Garcias, Lasso

OF GARCILASO DE LA VEGA, called the Prince of Spanish Poets, B. at Toledo, in 1503. IHe was early distinguished for his wit and fancy, wrote several pathetic pastorals and sonnets, and did much towards uprooting that taste for bombast, which, at the period in which he flourished, disfigured the productions of his countrymen. G. followed the profe ion of arms, and attended Charles V. in many of his expeditions, and fell in battle, in 1536. Garcila'so de la Vega, surnamed THE INCA, because by his mother's side he was descended from the royal family of Peru, was B. at Cuzco, in that country, in 1530. Philip II., dreading the influence of G. among the natives, summoned him to Spain, where he D. He wrote a History of Peru , and also a History of Florida. Garcinia, (gar-sin'e-ŭ,) n. [In honor of Dr. Garcin , an Oriental traveller.) ( Bot . ) A genus of the order Gutti feræ . The species G. mang or tana , a native of Malacca, produces the Mangosteen, which is reputed to be the most delicious of all fruits. G. cornea, kydiana , and pedunculata yield fruits of a similar character, but much inferior. The seeds of G. purpure a , upon being boiled in water, yield a concrete oil called kokum butter , or oil of mangosteen. It is very useful as an application to chapped hands, and has been recently imported into this country. One or more species of this genus are supposed to yield our commercial and officinal gamboge, which is brought from Siam in cylinders, either solid or hollow, and in large cakes or amorphous ma es. The pipe, or roll gamboge, is the finest kind. In medicine, gamboge is used as an active hydragogue and drastic purgative. In over-doses it acts as an acrid poison. In the arts it is much employed as a water-color, and to give a golden tint to lacquer-varnish for bra -work. Gard, a dept. of France, in the S. part of that country, formerly comprised in the prov. Langue doc; between Lat. 43° 27′ and 44° 27′ N., and Lon. 3° 17′ and 4° 50′ Ε.; having N. the depts. Lozère and Ardèche; E. the Rhone, separating it from Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhone; W. Aveyron; and S. Hérault, the Mediterranean, and the Isle de Camargne. Area , 583,556 hectares. Desc . The N. and W. parts are occupied by ramifications of the Cevennes range, the general slope of the dept. being from N.W. to S.E., in which latter part of its surface there is a considerable extent of level country, with numerous and extensive pools and marshes. Rivers . Gard, Cèze, Vidourle. Clim . For the most part hot and dry, with occasional siroccos. Soil. fertile. Prod . Cereals, potatoes, chestnuts, wine, and fruits. The mulberry is largely cultivated. Much wool is produced. Min . Iron and coal are abundant; argentiferous lead, antimony, zinc, and great quantities of salt are obtained from the salt marshes on the coast. Manuf . Silk, cotton, and woollen fabrics, hats, paper, brandy, leather, gla , earthenware, . Chief towns. Nimes (the cap.), Alais, Uzes, and Le Vigan. Pop . (1895) 421,650. Gard, or Gard'on, a river of France, which traverses the centre of the dept. Gard, and after a course of 55 m. falls into the Rhone, 5 m. from Tarascon. Gard, (PONT DU,) in France. See AQUEDUCT. Garda, (LAKE OF,) (anc. Lacus Benacus ,) a famous lake of N. Italy, bounded by the provs. of Mantua, Brescia, and Verona, and the circle of Roveredo in the Tyrol. From Peschiera at its S. E. extremity (15 m. W. of Verona) it stretches N.N.E. to Riva, a distance of abt. 35 m. Its lower or S. portion is abt. 12 m. acro where broadest; but its upper or N. portion is not more than from a to 4 m. acro . It is everywhere enclosed by ramifications of the Alps, except on the S., where the luxuriant plain presents a striking contrast to the magnificent mountain scenery that closes round its upper waters. The surface of this lake is at an elevation of abt. 320 ft. above the Mediterranean; it is generally deep; its waters are remarkably pure and limpid; and it is well stocked with fich. Its surplus waters are carried off by the Mincio, which i ues from it at Peschiera. A great number of towns, villages, ., are built upon its banks, of which the principal, besides Peschiera, are Desenzano, Salo, Gargano, Riva, and Garda. The greater number of these places have safe and commodious harbors, and a good deal of trade is carried on upon the lake. Gardai'a, or Ghardei'a, a walled town of Algeria, in the Sahara desert. Manuf . Woollen stuffs, fire-arms, and gunpowder. Pop . Unascertained. Lat. 31° 58′ N., Lon. 2° 50′ Ε.