and in the latter by the Hindoos. They excel both, however, in working metals, particularly copper and steel; and in lacquering and varnishing wood, called by us japanned ware, they are not equalled by any nation in the world.

Government.] The government presents a striking anomaly in the combined dominion of a spiritual and temporal ruler. The former, called the Dairi, was originally the sole sovereign and was regarded by his subjects almost as a divinity. This sacred character, however, obliged him to entrust the command of the army to others, and at the end of the 16th century, a distinguished general seized the whole secular power, and left to the Dairi only a shadow of dominion. The Dairi resides in the imperial city of Meaco, and has the revenue of the surrounding district allotted to him for the support of his establishment. The secular emperor is called Cubo Sama, and resides in pomp at Jedo. His power is absolute. The provinces are governed by princes who are appointed by the emperor, and whose power is also absolute. Revenue and Army.] The revenue has been estimated at £28,000,000. The army maintained by the emperor is stated at 100,000 foot and 20,000 horse, while nearly triple that amount is kept on foot by the various princes and governors. Japan, however, is seldom engaged in foreign war, being separated from its neighbors by seas which neither party is in the habit of navigating.

Population and Religion.] The population is variously estimated from 15 to 30 millions. They are of Mongol origin, and in their religion and many of their customs they bear a strong resemblance to the Chinese.

Christianity.] Christianity was introduced into Japan by the Portuguese missionaries, about the middle of the sixteenth century, and at one time they counted a large number of converts, but the jealousy of the government being at length excited, orders were given that every missionary should leave the island, and at the same time a system of the most cruel persecution was commenced against their converts which lasted from 1590 to 1630, when the Portuguese and their religion were finally rooted out of Japan. This event is now annually celebrated in all the seaports, by publicly trampling under foot the cross and all the Cathlic images.

Chief Towns.] Jedo, the capital, is situated on the east side of the island of Niphon, at the head of a great bay, in lat. 36° N. It is the residence of the secular emperor, and is scarcely surpassed in magnificence by any city in Asia. All the princes and great men are obliged to make it their residence for half the year. It is the seat of an extensive commerce, and contains many flourishing manufactures. The population is estimated at 1,000,000.

Meaco, the ecclesiastical capital, is situated about 200 miles W. S.W. of Jedo, in a spacious plain, which is surrounded by moun tains and almost entirely formed into fine gardens, interspersed. with temples, monasteries, and mausoleums. Meaco is the centre of all the literature and science of Japan. A number of the

finer manufactures, particularly japan-work, painting, carving, &c. are carried on here in greater perfection than in any other part of the empire. The population is said to be 530,000, of whom 52,000 are monks and nuns.

Nangasaki is a large sea-port, situated at the S. W. extremity of the island of Kiu-siu, and is the only point of the empire at which Europeans are permitted to carry on any trade. This permission is now entirely confined to the Dutch, who are allowed moreover to traffic only on a small scale, and under the most rigorous restrictions. They are confined to a small island, only 600 feet long and 120 broad, immediately adjoining the town of Nangasaki. It is also surrounded by a wall and has two gates, one of which, looking to the town, is always well guarded by the Japanese, and locked at night; the other looks to the harbor, and is open only when vessels are taking or discharging their cargoes. Literature.] The Japanese are an intelligent and inquisitive people and acquire knowledge with great facility. They possess the art of printing; and engraving is also practised, though in a style inferior to that of Europe. The history of their own country is written with great care. Poetry is a favorite pursuit and they are passionately fond of music. They have extensive works on botany and zoology illustrated by plates. They are acquainted with the geography of the neighboring countries, and have accurate maps of Japan. They have also translated several European geographical works into their own language.

Character.] The people of Japan strongly resemble the Chinese in their external appearance, but in their moral qualities and dispositions they form a striking contrast. Energy, pride and a lofty sense of honor are prominent features. A general tone of frankness and good faith reigns in their deportment. Theft and fraud are said to be more rare than among almost any other nation. A disdain of mercantile occupations is a feature which they share with the nobility of Europe. The obligations of friendship and of social attachment are carried even to a romantic height. There is scarcely any peril to which a Japanese will not expose himself to serve or defend his friend. They are naturally of a kind and friendly disposition, and remarkably easy and courteous in their manners, but they cannot brook an insult, and many die by their own hands to avoid living in disgrace.

