Of his last paragraph, I have transcribed the most important parts.

Swift. When one subject is continued to a considerable length, the larger divisions of it should be put into paragraphs. Murray.

A PARAGRAPH is properly a section or division of a chapter, and in references is marked thus, ¶. PARAGUA, a river of New Granada, Colombia, in the province of Maracaibo, which runs S. S. E., and enters the Apure.

PARAGUAY, an extensive government of Buenos Ayres, bounded by Chiquitos, Chacos, and Tucuman, on the north-west and west; by the lake of Xarayes on the north; on the northeast and east by the Portuguese territories; and on the south-east and south by the Parana, which separates it from the missions of Guaira in Buenos Ayres, its jurisdiction ending in the south of the city of Assumption, in 26° 48′ S. lat.; and it is divided from Tucuman by the river Paraguay.

The great geographical features of this country are its numerous rivers, lakes, swamps, plains, and woods. The most noted of its rivers are the Paraguay, the Parana, the Porudos, Mbotely, Tobati, Ipane, Piray, in the north; and in the south the Canabe and the Tibiquari. These, in the rainy season, overflow their banks, the ground being flat to the extent of several hundred miles; the inundation spreads into lakes which are of great superficial extent, but little depth. When it subsides large tracts which have been submerged become extremely fertile. The climate in general is moist and temperate, though in some parts it is cold, and white frosts are common in July and August. All kinds of grain, the sugar-cane, beans, peas, melons, cucumbers, and European vegetables, abound in the more fruitful parts; asparagus is found wild, and there is a remarkably fine sort of vine, of which a good wine is made: tobacco and cinchona, or Jesuits' bark; sarsaparilla; rhubarb; jalap; sassafras; guaiacum; cupay, whose oil is used in medicine; nux vomica; vanilla; cacao, the cedar; the curi or pine, from whose red knots, which contain a varnish, the Indians make images; the algarrobo, or carob tree, which is converted into bread; and the Paraguay tea or matte, a plant which rises about a foot and a half high, with slender branches, and leaves like those of senna, are also found here. This last herb grows about 100 leagues from the capital. The gathering and preparing it consists in drying the leaves, which are scattered on shelves for the purpose over a fire, when they are crumbled into a rough dust, and then put up into packages of from seven to eight arrobas, each arroba weighing 25 lbs. The consumption

of this article, not only in these provinces, but in those of Peru and Chili, is incredible; there is scarcely any person who does not take an infusion of it two or three times in the course of the day, making an infusion of it like tea, with warm water and sugar; the mines would stand still, it is said, if the owners were to neglect to supply the workmen with it. It is infused and made nearly in the same way as Chinese tea, excepting that the branches are put in with the leaves. Te pomegranate, fig, lemon, and orange, also flourish in Paraguay. The native fruits include the jujuba, chanar, yacani, quabira (from which candles are made for the churches), the delicious quembe, the mammon, resembling a melon, and growing on the trunk of a tree; the anguay, whose pips, of a rich violet color, and triangular shape, are used by the Indians for necklaces; the bacoba, banana, anana, manioc, the cotton tree, which grows here to a great size, &c. &c.; indigo, cochineal, nacalic, whose beautiful yellow is much used by dyers; and reeds of great size, besides a great number of other useful trees and plants; and an immense variety of beautiful flowers. The largest bird is the cassowary or American ostrich, which is remarkable for its fine plumage and swift motions. Of the humming bird there are nine species. In the woods are also hares, rabbits, partridges, wild boar, deer, &c.; but from the great quantity of neat cattle, the flesh of which is preferred, none of these animals are hunted. In the lakes and shores of the river geese are taken in great numbers. They are enlivened likewise by nightingales, goldfinches, parrots of most beautiful plumage, peacocks, and birds of prey, amongst which there is one called tuca, resembling the crow, but having a beak the length of a hand, and beautifully variegated with red, yellow, and black streaks. The most ferocious animal of Paraguay is the jaguar or tiger, which commits great havoc amongst the cattle, and often attacks man. The puma couga, or the American lion, is a fierce animal, but not to be compared to the African lion; and the black bear is also large and ferocious. The tapir or river cow, the water pig or capibara, the cavies, and various other amphibious animals, frequent the numerous streams; and musquitoes, with an innumerable variety of insects and snakes, are the plague both of the waters and the land. It is estimated that there are twenty kinds of serpents, of which the rattle-snake is the most common. The great boa constrictor is also found adjoining the rivers. In some parts the vampire bat, seizing on a person asleep, sucks the blood, so as to endanger the life of its victim. There is also a species of butterfly whose bite causes a corroding humor to appear, which forms a nidus for a little worm, that leaves behind an unseemly wound, of tedious cure.

