world, and that the teek-tree, which is superior to the English oak, abounds here. The fireflies, which illuminate the empire of night, swarm in some parts of this country.

The Birmans are lively and inquisitive, but irascible and revengeful. The Malays are ferocious and unprincipled to a high degree.

Hindostan.

India, which derives its name from the river Indus, is bounded on the west by Persia; on the north, by Tartary and China; and on the east and south, by the Indian Ocean. It is divided into two great portions: the peninsula of India on this side the Ganges, and the peninsula beyond the Ganges; or, as they are sometimes called, Hither, and Thither, Indies.

The chief countries within their limits are, the Mogul Empire, the capital of which is Delhi, and the British possessions on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts, besides the Birman Empire already described.

The principal settlements of the English in this part of the world are, Bengal, Madras, Bombay, and Ceylon, with numerous other acquisitions, containing, collectively, upwards of 60,000,000 of inhabitants. Calcutta and Fort St. George are the principal towns.

The productions of India are, rice, sugar, cotton, silk, indigo, saltpetre, and precious stones, particularly diamonds.

The Gentoos are a mild and inoffensive race, and yet extremely ingenious; the Mahometans, of which there is a considerable number, are less amiable, but more brave.

Persia,

Persia is 1400 miles long, and about 1000 broad; and is bounded on the east by India; on the south by the Gulf of Persia; on the west by Arabia and Asiatic Turkey; and on the north by the Caspian Sea and Tartary. Persia is divided into Eastern and Western Persia, and the provinces near the Caspian Sea, which have asserted a kind of independance. The principal cities of Persia are, Ispahan, the capital, Teflis, and Gombroon. Its productions are corn, fruits, wines, cotton, wool, silk, pearls, precious stones, and different metals. The Persians are addicted to luxury and effeminacy, possess much good sense and affability, but are irascible and revengeful.

Independent Tartary.

This portion of Asia, which is about 1900 miles long, and 1800 broad, was once distinguished as part of the empire of Zingis and Timur; but is now peopled by a number of Tartar tribes, who owing to the general sterility of their country, have been able to maintain their independance. The principal nations or tribes are the Circassian Tartars, the Kubans, Daghestans, and the inhabitants of the Caucassian mountains. Between this country and China lies Thibet, where a singular form of government prevails under the Lama, who is reputed a divinity; but it is, partially at least, subject to China.

Arabia.

Arabia, forming a great peninsula, is about 1600 miles long, and 1400 broad, and is divided into three parts: Arabia Petrea, Arabia Deserta, and Arabia Felix, or the Happy, as being most fertile. The Arabians generally live under tents in the open air, and some of them are great robbers, others are shepherds. The few who reside in towns apply to commerce. The chief towns, are Mecca, where Mahomet, the founder of the Mahometan religion, was born; and Medina, where he was buried. Mocha and Aden are good sea-ports. Its chief productions are its horses, camels, and its coffee. The coffee plant was indigenous here.

AFRICA.

Africa, though now reduced to a state of general barbarism, once contained kingdoms and states, eminent for arts and commerce. Of these Egypt and Carthage need only be mentioned in this place. It is bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea; on the east by the isthmus of Suez, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean; on the south by the Southern Ocean; and on the west by the Atlantic; extending from north to south about 4900 miles, and from east to west about 4500. The most striking features of Africa are its immense deserts, peopled only by wild beasts, and its impenetrable forests in other parts, which leave only small portions for the labours of agriculture. As for the climate, lying chiefly within the torrid zone, it is excessively hot. The periodical rains, however, cool the air, cause the rivers, such as the Nile and the Niger, to overflow their banks, and fertilize the adjacent plains. The

principal rivers in Africa are the Nile and the Niger, already mentioned, the Senegal, the Zara, the Gambia, the Coanza, and the Sierra Leone. Its chief mountains are, the Atlas mountains, which reach from Morocco to Egypt, the mountains of the Moon, Sierra Leone, or Lion's Mountains, and the Peak of Teneriffe. The chief productions of Africa are gold-dust, ivory, gums, drugs, and formerly slaves; but the slave trade, as it respects England, is now abolished. No general character can apply to a whole continent like Africa, but, where barbarism so universally prevails, all the vices belonging to ignorance may be expected to abound. The Mahometans are reckoned less civilized, or at least less humane, than the Pagan negroes; as for Christians there are but few on this continent, which is still but imperfectly known. The principal islands belonging to Africa are, in the Atlantic Ocean, the Madeiras, the Canaries, the Azores, and Cape de Verd; in the Gulf of Guinea, Ascension and St. Helena; in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Bourbon, the Isle of France, Comora, &c. and in the Red Sea, Zocotora. Africa may properly be divided into Egypt, Barbary, Guinea, Negroland, Nubia, Abyssinia, the coast of Ajan, Congou, or Lower Guinea, and Caffraria.

