Mirad

See Amurath.

Miramichi

Miramichi, a bay and river of New Brunswick. The bay is about 21 m. long and 20 m. wide at its mouth, Blackland point being on the north and Esquiminac point on the south. It contains Fox and Portage and a number of smaller islands. The river is formed by tie junction of two branches about 50 in. from the sea. At its mouth, which is obstructed by a sand bar, are landing places for cargoes, but the chief business places are Newcastle and Chatham, 20 m. up the stream. It is navigable for a distance of 40 m. from its mouth. Great forests of pine cover the banks of the river and the surrounding country. In 1825 a conflagration destroyed the forests on the N. bank and all the towns and villages within an extent of 85 m. long, and in some parts as much as 25 m. broad. The smoke and cinders were seen at Quebec, more than 250 m. distant, and as far S as Bermuda. The pines in the burned district have been succeeded principally by poplar, white birch, and maple.

Mirecoirt

Mirecoirt, a town of France, in the department of Vosges, on the Madon, a tributary of the Moselle, 17 m. N. W. of Epinal; pop. in 1866, 5,735. Nearly the entire male population are engaged in the manufacure of musical instruments, principally violins, guitars, and barrel organs. The town has a communal college, a tribunal of commerce, and a public library^ of about 7,000 volumes.

Miriam

Miriam, the sister of Moses, the Hebrew lawgiver. She was present on the bank of the Nile, watching the fate of the infant child Moses, when he was found by the daughter of Pharaoh, and she called her mother Joche-bed, the wife of Amram, to nurse him for the princess. In the Rible she is called "the prophetess;" and after the passage of the Red sea she headed the triumphal procession of women, and led their song of victory. Having together with Aaron spoken against Moses in the desert, on account of his having married an Ethiopian (Cushite) woman, she was struck with leprosy, and was excluded from the camp -even days. According to Josephus, she was the wife of Hur. and grandmother of Bezaleel, the architect of the tabernacle. Her name is the Hebrew form of Mary, and the Arabic traditions confound her with the Virgin Mary. She died in Kadesh.

Mirray

I. A N. W. County Of Georgia

A N. W. County Of Georgia, bordering on Tennessee, bounded W. by the Conna-sauga river and drained by its branches; area, 320 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 6,500, of whom 757 were colored. The surface is elevated, and the soil generally fertile. Gold, silver, lead, and zinc are found. The chief productions in 1870 were 47,269 bushels of wheat, 151,286 of Indian corn, 11,123 of oats, 5,810 lbs. of wool, 40,851 of butter, 7,698 of tobacco, 288 bales of cotton, and 10,050 gallons of sorghum molasses. There were 659 horses, 1,067 milch cows, 1,722 other cattle, 3,025 sheep, and 5,454 swine. Capital, Spring Place.

II. A S. W. County Of Minnesota

A S. W. County Of Minnesota, drained by the Des Moines and Rock rivers and other streams; area, 720 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 209. The surface consists of rolling prairies.