The inhabitants of Georgia and Caucasus are celebrated for their beauty; they profess the christianity of the Armenian church.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

1. What are its boundaries, &c.

REMARKS.-How is Astrachan situated, and by whom is it inhabited? What is said of Tobolsk? What caravans pass through it? What is the appearance of Asiatic Russia ? What do the northern parts consist of ? By what are the southern parts intersected? For what are the inhabitants of Georgia and Caucasus celebrated? What religion do they profess?

TURKEY IN ASIA.

1. BOUNDARIES.Turkey, in Asia, is bounded on the north by the Sea of Marmora, the Black Sea, and Russia; on the east, by Persia; on the south, by Arabia; and on the west, by the Levant and the Archipelago.

2. EXTENT.It extends from 30° to 439 N. latitude; and from 26° to 48° E. longitude; being about 950 miles long from east to west, and 730 broad from north to south.

3. DIVISIONS.-Asiatic Turkey is divided into the following provinces.

POPULATION OF OTHER TOWNS.-Damascus, 180,000; Jerusalem, 25,000; Bassora, 55,000; Angora, 40,000; Bursa, 60,000; Aphium, 60,000; Tocat, 60,000.

4. ISLANDS.-Cyprus and Rhodes, in the Levant; and Patmos, Samos, Scio, Mytilene, and Tenedos, in the Archipelago.

5. STRAITS.-The Dardanelles, or Hellespont, and Constantinople.

6. MOUNTAINS.-Olympus, south-east of the Sea of Marmora; Taurus, running from Anatolia to the Euphrates; and Lebanon, running parallel to the coast in Syria.

7. LAKES.—The Van, in Kurdistan; and the Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea, in Syria.

8. RIVERS.-Minder, Sarabat, Sakaria, Kisil Irmak, Tigris, Euphrates, Jordan, and Orontes.

The Minder and Sarabat fall into the Archipelago; and the Sakaria and Kisil Irmak into the Black Sea.

The Tigris rises in Armenia, runs by Diarbec, Mosul, and Bagdad; at Korna it joins the Euphrates, and the united stream, after passing Bassora, falls into the Persian Gulf.

The Euphrates, the largest river in Asiatic Turkey, rises near the source of the Tigris, flows for some distance nearly south, after which it runs eastward, until it joins the Tigris.

The Jordan, renowned in Sacred History, rises in Mount Lebanon, and flows from north to south, into the Dead Sea.

The Orontes rises a little north of Damascus, and after a circuitous course, falls into the Levant.

9. CLIMATE. The climate is delightful, the heat of summer being greatly tempered by the numerous chains of mountains which intersect the country; but the inhabitants, in some parts, are greatly exposed to the ravages of the plague.

10. PRODUCE-The soil is generally rich and fertile, producing fruits of the finest kind; but from the indolence of the inhabitants, tillage is little attended to. The mountains are clothed with wood, and the shores of the Black Sea present the appearance of continued forests. Of the domestic animals, the most remarkable are the sheep, and the goats of Angora, from the hair of which the finest camlets are made. 11. GOVERNMENT.-An absolute monarchy, being subject to the Grand Sultan.

12. RELIGION.--Mahometanism is the prevailing religion; and of the different Christian sects tolerated, those of the Greek church are the most numerous.

REMARKS.

The chief exports are cotton, silk, leather, carpets, Angora wool, and rhubarb. The peninsula between the Black Sea and the Levant, is called Asia Minor, in which were situated the seven churches of Asia, mentioned in the Book of Revelations, viz. Pergamos, Laodicea. Philadelphia, Thyatira, Sardis, Ephesus, and Smyrna; but these places, except Smyrna, are mostly in ruins. Aleppo, the chief city of Asiatic Turkey, is well built, and next to Constantinople, is the most considerable in the Turkish Empire. Damascus, one of the oldest cities in the world, is the great rendezvous of the caravans for Mecca. Damascus, Tyre, and Sidon lie within the ancient Phoenicia. Smyrna is the most commercial place of Asiatic Turkey, and the emporium of the Levant trade: it contends with six other cities for Homer's birth. Jerusalem is now an inconsiderable place, and only celebrated for what it was formerly. Lebanon was formerly famous for its cedars, of which Solomon constructed the greatest part of the wood-work of the Temple.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

1. Mention the boundaries, &c.

In

REMARKS.-What are the chief exports? What part of this country is called Asia Minor? What were situated in it? Mention their names. what state are these at present? Which is the chief city of Asiatic Turkey, and what is said of it? What is said of Damascus ? Where do Damascus, Tyre, and Sidon lie? What is said of Smyrna? For what does it contend? What is said of Jerusalem? Lebanon ?

INDEPENDENT TARTARY.*

1. BOUNDARIES.-Independent Tartary is bounded on the north by Asiatic Russia; on the east by Chinese Tartary; on the south by Cabul and Persia; and on the west by the Caspian Sea,

2. EXTENT.-It extends from 35° to 55° N. latitude, and from 50° to 83° E. longitude; being about 1400 miles long from north to south, and 900 broad from east to west.

3. DIVISIONS. This country consists of three divisions.

and Gaur,

4. MOUNTAINS.-Belur Tag, in the east ;

in the south of Great Bucharia.

5. SEAS.-The Caspian Sea and the Sea or Lake of Aral.

Russian Tartary is described under Asiatic Russia, and Chimese Tartary under the Chinese Empire.

6. RIVERS. The Sihon and Oxus, which flow into

the Sea of Aral.

The Sihon, or Sirr, rises in the Belur Chain, and flowing north-west enters the sea of Aral.

The Oxus, called also the Jihon or Amu, rises in the Belur Mountains, and after receiving the Balk and several other streams falls into the sea of Aral.

7. CLIMATE. The climate, in general, is healthy, and although lying in the same parallels as the southern countries of Europe, both the summer and winter are much colder.

8. PRODUCE.-A considerable part of this extensive country is occupied with desert plains, or dreary wastes of sand, interspersed here and there with hills of clay soil. Along the rivers, however, the valleys, or low grounds are fertile, and afford rich pastures.

9. GOVERNMENT.-An absolute monarchy. 10. RELIGION.-Mahometanism.

11. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.-The Tartars, who are descended from the ancient Scythians, generally lead a wandering life. They dwell in tents, which are removed from place to place, as the land becomes exhausted and pasturage fails. The inhabitants of Bucharia are more ċivilized than their wandering brethren, and show more of the Persian than of the Tartar physiognomy.

REMARKS.

Turkistan, the northern division of Independent Tartary was the original residence of the Turks, and is now occupied by three hordes of wandering Tartars, called Kirguses or Kirgees. Kharism lies between the Caspian, the Sea of Aral, and