the river Oxus, and was the original seat of the Turcomans. Bucharia is inhabited by the powerful tribe of the Usbec Tartars. Samarcand was the favourite residence of Timor, or Tamerlane, who towards the end of the 14th century, conquered Persia, India, and Syria. Bokhara, the present capital and residence of the king, is a chief seat of Mahometan learn. ing. Balk is now subject to the king of Cabul.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION,

1. Mention the boundaries, &c.

REMARKS.-Which was the original residence of the Turks, and by whom is it now occupied? Where does Kharism lie, and what was it the original seat of? By whom is Bucharia inhabited? Of whom was Samarcand the favourite residence? What is said of Bokhara? To whom is Balk now subject?

CHINESE EMPIRE.

1. BOUNDARIES.—' .—The Chinese Empire, which comprises China Proper, Chinese Tartary, and Tibet, is bounded on the north by Asiatic Russia; on the east, by the Pacific Ocean; on the south by the China Sea, the Birman Empire, and Hindostan; and on the west, by Independent Tartary.

2. EXTENT.-It extends from 21° to 55° N. latitude, and from 70° to 140° E. longitude; being about 3300 miles long from east to west, and 2000 broad from north to south.

3. DIVISIONS. This empire is composed of three grand divisions, each of which is sub-divided into provinces.

POPULATION OF OTHER TOWNS.-Nankin, 1,000,000; Canton, 150,000.

China Proper is bounded on the north by Chinese Tartary; on the east by the Yellow and Eastern Seas; on the south by the China Sea and the Birman Empire; and on the west by Tibet. It is divided into the fifteen following provinces, many of which, in size and population, exceed most of the European kingdoms.

Northern-Shense, Shanse, Pechele, Shantung.

Eastern. Keang-Nan, Tchekcang, Fokien, Keangse.
Central.-Honan, Hooquang, Sechuen, Koetchen.
Southern-Yunnan, Quangse, Quantung.

Chinese Tartary is bounded on the north by Siberia; on the east by the Pacific Ocean; on the south by China Proper and Tibet; and on the west by Independent Tartary. It compre hends Little Bucharia on the west; Mongolia in the middle, which is inhabited by wandering tribes of Monguls, and Calmucs, and the Mantchoos, a people who, in 1644, subdued China and established the present dynasty on the throne. The peninsula of Corea may be included in this division.

Tibet is bounded on the north by Chinese Tartåry; on the east by China; on the south by the Birman Empire and Hindostan; and on the west by Hindostan. It is divided into Tibet Proper and Little Tibet.

4. ISLANDS.-Hainan and Formosa, in the China Sea; Macao, in the Bay of Canton, belonging to Portugal; Leoo Keoo Isles, north-east of Formosa; and Saghalien, south of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Dr. Butler says, "this (3,000,000) scems an excessive calculation. Perhaps 1,000,000 is nearer the truth." Malte Brun estimates the population at only 600,000, or 700,000.

5. RIVERS.-The Amour, the Hoanho, or Yellow River, and the Kianku.

The Amour rises in the Yablony Mountains, and after receiving the Oughe from the north and the Songari from the south enters the Sea of Okhotsk. It runs by Yaesack and Huton.

The Hoanho, or Yellow River, rises in the mountains of Tibet, and after a circuitous course of 2000 miles towards the east empties itself into the Yellow Sea.

The Kianku rises also in the Mountains of Tibet, runs eastward, and after passing Nankin enters the sea about 120 miles south of the Yellow River.

6. CLIMATE. In the north the climate is sharp, in the middle mild, and in the south hot.

7. PRODUCE.-The soil of China is good and highly cultivated, producing corn, rice, tea, and fruits in great abundance. The country contains rich mines of all the precious metals.

8. MANUFACTURES.-Almost every kind of manufacture is found amongst this industrious people; those of porcelain, silk, cotton, and paper, are the most noted.

9. COMMERCE.-The chief exports are silk, nankins, and tea; and imports, lead and woollens; but its home trade is supposed to be nearly equal to that of all Europe.

10. GOVERNMENT.-An absolute monarchy.

The Emperor of China possesses the most unlimited power over his subjects. Sole master of life and death, arbiter of the laws themselves, and the only source of power and emolument, he has within his grasp every spring of action, by which the fears or the ambition of those around him can be excited.

11. RELIGION.-Idolatry.

12. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.-The people are ingenious, industrious, temperate, and contented; but jealous, dishonest, treacherous, and addicted to falsehood.

REMARKS.

The chief cities are Pekin, Nankin, and Canton. At Pekin the imperial palace is situated. which consists of an extensive assemblage of buildings, with beautifully ornamented gardens. Canton is the only port to which Europeans are allowed to trade. China is a level, fertile, and highly cultivated region. It is unrivalled in the extent of its inland navigation. The canals are very numerous and of great depth. The most remarkable is the Imperial Canal, which crosses China from north to south, and intersects its two great rivers. The great wall extends 1500 miles, and is, in general, 25 feet high and 15 thick. It was built upwards of 2000 years ago, to protect China from the incursions of the Tartars. The most remarkaable of the productions is tea; all the varieties of which are prepared from the same plant; but gathered at different times, and prepared in different ways. About twenty millions of pounds of tea are annually exported from Canton; fourteen millions being brought away by the English, and six millions by other nations. The art of printing has been known and practised in China for a period long prior to its discovery in Europe. It is, however, nothing better than a clumsy kind of stereotype, with all the inconveniences, and few of the advantages of that ingenious contrivance.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

1. Of what does the Chinese Empire consist, and how is it bounded, &c.?

REMARKS.-Which are the chief cities? What is situated at Pekin, and of what does it consist? What is said of Canton? What kind of a country is China? What is said of its inland navigation? Which is the most remarkable canal, and in what direction does it run? Describe the great wall. Which is

the most remarkable production? Are all the varieties from the same plant, and what causes the difference? What quantity of tea is brought from Canton annually, and how much of it by the English? What is said of the art of printing?

JAPANESE EMPIRE.

1. BOUNDARIES.-The Japanese Empire, situated to the east of China, is bounded on the north by the Sea of Jesso; on the east and south by the Pacific Ocean; and on the west by the Sea of Japan.

2. EXTENT. It extends from 30° to 45° N. lati tude; and from 130° to 150° E. longitude.

3. DIVISIONS.-This Empire consists of the following islands, with several smaller ones.

4. CLIMATE. The climate of Japan, from the variety of surface, is liable to the extremes of heat and cold.

5. PRODUCE.-The soil is not naturally fertile, but so well cultivated, that it abounds in all the rich productions of the southern climates. The country is rich in minerals, particularly in gold and copper. 6. GOVERNMENT.-An absolute monarchy. 7. RELIGION.-Idolatry.

8. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.-The Japanese are ingenious, and considered superior in arts, sciences, and