Egypt.

Egypt is about 600 miles long, and 250 broad, and is divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Egypt: the latter, comprehending the Delta, is famous for its fertility and its remains of antiquity. Egypt is now a province of Turkey, and is governed by a Pacha, who resides at Grand Cairo. The Copts, or ancient Egyptians, profess Christianity; the Arabs are Mahometans.

Barbary.

Barbary is divided into Barbary Proper, containing Barca, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Fez, and Morocco; Biledulgerid, and Zaara, or the Desert, extending about 3300 miles in length, and from 12 to 1500 in breadth; and inhabited by Moors, Arabs, and Turks, with a considerable portion of Jews.

Guinea.

Guinea is about 1800 miles in length, and 360 in breadth; and is divided into three distinct portions: the Pepper or Malaguette coast, so called from a kind of long pepper,

which it produces; the Tooth coast, which receives its name from elephants' teeth; and the Gold coast, so named from the gold it furnishes. The English settlement of Sierra Leone adjoins to Guinea on the west.

Negroland, Nubia, &c.

Negroland is about 2400 miles in length, and 900 in breadth; and contains several barbarous states and kingdoms, of some of which we know little more than their names, especially towards the interior. The negroes are much more mild and tolerant than the Moors, who are mixed with them. Nubia is about 900 miles in length, and 600 in breadth; and is divided into several states or kingdoms, where despotism and ignorance prevail.

Abyssinia, Ajan, &c.

Abyssinia is divided into several provinces, the principal of which are Tigri, Grojam, and Damboa. Gondar is the capital. The religion of the Abyssinians is a mixture of Christianity and Judaism. They are lively, active, and sober, but intractable. Ajan is that portion of Africa which lies on the east, extending from the straits of Babelmandel to the coast of Abex.

Congou.

Congou is divided into four principal kingdoms: Loango, Congou, Angola, and Benguela. Its natives are a mild, indolent race, and rank idolators.

Caffraria.

This is an extensive track, and includes Monomotapta, Minemugi, and the coast of Zanguebar. There are three distinct races of people in this part of Africa, the Hottentots, the Caffrees, and Europeans. The Hottentots inhabit the most southern extremity of Africa, they are of a red copper colour, filthy in their habits, but muscular and active. The Cape of Good Hope is now in possession of the English, and the possession is valuable, from the salubrity of the climate, and the fertility of the soil.

AMERICA.

America is called the New World, because it was first discovered, in 1493, by Christopher Columbus, a Genoese in the service of Spain; but received its name from Ame

ricus Vesputius, a Florentine, who made a voyage to its continent, four years after. America is divided, into North and South America, which are joined by the isthmus of Darien; and extends about 9000 miles in length, and 3700 at the greatest breadth, passing through every variety of climate, and possessing every variety of soil. America was peopled, when first discovered, in some parts by a personable race of men, of a copper colour; but, except in the more genial climates, they had very imperfect notions of laws and government, and very confused ones of any kind of religion, beyond worshipping the sun. The principal mountains are, in South America, the Andes, the highest in the world, which are always covered with snow: in North America, the Apalaches are the most considerable. Its principal rivers are the Ohio, the Missouri, the Missisippi, the St. Lawrence, the river of the Amazons, La Plata, and some others, all of great magnitude.

North America.

By a wise provision, this very extensive track of land is furnished with a variety of inland seas and lakes, which render one part of it more accessible to the other, and facilitate commerce. Some of the lakes resemble seas. It includes the United States, Spanish America, British America, and the independent Indian nations.

The United States.

The United States, exclusive of Louisiana, purchased of the French, are 1650 miles in length, and 1250 in breadth; and contain the following states or provinces; Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusets, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennesee, Ohio, Louisiana, and the territory on the north-west of the Ohio, the greatest part of which formerly were British colonies. The productions of the United States are grain, fish, fruit, tobacco, leather, skins, cattle, timber, hemp, flax, and all kinds of metals. The form of government established here is federative; every province sending deputies to a congress held at Washington, a new built city, under a president, elected every four years. The inhabitants of the United States are both proud and ignorant; but frugal, industrious, and warmly attached to liberty.