ow serves as a boundary between Russia and China. The marmots contribute greatly to the culture of the rhubarb. Where-ever you see ten or twenty plants growing, you are sure of finding several burrows under the shades of their broad-spreading leaves. Perhaps they may sometimes eat the leaves and roots of this plant; however, it is probable the manner they leave about the roots contributes not a little to its increase, and their cutting up the earth makes it shoot out young buds and multiply. This plant does not run, and spread itself, like docks and others of the same species; but grows in tufts at uncertain distances, as if the seeds had been dropped with design. It appears that the Mongals never accounted it worth cultivating; but that the world is obliged to the marmots for the quantities scattered, at random, in many parts of this country: for whatever part of the ripe seed happens to be blown among the thick grass, can very seldom reach the ground, but must there wither and die; whereas, should it fall among the loose earth thrown up by the marmots, it immediately takes root, and produces a new plant.

After digging and gathering the rhubarb, the Mongals cut the large roots into small pieces, in order to make them dry more readily. In the middle of every piece they scoop a hole, through which a cord is drawn, in order to suspend them in any convenient place. They hang them for the most part about their tents, and sometimes on the horns of their sheep. This is a most pernicious custom, as it destroys some of the best part of the root: for all about the hole is rotten and useless; whereas, were people rightly informed how to dig and dry this plant, there would not be one pound of refuse in an hundred; which would save a great deal of trouble and expense, that much diminish the profits on this commodity. At present, the dealers in this article think these improvements not worthy of their attention, as their gains are more considerable on this than on any other branch of trade. Perhaps the government may hereafter think it proper to make some regulations with regard to this matter.in navigation, a vertical circle of any given given place, or intersection of such a circle with the horizon; in which last sense rhumb is the same with a point of the compass.

Rhumb-Line is also used for the line which a ship describes when sailing in the same collateral point of the compass, or oblique to the meridians.