Indies, and often* grow 40 or 50 feet high. They grow only in water and on the banks of rivers, where the tide flows up twice a-day. They preserve the verdure of their leaves throughout the year. From the loweft branches ifliie long roots, which hang down to the water, and penetrate into the earth. In this petition they-refemble fo many arcades, from five to ten feet high, which ferve to fupport the body of the tree, and even to advance it daily into the bed of the water. Thefe arcades are fo clofely intertwifted one with another, that they form a kind of natural and tranfparent terrace, railed with fuch folidity over the water, that one might walk upon them, were it not that the branches are too much encumbered with leaves. The moft natural way of propagating thefe trees, is to fuffer the feveral (lender fmall filaments which iffue from the main branches to take root in the earth. The moft common method, however, is that of laying the fmall lower branches in bafkets of mould or earth till they have taken root. The defeription juft given pertains chiefly to a particular fpecies of mangrove, termed by the Weft Indians black mangles, on account of the brown dutky colour of the wood. The bark is very brown, fmooth, pliant when green, and generally ufed in the Weft India iflands for tanning of leather. Below this bark lies a cuticle, or (kin, which is lighter, thinner, and more tender. The wood is nearly of the fame colour with the bark •, hard, pliant, and very heavy. It is frequently nfed for fuel, for which purpofe it is faid to be remarkably proper *, the fires which are made of this wood bring both clearer, more ardent and durable than thofe made f any other materials whatever, The wood i? compact $ almoft incorruptible *, never fplinter* j is eaftly worked; and were it pot for its enormous weight, would be eommodloufly employed in Almoft AU kinds of work, as it pofiefies every property of good timber. To the roots and branches of mangroves that are imtnerfed in the water, oyfters frequently attach them* reives*, fo that wherever this curious plant is found growing on the fea-fhore, oyfter-fifliing is very cafy *, and in fuch cafes thefe fhelLfifti may be literally faid to grow upon trees. The red mangle or mangrove grows on the fea* Vox,, XVIII, Part I. *0

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(here, and at the mouth of large rivers $ but does not advance, like the former, into the water. It generally rifes to the height of 20 or 30 feet, with crooked, knotty branches, which proceed from all parts of the , trunk. The bark is (lender, of a brown colour, and, when young, is fmooth, and adheres very clofely to the wood *, but when old, appears quite cracked, and is eafily detached from it. Under this bark is a (km as thick as parchment, red, and adhering clofely to the wood, from which it cannot be detached till the tree is felled and dry. The wood is hard, compatR, heavy, of a deep red, with a very fine grain. The pith or heart of the wood being cut into fmall pieces, and boiled in water, imparts a very beautiful red to the liquid, which communicates the fame colour to wool and linen. The great weight and hardnefs of the wood prevent it from being generally ufed. From the iruit of this tree, which, when ripe* is of a violet colour, and refembles fome grapes in tafte, is prepared an agreeable liquor, much efteemed by the inhabitants of the Caribbee iftands, White mangle, fo termed from the colour of its wood, grows, like the twq former, upon the banks of rivers, but is feldom found near the fea. The bark is gray ; the wood, as we have faid, white, and when green (upple $ but dries as foon as cut down, and becomes very light and brittle. This fpecies is generally called rope^mangrove, from the ufe to which the bark ; ap. plied by the inhabitants of the Weft Indies, This bark, which, on account of the great abundance of fap, is aafily detached when green from the wood, is beaten or bruifed betwixt two ftones, until the hard and woody part is totally feparated from that which is foft and tender, This laft, which is the true cortical fubdance, is twifted into ropes of all fixes, which are exceedingly ft rot 1 g, and not «p! to rot in the water, RHODE-xstASD, one of the fmalleft of the United Stat. s of America, not exceeding 47 miles in length and 37 in breadth, is bounded on the N.'and E, by the province of Mafiaehufetm > on the S. by the A tlantic, and on the W, by Cnnnefticut. It is divided into five counties, vk, Newport, Providence, Wa(hington, Bride!, And Kent, which AIT fubdivided into 3c town. (hips, containing I$S,82< inhabitants, and including 948 Haves. This ft:Ue h intorfciftcd by rivers in all ciircctmm *, and the winters in the maritime parts of it are milder thnn in the interior of the country. The fumtaerg are delightful, and the rivers and bays teem with A

