CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus), an article of food, having yellow unisexual male and female flowers in the axils of the leaf stalks. The leaves are large, the stems weak and trailing. It is a native of the S. of Asia and of Egypt. It is mentioned by Vergil. It is said to have been common in England during the reign of Edward III., A. D. 1327-1377. Having gone out of culture during the Wars of the Roses, it was re-introduced under Henry VIII. from the Netherlands, between 1509 and 1547, probably about 1538.
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CUCKOO
CÚCUTA, SAN JOSÉ DE, a town in the Colombian department of Santander, on the Rio Zulia, 35 miles S. of Puerto Villamizar. It is the third commercial town of the republic, a center of coffee and cacao cultivation. It was destroyed by earthquake in 1875, but has been well rebuilt. Pop. about 20,000. Rosario de Cucuta, to the S. E., was the seat of the first Colombian congress in 1821, and the birthplace of the patriot, General Santander (1792-1840). It has large plantations of coffee and cacao.
CUDDALORE, or KUDALUR, an important town in South Arcot, Madras, India, on the Gadelain and Pounaiyar rivers, about 125 miles S. of Madras. The river admits vessels to within about a mile from the town's limits and the harbor is the largest in South Arcot. The industries are cotton and carpet, sugar, paper, and oil. There is a fort and temple, and the environs are picturesque. Pop. about 60,000.
CUDDAPAH, or KADAPA, a district and town of Hindustan, presidency of Madras. The district, of which the area is 8,745 square miles, is traversed N. to S. by the Eastern Ghauts, and watered by the Pennar and its affluents. The forests contain much valuable timber, and the minerals include iron ore, lead, copper, diamonds, etc. Agriculture is in a flourishing condition, grain, cotton, and indigo being largely grown. Pop. about 1,355,000. The town lies on a small river of same name, an affluent of the Pennar 140 miles N. W. Madras. It exports indigo and cotton.
CUENCA (kwān′kä), a city of Ecuador, on the Rio Paute, 190 miles S. S. W. of Quito; on a fertile tableland, 8,469 feet above the sea, and enjoys a perpetual spring, with a mean temperature of 58° F. Its streets are wide, and several canals intersect the town; the principal buildings are the cathedral and high school. There is some trade in cheese and grain, and manufactures of hats, woolens, earthenware, and candied fruits. Pop. about 30,000.
CUERNAVÁCA (kwār-nä-vä′kä), capital of the Mexican State Morelos, lies in a lovely and fruitful valley, about 40 miles S. of Mexico City. It has a church built by Cortes, an agricultural school; and refineries of sugar and brandy. Pop. 13,000. Near by is the famed teocalli of Xochicalco, with five terraces.
CUFIC, pertaining to Cufa, a town founded by Omar I., in A. D. 637, the ruins of the Parthian capital Ctesiphon having been largely used for the purpose; also relating to inscriptions and coins bearing the kinji or Cufic writing, or old Arabic.
CUI, CÉSAR ANTONOVITCH, a Russian composer. He was born at Vilna, Russia, in 1835, and is of French descent, his father having been one of Napoleon's officers, left behind wounded during the retreat from Moscow, He was educated at the High School, Vilna, and at the School of Engineering, Petrograd. He became a teacher and taught fortification in the three military academies; published two manuals and many articles and rose to the rank of General of Engineering. In 1864 he became a musical critic and wrote for many Russian and French papers. His literary works include: “La Musique en Russia”; “La Romance Russe”; “L'Anneau des Nibelungen”; and more than 700 articles.