The Antarctic Ocean lies opposite to the Arctic. Greek ’αντί, against.
319. What was the “El Dorado”?
El Dorado, or the golden land, was a name given by the Spaniards to an imaginary country, supposed, in the sixteenth century, to be situated in the interior of South America, between the rivers Orinoco and Amazon, and abounding in gold and all manner of precious stones. Expeditions were fitted out for the purpose of discovering this fabulous region; and, though all such attempts proved abortive, the rumors of its existence continued to be believed down to the beginning of the eighteenth century. It is said that the name was at first applied, not to a country, but to a man, “el rey dorado.” Sir Walter Raleigh, in his “Discovery of the Large, Rich, and Beautiful Empire of Guiana,” gives a description of the rising of this gilded king, whose chamberlains, every morning after having rubbed his naked body with aromatic oils, blew powdered gold over it through long sarbacans. After the name came to be used as the designation of a country, it seems to have been variously applied, and the expeditions in search of the golden land had different destinations. Francisco Orellana, a companion of Pizarro, was the first to spread the account of this fabulous region in Europe.
320. What people formed the first temperance society?
The Rechabites. “But they said, We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye nor your sons forever.”—Jeremiah xxxv. 6.
321. Where is the “Bridge of Sighs”?
The “Bridge of Sighs” is a name popularly given to the covered passageway which connects the Doge’s palace in Venice with the state prisons, from the circumstance that the condemned prisoners were transported over the bridge from the hall of judgment to the place of execution. This bridge was built in 1589 by Da Ponte. Hood has used the name as the title of one of his poems.
322. In what country does grass grow upon trees?
The grass-tree is a native of Australia. It belongs to the order Liliaceæ. These trees are especially distinguished by their crowns of long, pendulous, grass-like leaves, from the centre of which arises a long stalk bearing at its summit a dense flower spike looking somewhat like a large cat-tail. Some species have very short stems, while others have trunks six to eighteen feet high, which, with their singular tufts of leaves, form a striking feature in the Australian landscape. The grassy leaves are gathered as food for cattle, and their tender base is often relished by man.
323. What is the origin of the phrase “To row up Salt River”?