55 Which Archipelago of Polynesia does the Equator pass through? câ. Which are the principal Archipelagoes and Islands of Polynesia north of the Equator? Ms.-A., As.-A., Ce., Le., Sh., Aa. What Archipelago lies on the 140th meridian of Longitude west from Greenwich? Ms. What groups of Islands does it contain? Wn., Ms. Gn., Which are the principal Islands east of the 160th meridian of Longitude west from Greenwich, and south of the Equator? Sy., Čs., Al., Ps., Pu., Gr., P.-Ws., K.-Gs. Which are the principal Islands that lie west of the 160th meridian of Longitude west from Greenwich, and south of the Equator? Ne.. Fy, Fe., Hi., Ta., Kc. What is the most northern Island of Polynesia? Ms. Kc. Which is the most eastern Island of Polynesia? Er. The most important group of Islands belonging to Polynesia is on the 20th parallel of North Latitude. Which is it? Sh. Which is the principal of the Sandwich Islands? Hi. or Oe. What high Mountain is on the Island of Hawaii and its height? M.-R. What distinguished personage was killed here in the year 17791 C. Ck. What Tropic crosses the northern part of Oceanica? Cr What great Circle crosses the central or middle part? Er In what Zone is the middle parts? Td. In what Zone is the southern part? S.-Te. Oceanica comprises 50 degrees of South Latitude, and 40 North Latitude. In what Latitude then is it mostly? Sh. Oceanica comprises about 85 degrees of east and 72 of west Longi tude from Greenwich. In what Longitude then is it mostly? Et. 1. The Earth is a vast globe or spherical body similar to a solid ball. Its entire surface is about 200 millions of square miles, of which one-fourth or 50 millions of square miles is land, and the remaining three-fourths are covered with water. 2. Ignorant people suppose the earth to be a flat body, bounded on all sides by the sea and sky. More attentive observers were, however, long ago persuaded that it is a globe or sphere, similar in form to a ball or apple. 3. Various circumstances render it evident that the earth must be a body round in every direction; of which one of the 1. What is the earth? What is its entire surface? How much is land? How much is water? 2. What do ignorant people suppose the earth to be? Of what were more attentive observers persuaded? 3. What is one of the most striking proofs that the earth is round in most striking proofs is that furnished by an eclipse of the moon, which takes place in consequence of the earth coming between the sun and the moon, and causing the circular shadow of the earth to be thrown on the latter body. 4. If the earth, instead of being round in all directions, was merely a circular flat body like the top of a round table, the shadow thrown from it on the moon would at one time or other present the appearance of an oval, of a straight line, or some other figure different from that which it has always been found to assume. 5. Sailing round the world is another proof of its globular form. It is well known that navigators, by leaving any seaport, Philadelphia for instance, and sailing as nearly east or west from it as the form of the different continents will permit, may go round the world and return to the place they left in a direction opposite to that from which they started. 6. To sail round the world is called circumnavigating it, and was first accomplished by Magellan, a Portuguese navigator, more than three hundred years ago. It was for a long time considered a great undertaking, but it has been of late years so often performed, that it is not now thought to be an enterprise of any importance. 57 7. When a ship comes from sea towards the land, we first get sight of the tops of the masts and rigging; as she advances nearer, the lower pts are seen; and at last the hull, or body of the vessel, ces distinctly into view. If the earth were not spherical, the hull would be the first part seen. 8. A person sailing to the southern parts of the earth, perceives that the sun appears more and more to come directly over him at noon, which at length actually happens; and after he has passed the Equator, the sun begins to appear to the northward, and will go farther and farther in that direction as he advances south. 9. New stars will also come into view in the southern horizon, while those in the northern parts will gradually disappear. These circum tances could not possibly happen if the earth were a flat body, whereas every direction? 4. If the earth was a circular flat body, what appear ance would its shadow present? 5. What is another proof of its globular form? How must navigators sail to go round the world? 6. What is it called? Who was the first that did it? What was it for a long time considered? 7. What do we first get sight of when s ship comes from sea? What at last comes distinctly into view? 8. What will a person sailing to the south perceive? After he has passed the Equator what will begin to appear? 9 What will come into view' on the supposition that it is spherical, they all appear simple and probable. 10. The inhabitants of the earth amount to about eight hundred millions, and if they were equally distributed, every square mile of land would contain 16 human beings. 11. On an average, a generation of men is supposed to exist about 33 years. Some individuals live more than twice, and a very few three times that period; but the estimate is that 800 millions of human beings are born and die every 33 years; being at the rate of almost 25 mil. lions a year, 66,000 every day, 2700 every hour, and 45 every minute. 12. The creation of the world, according to the book of Genesis, took place near 6,000 years ago, so that supposing the average duration of life to have been always the same, about 175 generations of men would have existed since that > time. 13. In the early ages of the earth, however, the duration of life was greater than at present; therefore, it is probable that a smaller number of generations of men must have existed than according to the above ca.culations. What could not possibly happen? 10. How many inhabitants are there on the earth? Suppose they were equally distributed, what would be the effect? 11. How long on an average does a generation of men exist? How many are born and die every thirty-three years? How many die every year? Every day? Every hour? Every minute? 12. How long nas the world been created? How many generations are supposed to have lived since that time? 13. When was the duration of life greater 58 14. The world comprises five great divisions, viz: America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceanica; these are each subdivided into various Empires, Kingdoms, Republics, &c. 15. America is a great continent, entirely separated from the other parts of the earth. It is often called the New World, and also the Western continent. 16. Europe is the smallest of the five grand divisions, yet it contains the most powerful nations in the world. 17. Asia is the largest division of the Globe, and comprises, more than one-half of the Eastern continent. It is the most populous quarter of the earth. 18. Africa is a great peninsula, united to Asia by the isthmus of Suez. It is the least known of any of the great divisions of the earth. 19. Oceanica comprises the various groups of Islands situated in the Pacific Ocean between the Eastern and Western continents. 20. Of the population of the earth, 423 millions belong to the European or Caucasian race, 283 millions to the Asiatic or Mongolian race, 92 millions to the African or Negro race, 22 millions to the Malay race, and 10 millions to the Ameri than at present? 14. What does the world comprise? What are they 15 What is America? 16. What is Europe? 17. What is Asia 18. What is Africa? 19. What does Oceanica comprise? 20. Of the population of the earth, how many belong to the European race? The Asiatic? the African? The Malay? The American? Tell from the table the number of square miles and population in America. In Europe. In Asia. In Africa. In Oceanica. Tell the extent in square miles of the Northern Ocean. The Pacific. The Atlantic. The Indian The Southern. |