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Gold, silver, marble, were some of the precious mineral productions of this country; but the present occupiers pay little attention to such subjects: neither have travellers been able to afford much information respecting them, from the extreme difficulties experienced in visiting even the most civilized districts.

The gulf, separating Greece from Turkey in Asia, called the Archipelago, (an absurd corruption of the Italian terms Egio Pelago, that is, the Ægæan Sea,) is studded with isles of various sizes, but renowned in ancient fable and history: and on the western shores of Greece lie Zante, formerly Zacynthus, Cefalonia, formerly Cephalenia, and Corfu, the ancient Corcyra, producing excellent wine, oil, and fruits; and from Zante we draw the small grapes we call curiants.

These three islands, with some others of less note, once belonging to Venice, were, on the fall of that state, erected by French influence into a separate republic.

On the eastern shore of the Adriatic is seated the active port of Ragusa, the head of a small independent territory inclosed by Turkey: the inhabitants are Christians, and the language and manners those of their opposite neighbours in Italy.

That part of Dalmatia subject to Venice, was lately transferred to Austria: the principal towns are Zara, anciently Jader, a fortress and sea-port, and Spalatro, remarkable for the vast remains of the magnificent palace, erected by Dioclesian, in the beginning of the fourth century; displayed to the world by the personal researches, and the splendid publication of the late eminent architect Robert Adam.

The Turks are strenuous professors of the religion of Ma homet: but of their European subjects it has been computed that two-thirds are Christians of the Greek church, with a portion of Armenians and Jews.

The Emperor, Sultan or Grand Signor is, agreeably to the

import of the Arabic term Sultan, an absolute and despotic prince, and limited in his government only by the doctrines and laws of Mahomet, from whom he claims his original descent.

ASIA.

This grand portion of the old continent is situated between the meridian of the mouth of the Hellespont on the Archi→ pelago, in east longitude 26°, and that of the east cape on the strait separating Asia from America, in east longitude 190° or west longitude 170°. The most southerly point is the promontory of Malacca, in about north latitude 2o, and the most northerly is cape Taimura or Vostochnoi, in north latitude 77°. This wide extended quarter of the globe, therefore, comprehends every degree of temperature, and every variety of production, animal, vegetable, and mineral.

TURKEY IN ASIA.-This part of the Turkish empire is situated on the south of the Euxine, on the east of the Archipelago on the north and east of the Mediterranean, and on the west of Persia. The extent is computed to be about 470,000 square miles; but from the number of sandy and mountainous deserts within its bounds, the supposed population of ten millions will give only 22 persons for each mile.

The most remarkable places in these countries are Aleppo, containing 250,000 inhabitants; Damascus, on the borders of the Great Desert, about 160,000; Smyrna, a noted port on the Archipelago, 120,000; Bassora or Basra, on the united river formed by the Euphrates and the Tigris, contains 50,000; and Jerusalem, once so justly venerable on many accounts, is now become a place of little consideration, subsisting chiefly by the interesting remains of its former importance.

The

The greater part of this country is covered with mountains, but the climate is genial, and the soil in general not unfruitful: so different however are the effects of the present and the former systems of government, that it is dif ficult to reconcile the history of its ancient with that of its present situation.

The lofty range of mountains, extending from the Euxine to the Caspian Sea, known to the ancients by the name of Caucasus; Mount Taurus, stretching from west to east the whole length of the country; and the chains of Lebanon or Libanus, and Antilibanus, running from north to south parallel to the shores of the Mediterranean, are the most remarkable eminences. The great rivers Euphrates and Tigris wash the eastern borders; and the celebrated Jordan, bounding Judæa on the east, is lost in the singular lake Asphaltites or the Dead Sea.

