ria? Liaghoff I.? Behring's Is.? Aleutian Is.? Kurile Is,? Tchan. tar Is.? Saghalien? Jesso? Niphon? Sikoke? Kiusiu? Loo-Choo Is.? Formoso? Hainan? Pulo Penang I.? Andaman Is.? Nicobar Is. Ceylon? Laccadive Is.? Maldive Is.? Cyprus?

Where is Balcash Lake? Zaizan Nor? Altyn L.? L. Baikal ? Poyang L.? Touting L.? Koko Nor? L. Zurrah? Urumiyah L. ? Where are the Ural Mountains? Little Altai? Great Altai? Taurus Mountains? Mt. Sinai? Mt. Ararat? Caucasus ? Elborz ? Hindoo Koosh? Himalaya or Himmaleh? Ghaut? Beloor? ThianShan? Kuen-lun? Peling? Meling?

Where is the Peninsula of Kamtschatka? Corea? Malacca ? Hindoostan? Arabia? What two seas form the western part of Turkey into a peninsula? What seas and gulf form Arabia into a peninsula ? Where is the Isthmus of Suez? Of Kraw?

Where is the Desert of Cobi? Of Akhaf? Great Salt Desert? Great Sandy Desert?

In what latitude is Asia? In what longitude? In which Zone is the northern part? The centre? Southern?

192

ASIATIC RUSSIA.

1. ASIATIC RUSSIA extends from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. It comprises the whole of Siberia, with the districts south of the Caucasus Mountains.

SIBERIA.

2. SIBERIA contains nearly a third part of Asia, and is mostly a cold, dreary region, occupied by extensive plains or steppes. Some of its southern districts are, however, rich and fertile.

3. It serves as a place of banishment for convicts and prisoners of state. Some of the latter have been men of superior talents, and were banished only for political causes.

4. The Ural and Altai Mountains contain mines of gold, silver, copper, and lead. The sable and other fur-bearing animals abound. Fossil ivory, formed of the tusks and teeth of the extinct mammoth, is dug up on the northern shores and islands. The inhabitants consist of Russians and the Samoieds, Tungouses, and other barbarous tribes. 5. Omsk, on the Irtysh, is the capital of Western Siberia; it is

Asiatic Russia. Q.-1. How far does Asiatic Russia extend? What does it comprise? 2. What is said of Siberia? 3. For what does it serve? What is said of the latter? 4. The Ural and Altai Mountains? The sable? Fossil ivory? The population? 5. Omsk, &c.?

strongly garrisoned, and has a military school. Tobolsk, at the confluence of the Irtysh and Tobol rivers, is inhabited chiefly by exiles and their descendants. Irkoutsk, on the Angara, the capital of Eastern Siberia, is the great commercial emporium of north-eastern Asia. Tomsk, Yakoutsk, and Ochotsk, are the next important towns. Kiachta, the trade with China is carried on.

CAUCASIAN RUSSIA.

At

6. This part of Asiatic Russia comprises Georgia, Abasia, Mingrelia, and Nakshivan. It extends from the Black Sea to the Caspian, and is a fine, fertile district.

7. Georgia, the largest division, stretches from the source of the river Kur almost to the Caspian; Mingrelia lies northwestward of Georgia; Abasia extends along the coast of the Black Sea; Nakshivan is contiguous to Turkish Armenia.

8. The whole territory is a declivity sloping down from the summits of the Caucasus, and is subject to great diversities of climate. The products comprise many common to both temperate and tropical countries. The vine grows luxuriantly, and wine is an important product.

9. The inhabitants are principally Christians of the Greek and Armenian churches. The Georgians are a handsome race; the women, except being of darker complexion, rival those of Circassia in beauty. The Armenians are devoted to commerce, and are found, as merchants, all over the East, from Turkey to China.

10. Georgia was once an independent state; it was long the battlefield between the Russians and Persians, and became almost depopu lated. In 1797, it formed an alliance with Russia, and four years afterwards it was annexed to the Russian empire.

11. Teflis, on the Kur, is the capital of Georgia; it is noted for its hot-baths. Erivan, on the Zengui, is a strong fortress, situated on a high rock. At Nakshivan, Noah is said to have planted a vineyard after the flood. Baku is famous for its naphtha springs.

Map No. 26.-What bounds Siberia on the north? A.-On. -South? A.-Ms.-East? S.-Ka.-What rivers flow into the Arctic Ocean? Oe., Ye., La. - How long is each of these? Which is the most northern cape of Siberia? C.-Vi. - Eastern? Et.- - Southern? La. — What strait between Siberia and North America? Bs.- How wide is it? What lake in Siberia? Bl. What peninsula east of the Sea of

-

Irkoutsk, &c.? 6. What does Caucasian Russia comprise? What is said of it? 7. Of Georgia? Mingrelia, &c.? 8. The whole territory? Products, &c.? 9. The inhabitants? The Georgians? Armenians? 10. What was Georgia? What occurred in 1797, &c.? 11. What is said of Teflis? Erivan, &c.?

