The river Meander, falls into the Archipelago, opposite the Isle of Samos. The river Jihon, which runs by Balk, and the Sir, or Sihon, fall into the Sea of Aral. The Aras, by Erivan,-the Tedjen, by Herat and Nesa,the Ural by Orenburg and Uralskoi, fall into the Caspian Sea. The Wolga, which falls into this sea, has been enumerated among the rivers of Europe. ASIATIC ISLES. The Island of Ceylon, now in possession of the English, lies to the south of the western peninsula of India. The Nicobar and Andaman isles are in the Bay of Bengal, at some distance from the coast of Malacca. The small island of Bombay is on the Malabar coast; it is an English settlement, and a place of great strength. To the north-east of Asia are the Japanese Isles, the largest of which is Niphon; length 750 miles, breadth 80. Jesso, or Chicha, lies to the north. EASTERN ARCHIPELAGO. The Eastern Archipelago is divided into, 1. The Sunda isles, to the south of Asia, including Sumatra (on which is the English settlement of Bencoolen), 950 miles in length, and 200 in breadth; Java, remarkable for the city of Batavia, the capital of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, taken by the English in 1811: and the small isles of Balli, Sumbava, Florez, Timor, &c. 2. The Bornean isles, including Borneo, which, except New Holland, is the largest island in the world; its length being 900, and breadth 600 miles; the Sooloos, Pulo Laut, Anamba, Natuna, &c. The Sooloos are rich in pearls. 3. The Manillas, or Philippine islands, the principal of which are Luzon, capital Manilla; Mindanao, Pulawain, Mindoro, Pani, Buglas, Zebu, Leyt, and Samar. On the east of Zebu is the small island of Mactan, where Magalhaens was slain. 4. The Celebezian isles include, besides Celebez, Sanguy, Shulas, Peling, Boutan, Sala, &c. 5. The Spice islands, including the Moluccas: these are Gilolo, Ceram, Bouro, Mortay, Ternat, Amboyna, Banda, Tidore, &c. They are famous for producing nutmegs, cloves, and other valuable spices. AUSTRAL ASIA. Austral Asia contains the following islands: 1. New Holland, or Notasia: length 2,730, breadth 1,960 miles: this island is only one-fourth less than Europe. 2. Papua, or New Guinea, and the Papuan isles. 3. New Britain and New Ireland, with the Solomon isles. 4. New Caledonia, and the New Hebrides. 5. New Zealand. 6. Van Diemen's Land, separated from New Holland by Bass's Strait, which is about 30 leagues wide. POLYNESIA. The groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean have been styled Polynesia, and consist of the following islands: 1. The Pelew islands. 2. The Ladrone, or Marian, islands, the principal of which are Guam and Tinian. 3. The Carolines, the largest of which are Hogoleu and Yap. 4. The Sandwich islands, discovered by Captain Cook. Owhyhee, the largest, is about 100 miles in length. 5. The Marquesas, which are very numerous. 6. The Society islands, which are about 60 in number; Otaheite is the largest. 7. The Friendly islands, and the Feeje islands. 8. The Navigator's islands, the principal of which are, Otutuelah, Tumaluah, &c. AMERICA. This continent, which is called the Western Hemisphere, or New World, is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Antarctic Ocean, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. It is separated from Asia by Bherring's Strait. The length of America, estimating it from 72 degrees of north latitude to Magalhaen's Strait, is about 8,800 miles; and its greatest breadth 4,400 miles. This continent is divided into two parts, called North and South America: these are united by the Isthmus of Darien, narrower than that of Suez. NORTH AMERICA. North America includes British Possessions, United States, Spanish Dominions, and native Tribes. This part of North America is mountainous and barren, abounding, however, with lakes, rivers, and bays, that afford plenty of fish. The fur trade and fisheries render this colony very valuable. These states are in an improving condition, and promise to become one of the most powerful empires of the world. They export to Europe, iron, copper ore, timber, pitch, skins, corn, tobacco, rice, cotton, &c. The population is estimated at nine millions, and is rapidly on the increase. East Florida West Florida New Mexico Old Mexico 3. SPANISH DOMINIONS. St. Augustine Santa Fé Mexico These countries are extremely fertile. Vera Cruz is the chief trading port on the Atlantic, and Acapulco on the Pacific Ocean: the trade carried on between the latter port and the Philippine Islands is very valuable. The chief trade of Campechy is in dying woods. The population is stated at seven millions,-four millions of whom are Indians. 4. NATIVE TRIBES AND UNCONQUERED COUNTRIES. Greenland |