TYDROGRA iv. The numerous bogs and marshes testify to the imperfect drainage. There are many small streams, but no large rivers ex cept in the south. These large rivers flow in the direction of the general slope of the country from east to west. They are all international streams, important in the commerce of Western Europe. The Rhine is. the great highway betWl'ell \Vestern Germany and the sea. Entering Ilolland, it di vides into numerous arms, the chief of which are the \Vaal. the Lek, and the Vssel. Four-fifths of the river trade of Holland is carried on the Rhine and the Waal, making Rotterdam a Rhine harbor. The 1\lcuse ( Huta .11 ails) joins the \Vaal, thus mingling it• waters with those of the Rhine, and is important in the emninerco. of Eastern Belgium. The Scheldt or Schelde. whose is mainly in the Netherlands. carries oecan vessels to .:\ntwerp, and small boats from the lc.etherlands ascend the river to the centre of _Belgium. Lakes are scattered all over the coun try. Stine of the lakes, such as the large lem Lake, have been drained, and their beds converted into arable hind. The stupendous un
dertaking of draining a great part of the Zuyder Zee is in progress.
CLINtArE. The climate is moist and with small range in temperature. The summers are not very warm, nor are the winters often very cold. \Vith an average animal temperature of F., the mean temperature is in the spring and autumn, in July anol August, and 35.6" in January. The annual precipitation is about. thirty inches, rain falling on about two days in three throughout the year. The fact that most days are misty and damp, a week of bright weather being a rarity. induces the diseases which characterize suet] conditions. Alarsh fevers arc also Prevalent in the boggy districts: and though on the whole Holland is regarded as having a healthful climate, the annual death rate in the western lowlands is from 30 to 40 pea• 10110, \dileh is about one-third greater than in other parts of the kingdoon.