maic, or modern Greek, which is a corruption of the ancient language.

Inhabitants. The Turks differ widely from other European nations in religion, dress, and manners. They are dressed in loose robes, and wear Turbans instead of hats. They are ignorant, haughty, intolerant, and indolent. The Greeks are depressed and degraded by oppression, but are ingenious and lively.

Caravansaries. A striking mark of Turkish hospitality are the caravansaries, or public inns, which are to be met with in almost every village. In these, travellers may remain 3 days gratis.

Climate. The climate is generally mild and delicious, the air pure, and the seasons regular.

Face of the country. The northern part is mostly level; but the southern part, comprising all ancient Greece, is greatly diversified, abounding in bold and lofty mountains. Mountains. The principal mountains are the Hamus, Rhodope, Pindus, Olympus, Ossa, Pelion, Eta, Parnassus, Athos.

Rivers. The principal river is the Danube Some of the smaller ones are the Pruth, Marizza, and Drino.

Soil and agriculture. The soil is generally fertile, yielding great quantities of wheat, maize, rice, cotton, silk, wine, and fruits, and it has also rich pasture; but the country is miserably cultivated.

Islands. The principal islands belonging to Turkey in Europe are Candia, Negropont, Stalimene, Syra, Tino, Andro, Santorin, Naxia, Milo, Myconi, &c. They have a fine climate, and many of them a fertile soil, producing corn, wine, and oil.

History. This country was, in ancient times, the seat of learning and the arts, and highly renowned in history, but is now debased by despotism and fanaticism.

The Turks are a Tartar nation from Asia. They took possession of Constantinople and put an end to the eastern empire in 1458

ASIA.

Divisions. The principal countries of Asia are Russia in Asia, or Siberia, in the north;

Georgia, Tartary, Chinese Tartary, Thibet, Corea, and Japan, in the central part;

Turkey in Asia, Arabia, Persia, Hindoostan, Burmah, China, Siam, and some smaller countries, in the south.

Islands. The Asiatic islands are very numerous and important. Some of the principal are Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Celebes, the Manillas, Moluccas, and Japan islands; Ceylon, Cyprus, Rhodes, and Samos.

Oceans. Asia is bordered by the Arctic ocean, Pacific ocean, and the Indian ocean.

Seas and gulfs. The Black sea, Mediterranean, and Red sea lie on the west; the Arabian sea, Persian gulf, and bay of Bengal on the south; the sea of China, Yellow sea, gulf of Corea, sea of Ochotsk, and sea of Kamtschatka on

the east.

Straits. The most noted straits are those of Babelmandel, Ormuz, Sunda, Malacca, and Beering's.

Inland seas or lakes. The three largest are the Caspian, Aral, and Baikal.

Rivers. The great rivers of Asia are the Oby, Enisei, and Lena, which flow north into the Arctic ocean; the Amour, Kian-ku, and Hoang-ho, which empty themselves on the eastern side; and the Cambodia, Irrawady, Ganges, Burhampooter, Indus, Euphrates, and Tigris, in the south.

Mountains. The 2 greatest ranges of mountains are the Himaleh and Altai. The Himaleh mountains lie on the north of Hindoostan, and are reputed the highest moun tains on the globe. The Altai mountains extend along the southern border of Siberia, and are about 5,000 miles in length. Other ranges of mountains are the Ural between Asia and Europe, Caucasus between the Black and Cas

pian seas, Taurus in Turkey, and the Ghauts in Hindoos

tan.

Climate. In the southern part, the climate is hot; in the north, cold. The climate of a large part of the central regions is rendered cold by their great elevation, and the transition from a hot to a cold climate is very sudden.

Soil. The soil in the south is generally very fertile, in the north, barren.

Productions. Asia is celebrated for its various articles of luxury, with which it supplies other parts of the world. The tea-plant is peculiar to this quarter of the globe. The bread fruit and bambou, very useful vegetables, are widely diffused. Asia also abounds in metals and preciou

stones.

Commerce. Foreign commerce is almost wholly in the hands of European nations and the United States. The internal trade is extensive, and is carried on chiefly by means of the camel; except in China, where there are great facilities for inland navigation.

Government. Despotism is almost the only government in Asia.