jhora, Kbode-

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RhodeIt is generally allowed by tra- from GreenAvich, or about 15 miles long, and its me0f different kinds. ^aiu^' vellers, that Newport is the belt fi(h market in the dium breadth about 3 and a half. It is a famous refort ™odes. ' world. This date alfo produces rye, barley, oats, and for invadids from the fouthern climates, as it is exceed- 1.,, ,.-v ,,T in Tome places wheat fufficient for home confuniption. ingly pleafant and healthful, being at one period regarCyder is made here for exportation ; and it abounds ded as the Eden of America ; but the change is great with graffes, fruits, and culinary roots and plants, all of Avhich has been effefted by the ravages of war, and a an excellent quality. The north-weftern parts are but decreafe of bufinefs. Between 30,000 and 40,000 Iheep thinly inhabited, and more rocky and barren than the are fed upon this illand, befides cattle and horfes. The reft of the date. There are extenfive dairies in feme foil, climate, and fituation of this ifland, are perhaps not x parts of it, which produce butter and cheefe of the beft exceeded by any other in the Avorld. RHODES, a celebrated ifland in the Archipelago, Ancient quality, and in large quantities for exportation. Iron ore names and is found in great abundance in many parts of the ftate 5 the largeft and moft eafterly of the Cyclades, Avas etJmologjr * and the iron-works on Patuxet river, 1 2 miles from Pro- knoAvn in ancient times by the names of Ajleria, Ovidence, are fupplied with ore from a bed about four phitifa, JE three a, Trinacria, Corymbiu, PoeJJ'a, Atabyna, miles and a half didant, where a variety of ores, curious Marcia, Qloejfa, Stadia, Te/chims, Pelagia, and Rhodus, ftones, and ochres, are alfo met with ; and there is a cop- In later ages, the name of Rhodus, or Rhodes, prevailper mine mixed with iron in the townlhip of Cumber- ed, from the Greek word rhodon, as is commonly fupland. This ore is drongly impregnated with loadftone, pofed, lignifying a “ rofe j” the ifland abounding very large pieces of which have been found in the vicinity j much Avith thefe floAvers. Others, however, give differbut no method has yet been difeovered of working ent etymologies, among which it is difficult to find one it to advantage. Here alfo lime done abounds, of preferable to another. It is about 20 miles diftant from which large quantities of lime are made and exported. the coafts of Lycia and Caria, and about 120 miles in 2 This done is of various colours, and is the genuine mar- compafs. Several ancient authors affert, that Rhodes Avas for- Its origin, ble of the white, plain, and variegated kinds, receiving as fine a polith as any done in America. In this date merly covered by the fea, but gradually raifed its head there are alio feveral mineral fprings, to one of which, above the Avaves, and became an ifland. Delos and not far from Providence, numbers refort to bathe, and Rhodes (fays Pliny), iflands which have long been ** 3, ca ) drink the waters. The chief towns of the ftate are celebrated, fprung at firft from the fea. The fame fa£l g' *’• l * Providence and Newport. The Have-trade, which Avas is fupported by fuch a variety of other evidence as ren a fource of wealth to many, has been happily aboliihed. der it indubitable. Philo f aferibes the event to the f PW/o Briftol carries on a confiderable trade to Africa, the decreafe of the Avaters of the ocean. If his conjetfture Mundo. Weft Indies, and different parts of the United States : be not Avithout foundation, moft of the ifles of the Arbut the inhabitants of the profperous town of Provi- chipelago, being loAver than Rhodes, mull have had a dence have in their hands the greateft part of the com- fimilar origin. But it is much more probable that the merce j they had 129 veffels in the year 1791. The volcanic fires, which in the fourth year of the 135th Ocommon exports are flax-feed, timber, horfes, cattle, lympiad, raifed Therafia and Thera, knoAvn at prefent beef, pork, fifh, poultry, onions, butter, cheefe, bar- by the name of Santorin, from the depths of the fea, and ley, grain, fpirits, cotton and linen goods. The im- have in our days thrown out feveral fmall iflands adjaports confift of Weft India and European goods, and