The commerce of this country, chiefly carried on by the river Paraguay, consists in the export of its tea, tobacco, cotton, sugar, tallow, wax, honey, hides, cattle, horses, mules, wool, and leather. The journey to Buenos Ayres by land is seldom performed except by couriers, who are exposed to the attacks of the wandering Indians, even the navigation of the Great river

not being free from them: on the west are the Tobas and Moscobies, on the south the Abipones, on the north the Guaycurus or Mbayas, and the Panaguas; but the east is free from any close neighbours of this description, though on the distant mountains in this quarter called Yerva, are the Monteses, who give great trouble to the people employed to collect the matti. These unsubdued Indians frequently attack the settlements, which has obliged the inhabitants to form a militia to repel their aggressors; there are also nineteen forts in Paraguay in number, generally near the river, which is furnished with guard boats. The number of Indian villages of the missions was of late considerable; they consist of stone or mud houses, covered with tiles, having a large square, in which is the priest's house, and a good church, the number of inhabitants varying from 500 or 600 to 2000.

Paraguay, after being discovered by Sebastian Cabot in 1526, was governed by Juan de Ayalas, to whom Don Pedro de Mendoza, the first governor of Buenos Ayres, gave a commission, a body of troops, military stores, and other necessaries; afterwards, by his orders, Juan de Salinas founded the city of Assumption, the capital. In subjugating this country the Spaniards, under Alvarez Nunes, exercised great cruelty on the inhabitants, and regularly parcelled them out as slaves. To supply workmen for the Spanish plantations, Parana was afterwards conquered; the city of Ciudad Real was founded; and 40,000 Indians were reduced to slavery. In 1556 the Jesuits made their first appearance here, and succeeded by gentleness and policy in reducing many of the natives under the yoke of civilised life. Their success indeed in this benevolent work was astonishing; and it is only to be regretted that the whole order has not been thus employed. They established native towns and villages, which soon under their influence and direction spread over the wilderness: their principal missions were not, however, in Paraguay, but in Buenos Ayres, south of the Parana. When the order was abolished, Spanish South America was divided into governments, and other priests were appointed to succeed them in their administration here. See AMERICA, SOUTH. The population of Paraguay was estimated some time since at 97,480 Indians, Spaniards, or whites, of which the latter do not form much more than a twentieth part. The only important towns are the capital Assumption, Villa-Rica, Curugauty, Conception, and Neembucu.

PARAGUAY, a river of South America, which gives name to the above province, and of which the sources are little known. Mr. Mawe fixes them in lat. 13° S., after which it runs a course of about 1800 miles, and enters the ocean at the Rio de la Plata.

PARAGUAY, or PARAGUAY TEA TREE, in ootany, a tree which grows naturally in the above country, and is extremely useful both as food and medicine. It is a middle-sized tree, resembling an orange tree and tasting like mallows. The leaves are the part chiefly used. The natives make three gatherings annually; first, of the buds, before they unfold into leaves: these are reckoned best, but

soonest decay: second, of the full grown leaves, at their first expansion: and third, of the leaves, when they have remained on the tree for some time after they are fully blown. These leaves are roasted, and kept in pits under ground for sale. Quantities to the value of £100,000 are annually exported to Peru and Chili. These trees grow naturally in the morasses on the east bank of the Paraguay; but are now dispersed and cultivated all over the country. The leaves are thus used; being dried and reduced almost to powder, they are put into a cup, with sugar and lemon juice; boiling water is then poured on, and the infusion drunk. They are said to be of service in all disorders of the head, breast, and stomach; to allay hunger, and to purify all kinds of water; to preserve the mumers from the noxious effect of the minerals; and to be a sovereign remedy in scurvy and putrid fevers. Mr. Lee ranks this tree as a species of Ilex. See Iurx.

