369. The importance attached by mankind, in all quarters of the world, to the worship of the Deity, is most strikingly displayed by the numbers of costly and splendid edifices erected for religious purposes. What nations are superior in knowledge and power to all others? What will cause their religion to be spread over the greater part of the earth? To what do mankind, in all quarters of the world, attach importance? How is it most strikingly displayed 370. These are called among Christians, churches, cathedrals, and chapels; amongst the Mahomedans, they take the name of Mosques; and among the Pagan Hindoos, they are termed Pagodas. 32 LANGUAGES. 371. The diversities of language form one of the most striking points of distinction between the various nations of the earth, and their arrangement into a general system constitutes an important branch of geography. The languages of cultivated nations are both written and spoken; while those of savage and barbarous races are merely verbal. and are not reduced to writing. 372. The number of original languages in the world, is about 80, but the various dialects or branches derived from them, amounts to upwards of 3000, of which more than 1200 are American, and about 550 European. In Asia and Oceanica, there are nearly 1000, and in Africa, 276. How many original languages are there in the world? How many branches or dialects are derived from them? How many of these are American? How many are European? How many are there in Asia and Oceanica ? How many are there in Africa? 373. The Chinese language is spoken by the greatest number of people, but the English is the most widely spread, and will probably become more general than any other. It is now spoken in every quarter of the globe, and is distinguished for its simplicity, conciseness, and strength. 374. The number of books printed in the English is, probally greater than in any other language; and the influence of English Literature is more extensive than any other existing. What language is spoken by the greatest number of people? For what is it distinguished? In what language is it probable that the greatest number of books is printed? G EXERCISES ON THE MAPS. MAP OF THE WORLD, No. 1, BEFORE THE LEARNER. Of what Hemispheres does this Map consist? En. and Wn. A. All that part of the earth lying east of longitude 20 degrees west from Greenwich. Hemisphere signifies half a globe. What great divisions does the Eastern Hemisphere contain? Ee. Aa., Aa. These divisions form the Eastern Continent, or Old World. What does the Western Continent comprise ? A. All that part of the earth lying west of longitude 20 degrees west from Greenwich. What great divisions does the Western Hemisphere contain? N.. Aa., S.-Aa. These divisions form the Western Continent, or the New World. What is a Continent? Refer to No. 53, page 14. What great division lies partly in the Eastern and partly in the Western Hemisphere? Oa. This division is composed entirely of islands. Which Hemisphere contains the greatest amount of land? En. Which Hemisphere contains the greatest amount of water? Wn Which Hemisphere contains the largest islands? En. Which is the largest island in the world? Aa. Which are the two next largest? Bo., N.-Ga. Which is the largest division of the Eastern Hemisphere ? A&. Which division of the Eastern Hemisphere extends farthest south? Which extends farthest south, Europe or Asia? Aa Which extends farthest west? Aa. Which extends farthest east? Aa. 34 Which is the most southern land in the Eastern Hemisphere? Es Ld., Ac.-Ct. The most southern in the Western Hemisphere Va.-Ld., GB.-Ld What is an Ocean? What five Oceans in the Eastern Hemisphere? Nn., Sn., Pc. Ac., In. What four Oceans in the Western Hemisphere? Nn., Sn., Pc., Ac There are five Oceans, of which four extend into both Hemispheres The Indian is the only Ocean that is wholly in one Hemisphere. Aa. Which is the largest Ocean? Pc. Which is the fourth in extent? Which is the fifth in extent? In. Sn. or Antarctic. Which is the largest division of the Western Hemisphere? N. Is North America in North or South Latitude? N.-Le. Why is it in North Latitude" Is South America mostly in North or in South Latitude? S.-Le. In what direction does South America lie from North America? S What regions lie south and south-east of South America? S.-Sd.. 8.-Oy., S.-Ld., G.-Ld. What region lies south-west of South America? Va.-Ld. 35 MAP OF THE WORLD, NO. 2. What Hemispheres does this map comprise? Nn. and Sn. What great divisions are partly in the Northern Hemisphere? Aa. S-Aa., Oa. What does the Northern Hemisphere comprise? A. All that part of the earth north of the Equator. What does the Southern Hemisphere comprise? A. All that part of the earth south of the Equator. What great divisions are partly in the Suthern Hemisphere? Aa. 8.-Sa., Os. What four regions lie nearest the North Pole? N.-Sa., N.-Z., Sn., Gd. Nearest the South Pole? Va.-Ld., Ac.-Ct., Gs.-Ld., Es.-Ld. The Antarctic Continent was discovered in 1840 by the United States Exploring Expedition, commanded by Lieutenant Wilkes; it is the most extensive region yet known south of the great continents.See Map No. 3. What navigator has sailed nearest the South Pole? A. Captain James C. Ross, in 1840. What other navigator sailed nearly as far south? A. Captain James Weddel, in 1823. Captain Ross sailed within 830 miles of the South Pole. Some navigators have gone still nearer to the North Pole: Captain Parry went within 500 miles of it, but was stopped by the ice from approaching closer. He found the sea, even in the middle of summer, covered with ice, and no signs of either birds or beasts were to be seen. 36 MAP NO. 4.-NORTH AMERICA. What Ocean bounds North America on the East? Ao. What Sea is north of British and Russian America? Pr. What Sea between the West Indies and South America? Cn. What great Gulf lies east of Mexico? Mo. What Gulf south-east of Boothia Felix? Ba. What great Bay separates Pr. William's Land from Greenland? Be What great Bay is south-west of Prince William's Land? Hs. What Bay south of Hudson's Bay? Js. What Bay between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick? Fy. What two Bays on the east coast of the United States? De., Ce What Bay east of Yucatan? Hs. > What Strait between America and Asia? Bs. What Strait west of Greenland? Ds. What does it connect? B.-By. and the A.-On. What three Straits north of Labrador? Hs., Fs., Cd. What two Sounds in Baffin's Bay? Ss., Ls. What Sound on the east coast of Greenland? Ds. What two Sounds in Russian America? Nn., P.-Ws. What Sound between Washington or Queen Charlotte's and Quadra and Vancouver's Island? Q.-Cs. What Sound north of Cape Hatteras? Ae. What five Lakes are in the northern part of the United States? Sr., Mn., Hn., Ee., Oo. What river do they all flow into? S.-Le. Name the principal Lakes in British America? Wg., Aa., G.-Se G.-Br. What Lake in the northern part of California? G. S. L. What Lake is in the southern part of Guatimala? Na. Name the two chief Rivers that flow into Hudson's Bay. Nn., Cl. What River of the United States flows into the Pacific Ocean? Ca. What River flows into the Gulf of California? Co. Which two large Rivers flow into the Gulf of Mexico? Mi., No. What River flows into the Gulf of St. Lawrence? S.-Le. What River flows into the Gulf of Georgia? Fs. What Rivers flow into San Francisco Bay? So., S.-J. What River flows from Lake Chapala? Ge. What River flows from Lake Nicaragua? S.-Jn. Describe a River. 34. How are Rivers shown on Maps? 174. What Peninsula is in the south part of Russian America? Aa. What Peninsula north of Hudson's Bay? Me. What Peninsula in the southern part of British America? N. Sa. |