in the sources of information, and in books of geography. The studies which the author has pursued in the preparation of his former works, may reasonably be supposed to have, in some measure, qualified him for preparing a manual which may be relied on for the general accuracy of its details; and he is not aware that he has been indebted for a single fact or statement in this book to any system of geography, except his own, that has been originally published in this country. EXPLANATION. The cities, towns, and rivers, which are printed in Italics in this Epitome, will be found laid down on the Maps contained in the Atlas, which accompanies this book. But with regard to a number of towns in the United States, which are printed in Italics, the names are not engraved on the map of the United States, but they are referred to by letters of the alphabet, as explained in a note on the 27th page of this Epitome. EPITOME OF GEOGRAPHY. ASTRONOMICAL GEOGRAPHY. 1. GEOGRAPHY is a description of the earth, with its productions and inhabitants. 2. That branch of geography whicn treats of the earth as a part of the solar system is called astronom'ical or mathematical geography. 3. The earth on which we live is a plan'et, in the form of a globe or ball, which revolves round the sun. 4. There are 11 planets, which all revolve round the sun, in the centre, from west to east; and from him they receive their light and heat. 5. They are called planets from their motion, the name being derived from a Greek word which signifies "to wander." 6. The sun, the 11 primary planets, and 18 secondary planets, or satellites, together with another class of bodies called com'ets, form what is styled the Plan'etary or Solar System. 7. The names of the 11 primary planets are Mer'cury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ves'ta, Ju'no, Ce'res, Pallas, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, or Her'schel. QUESTIONS. ASTRONOMICAL GEOGRAPHY. 1. WHAT is geography? 2. What is astronomical geography? 3. What is the earth? 4. How many planets are there, and from what do they receive their light and heat? 5 Why are they called planets? 6. What form the solar system? 7 What are the names of the 11 planets? |