PARAIBA, a province of Brasil, bounded north by the river Grande, east by the Brasilian Sea, south by the province of Itamarca, and divided from it by the river l'araiba. The climate is mild, and the soil fertile; and it abounds more than any other province in Brasil wood. The French took possession of it till the year 1584, when they were driven out by the Portuguese. There are many sugar houses in this province.

PARAIBA, the capital of the above province, is situated on the south bank of the river of the same name, about ten miles from the sea, the river being navigable for a considerable way above. It is a handsome and healthy town, defended by three forts. The cathedral is an elegant edifice. The exports consist chiefly of sugar, dyeing woods, and drugs. Population

4000.

and the water cool, being twelve degrees under the temperature of the air, which was 80°. After exhibiting my portaria, or license to travel, I left the registro of the Paraiba, and immediately commenced a long and painful ascent. The road was excessively bad, being extremely narrow, with a gulley down the centre; and the soil, being a red clay, was very insecure from the humidity. From the summit, the views on all sides were magnificent; but more particularly the one which extended along the valley of the Paraiba. Here and there the eye caught a glimpse of the river glistening amidst the deepest and most luxuriant vegetation. My tropeiro brought me some pieces of the Quina or Bark, and pointed out many trees. It was extremely bitter, and is, I have no doubt, as good a febrifuge as the Peruvian. All those who pass through these woods use it for the teeth and in cases of loss of appetite. This bark is of a higher color than the Jesuits', and I presume of a very different species. The track now led down a descent, and afterwards ascended by a zigzag and most laborious road to nearly its former elevation. The heat was intense, and the mules suffered considerably, and drank at every stream. Large masses of undecomposed feldspar rose in places out of the deep red earth. In other spots the soil was a stiff red clay. The thick wood, although boasting of a large proportion of evergreens, showed, at least the highest trees, a wintery appearance.

We had not long left the Paraiba, when an immense boa constrictor showed himself among the foliage over my head and the tropeiro's. He was playing about, and instantly retired; he was so close to me that I had a good opportunity of examining his length and the dark brown spots with which he was marked, before my mule and the tropeiro's horse descried him, when the former sprung forward, and the latter turned round, and with great difficulty was brought up again to the spot, which he passed in a trembling state. Rosario and Adam were in advance with the mules and the gun, and had seen nothing of the monster. This was the largest boa I ever saw alive, and I should conceive measured sixteen or eighteen feet. Some skins I subsequently measured were of much greater length. They were brought from the sertão, or country not at all traversed; and when tanned formed an excellent boot quite impervious to the wet. Many of the respectable miners wear boots of this description. The heat was so oppressive on this day that we saw few birds: they appeared to have retired to the very depths of the woods. The trees which we passed were of immense height: for, although in many instances they rose from a depth of forty feet below us, they towered as many over our heads. They were chiefly the tree which produces the gum copaiba. We proceeded onwards to a rancho called Payal, and thence over the summits of many serras, ascending and descending continually, until seven o'clock in the evening, when we came in sight of and descended to the bank of the Paraibuna. The temperature of the water was 71° and of the air 78°. The distance completed this day was about six leagues, but the heat was

