the south, and the Birman empire and China on the east.

145. The principal islands in Asia are Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and the Sunda isles, the Philippines, the Japan isles, the Molucca or Spice islands, the Maldives, Ceylon, Formosa, the Ladrones isles, the islands of Jesso, in the Indian and Pacific Oceans; and Cyprus in the Mediter

raneau.

146. The ocean and seas adjoining Asia are the Northern, Indian, and Pacific, oceans, the Black sea, the seas of Korea, Touquin, and Siam; the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian and Red seas, the Persian gulf, the Levant, and the Archipelago,

The Caspian sea is properly an immense lake, having no connection with any other portion of water,

147. The principal straits in Asia are Bhering's, which separates it from America: the straits of Malacca; of Sunda, between Java and Sumatra; of Ormuz, between Persia and Arabia; and of Babelmandel, which separates Arabia from Africa.

148. The chief rivers of Asia are the Kian Ku, the Koan Ho, the Lena, the Yenisci, and · the Ob; the Amur, the Burrampooter, the Ganges, the Eephrates, and Indus.

149. The Asiatic mountains are not so high as those of Europe. The following are the prin cipal: the Uralian, the Altaian, the Shamo, those of Thibet, the Alsk, the Taurus, the Gants of Hindoostan, and the Cancasian, which last reach from the Black to the Caspian sea.

OF ASIATIC TURKEY.

150. The climate of Turkey in Asia is delightful and salubrious; but that dreadful scourge to mankind, the plague, is rendered doubly destructive to this wretched empire, from the native indolence of the Turks, and from their superstitious belief in predestination.

151. Turkey is divided into several provinces: as Natolia, Kaarmar, Armenia, Mingrelia, &c. These provinces are subdivided into different governments under pachas.

152. The prevailing language is the Turkish, next to which is the Greek; but the Arabic, Syrian, Persian, and Armenian, are used in different parts.

153. In Natolia, or Asia Minor, were the seven churches of Asia, mentioned in the Book of Reve lations; viz. Pergamos, Laodicea, Philadelphia, Thyatira, Sardis, Ephesus, and Smyrna; but these places, except Smyrna, are mostly in ruins.

154. South of Natolia is that part which is usually called the Holy Land, on account of its having witnessed the labours of Jesus Christ. It is called Judea, from the patriarch Judah. The river Jordan is now a very small stream that empties itself into the Dead Sea, near the spot where Sodom and Gomorrah once stood.

155. Armenia is also styled Turcomania; to the south of which are Kurdistan and Irok Arabi, in which is the celebrated Bagdad. The ancient Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates,

corresponds with Diarbeckh, or Algezira. Syria, or the ancient Canaan, is situated on the eastern extremities of the Mediterranean.

156. The principal cities are, Smyrna, Aleppo, Jerusalem, and Bagdad. Balbec and Palmyra are famous for their extensive ruins. The principal river in Asiatic Turkey is the Euphrates; next to this is the Tigris.

157. The mountains in Asiatic Turkey have long been celebrated; these and Taurus, Libanus, and Ararat. On the last Noah's ark is said to have rested after the flood.

158. The chief islands are, Mytelene, Scio, Samos, Cos, Rhodes, and Cyprus, which produce cotton, silk, oil, fruits, and wines. Turkey in Asia in famous for its carpets, rhubarb, silk, oils, and fruits.

OF RUSSIA IN ASIA.

159. This vast portion of northern Asia was first known by the name of Siberia, and is now divided into two great governments; that of Tobolsk in the west, aud Irkutsh in the east.

160. The principal cities in Asiatic Russia are Astracan and Tobolsk. The produce of the north consists of furs and skins; but in the south there is abundance of fruits, wine, &e.

161. The Kurilian islands belong to Asiatic Russia, and they extend from Kampschatka to Jesso. The sea north of Siberia is filled with ice, and unnavigable.

OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE.

162. China is celebrated for the great antiquity of its government;-for its immense population of upwards of three hundred millions;-for the variety of its manufactures and peculiar productions; for the excellency of its inland navigation;-and for its jealous policy towards other nations.

163. This empire, the most ancient and populous in the world, consists of three principai divisions, viz. 1. CHINA PROPER. 2. The territory of THE MANSHURS and MOGULS. And 3. the region of THIBET.-COREA is also subject to China, and is considered as a part of it.

164. CHINA PROPER extends from the great wall in the north, to the Chinese sea in the south; and from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to Thibet.

165. The chief cities are Pekin, Nankin, and Canton. Pekin contains two millions of inhabitants, and the others not less than a million each.

The

166. The imperial canal which intersects China from north to south, employed thirty thousand men forty-three years, in its construction. great wall, though built two thousand years ago, is but little decayed: it is fifteen hundred miles long, and broad enough for five horsemen to travel upon it abreast.

167. China has rich mines of all the precious metals. It produces abundance of corn, rice, and fruit, and is famous for its ingenious manufactures of silks, china-ware, &c.

168. CHINESE TARTARY is included between the great wall of China and Siberia, and between the Cloudy Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It is inhabited chiefly by the Eastern and Western Moguls; of whom the former conquered China in 1644, and under their government the empire still continues. It produces corn, rice, and valuable skins. Thibet is included between China and Hindoostan and its chief town is Lassa.

169. The largest of the Chinese islands, which are very numerous, and scattered along the southern and eastern coast, are Formosa and Hainan. The islands of Leoo Keoo, of which there are thirty-six, between Formosa and Japan, constitute a small kingdom, subject to China. The chief rivers are the Kiang and Whango.

170. The islands contiguous to the Chinese empire, besides those already noticed, are,

(1) Those of Japan, forming an extensive, rich, populous, and remarkable, empire. The largest island is Niphon, and the chief towns are Jeddo, Miaco, the spiritual capital, and Nagasaki. This empire trades only with the Dutch and Chinese.

(2) The Jesso islands, to which the Danes trade for furs.

(3) Macao lying in the bay of Canton, belonging to the Portuguese.