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Rh Rue ; the distinction between the two portions being well marked by their physical features. Upper Auvergne is rugged and mountainous, and is covered with evidences of volcanic activity, while Lower Auvergne consists largely of fertile and well-watered expanses. In climate, too, there is a marked difference ; the former suffering from violent extremes, and the latter enjoying a mild and equable temperature. The whole district is largely agricultural, and special attention is paid to the rearing of cattle, horses, and mules. The mountains are rich in minerals, such as iron, lead, copper, and coal ; and numerous medi cinal springs are scattered along their slopes. The inhabi tants, who to a certain extent are the descendants of the ancient Arverni, are a strong, ungainly race, habituated to toilsome labour. For a long time they have been accus tomed to leave their homes for the purpose of seeking their fortunes abroad, returning after they have acquired a competency. Spain was at one period a favourite resort, but the current of emigration is now principally towards Paris or the Belgian towns. In Paris alone it has been calculated that the Auvergnats number 50,000. They speak a distinct dialect, and are also recognised by their pronunciation. A closer resemblance to Latin, and the presence of many sounds, such as ts, tz, dj, which are foreign to ordinary French, are among the most striking features of the patois; the vocabulary also contains words introduced by the English at the time of their occupation of the country in the 14th century. Of the existing literature a con siderable proportion is spurious. Auvergne was early raised to the rank of a countship, and passed into the hands of various families, the most important of which is known as La Tour d Auvergne. It was finally united to the crown by Louis XIII. Of the numerous books which have been written on this interesting province, the following may be mentioned : Aigneperse, Petit Diet, des parsonnages d Auvergne, 1850; Michel, L ancicnne Auvergne, 3 vols. fol. ; Imberdis, L Auvergne historique, and Hist, des (jucrres rclig. en Auvergne pendant Ics XVI e et XVII e sieclcs ; Allard, Les caux thermo-mincrales d Auvergne.

 AUXENTIUS was an Arian theologian of some eminence. When Constantino deposed the ortho dox bishops who resisted, Auxentius was installed into the seat of Dionysius, bishop of Milan, and came to be regarded as the great opponent of the Nicene doctrine in the West. So prominent did he become, that he was specially mentioned by name in the condemnatory decree of the synod which Damasus, bishop of Rome, convened in defence of the Nicene doctrine. When the orthodox emperor Valentinian ascended the throne, Auxentius was left undisturbed in his diocese, but his theological doctrines were publicly attacked by Hilarius of Poitiers. The chief source of information about him is the Liber contra Aiixen- tium in the Benedictine edition of the works of Hilarius.

 AUXERRE (the Autissiodurum), a of, in the department of, situated on the banks of the , in a -producing district, and built in an antique fashion. Its is one of the finest  in the country, and its episcopal, now used as a , will bear comparison with any. It has several, a founded by the famous  (who was a native of the town, and died there in 1593), a society of , , , , an extensive and valuable , &c. The Yonne is navigable from a little above the town. Besides trade in wine and in, there are of s, s, s,  and len , and some considerable. Population, 15,497.

 AUXONNE (formerly Assonium, i.e., ad Sonam, from its position on the ), a of, in the of  and department of. It is strongly fortified, and possesses an old, an , and a school of. Besides their manufactures of and s, the inhabitants carry on by the river considerable traffic with  in, , and. ,  Population, 5911.

 AVA, the former capital of the Burman empire, lies in 21 52 N. Iat, and 96 1 E. long. It is situated on the Irawadi, which is here 3282 feet broad, and which, making a bend out of its ordinary course, flows past the city on the north. On the east it has the river Myt-nge, a rapid stream 450 feet broad, which flows into the Irawadi close under its walls. From this river a canal has been dug, through which its waters flow on the south-east angle of the city, and are again brought into the same river. On the south flows the deep and rapid torrent of the Myt-tha, an offshoot of the Myt-nge, which, falling into the Irawadi, forms the defence both of the south and of the west face of the town. It is divided into the upper and lower, or the lesser and the larger town, both of which are fortified.

This former capital of the Burman dominions compre hends, according to the political divisions of that empire, the town of Sagaing, on the opposite shore of the Irawadi, and the town of Amarapura, 4 miles to the east. The town of Sagaing extends along the Irawadi for more than a mile and a half, but is of inconsiderable breadth. It consists of mean houses thinly scattered among gardens and orchards, the principal trees in the latter consisting of fine old tamarinds. Over the site of the town and its environs are scattered innumerable temples, some of them 