cent, alfo produced in fome ancient era Rhodes and , £ logAvood is brought from the bay of Honduras. At the Delos. The firft inhabitants of Rhodes, according to Dio- Firft inhadifferent ports of this ftate more than 600 veffels enter and clear out annually. The amount of exports in 1794 dorus Siculus, were called the Telchince, who came ori-bitarts, was valued at 9^4,573 dollars. At Providence there is ginally from the ifland of Crete. Thefe, by their Ikill a cotton manufa&ory, the produce of which is fent to in aftrology, perceiving that the ifland Avas foon to be the fouthern ftates 5 but the manufa&ures of bar and droAvned Avith Avater, left their habitations, and made fheet iron, fteel, nail rods, and nails, implements of room for the Heliades, or grandfons of Phoebus, Avho hulhandry, ftoves, pots, &c. are the moft extenfive. took poffeffion of the ifland after that god had cleared The conftitution of the ftate is founded on the charter it from the Avater and mud Avith which it Avas overgranted in 1663 by Charles II. ; and the revolution Avhelmed. Thefe Heliades, it feems, excelled all other made no effenlial change on the form of government. men in learning, and efpecially in aftrology ; invented The legiftature eonfifts of two branches *, a fenate com- navigation, &c. In after ages, hoAvever, being infeftpofed of ten members, befides a governor and deputy- ed with great ferpents Avhich bred in the ifland, they governor, and a houfe of reprefentatives. The members had recourfe to an oracle in Delos, which advifed them of the legiflature are chofen twice a year, and there are to admit Phorbas, a Theffalian, Avith his folloAvers, into two feflions of this body annually. It was firft fettled Rhodes. This was accordingly done : and Phorbas from Maffachufetts. So little has the civil authority to having deftroyed the ferpents, was, after his death, hodo with religion here, that no contraft betAveen a mini- noured as a demigod. AfterAvards a colony of Cretans fter and a fociety is of any force, for which reafon a fettled in fome part of the ifland, and a little before great number of fefts have ahvays been found here j yet the Trojan Avar, Tlepolemus the fon of Hercules, Avho it is faid that the fabbath, and all religious inftitutions was made king of the whole ifland, and governed Avith are more neglefted in this, than in any other of the NCAV great juftice and moderation. After the Trojan war, all the ancient inhabitants England ftates. were driven out by the Dorians, who continued to be RHODE-ISLAND, an illand of N. America, in a ftate 0 of 1 the fame name, fituated0 between 41 28' and 41° mailers of the ifland for many ages. The government 0 4- Nl Lat. and betAveen 71 17' and 71 27' W. Long. Avas at firft monarchical j but a little before the expedition

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R.hodes. tiort of Xerxes into Greece, a republican form of goV vernment was introduced ; during which the Rhodians applied themfelves to navigation, and became verypowerful by fea, planting feveral colonies in diltant countries. In the time of the Peloponnefian war, the republic of Rhodes was rent into two factions, one of which favoured the Athenians, and another the Spartans ; but at length the latter prevailing, democracy was abolilhed, and an ariltocracy introduced. About 351 B. C. we find the Rhodians oppreffed by Maufolus king of Caria, and at laft reduced by Artemilia his widow. In this emergency, they applied to the Athenians, by whofe aftiltance, probably, they regained their liberty. Submit to From this time to that of Alexander the Great, the Alexander, Rhodians enjoyed an uninterrupted tranquillity. To but revolt tJjey voluntarily fubmitted ; and were on that acafter his count highly favoured by him : but no fooner did they death. hear of his death, than they drove out the Macedonian garrifons, and once more became a free people. About this time happened a dreadful inundation at Rhodes $ which being accompanied with violent ftorms of rain, and hailftones of an extraordinary bignefs, beat down many houfes, and killed great numbers of the inhabi6 Violent in-tants. As the city was built in the form of an amphiundation at theatre, and no care had been taken to clear the pipes Rhodes. anci conduits which conveyed the water into the fca, the lower parts of the city were in an inlfant laid under water, feveral houfes quite covered, and the inhabitants drowned before they could get to the higher places. As the deluge increafed, and the violent fhowers continued, fome of the inhabitants made to their