OR MARVELS OF THE UNIVERSE BEING A FULL AND GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF ALL THAT IS WONDERFul in CONTAINING Thrilling Adventures on Land and Sea RENOWNED Discoveries of the world's greatest EXPLORERS EMBRACING The Striking Physical Features of the Earth THE PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HUMAN RACE, OF ANIMALS, BIRDS, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans AND OF THE POLAR SEAS, THE MONSTERS OF the deep, BEAUTIFUL SEA- TOGETHER WITH THE Amazing Phenomena of the Solar and Starry Systems THE WHOLE COMPRISING A Vast Treasury of all that is Marvelous and Wonderful IN THE EARTH, SEA, AIR, AND SKIES. BY HENRY DAVENPORT NORTHROP, D. D., EMBELLISHED WITH OVER 300 FINE ENGRAVINGS NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, QH42 N82 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1887, by In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. Y CF CHICAGO MARY PREFACE. In the preparation of this work, the object has been to furnish a volume which would in itself form a complete library of knowledge and entertainment. Whatever is worth knowing, whatever is of absorbing interest respecting the history, manners and customs of strange and curious people; respecting the singular animals of pre-historic times and the marvels of natural history, including the curiosities and unique creations of the animal kingdom, will here be found. A natural division has been made according to the three great divisions of the universe, EARTH, SEA, AND SKY, and the result is a combination of Three Books in one Volume. In the first part of the work the reader is conducted through the countries and climes of the whole world. He is even led back to periods before the advent of man. The ancient world with its vast forests, remarkable deluges, strange animals and gigantic upheavals rises before him. He sees immense quadrupeds and birds, more monstrous than any of the imaginary creatures of old mythology. Coming down to a later period the reader visits the famous countries of the globe, climbs the mountain ranges of Asia, stands on " Alps piled on Alps," witnesses burning volcanoes, extinct craters, terrible avalanches and landslides, moving glaciers, earthquakes that swallow cities with thousands of their inhabitants, the brilliant aurora painted on the northern sky, and the fatal ravages of cyclones, and tornadoes. The marvelous relics that are discovered under the microscope, together with living creatures are computed by tens of thousands to the square inch. The various Races of Men, their customs, forms of government and religious rites, human sacrifices and savage wars are fully described. What exploits of heroism, and bravery in the face of danger and death it has cost to explore these realms and reveal their amazing secrets! As may be seen, the book abounds in strange adventures, startling situations, interesting anecdotes, descriptions of curious animals and the most fascinating revelations in natural history. |