Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 5.djvu/597

Rh from a reservoir completed in 1874 at Chateau d Eau, about three quarters of a mile distant, and capable of con taining upwards of 500,000 gallons. Cherbourg derives its chief importance from its naval and commercial harbours, which are distant from each other about half a mile. The former is cut out of the rock, and is capable of accommodating fifty men-of-war of the largest size. The depth of water at full tide is 50 feet, at low tide 25 feet. Connected with the harbour are the dry docks, the yards where the largest ships in the French navy are constructed, the magazines, the rope walks, and the various workshops requisite for a naval arsenal of the first class. The works are carefully guarded on every side by redoubts and fortifications, and are commanded by batteries on the surrounding hills so completely that the harbour of Cherbourg may be pronounced one. of the strongest in the world. The commercial harbour at the mouth of the Divette communicates with the sea by a canal 650 feet in length and 54 in width. It consists of two parts, an outer harbour 262 yards long by 218 wide, and a basin 446 yards long and 138 wide, in which the depth of water is 19 feet at low tide, and will be increased by the dredging operations commenced in 1874. Outside these harbours is the triangular bay, which forms the roads of Cherbourg. This bay is admirably sheltered by the land on every side but the north. To protect the shipping from the violence of the north winds the great digue, or break water, has been constructed. This immense work is 2j miles in length; its breadth at the base is 262 feet, and at the summit 101 feet. Its foundation was formed by massy wooden frames, which were sunk and filled with stones ; and it is now protected from the waves by a parallel line of large blocks weighing each 44 tons. The industrial activity of Cherbourg is considerable, its principal pro ducts being cotton yarn, refined sugar, soda, leather, and chemicals. A lace factory gives employment to nearly 400 women. The chief articles of export are farm and dairy produce, more especially potatoes, butter, and pigs ; and the imports consist mainly of coal, iron, timber, and cotton. The population in 1846 was 22,460; in 1872 it amounted to 34,785.

1em  CHERIBON, or, a seaport town on the north coast of Java, capital of a residency of the same name, and the seat of a Dutch governor, is situated at the head of a wide bay 125 miles E.S.E. of Batavia, in 6 48 S. lat. and 108 38 E. long. It was formerly a place of importance, but it has never fully recovered from the effects of a dis astrous plague which visited the place at the beginning of this century. The town and harbour are defended by a fort called the Bcschermer or Protector which also serves as a convict prison. A church, founded in 1842, is used in common by Protestants and Roman Catholics ; the Mussulman population has its mosque, and the Chinese their Tclin-ting or temple. A school for European children was opened in 1824, and a Government school in 1854. The Chinese district is pretty populous ; but no estimate exists of the actual number. At some distance from the town are the graves of the sultans, among whom the most remarkable is Ibnu Mulana, who introduced the Mahometan religion here in 1406. The district is very fertile, and produces the finest coffee raised in the island. Timber, cotton, indigo, sugar, and pepper are exported in large quantities. Total population of district in 1856, 769,331.  CHEROKEES,, or, in the form employed by themselves, Tsaraghee, or Chelake, a tribe of North American Indians, now settled in the Indian Territory, where they occupy an area of 5960 square miles in the north-east and a strip along the north of about 8500. Before their removal thither they possessed a large tract of country now distributed among the States of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the western part of Florida. They were then distinguished into two great divisions, the Ottare or Otari, who dwelt in the moun tainous districts, and the Airate or Erati, who inhabited the lower grounds ; and they were further divided into seven clans, each of which prohibited intermarriage between its own members. They attached themselves to the English in the disputes and contests which arose between the European colonizers, formally recognized the English king in 1730, and in 1755 ceded a part of their territory and permitted the erection of English forts. Unfortunately this amity was interrupted not long after ; but peace was again restored in 1761. The tribe was gradually advancing in civilization when the Revolutionary War broke out, and they sided with the Royalist party. This, of course, led to their subjugation by the new republic, and they were forced to surrender that part of their lands which lay to the south of the Savannah and east of the Chattahoochee. Peace was made in 1781, and in 1785 they recognized the supremacy of the United States, and were established in their possessions. The gradual advance of immigration soon led to disputes with the settlers, and the Cherokees were treated with the most high-handed injustice by the States, and more especially by Georgia. Exodus after exodus took place ; a small part of the tribe desired a complete removal to another district ; but the main body was neither to be bribed nor frightened from their country. An appeal was made to the United States Government ; but it lent a deaf ear to their prayers, and in Congress voted that a treaty concluded with a miserable minority should be regarded as binding on the whole tribe, which about that time numbered 27,000, A force of 2000 men was accord ingly sent under General Scott, which compelled them to emigrate to their present position. After the settlement various disagreements between the Eastern and Western Cherokees continued for some time; but in 1839 a union was effected. In the civil war of 1862 they all at first sided with the South; but before long a strong party joined the North, and this led to a disastrous internecine struggle. On the close of the contest they were confirmed in the possession of their territory, but were forced to give a portion of their lands to their emancipated slaves. Since then they have peacefully advanced in prosperity and civilization ; and under the influence of the Moravian, Baptist, Methodist, and Congregational missions they have been partially Christianized. In 1873 their numbers amounted to 17,217; their private property was worth $5,000,000 ; there were 63 schools attended by 1 884 pupils ; 89,250 acres were under cultivation, and their stock included 15,000 horses, 103,302 cattle, 3050 sheep, and 