Manners and Customs.] The Japanese manners and customs are in many respects directly the reverse of those of Europeans. When we take off our hat, they take off their shoes; we rise up to receive a visitor, they sit down; we dislike to see a man's head bald, while they are at the greatest pains to extirpate the hair, leaving only a small tuft on the crown. They eat on the ground, upon mats of palm leaves, without either cloth, towel, knife or fork, but with two pieces of wood or ivory, which they use so skilfully that not a crumb falls to the ground. The dress consists of loose robes of silk or cotton, and this fashion has continued without alteration for two thousand years.

Commerce.] The people of Japan are even more averse to foreign intercourse than the Chinese. The empire was discovered in 1542, and the Portuguese immediately sent ships and formed a commercial connection with it, while their missionaries at the same time came hither with the view of converting the natives. This intercourse continued till the government, suspecting the missionaries were carrying on a plan for the subversion of the empire, commenced a persecution which ended in the extermination or expulsion from the island of all the Portuguese. They were succeeded, however, by the Dutch, who engaged, if they were allowed to trade,to interfere in no shape with the religion or government of the state. They at first carried on business to a great extent, and made very large profits, but restrictions have since been continually multiplying, till the annual profits are now less than £30,000, and if we deduct the losses at sea on this tempestuous coast, the expences of the establishment at Nangasaki, and those of an annual mission to the emperor, they will be reduced below £20,000. In 1795 the merchants had determined to represent to the emperor that it was no longer an object for them to continue the intercourse, and that unless a free trade were allowed, they would immediately withdraw themselves. Beginning to consider, however, that they would infallibly be taken at their word, and would lose all the little profit they made, they judged it most advisable to remain quiet. The Russians have made repeated attempts to open an intercourse with Japan, but their applications have always been rejected, the Japanese being peculiarly jealous of the Russians and the English. The imports into Japan consist of sugar, coffee, spices, glass, iron-ware, lead, tin, and India goods. Of the returns, nine tenths are made in copper; to which is added lacquered ware and some other trifles.

ASIATIC ISLANDS.

Name and Situation.] The term Asiatic islands is applied by way of distinction to those islands which lie between New Holland and New Guinea on the S. E. and Asia on the N. W. 5 groups, viz. 1. The isles of Sunda, the principal of which are They include Sumatra, Java, Banca and Timor. 2. Borneo, and the small islands adjacent. 3. The Philippine islands, the principal of which are Lucon and Magindanao. 4. Celebes. 5. The Spice islands or Moluccas, the principal of which is Gilolo.

Situation of the Groups.] Borneo and Celebes are in the centre; the Philippine islands in the north; the Spice islands in the east, between Celebes and New Guinea; and the isles of Sunda in the south. The China sea separates these islands from the continent.

I. THE ISLES OF SUNDA.

SUMATRA, the most westerly of the Sunda isles, is about 700 miles long from N. W. to 3 E. and the area is commonly estimated at 180,000 square miles. The equinoxial line passes nearly through the centre. It is separated from the peninsula of Malaya by the straits of Malacca, and from the island of Java, by the straits of Sunda. A ridge of mountains extends through the whole length of the island, the highest summit of which, called Mount Ophir, rises in the middle of the island to the height of 13,482 feet above the level of the sea. The climate is not so hot as would naturally be expected, the thermometer seldom rising above 85°. The soil is fertile and produces in abundance all the richest fruits of the torrid zone. The productions of most value for exportation are pepper, gold dust and camphor.