so oppressive, and the track, from the repeated ascents and descents, so extremely fatiguing, that the mules arrived at the river in a very exhausted state. After unloading them, we allowed them to lie down or wander about for an hour or two, before we attempted to feed them; but even then they would not touch the Indian corn, and we were at last obliged to add some handfuls of salt, to get them to eat any. Our own chase had been very unfortunate: only one large bird had been killed; but on taking off the skin, for the sake of the plumage, the body was evidently too small for supper A fortunate occurrence obtained us, however, an excellent repast. My man, previous to leaving Rio de Janeiro, bought the cld hat of a priest, which, from its very broad flaps, he conceived would be an effectual shelter from the sun. When we came down to the huts of the Paraibuna, one of the inhabitants thought he recognised in Rosario a priest who had once said mass there, and, knowing he could procure nothing fit to eat, had a fowl instantly killed, dressed with rice, and sent it to us. In fact, there is little or nothing to be got in these villages; the mule drivers live on feijoes or beans and pork, which they carry with them, and the inhabitants have little more than is sufficient for their own consumption. The land which they take the trouble to cultivate is cropped with Indian corn, and is entirely consumed on the spot. The inhabitants are a mixed race of blacks and mulattoes, and occasionally with a dash of Indian blood. They are chiefly free; they are excessively indolent, as it may be supposed, and do not appear stimulated even by the idea of gain. Their huts are formed of mud, with a covering of broad leaves; the better description have a ceiling formed of split canes, called taquarra.

The registro of the Paraibuna is built on the opposite side of the river, and about 100 small huts or houses surround it. The Paraibuna flows down from the back of the Serra da Mantequeira, under the name of the Rio Preto, which is in fact a mere translation of the Indian word Paraibuna. Para, river, and ibuna,'black. It is here about fifty yards across, and flows with a turbid but rapid current, half a degree farther to the east, where it joins the Paraiba, and their united streams enter the sea under the name of the Southern Paraiba. Its sand is eminently auriferous, and in front of the registro many canoes were at work. By means of a windlass and an iron scoop, the gold washers dredge up into the canoe a portion of the bed of the river, and, when they have procured as much as they can carry, they move to their washing place, which is a kind of platform projecting over the river; the cascallo or gravel and sand is then shovelled into a large trough, and upon it a neighbouring stream is conducted by means of large bamboos. The canoes are very large, and formed out of a single tree. There were usually three blacks in the canoe, and two on the platform, who received a patach (320 reis) per diem each, which for five amounted to 1600 reis; and as the daily gain was generally equal to 2200, about ten shillings, there was a balance of 600 reis for the owners of the boat. One of the

patraos informed me that he frequently collected with three boats five or six octavas of gold (seventy-two grains each) in the course of the day. The gold he showed me was fine grained and of good color. The gravel brought up with it consisted chiefly of quartz of a brilliant whiteness, appearing at first like white topazes, rounded cornelians of a yellowish tint with the red, some agates, and aquamarines of a muddy bad color. I obtained from the mass of refuse several specimens of this description, and a few waterworn wine-yellow topazes. On the bank of the river I observed many large masses of ferruginous quartz, destined, perhaps, when the progress of decomposition is completed, to add a small stock of gold to the sands of the stream, from which large quantities have been already obtained.' PARALLAX, n. s. Greek apaλağıç. The distance between the true and apparent place of the sun, or any star, viewed from the surface of the earth. See below.

By what strange parallax or optick skill Of vision multiply'd. Milton's Paradise Regained. Light moves from the sun to us in about seven or eight minutes time, which distance is about 70,000,000 English miles, supposing the horizontal parallax of the sun to be about twelve seconds.

Newton's Opticks.

PARALLAX, in astronomy, is otherwise defined, the difference between the places of any celestial objects as seen from the surface, and from the centre of the earth at the same instant. See ASTRONOMY. The whole effect of parallax is in a vertical direction for the parallactic angle is in the plane passing through the observer and the earth's centre; which plane is necessarily perpendicular to the horizon, the earth being considered as a sphere. The more elevated an object is above the horizon, the less is the parallax, its distance from the earth's centre continuing the same. When the object is in the zenith, it has no parallel; but when in the horizon, its parallax is greatest. The horizontal parallax being given, the parallax at any given altitude may be found by the following rule:-To the logarithmic cosine of the given altitude, add the log. sine of the horizontal parallax; the sum, rejecting ten from the index, will be the log. sine of the parallax, in altitude. The longitude, latitude, right ascension, and declination of an object, are affected by parallax. The difference between the true and apparent longitudes is called the parallax in longitude; in like manner, the differences between the true and apparent latitudes, right ascensions, and declinations, are called the parallax in latitude, right ascension, and declination, respectively.-When the object is in the nonagesimal, the parallax in longitude is nothing, but that in latitude is greatest; and, when the object is in the meridian, the parallax in right ascension vanishes, and that in declination is a maximum. The apparent longitude is greater than the true longitude, when the object is east of the nonagesimal, otherwise less; and, when the object is in the eastern hemisphere, the apparent right ascension exceeds the true, but is less than the true right ascension when the object is in the western hemisphere. The apparent place of an object is more distant from the cle

