opinions, as among the Christians. To give a particular account of their divisions would be a work of great labour, and little utility.

Since the days of Mahomet several other prophets have risen, who have followed his example; claiming to be greater, as they were later, and proposing some improvements on the koran, but their day was generally short.

ASIATIC TURKEY.

THE Asiatic part of the Turkish Empire extends from the Archipelago, or Egean Sea, to the confines of Persia, a space of somewhat more than 1000 miles, from west to east. Its extent, from north to south, is scarcely less than 1100 miles. This extensive territory comprises the countries so well known in ancient history by the names of Asia Minor, Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, Babylonia, Chaldea, and Syria. Some of these have acquired new appellations.

No country in the world is more beautifully diversified with mountains, valleys, and fertile plains. Asiatic Turkey, having but few rivers, possessing in general a rocky soil, and enjoying the advantages of having been cultivated from the earliest antiquity, presents few of those swampy levels which form so distinguishing a characteristic of most of the American, and some European countries. Chaldea, the supposed seat of Paradise, and of undisputed celebrity for the luxuriancy of its vegetation, is a level plain watered by the various branches of the Tigris, and the Euphrates; but, from want of cultivation, it is now little better than a swampy morass.

The mountains of Asiatic Turkey are numerous; some of

them are of great elevation, and many of them of well known classical fame. The celebrated chain of Mount Taurus justly claims the pre-eminence. Asia Minor is intersected with numerous broken chains in almost every direction. The towering heights of Caucasus, are, for the most part, comprised within the Turkish empire. The middle summits of its northern ridge, are covered with eternal ice and snow. The western parts of Asia Minor present many mountains of classical celebrity, particularly Olympus and Ida. The latter derives its principal celebrity from its proximity to ancient Troy, and is consecrated to perpetual veneration by Homer. The most celebrated mountain of Syria is Mount Libanus, or Lebanon, famed for its cedars. Mount Tabor, the scene of Christ's transfiguration, and a place of pious pilgrimage for the Oriental Christians, has a somewhat singular appearance, being of conical form, and covered with small trees from the bottom to the top. Rising amidst the plains of Galilee it commands a charming variety of prospects. The eye wanders with delight over the beautiful and fertile fields of Nain and Nazareth, and the valley of Megiddo, where Josiah, king of Judah, fell in battle against Pharaoh Necho; while the more distant view comprises the mountains of Hermon and Gilboa, famous in Scripture, as also those of Samaria and Arabia Petræa. There are other mountains of less magnitude and fame, in Asia Minor and Syria, too numerous for particular description.

The largest as well as the most celebrated river of Asiatic Turkey, is the Euphrates. This river, so frequently mentioned both in sacred and profane history, rises in the mountains of Armenia. After various windings, it unites with the Tigris, at Cornou, where the united stream takes the modern appellation of Schat-el-Arab; and after a course of about 200 miles, it falls into the Persian Gulf. A late traveller describes the navigation of the river as very difficult, and the adjacent country as very low, and exposed to great inundations from the breaking of the banks. The excessive heat of the sun, and the immense numbers of fish and animalcula that perish, and putrefy when the water dries up, render the air

extremely insalubrious. The same author complains exceedingly of the great heat of the climate of ancient Chaldea, and of the number of mosquitoes which, with the horrible roaring of wild beasts, almost preclude the possibility of taking repose. He represents the present state of this once flourishing and fertile region as now deplorably miserable, overrun with jackals, wolves, lions, &c. and with Arabian robbers still more ferocious. The whole course of this river may be computed at about 1400 miles.

The river next in importance in Asiatic Turkey, is the Tigris, which is supposed to derive its name from the rapidity of its current. It rises about 150 miles south of the source of the Euphrates, and pursues a southerly direction, but with many windings to Cornou, the place of their junction, about 800 miles from its source.

There are many other rivers in Asia Minor; but none of them are very considerable, though many of them are celebrated in classical history or poetry. The chief river of Syria is the Orontes, which rises about eighty miles to the north of Damascus, and finally reaches the Mediterranean. The Jordan, a river of venerable fame in scriptural history, is only an inconsiderable stream, which after a short course, loses itself in the Dead Sea.

