a very dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Norway, in the 68th degree of latitude, in the province of Nordland, and the district of Lofoten, and near the island of Moskoe, from whence it also takes the name of Moskoe-ström. Its violence and roarings exceed that of a cataract, being heard to a great distance, and without any intermission, except a quarter every sixth hour, that is, at the turn of high and low water, when its impetuosity seems at a stand, which short interval is the only time the fishermen can venture in; but this motion soon returns, and, however calm the sea may be, gradually increases with such a draught and vortex as absorb whatever comes within their sphere of action, and keep it under water for some hours, when the fragments, shivered by the rocks, appear again. This circumstance, among others, makes strongly against Kircher and others, who imagine that there is here an abyss penetrating the globe, and issuing in some very remote parts, which Kircher is so particular as to affirm, for he names the gulph of Bothnia. But after the most exact researches which the circumstances will admit, this is but a conjecture without foundation; for this and three other vortices among the Ferroe islands, but smaller, have no other cause, than the collision of waves rising and falling, at the flux and reflux, against a ridge of rocks and shelves, which confine the water so that it precipitates itself like a cataract; and thus the higher the flood rises, the deeper must the fall be; and the natural result of this is a whirlpool or vortex, the prodigious suction whereof is sufficiently known by lesser experiments. But what has been thus absorbed, remains no longer at the bottom than the ebb lasts; for the suction then ceases, and the flood removes all attraction, and permits whatever had been sunk to make its appearance again. Of the situation of this amazing Moskoe-ström we have the following account from Mr Jonas Ramus, "The mountain of Hellefgen, in Lofoden, lies a league from the island Ver, and betwixt these two runs that large and dreadful stream called Moskoe-ström, from the island Moskoe, which is in the middle of it, together with several circumjacent isles, as Ambaren, half a quarter of a league northward, Isefien, Hoeholm, Kieldholm, Suarven, and Buckholm. Moskoe lies about half a quarter of a mile south of the island of Ver, and betwixt them these small islands, Otterholm, Flimen, Sandflieen, Stockholm. Betwixt Lofoden and Moskoe, the depth of the water is between 36 and 40 fathoms; but on the other side, towards Ver, the depth decreases so as not to afford a convenient passage for a vessel, without the risk of splitting on the rocks, which happens even in the calmest weather: when it is flood, the stream runs up the country between Lofoden and Moskoe with a boisterous rapidity; but the roar of its impetuous ebb to the sea is scarce equalled by the loudest and most dreadful cataracts; the noise being heard several leagues off, and the vortices or pits are of such an extent and depth, that if a ship comes within its attraction, it is inevitably absorbed and carried down to the bottom, and there beat to pieces against the rocks; and when the water relaxes, the fragments thereof are thrown up again. But these intervals of tranquillity are only at the turn of the ebb and flood, and calm weather: and last but a quarter of an hour, its violence gradually returning. When the stream is most boisterous, and its fury heightened by a storm, it is dangerous to come within a Norway mile of it; boats, ships, and yachts having been carried away, by not guarding against it before they were within its reach. It likewise happens frequently, that whales come too near the stream, and are overpowered by its violence; and then it is impossible to describe their howlings and bellowings in their fruitless struggles to disengage themselves. A bear once attempting to swim from Lofoden to Moskoe, with a design of preying upon the sheep at pasture in the island, afforded the like spectacle to the people; the stream caught him, and bore him down, whilst he roared! MÆMACTERIA, sacrifices offered to Jupiter at Athens in the winter month Mæmaacterion. The god fumamed Mæmactes was intreated to send mild and temperate weather, as he presided over the seasons, and was the god of the air.

MÆMACTERION was the fourth month of the Athenian year, containing twenty-nine days, and answering to the latter part of our September, and the beginning of October. It received its name from the festival Mæmaeria, which was observed about this time. This month was called by the Boetians Alalcomenius.

MÆNA, in ichthyology. See Sparus.

MÆNALUS (anc. geog.) a mountain of Arcadia sacred to the god Pan, and greatly frequented by shepherds. It received its name from Mænalus a son of Lycaon. It was covered with pine trees, whose echo and shade have been greatly celebrated by all the ancient poets.

MÆONIA, or Mœonia, a country of Asia Minor, and forming part of Lydia; namely the neighbourhood of mount Tmolus, and the country watered by the Pactolus. The rest on the sea-coast was called Lydia. See Lydia.

MÆONIDÆ, a name given to the Muses, because Homer, their greatest and worthiest favourite, was supposed to be a native of Mœonia.

MÆONIDES, a surname of Homer, because, according to the opinion of some writers, he was born in Mœonia, or because his father's name was Mæon.

MÆOTIS PALUS or LACUS, Maeotica Palus, or Maeoticus Lacus (anc. geogs.), a large lake or part of the sea between Europe and Asia, at the north of the Euxine, to which it communicates by the Cimerian Bosporus. It was worshipped as a deity by the Maegetæ. It extends about 300 miles from south-west to north-east, and is about 600 miles in circumference. Still called Palus Maeotis, reaching from Crim Tartary to the mouth of the Don.

MÆSTLIN (Michael), in Latin Meßlinus, a celebrated astronomer of Germany, was born in the duchy of Wittemberg; but spent his youth in Italy, where he made a speech in favour of Copernicus's system, which brought Galileo over from Aristotle and Ptolemy, to whom he had been hitherto entirely devoted. He afterwards returned to Germany, and became professor of mathematics at Tubingen; where, among his other scholars, he taught the great Kepler, who has praised several of his ingenious inventions, in his Astronomia Optica. Though Tycho Brahe did not assent to Meßlin's opinion, yet he allowed him to be an extraordinary person deeply skilled in the science of astronomy. Meßlin published many mathematical and astronomical works; and died in 1590.

MÆSTRICHT, an ancient large, and strong Mæstricht town of the Netherlands, ceded to the Dutch by the treaty of Munster. The town-house and the other public buildings are handsome, and the place is about four miles in circumference, and strongly fortified. It is governed jointly by the Dutch and the bishop of Liege; however, it has a Dutch garrison. The inhabitants are noted for making excellent fire-arms, and some say that in the arsenal there are arms sufficient for a whole army. Both Papists and Protestants are allowed the free exercise of their religion, and the magistrates are composed of both. It is seated on the river Maeze, which separates it from Wyck, and with which it communicates by a handsome bridge. Mæstricht revolted from the Spaniards in 1570, but was reduced in 1579. Louis XIV. became master of it in 1673; but it was restored to the states by the treaty of Nimeguen in 1678. E. Long. 5°. N. Lat. 51°. 5'.