The population has been estimated at 4,500,000. The inhabitants on the coast are Malays; but those in the interior are cannibals, and it is said devour their friends as well as their enemies. When a man becomes aged and infirm, he invites his children and friends to come and eat him. He ascends a tree, round which his friends assemble, and join in a funeral dirge, the import of which is "The season is come, the fruit is ripe, and must descend." After this the old man descends, and is eaten by his children.

The principal places on the island in the possession of Europeans are Bencoolen, a British settlement on the western coast, in lat. 3° 50' S.; Padang, a Dutch settlement, in lat. 0° 48′ S.; and Palembang, also a Dutch settlement, and the capital of a kingdom of the same name, lying in the S. E. part of the island, along the straits which separate Sumatra from Banca.

JAVA is a large island lying S. W. of Sumatra, between 6° and 9° S. lat. It is 642 miles long from E. to W. and the area is esti mated at 52,000 square miles. The island is divided nearly in its whole length by a range of mountains running E. and W. and rising to its greatest height near the centre. The northern coast is low and swampy, and intersected by a number of rivers and fine bays; but the south coast, as far as it has been explored, rises into high and rugged hills and is almost inaccessible. The climate along the northern coast is hot and sultry, the thermometer at Batavia seldom falling below 76° of Fahrenheit, but in the high country of the interior it frequently descends to 60° and all the common productions of Europe may here be cultivated with success. Java possesses a soil of extraordinary fertility, and in no part of the world is vegetation more luxuriant. The staple production is rice, which is cultivated along the whole northern coast, and is brought to Batavia, and exported in great quantities. Sugar, to the amount of 10 million pounds annually, is made as well for home consumption as for exportation. Most of the sugar mills are owned by the Chinese. Pepper, indigo, cotton and coffee are also raised in great abundance and perfection.

The population is estimated at 4,230,000, and consists princi- . pally of Javanese, particularly in the interior; but there are numbers of Chinese, Malays, Arabs, Hindoos, negroes, and Europeans in the districts on the coast. The commerce of the island is chiefly in the hands of the Dutch, who have under their dominion more than half the population. Java was taken by the English in 1811, but has since been restored to the Dutch.

Batavia, on the N. W. coast, is the capital of the island and of all the Dutch or, as they are now called, Netherland East-India possessions. It was formerly a place of immense trade, and contained 160,000 inhabitants, but the climate is extremely unhealthy, and the population is now reduced to 47,000.

BANCA is a large island lying E. of Sumatra and separated from it by the straits of Banca. It belongs to the Dutch, and is chiefly celebrated for its mines of tin, which yield about four million pounds annually.

SUMBAWA, lying east of Java, is celebrated for the tremendous volcano of Tomboro. The eruption in 1815 is the most terrible on record. The explosions were heard at the distance of more than 900 miles, and the ashes fell in such quantities as to produce total darkness at the distance of 200 miles.

TIMOR, the most eastern of the Sunda isles, is about 200 miles long and 30 or 40 broad, and is rich in all the choicest productions of tropical climates. The Dutch and Portuguese have settlements here.

II. BORNEO.

Borneo, the largest island in the world, except New Holland, is in the centre of the Asiatic islands, and is intersected by the equator. It is 800 miles long, and is supposed to contain more than 300,000 square miles. The coasts are low and swampy. The interior is almost wholly unknown to Europeans. The commerce of the island is principally in the hands of the Chinese, who export gold, diamonds, pepper, camphor,and edible bird's nests which are regarded in China as a great delicacy. Borneo produces also the ourang-outang, a singular animal bearing a striking resemblance to the human species. It is of short stature, scarcely exceeding three feet in height, with slender limbs and a broad and naked face, though the rest of the body is profusely covered with hair. When taken young it becomes extremely gentle and docile, and much attached to those around it. It sheds tears when displeased, rolls on the floor, and beats its head against it with all the gestures of a passionate child. The population of the island is estimated at 3,000,000.

Borneo, the capital of a kingdom of the same name, in the N. W. part of the island, is on a river 10 miles from the sea. The houses are built over the water and supported on posts, and the inhabitants communicate with each other entirely by boats. Alli gators lurk below to prey on the offals dropping through the