In the Archipelago and the Mediterranean, are many islands belonging to Asiatic Turkey, of which the chief are Mytilene, formerly Lesbos, Scio or Chios, noted for its wine, and Rhodes, once a powerful commercial republic. The great island of Crete, now called Candia, from the old capital, ought from its situation to be considered as belonging to Europe; it is in length 180 miles, but the general breadth is small: a chain of lofty mountains, the ancient Ida, where Jupiter was educated, occupies the centre of the island, but the sloping shores are fertile, and, under proper management, would be richly productive. Cyprus, lying on the Syrian coast, and in extent 160 miles by 70 where wi dest, enjoys a fruitful soil and delicious climate: such however is the state to which, by a tyrannical government it is now reduced, that the population is not estimated to exceed 50,000 souls; and although Cyprus wine still maintain its reputation at Venice, and in other parts bordering on the Mediterranean, the other productions, and even the air

itself,

itself, are far from that degree of perfection which naturally they ought to possess..

ASIATIC RUSSIA. The northern parts of Asia, from the parallel of 50°. is a portion of the vast Russian empire, or Siberia, divided into several provinces or governments, of which the most considerable are those of Tobolsk in the west, and Irkutsk on the east, so named from the capitals, the former containing 15,000, and the latter 12,000 inhabitants. The southern boundary of this prodigious tract of country, being in general a chain of lofty mountains, the cold natural to such a climate is much increased; and the northern parts bounded by the dreary Frozen Ocean, present only desert marshy plains, covered with perpetual ice and snow. The country is traversed by the mighty streams. the Ob, the Yenisei, the Lena, the Amoor: and forests of pine, herds of cattle, mines of gold, silver, copper, iron and rock-salt, are the chief treasures of this region. The southwestern parts however washed by the Volga, and the Caspian, enjoy a fine climate, with a soil fertile in many valuable productions. Of these parts the capital is Astracan, a large and populous town of great trade, situated on a cluster of islands formed by the Volga at its entrance into the Caspian.

CHINA. This country, differing in many particulars from every other on the globe, so much so that with dif ficulty we credit the accounts given of it, by even the most judicious and accurate travellers, is situated between the parallels of 20° and 42° of N. Lat. and between the meridians of 100° and 121° E. Long. the length from N. to S. being about 1320 geographic or 1525 English miles, and the greatest breadth from W. to E. about 1239 geog. or 1445 English miles but in these limits are not comprehended the vast tracts on the west and north of China Proper, which are subject to that country.

The population has, by the Chinese themselves, been

carried

carried to the enormous number of 333 millions; by Europeans it has been estimated at from 210 to 220 millions: whichever of these accounts be the nearest to the truth, it is unquestionable that the whole country seems to swarm with inhabitants; and the number, magnitude, and populousness of the cities, towns, and villages, is without a parallel on the globe, unless Holland be considered as an exception. Pekin, the present capital of China, situated close on the northern frontiers, is supposed to contain 3 millions of people; while Nankin, the antient capital, is said to be still more considerable, the circumference of the walls being 17 English miles. Canton, situated on the eastern bank of a large navigable river in the southern parts of the empire, contains a million and a half of inhabitants, and is the great emporium of all European trade; the different nations having each their separate establishment or factory, where all business is transacted.

all its branches is in

The greatest part of this wide empire is plain and level; the western and northern provinces, however, containing many mountainous ridges, which give rise to some of the greatest rivers in the old continent. The soil and climate are very various, but agriculture in general carried to a very great extent, The teas, the silks of China are too well known to require any description; and the mines of gold, silver, copper, iron, granite and marble, are of singular value. The metal we call tutenag, a native mixture of iron and zinc, is a peculiar production of China.

Amongst the singularities of this extraordinary part of the globe, is the great wall built along the northern frontiers, for the space of 1500 miles, being in many places 15 feet thick, and 25 feet high, with towers from distance to distance: It is supposed to have been constructed about 600 years ago. The lofty towers called by us Pagodas (of which we have a correct model in Kew Gardens) are a peVOL. II.

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