The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-06-06

InR each twenty Ut HAItt AOAss NOt CC,4
nented together, but most firmly grooyed.
Many stones Of 300 or $50 tons weight,
are found in spots where they must have
been.conyeyed from distance of at least
seven leagues, which must have required
some extraordinary mechanical skill.
MI. Portland described the Lake Tici-
caco, formerly held sacred by the Peruyi-
ans, as an inland sea, six times the size
of the Lake Geneva, situated.in the Andes,
at height of nearly thirteen thousand
feet above the level of the sea. Its water
is soft and fresh-a and one side of the lake
is rich in agricultural produce-and the
other equally SO in mining industry and
British enterprise has already opened a
communication in large vessels between
its opposite shores. Among the Aborigi-
mes, as well as among the original lords
of the soil in North America, the small
poe is the most prevalent and destructive
dNease--and out of a population of 24O,-
900, no less than 10000 fell victims to
its ravages in three months! A melan-
choly fact connected with this subject is,
that the shocking prevalence of this dis
ease, is mainly attributable to the circum-
stance that the Roman Catholic clergy
will not encourage vaccination, because,
a great part of their revenue Is derired
from their burial fees!
Among the most important scientific
observations made by Mr.. Pentland, was
the discovery of fossil shells in the tertia-
ny formation, at the elevation of nineteen
thousand four hundred feet-at a far grea-
ter height than they had ever before been
known to exist.-Mercantile Journal.
Source OF THE N1LE.--It is a remark
able circumstance that the source of the
Nile has never yet been discovered. All
the attempts which have heretofore been
made to effect this great object, having
failed. Bruce thought that he had sue
ceeded in discovering the source of this
mighty river-but he assembled the lesser
branch only-and after incredible hard
ships and dangers, he exultingly seated
himself beneath tree on the borders of a
sparkling pool, and verify believed that he
had succeeded in accomplishing the OBJ
ject of his arduous journey. Bruce de-
serves the need of praise as one of the
most enterprising, bold and persevering
travellers recorded on the page Of history
but he did not discover the true source
OF the Nile-the branch which is usually
called the white Nile.
The British Consul at Alexandria in
Egypt, has recently announced TO the
London Geographical Society, that an ex-
cellent opportunity is now afforded for an
enlerprising traveller to explore the white
Nile. A large Egyptian force is about to
proceed: under the Pacha, or some of his
superior officers, for the purpose of dis
covering the gold mines, which are repor-
ted as being very rich, and every facility
will be allowed to scientific traveller to
join the expedition. When the white
Nile is explored to its source, doubtless
the causes Of the periodical inundation of
the Nile, which has puzzled philosophers
for-ages, and given rise to many ingenious
theories, will be known.-Boston Mercan-
tile Journal.
PHlLosoPHY.-"Philosophy is rarely
found. The most perfect sample l ever met
was an old woman, who was apparently
the poorest and most forlorn Of the human
species; so true is the maxim which all
profess to believe, and none act upon in
variably viz; that all happiness does not
depend on outward circumstances. The
wise woman to whom l have alluded,
walks 10 Boston, distance of 20 or 30
miles, to sell bag of brown thread and
stockings, and then patiently back again
with her little gains. Her dress, though
tidy, is u grotesque collection of 'shreds
and patches,' coarse in the extreme.
"Why don't you come in wagon!
said /, when observed she was soon to
become mother, and was evidently wea.
ried with her long Journey.
1--WE han't got any horse" she repli-
ed; "the neighbors are very kind to me,
but they can't spare their'n; and it would
cost as much to hire one, as all my thread
will come to"
"You have a husband, don't he do any
thing for you?''
"He is good man, he does all he can
but he's cripple and an invalid HI
reels my yarn and specks the children
shoes. He's as kind husband as wo
man need to have"
"But his being a cripple is heavy
misfortune to YOU said |.
"Why m am Idon' tlook upon it in tina
light . replied the thread woman; 81 con
slider that I've great reason to be thankful
he never took to any had habits
elbow many children have you!''
"Six sons and five darters, ma am
..Six sons and FIVE daughters? Wha
a family for poor woman to support
s'It's a family surely, ma'am; but there
,r,t ~no nf sam I'd ha wil1inr tn loco -