vated poles of the ecliptic and equator than the true place; hence, when the latitude of the place and elevated pole of the ecliptic are of the same name, the apparent latitude is less than the true latitude, otherwise greater; and the apparent declination will be less or greater than the true declination, according as the latitude of the place and declination of the object are of the same or of a contrary denomination. The parallaxes in longitude, latitude, right ascension, and declination, in the spheroidat hypothesis, may be found by the following formula; in which L represents the latitude of the place, diminished by the angle contained between the vertical and radius of the given place; P the horizontal parallax for that place; a the altitude of the nonagesimal at the given distance; d the apparent distance of the object from the nonagesimal; A the true and apparent latitudes of the object; Do the true and apparent declinations respectively; and m its apparent distance from the meridian. Then par. in long. P. sine a. sine d, secant , to radius unity; and par. in lat. = P. cosine a. cosine a. cosine Ap. cosine d. sine a. sine X. The sign -is used when the apparent distance of the object from the nonagesimal and from the elevated pole of the ecliptic are of the same affection, and the sign+ if of different affection. If the greatest precision be required, the following quantity 0-00000121216. par. long. 2, sine 2, is to be applied to the parallax in latitude found as above, by addition or subtraction, as the true distance of the object from the elevated pole of the ecliptic is greater or less than 90°. Again, par. in right ascen. P. cosine L. sine m. secant D, to radius unity; and par. in declination = P. sine L. cosine P. cosine L. sine d, cosine m. 8 The upper or lower sign is to be used, according as the distance of the object from the meridion and from the elevated pole of the equator are of the same or different allection. Part second of par. in declination 0-00000121216 par. in right ascen. 2, sine 2 D; which is additive to, or subtractive from part first of the parallax in declination, according as the true distance of the object from the elevated pole of the equator is greater or less than 90°.

PARALLAX is also used to denote the change of place in an object arising from viewing it obliquely with respect to another object. Thus the minute hand of a watch is said to have a parallax when it is viewed obliquely; and the difference between the instants shown by it, when viewed directly and obliquely, is the quantity of parallax in time.

PARALLAX OF THE EARTH'S ANNUAL ORBIT, is the difference between the places of a planet as seen from the sun and earth at the same instant. The difference between the longitudes of the planet as seen from the sun and earth is called the parallax in longitude; and the difference between its latitudes is the parallax in latitude.

PARALLEL, adj., n. s. & r Fr. parallele; PARALLELISM. [υ. α. 5 Gr. παράλληλος. Equidistant; lineally extended in the same direction: hence, having the same tendency; equal; like parallelism is the state of being parallel, or an instance of it.

Shakspeare.

The parallel holds in the gainlessness, as well as laboriousness of the work. Decay of Piety.

But the time and occasion call my thoughts homeward, and invite me rather to spend the rest of my hours in paralleling Israel's blessings, sins, and threats of judgment with our own. Bp. Hall.

Such a resemblance of all parts, Life, death, age, fortune, nature, arts; She lights her torch at theirs to tell, And shew the world this parallel. Denham. The foundation principle of peripateticism is exactly parallel to an acknowledged nothing.

Glanville.

Distorting the order and theory of causes perpendicular to their effects, he draws them aside unto things whereto they run parallel, and their proper motions would never meet together. Browne.

The Azores having a middle situation between these continents and that vast tract of America, the needle seemeth equally distracted by both, and diverting unto neither, doth parallel and place itself upon the true meridian.