Ihips, and abandoned the place, while others miferably perifhed in the waters. But while the city was thus threatened with utter deftruftion, the wall on a fuddtn burft afunder, and the water difcharging itfelf by a violent current into the fea, unexpeftedly delivered the inhabitants from all danger. The Rhodians fuffered greatly by this unexpe£ted accident, but foon retrieved their Ioffes by a clofe application to trade. During the wars which took place among the fucceffors of Alexander, the Rhodians obferved a ftrift neutrality *, by which means they enriched themfelves fo much, that Rhodes became one of the moft opulent ftates of that age ; infomuch that, for the common good of Greece, they undertook the piratic wary and, at their own charge, cleared the feas of the pirates who had for many years infefted the coalls of 7 Difference Europe and Afia. However, notwithftanding the neuwith Anti- trality they profeffed, as the moft advantageous branches gonus. of their commerce were derived from Egypt, they were more attached to Ptolemy, king of that country, than to any of the neighbouring princes. "When therefore Antigonus, having engaged in a war with Ptolemy about the ifland of Cyprus, demanded fuccours of them, they earneftly intreated him not to compel them to declare war againft their ancient friend and ally. But this anfwer, prudent as it was, drew upon them the difpleafure of Antigonus, who immediately ordered one of his admirals to fail with his fleet to Rhodes, and feize all the fhips that came out of the harbour for Egypt. The Rhodians, finding their harbour blocked up by the fleet of Antigonus, equipped a good number of galleys, fell upon the enemy, and obliged him, with the lofs of many (hips, to quit his ftation. Hereupon

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Antigonus, charging them as aggreffors, and beginners Rhode of an unjutt war, threatened to befiege their city with the ftrength of his whole army. The Rhodians endeavoured by frequent embaflies to appcafe his wrath ‘r but all their remonftrances ferved rather to provoke than allay his refentment: and the only terms upon which he would hearken to any accommodation were, that the Rhodians Humid declare war againft Ptolemy, that they Humid admit his fleet into their harbour, and that an hundred of the chief citizens Humid be delivered up to him as hoftages for the performance of thefe articles. The Rhodians fent ambaffadors to all their allies, and to Ptolemy in particular, imploring their afliflance, and reprefenting to the latter, that their attachment to his intereft had drawn upon them the danger to which they were expofed. The preparations on both fides were g imraenfe. As Antigonus was near fourfeore years of Rhodes heage at that time, he committed the whole management fieged b.y of the war to his fon Demetrius, who appeared before De‘Tltt^lu,■ the city of Rhodes with 200 Ihips of war, 170 tranfports having on board 40,000 men, and lOOO other veffels laden with provifions and all forts ol warlike engines. As Rhodes had enjoyed for many years a profound tranquillity, and been free from all devaftations, the expectation of booty, in the plunder of fo wealthy a city, al. lured multitudes of pirates and mercenaries to join Demetrius in this expedition ; infomuch that the whole fea between the continent and the ifland was covered with fliips : which ftruck the Rhodians, who had a profpett of this mighty armament from the walls, with great terror and confternation. Demetrius, having landed his troops without the reach of the enemy’s machines, detached feveral fmall bodies to lay wafte the country round the city, and cut down the trees and groves, employing the timber, and materials of the houfes without the walls, to fortify his camp with a ftrong rampart and a triple palifade; which work, as many hands were employed, was finiflied in a few days. The Rhodians, on their part, prepared for a 9 vigorous defence. Many great commanders, who hadTheinhabltan s re fignalized themfelves on other occafions, threw them£ P '‘ felves into the city, being defirous to try their fkill military affairs againft Demetrius, who was reputed onedefence. of the moft experienced captains in the conduft of fieges that antiquity had produced. The befieged began with difmifling from the city all fuch perfons as were ufelefs; and then taking an account of thofe who were capable of bearing arms, they found that the citizens amounted to 6000, and the foreigners to 1000. Liberty was promifed to all the Haves who fliould diftinguifti themfelves by any glorious a