Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/218

This page needs to be proofread.

210 DONEGAL DONIZETTI and "Anomalies of Accommodation and Re- fraction " (published in English by the Syden- ham society; Ger. translation, Vienna, 1866). DONEGAL, a maritime county of Ireland, bounded N. and W. by the Atlantic, E. by the counties of Londonderry, Tyrone, and Fer- managh, and S. by the counties of Fermanagh and Leitrim, and by Donegal bay; area, 1,865 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 217,992. The shores are deeply indented by bays, the most important of which, Lough S willy, penetrates 25 m. into the land. There are numerous islands off the coast, and several lakes within the county. The general aspect of the surface is mountain- ous. Nearly two thirds of the land consist of bogs or sterile hills, incapable of cultivation. The chief rivers are the Swilly and the Finn, and the principal towns Ballyshannon, Let- terkenny, Ramelton, Donegal, and Killybegs. Oats, barley, flax, and potatoes are the staple agricultural productions. In 1868 there were 231,245 acres under cultivation. The fishery districts in 1867 employed 1,074 boats, with 3,766 men and 778 boys. Linen manufacture is carried on, and there are also many flour mills ; the export trade is chiefly through the port of Londonderry. Capital, Lifford. The town of DONEGAL (pop. about 1,600), at the head of a bay of the same name, 29 m. N. E. of Sligo, gives the titles of marquis and earl to the Chichester family. DONETZ, a river of southern Russia, the principal affluent of the Don. It rises in the government of Kursk, pursues a S. E. course through the government of Kharkov and the country of the Don Cossacks, and joins the Don on the right. Its entire length is about 500 m. Its banks are generally fertile, and its channel is wide and deep. The Oskol, the Aidar, the Kalitva, and some smaller branches join it on the north ; and it is navigable up to Zmiev. DONGOLA, a province of Upper Nubia, in the valley of the Nile, between lat. 18 and 19 30' N., including the narrow strip on both banks, between the river and the desert; pop. about 60,000. Nearly all the fertile land is on the left bank, the right being mostly barren and covered with drifting sands. The climate is agreeable and generally healthy, although fe- vers are prevalent in the rainy season, and the heat is great from March to July. On the annual rise of the Nile the low lands along the banks are submerged to the breadth of 12 or 15 m. Thus irrigated and enriched, the country is remarkably productive, yielding two crops annually. Corn and dates are the chief pro- ducts, but cotton, tobacco, coffee, opium, in- digo, sugar cane, beans, and saffron are also raised. The horses of Dongola are of a supe- rior breed, larger than the Arabian. The in- habitants are chiefly of the Ethiopic race, and are of lighter color than other Nubian tribes. Many are descendants of the Mamelukes, who established themselves there in the beginning of this century. They are represented to be indolent, immoral, and selfish, and, notwith- standing the fertility of the soil, live in abject poverty. Their principal occupations are cat- tle raising and trading in slaves. The chief town is New Dongola or Marakah, the capital, on the left bank of the Nile, lat. 19 10' ; pop. about 6,000. It is the seat of a pasha, and has government offices, a bazaar, an indigo fac- tory, and baths. It owes its origin to the barracks built there about 1820, after plans of the naturalist Ehrenberg, to take the place of those destroyed by the Mamelukes at Old Don- gola. Not far from the town is the island of Argo, in the river, on which are numerous co- lossal Egyptian monuments and other remains. Old Dongola, the former capital, on the right bank of the river, 75 m. above New Dongola, is situated on a rock about 500 ft. high, and is surrounded by fortifications which show its ancient importance. It is now a miserable village of a few hundred inhabitants. Dongola was a Christian country in early times, and was the seat of civilization and power in Nubia. In the 18th century it was overrun by the Sheikia Arabs. About 1812 the Mame- lukes, expelled from Egypt, fled thither and attempted to found a government, but they were driven out in 1820 by Ibrahim Pasha, and since that period the country has been a dependency of Egypt. DOMPHAN, a N. E. county of Kansas, bound- ed K by Nebraska, and separated from Mis- souri on the east by the Missouri river ; area, 391 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 13,969. It is water- ed by the Missouri and several small streams, is well timbered, and abounds in building stone. The surface consists in part of rolling prairies, somewhat broken near the streams, but gently undulating in the interior. The river bottoms have a rich soil, generally timbered. The old overland route to California crosses the county, and the St. Joseph and Denver City and the Atchison and Nebraska railroads traverse it. The chief productions in 1870 were 158,117 bushels of wheat, 1,326,968 of Indian corn, 148,676 of oats, 28,822 of barley, 206,705 of potatoes, 6,640 tons of hay, and 194,396 Ibs. of butter. There were 4,124 horses, 3,868 milch cows, 6,759 other cattle, 4,588 sheep, and 23,272 swine ; 8 flour mills, 10 saw mills, 2 manufactories of saddlery and harness, and 1 of woollen goods. Capital, Troy. DONIZETTI) Gaetano, an Italian composer, born in Bergamo, Sept. 25, 1798, died there, April 8, 1848. He was originally destined for the law, but showing an unusual taste for art, he was placed at the musical institute of Ber- gamo, then under the direction of Simon Mayer, and subsequently studied at Bologna, under Pilotti and Mattei. At the age of 20 he had composed some short pieces of religious and instrumental music, when the brilliant career of Rossini captivated him, and he de- termined to write for the stage. His father opposed his plans, and in a pique Donizetti en j tered the Austrian military service, and while in garrison with his regiment in Venice pro-