Religion. The two prevailing religions are Paganism and Mahometanism. Mahometanism is the prevailing religion of Arabia, Turkey, and Persia; and is also widely diffused in Hindoostan, Tartary, and many of the islands.

Paganism exists in various forms. Some of the principal are Shamanism, which is found in China and Japan, under the title of the religion of Fo; and of which in Thibet the Grand Lama is the head; Bramanism, which prevails in Hindoostan and some other parts; and the worship of Buddhu or Boodh, which exists in the Birman empire and other parts.

Christianity, under the form of the Greek and Armenian churches, exists, to a considerable extent, in the Rus sian and Turkish dominions. The Christian religion has also been introduced into the European settlements; and great exertions have of late been made to extend its blessings to the natives, by means of missionaries and the dif fusion of the scriptures.

TURKEY IN ASIA.

Divisions. Turkey in Asia comprehends many countries of great celebrity in ancient history, both sacred and profane; among which were the countries of Asia Minor, Syria, Phoenicia, Judæa, Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Chaldæa.

Asia Minor, now called Natolia, is a large peninsula between the Mediterranean, Archipelago, and Black seas. It forms a large and important part of Asiatic Turkey. It has a finely diversified surface, and a fertile soil.

Syria is a fine country lying east of the Mediterranean. It includes the famous cities of Aleppo and Damascus. In the southern part is Palestine, or ancient Judæa.

Armenia is a mountainous country in the northeast. Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Chaldea or Babylonia were names of countries watered by the Euphrates and Tigris. The principal modern names or divisions of these coun tries, are Diarbekir, Curdistan, and Irak Arabi. or Bagdad. Turkey in Asia is now divided into 17 pachalicks.

Chief towns. Pop.* Chief towns.

Chief towns. Pop.

Aleppo

Damascus

Smyrna

Erzerum

Bagdad

Pop.

Bursa

Aleppo, in Syria, situated 70 miles from the sea, is the largest city in Asiatic Turkey, and is accounted the most regular and best built. It is famous for its manufactures of silk and cotton, and carries on a great commerce by means of caravans.

Damascus in Syria, is situated 50 miles from the sea, and is one of the most ancient cities in the world. It is now one of the finest cities in Turkey, and the centre of a great trade. It has extensive manufactures, and was formerly celebrated for its sword blades.

Smyrna, the largest city in Natolia, has an excellent *The population of several of these cities is very differently stated by geographers and travellers.

harbour, on the east side of the Archipelago, and is the seat of European commerce, and the chief mart of the Levant trade.

Bursa, situated at the foot of mount Olympus, 60 miles S. of Constantinople, is one of the finest cities of Natolia, and was the seat of the Turkish empire before the taking of Constantinople.

Angora, 212 miles ESE. of Constantinople, is celebrated for its goats' hair and shawls.

Kiutajah, on the Pursak, is a large and handsome town, and the residence of the beglerbeg of Natolia.

Tocat, on the Tosanlu, is one of the principal trading towus in Natolia.

Erzerum, the capital of Armenia, is situated near the head of the Euphrates, and is a very ancient city.

Bagdad, on the Tigris, 300 miles NNW. of Bassora, once the renowned seat of the Caliphs, and one of the most populous and splendid cities in the world, is said to have contained 2,000,000 inhabitants. It is now greatly reduced from its ancient grandeur, but is still a city of great trade.

Mosul, on the Tigris, is a large city, and is supposed to occupy a part of the site of ancient Nineveh.

Diarbekir, on the Tigris, is a celebrated town, and has an extensive commerce.

Bassora, situated on an arm of the Euphrates, about 70 miles above the Persian gulf, is a place of commercial importance.

Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, is a city memorable in sacred history. It is still a town of considerable note, containing about 30,000 inhabitants, and is much frequented by pilgrims.

Ancient cities. Within the limits of Asiatic Turkey, were anciently many cities of great celebrity; among which were Nineveh, the capital of Assyria; Babylon, the capital of Babylonia; Troy, Ephesus, Miletus, and Hali arnassus, in the western part of Asia Minor; Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia; Tyre, Sidon, and Cæsarea, on the coast of Syria; Antioch, on the Orontes; and Balbec and Palmyra in the interior. These have all been long since destroyed; most of them are now nearly or quite desolate;