Asiatic Turkey contains numerous lakes, of less extent, however, than those of several other countries. The Dead Sea, or Sea of Sodom, in Syria, is a lake of about fifty miles in length, by twelve or thirteen in breadth. Tradition says, that this was the plain of Sodom. Many strange stories were related concerning this lake and its borders, which are now exploded. Asia Minor presents a number of inconsiderable lakes, the description of which does not accord with the brevity of this work.

The climate of those countries, which compose the Asiatic part of the Ottoman empire is in general excellent, being equally favourable to health and vegetation. Heat in general predominates, but there is a peculiar softness and serenity in the air. A late traveller informs us, that in the beginning of

the year 1797, a very deep snow lay on the ground at Jerusalem, for twelve or thirteen days.

The mountainous region of Armenia has always been remarked for the coldness of its climate, the severity of its frosts, and the abundance of its snows. The Roman soldiers, under Lucullus, were astonished at seeing the waters frozen, and the ground covered with snow at the autumnal equinox. The army of Alexander Severus also suffered extremely from the rigour of the Armenian climate. Many of the Roman soldiers lost their limbs, and some their lives, through the severity of the cold. On the contrary the climate of Chaldea, and the neighbouring parts is excessively hot. A late traveller observes, that, where the ground cannot be irrigated, the heat of the sun destroys all vegetation. The numerous branches of the Tigris and the Euphrates, which intersect the country, and form various channels of communication between those two great streams, appear to be not natural rivers, but artificial canals cut in the flourishing age of Babylon for the purposes of irrigation and commerce. These rivers or canals run through a soft brown soil, which, yielding to the rapid currents, deepens the beds of the canals. This circumstance renders irrigation more difficult than it was formerly, and may contribute to make it more neglected. These canals, together with immense basons or reservoirs, were used formerly to answer the double purpose of draining off the great floods, and of preserving a sufficient quantity of water for irrigating the grounds in the hot and dry season. The want of attention to these particulars, so essential to the fertility of the Babylonish territory of Chaldea, has, in conjunction with the heat of the climate, produced the alterations in the face of the country, which astonish all travellers, who are acquainted with history. The saniel, or hot wind, so destructive on the coasts of the Persian Gulf, and in many parts of the deserts of Arabia and Africa, are felt throughout Babylonia.

Asia Minor, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Chaldea have from remote antiquity been famed for their abundant harvests, and their plentiful vintage, their pomegranates, their olives and other excellent fruits. Those countries, according to all VOL. II.

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historical intelligence, were among the first that enjoyed the advantage of cultivation, and during a long succession of ages were as fertile and flourishing as any on the face of the globe. At present agriculture is deplorably neglected. In Asia Minor, wheat and barley are the two species of grain that are chiefly cultivated. These constitute also the principal agricultural productions of Syria. In the latter country, a considerable quantity of tobacco and some cotton are produced, and the culture of them, as well as of the vine and the olive, might be carried to a great extent. Asia Minor, as well as Syria, produces excellent grapes and olives, as also mulberry trees in abundance, so that any quantity of silk might be produced. Asiatic Turkey, with proper cultivation, would yield an exuberance of all the most valuable productions of the finest countries of Europe and Asia. At present, however, these beautiful regions are in a miserable state of decline, and it is difficult to recognise their ancient fertility amidst the scantiness of their present vegetation. The chilling hand of despotism has checked the efforts of industry, and reduced many of the most fertile tracts, almost to a desert. The forests, however, yet display their native luxuriance. Syria is far from being destitute of wood. Mount Libanus yet retains a few large cedars, the venerable relics of its ancient grandeur. But no country in the world surpasses Asia Minor in the excellence, the variety and abundance of its timber. The oak, the cedar, the beech, the cypress, the elm, the sycamore, and various other species of trees, all in the highest perfection of size and quality, shade the summits, and sides of the numerous mountains. The shores of the Euxine, also, display many gloomy forests of great extent. The abundance of timber supplies the inhabitants with fuel, as no coal has been discovered in any part of the Asiatic dominions of Turkey. Among the productions of those countries may be reckoned a variety of drugs used in dyeing; and of others, which are valuable articles in the materia medica.

The camel is common in Syria. Asia Minor abounds with deer, hares, large partridges, and a variety of other game. The ferocious animals are not few in number. Jackals range