RHONE, a large river of Europe, which rises at the foot of Mount Furea, in the centre of Switzerland, a few miles only from the source of the Rhine. After passing through the Valais (the valley of the Rhone,) end receiving various tributary streams, it enters the lake or Geneva with a soapy blue tinge, and again issues froth the lake in a pure sky-blue stream at Geneva. It now takes a southern course, sepbrating France from Savoy ; and when it comes to St. Cenis, it turns to the north-west, and then to the west, till it reaches Lyons, where it is joined by the large stream of the Saone, after forming the tongue of land upon which that fine city is built. Near Lyons the Rhone flows nearly due south ; and after receiving the Isere, a little to the north of Valois, and the Durance, a little to the north of Avignon, rivers which descend from the western side of the Alps, it divides itself into two distinct branches below .Arles; one of which ,turning to the west, and then to the south, and forming the southern extremity of the department of Herault, discharges itself below Aigues Mortes into the gulf of Lyons in the Mediterranean. The other branch, which is the largest, reaches the sea more directly by six channels, into which it divides itself, but which have a common em bouchure below the island of Camargue, which they surround before they fall into the gulf of Lyons, having performed a course of about 500 miles. The Rhone is always largest in the summer season, from the melting of the Alpine rivers. It is the largest river in France, and the most rapid in Europe. It is easily na vigated in the direction of its stream; but mechanical power such as steam, or that of horses, is necessary against the current.
One of the most interesting phenomena of rivers is exhibited by the Rhone at that part of its course, where it loses itself under ground more than once. These phenomena, known by the name of the Pertes du Rhone, take place near Bellegarde, between Lyons and Geneva, and about sixteen miles from the latter city. In January, when the Rhone is very small, from not being supplied by the Glaciers, there is only one place where it loses itself under ground. When the river is at a greater height, it loses itself at another place, and when it is still higher, there is a third place where it disappears. At very great floods, the water runs over the places where the river in ordinary states of its waters has dis appeared; so that there is then no appearance" of the pertes, though a great part of the river actually goes under ground as before.
On the 5th September, 1814, when we had the satis faction of examining this curious phenomenon, the water did not all disappear at the first perte, and it was even boiling up with great fury at the third perte. Below the third perte, a new stone bridge has lately been thrown over the channel, and a little way below the bridge, the Rhone re-appears with great fury. A wooden bridge had formerly been erected between the first and second pertes, but it was carried off by the river. The channel between the first and second pertes was once roofed over naturally with rock ; but the roof was cut away, as the place had become the receptacle of smuggled goods.