Id. The loyal sufferers abroad became subjected to the worst effect of banishment, and even there expelled and driven from their flights; so paralleling in their exigencies the most immediate objects of that monster's fury.

Fell.

The parallelism and due proportioned inclination of the axis of the earth. More's Divine Dialogues. In the fire, the destruction was so swift, sudden, vast, and miserable, as nothing can parallel in story. Dryden. I paralleled more than once our idea of substance with the Indian philosopher's he-knew-not-what, which supported the tortoise. Locke. Speaking of the parallelism of the axis of the earth I demand, whether it be better to have the axis of the earth steady and perpetually parallel to itself, or to have it carelessly tumble this way and that way.

Ray on the Creation.

That he stretched out the north over the empty places, seems to parallel the expression of David, he stretched out the earth upon the waters. Burnet. Thou ungrateful brute, if thou wouldst find thy parallel, go to hell, which is both the region and the emblem of ingratitude. South.

Garth.

Dissensions, like small streams, are first begun, Scarce seen they rise, but gather as they run; So lines, that from their parallel decline, More they proceed, the more they still disjoin. When honour runs parallel with the laws of God and our country, it cannot be too much cherished; but, when the dictates of honour are contrary to those of religion and equity, they are the great deprivations of human nature.

Addison.

PARALLEL, in geometry. See GEOMETRY. PARALLEL SPHERE, that situation of the sphere wherein the equator coincides with the horizon, and the poles with the zenith and nadir.

PARALLELS OF ALTITUDE, or ALMUCANTARS, are circles parallel to the horizon, imagined to pass through every degree and minute of the meridian between the horizon and zenith, having their poles in the zenith.

PARALLELS OF DECLINATION, in astronomy, are the same with parallels of latitude in geography.

PARALLELS OF LATITUDE, in astronomy, are lesser circles of the sphere parallel to the ecliptic, imagined to pass through every degree and minute of the colures.

PARALLEL'OGRAM, n. s. Fr. parallelograme; Gr. apaŋλos and ypapua, a figure. In geometry, a right lined quadrilateral figure, whose opposite sides are parallel and equal.

The experiment we made in a loadstone of a parallelogram, or long figure, wherein only inverting the extremes, as it came out of the fire, we altered the poles.

Browne.

We may have a clear idea of the area of a parallelogram, without knowing what relation it bears to the area of a triangle. Watts.

Fr. parallelo

PARALLELOPI’PED, n. s. pipede. A solid figure contained under six parallelograms, the opposite sides of which are equal and parallel; or it is a prism, whose base is a parallelogram.

Two prisms alike in shape I tied, so that, their axes and opposite sides being parallel, they composed a parallelopiped. Newton. Crystals that hold lead are yellowish, and of a cubic or parallelopiped figure. Woodward. PARALLELOPIPE'DIA, in the old mineralogy, a genus of spars, externally of a determinate and regular figure, always found loose, in form of an oblique parallelopiped, with six detached, and separate from all other bodies, and parallelogram sides, and eight solid angles; easily fissile either in an horizontal or perpendicular direction; being composed of numbers of thin plates, and those very elegantly and regularly arranged bodies, each of the same form with the whole mass, except that they are thinner in proportion to their horizontal planes, and naturally fall into these and no other figures, on being broken with a slight blow.

PAR'ALOGISM, or Fr. paralogisme;
PARAL'OGY, n.s.

argument.

Gr.

Ο παραλογισμός false

That because they have not a bladder of gall, like those we observe in others, they have no gall at all, is a paralogism not admittable, a fallacy that dwells not in a cloud, and needs not the sun to scatter it. Browne's Vulgar Errours.

That Methuselah was the longest liver of all the posterity of Adam, we quietly believe; but that he must needs be so, is perhaps below paralogy to deny. Browne.

Modern writers, making the drachma less than the denarius, others equal, have been deceived by a double paralogism, in standing too nicely upon the bare words of the ancients, without examining the things. Arbuthnot.

If a syllogism agree with the rules given for the construction of it, it is called a true argument: if it