Map No. 21.

What tribes are in Siberia? Ss., Os., Ts., BS., Ys.,

What mountains on the north?

Cs.

- River and country south? As., Pa. Sea east? Cn.-Sea west? Bk. - Coun try west?

Ty.

193

TURKEY IN ASIA, OR ASIATIC TURKEY.

1. THIS part of Turkey extends over some of the finest regions in Asia. It contained in ancient times a number of important states; but ignorance and barbarism now cover the land, and few traces of its former civilization remain.

2. The islands of the Archipelago were once wealthy and prosperous, but are now reduced to almost a state of barbarism. The principal of those still belonging to Turkey, are Rhodes, Samos, Scio, and Metelin.

3. Smyrna, on a gulf of the same name, is the chief sea-port of Anatolia, the western part of Asiatic Turkey. Trebisonde, on the Black Sea, is the emporium of that part of the empire.

4. Brusa, Erzerum, and Diarbekir, in the interior, Bagdad, on the Tigris, and Bussorah, on the Euphrates, are important cities. Kutaya is noted as the late residence of Kossuth and other Hungarian patriots. On the Euphrates, at Hillah, are the ruins, of Babylon, the most splendid city of ancient times. The remains of Nineveh, the once renowned capital of the Assyrian empire, are on the Tigris River, below Mosul.

SYRIA.

5. SYRIA has long formed one of the chief divisions of the Turkish empire. It extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates, and is nearly equal in area to the State of Virginia.

6. No country was in ancient times more celebrated. In the southwest was the land of Israel, the birthplace of the Jewish and Christian religions. Tyre and Sidon were renowned for their commerce. Baalbec and Palmyra, once splendid cities, are now in ruins.

7. Damascus, the capital, was an important city 4000 years ago. It is situated in a beautiful plain, and is noted for its fine gardens. Aleppo was the largest city in Syria. In 1822, it was nearly destroyed by an earthquake; but is slowly reviving. Beyrout, Latakia, and Tripoli or Tarablus, all on the Mediterranean, possess some trade.

Turkey, &c. Q.-1. Describe Turkey in Asia. 2. The islands. 3. Smyrna. Trebisonde. 4. Brusa, &c. 5. What did Syria form? What is said of it? 6. The country? 7. Damascus? 8. Describe

8. PALESTINE, or the Holy Land, occupies the south-easternmost part of Syria. It is remarkable for being the scene of most of the events recorded in the sacred Scriptures

9. The surface is diversified with mountains and valleys. Of the former, Lebanon has been long noted for its cedars; Tabor, for the transfiguration of Christ; and the Mount of Olives, as the scene of his ascension to heaven.

10. Jerusalem was in ancient times the capital of the Jewish nation, and often the resort of Christ and his disciples. It lies 30 miles east of the Mediterranean Sea, and is a gloomy, mean town, owing its chief support to the veneration in which it is held by Christians, Jews, and Mahommedans, which still procures it the visits of many pious pil. grims.

11. Bethlehem, six miles south of Jerusalem, is remarkable as the birthplace of our Saviour. Nazareth, where he resided until he commenced his ministry, is, next to Jerusalein, the most holy place in Palestine. Acre, noted for its sieges, Gaza, and Joppa, are the principal towns on the coast.

Map No. 26.-How is Turkey bounded? What river flows into the Persian Gulf? Es. Into the Euphrates? Ts. - How long are these rivers? What mountains lie north of the Mediterranean Sea? Ts.How high are they? What mountain in the north-east? At.

Palestine. 9. The surface. Mountains, &c. 10. Jerusalem. 11. Bethlehem. Nazareth, &c.

Map No. 27.-What sea bounds Palestine on the west? Mn. What river flows into the Dead Sea? Jn.- How long is it? The Dead Sea?

1. ARABIA is a large peninsula, extending from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf. It consists chiefly of sandy deserts, interspersed with fertile spots, like islands in the ocean.

2. It comprises Mecca, or the Hedjaz, Nedsjed, the country of the Wahabees, the states of Yemen and Oman, and the districts of Hadramaut and Lahsa.

3. The inhabitants are principally Arabs, with some Turkish, Jew. ish, and Hindoo merchants in the towns. The people of the desert, or Bedouins, live in tents, and lead a wandering life. They are generally hospitable and courteous to those who visit them, but often attack and rob the caravans that pass through their country.

4. The Arabs are of a brown complexion, thin and spare in person, but vigorous and active. They are temperate from necessity, but when opportunity offers they compensate for their usual meagre fare.

5. The Arab horses are the finest in the world. The most useful animal is the camel: it will travel for several days without water, car.

Arabia. Q.-1. What is said of Arabia, &c.? 2. The Arabian 3. Inhabitants? Bedouins? 4. Arabs, &c.? 5. Horses.

states.