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also to render the descriptions of imporharbors, monuments of art, natural curiosiry other subject that would admit of it, as 15 possible. It is to be regretted, however, terials for such descriptions are in most ating.

the manner in which the work has been ed, it would have been impossible to have rein on each page to the different authors from the information was derived. The language of is seldom used, each article being commonly the t of a comparison of all that was read upon the ct. It is believed, however, that a much larger n of the information has been derived from riginal sources than is common in works of this na

Mexico was given almost entirely on the auhority of Humboldt. In Buenos Ayresand Chili we are relied chiefly on the valuable documents furished to our government by the commissioners, who were sent to those countries in 1817, to collect information Brazil is described principally from Mawe Most of the countries of Europe have been given on the authority of the New Edinburgh Gazetfeer, and the latest editions of Hassel and Cannabrich. In Asia we have derived considerable assistance from Murray's Historical account of discoveries in Asia, and the description of Hindoostan was principally taken from the interesting article in that work. The resent discoveries in Africa, particularly those of Belzoni in Egypt and Nubia, will be found noticed in eir proper places. The regions within the Arctic de have of late been rendered peculiarly interesting the discoveries made by Capt. Parry in 1819, a otice of which is The accou It of im

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the direction of the ridges. Climate also should be given after mountains, because differences of temperature are usually the effect of different elevations of the surface. Vegetable productions, animals and minerals depend commonly either on the climate or face of the country, and should, therefore, be reserved for the last place in the natural geography. After going through with these heads we are then prepared for an account of the towns, population, religion, government, manufactures, commerce, &c.; and here also we shall find that there is an order to be observed, that there is a connection and dependence of the various heads, which makes it proper that they should follow each other in a particular succession. The effect of this strict adherence to a natural arrangement is greater than at first, perhaps, would be imagined. If we watch the operations of our own minds, we shall perceive that it is exceedingly difficult to remember a catalogue of propositions which appear to have no relation to each other; but if we can connect them together in a regular series, and reason from one to the other, the memory receives them with ease, the impression which they make upon the mind is deep and permanent, and the acquisition of knowledge in this way, becomes easy and delightful.

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The method which the author has pursued in paring the following volume has been, in the first place, to read extensively and minutely the best works to which he had access on the several countries, both in the English and German languages, with a view to obtain a distinct image in his own mind of the natural features of the country; and then, by a proper ar rangement of the articles, and an attention to the order in which the particular thoughts are presented, he has endeavoured to communicate this impression as perfectly as possible to the mind of the reader. It has been his aim especially in the introductory views of each grand division of the globe, to give such an outline of its mountains, rivers and other prominent features, as would prepare the student in the best manner for the account of each particular country. He has

endeavored also to render the descriptions of important towns, harbors, monuments of art, natural curiosities and every other subject that would admit of it, as graphical as possible. It is to be regretted, however, that the materials for such descriptions are in most cases wanting.

From the manner in which the work has been prepared, it would have been impossible to have referred on each page to the different authors from whom the information was derived. The language of others is seldom used, each article being commonly the result of a comparison of all that was read upon the subject. It is believed, however, that a much larger portion of the information has been derived from original sources than is common in works of this nature. Mexico was given almost entirely on the authority of Humboldt. In Buenos Ayresand Chili we have relied chiefly on the valuable documents furnished to our government by the commissioners, who were sent to those countries in 1817, to collect information. Brazil is described principally from Mawe. Most of the countries of Europe have been given on the authority of the New Edinburgh Gazetteer, and the latest editions of Hassel and Cannabrich. In Asia we have derived considerable assistance from Murray's Historical account of discoveries in Asia, and the description of Hindoostan was principally taken from the interesting article in that work. The recent discoveries in Africa, particularly those of Belzoni in Egypt and Nubia, will be found noticed in their proper places. The regions within the Arctic circle have of late been rendered peculiarly interesting from the discoveries made by Capt. Parry in 1819, a particular notice of which is given under the head of Polar Regions. The account of our own country was principally the result of investigations made by the author during the last year in the preparation of arti

Note. Since the sheets containing South America were printed, the government of the United States has acknowledged the independence of Mexico, the republic of Columbia, Buenos Ayres, Chili and Peru.

cles for the third edition of Morse's Universal Gazet
teer. The documents consulted in those investiga-
tions are too numerous to be mentioned in this place.
A catalogue of them is annexed to the preface of the
Gazetteer.

The Statistical Tables and General Views at the

close of the volume, it is believed, will be found an

interesting addition to the work. They contain

much valuable information in a narrow compass, and

the comparison of the facts which they present will

be a very profitable exercise for the student. The

knowledge which we obtain from the comparison of

such facts is of the most solid and substantial charac-

ter. To facilitate the study of the tables Remarks

and Questions are annexed. The Remarks are in-

tended to explain every thing which needs explana-

tion, and to point out the comparisons which will lead

to the most interesting results. The questions are

designed to show the manner in which the tables are

to be studied; and they are generally so framed as

not to require that the numbers should be committed

to memory. It has been commonly supposed that

the study of statistics must necessarily be dry, but if

it is conducted in the manner which is here pointed

out, it is believed that it will prove as interesting as

it is profitable.

It was originally the intention of the Author to

have inserted a System of Ancient Geography in this

volume, but upon more mature consideration he has

concluded to reserve it for publication in a separate

form.

The Atlas which accompanies this work, except the

part relating to the United States, is principally a re-
print of the latest edition of Arrowsmith.

BOSTON, SEPT. 1822.

INTRODUCTION.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF GEOGRAPHY.

GE

EOGRAPHY is a term,* derived from the Greek language, and literally signifies a description of the earth. It treats of the nature, figure, and magnitude of the earth; the situation, extent, and appearance of different parts of its surface; its productions and inhabitants.

The time when attention was first paid to the pleasing and useful study of geography, is unknown. It seems to be the general opinion, that the Greeks, who were the first cultivators of this science in Europe, received it either from the Egyptians or Babylonians; but it cannot be determined to which of these two nations belongs the honor of having invented it.

Geography was very imperfect in its beginning, and has advanced slowly towards its present degree of perfection. The true figure of the earth was unknown to its first inhabitants, and the earliest opinion seems to have been that, which would most naturally result from the first information given by the senses. It was considered as a large circular plane; and the heavens, in which the sun, moon, and stars appear daily to move from east to west, were supposed not to be elevated to a very great height above it, and to have been created solely for its use and ornament. It is not known who first rejected this erroneous hypothesis, and shewed that the figure of the earth is spherical; but it seems to have been done at a time of remote antiquity.

It appears that the situation of places was first determined according to climates; and that geographers were then guided, in fixing on the climates, by the form and colour of certain animals, which were to be found in different countries. The appearance of Negroes, or what they called Ethiopians, and of the larger sized animals, as the rhinoceros and elephant, suggested to them the northern and southern limits of the torrid zone. A different and more scientific method was used by the Egyptians and Babylonians, who determined the situation of places, or their distance from the equator, by observing the length of their longest and shortest days. And these observations were made with a species of sun-dial, having a stilus or gnomon, erected perpendicularly upon a horizontal plane, by which the length of the shadow of the gnomon, in proportion to its height, might be measured.

It may be conjectured that travelling, soon after it began to be much practised in the world, gave rise to a kind of geography.

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Tewypapia, from yn the earth, and ypa❤w to describe.

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