Page AMERICA, MANNERS and CUSTOMS of the NATIVE AMERI CANS, DISCOVERY of AMERICA by CO) Different Opinions about the Manner in which AMERICA 684 684-695 COLUMBUS, 688 was first PEOPLED, ANIMALS of AMERICA, 695 696. NORTH AMERICA, BRITISH SETTLEMENTS in NORTH AMERICA, 697 ib. 698 MANNERS and CUSTOMS of the MEXICANS, SPANISH SETTLEMENTS in NORTH AMERICA, 701 702 ib. CONQUEST of PERU by PIZARRO and ALMAGRO, 713 704 ISLANDS of AMERICA, 717 Α SUMMARY O F GEOGRAPHY and HISTORY, Both ANCIENT and MODERN. Of the FIGURE and MOTION of the EARTH. EOGRAPHY is a defcription of the earth. GE The figure of the earth is round. This might have always been known, from the fhadow of the earth in an eclipfe of the moon; but it was first completely afcertained by Magellan, a native of Portugal, in the service of Spain, who failed round it. Magellan left Seville with five veffels, 10th August 1519. He himself was killed by the favages in Luconia or Manila, one of the Philippine islands; but his ship returned to Spain after a voyage of 1124 days, or three years and twenty-nine days. The next who failed round the world was Sir Francis Drake, anno 1577, in 1056 days; and the third, Sir Thomas Cavendish, anno 1586, in 777 days. The round figure of the earth may be alfo inferred from the appearance of objects at a distance, as we approach or lofe fight of them, efpecially at fea; from the obfervation of the ftars, efpecially of the polar ftar, which rifes as we go north, and finks as we go fouth; and from the level, neceffary to be obfer ved in making a long canal, for conveying water from one place to another, which flopes about 8 inches in a mile, 4 times 8 or 32 inches in 2 miles, 9 times 8 or 72 inches in three miles, 16 times A |