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The most noted rivers in Mofcovy. fciences and war, is ufually distributed into five principal parts; Epirus, Pelo ponnefus, Hellas or Greece properly fo called, Theffaly, and Macedonia. The moft famous cities of old in all Greece were, Athens, Corinth, and Lacedæ

are, the Tanais, or, as it is commonly called, the Don, the Wolga, Oby, and

Dwina.

$ 20.

THRACE.

This was the ancient name of a country now called Romania, fituate on the Thracian Bofphorus. Conftantinople is the capital of Romania, and of the whole Turkish empire: this city was formerly called Byzantium, but now the Turks call it Stamboul; it is thought to be the greatest and moft populous of all the cities in Europe, and it is the place where the Turkish emperors refide. Adrianople is the fecond city in Thrace.

The most remarkable mountains in Thrace are, Hamus, Pangæus, Rhodope, Ifmarus. The rivers are, the Neffus, Hebrus, and Bathynias, which the army of Xerxes is reported to have drank dry.

§ 21. MOESIA.

It is fituate beyond Macedonia and Thrace. The Romans called it the granary of Ceres. It is divided into upper, called Servia; and lower, called Bulgaria.

§ 22.

TRANSYLVANIA.

It is fuppofed to take its name from the vaft forests that furround it; and

from the fevén cities in it, it is called

by the Germans Siebenbürgen. The chief city is Cibinium or Hermanftadt.

Walachia was anciently divided into great and little: the greater is now called Moldavia; the leffer, Walachia. called Moldavia; the leffer, Walachia. The whole country was formerly known by the name Dacia, inhabited by Scythians.

Tartary in Europe, or the Leffer with refpect to Great Tartary, which is in Afia, is divided into Precopenfis and Crim-Tartary: the firft lies in the Cherfonefus Taurica; the latter contains the rest beyond it.

mon.

The moft celebrated rivers are, Acheron, Achelous, Eurotas, Inachus, Aliacmon, Axius, Strymon, Celidnus. The moft confpicuous mountains are, the Acroceraunii, Pindus, Stymphalus, Taygetus, Callidromus, Othrys, Oëta, Helicon, Parnaffus, Cytheron, Hymettus, Olympus, Pelius, Offa, and Athos, which was dug through by Xerxes.

The chief of all thofe iflands, which lie, almost without number, oppofite to the Grecian fhore, is Crete, as it was called by the ancients, now Candia, the name of the metropolis as well as of the ifland. In the midst of the Ægean fea are the Cyclades, and round them the Sporades.

§ 24. A SI A.

This quarter of the world, where the first of human kind appeared, and where God himself was made manifeft in the flefh, is bounded on the north by the Scythian fea, on the east by the Eaftern ocean, on the fouth by the Indian fea, and on the weft by the Arabian gulph, and by an ifthmus between that and the the Phoenician and Egean feas, the Mediterranean; hence it is bounded by Propontis, Pontus, the lake Maotis, the rivers Tanais and Oby.

Anciently it was divided into greater and leffer by the moderns, into five principal parts, namely, into Tartary, China, India, with the adjacent iflands, the kingdom of the Sophi or Perfians, and the Turkish empire.

Tartary in Afia is divided into five principal parts: the first of which is called Tartary in the Defert, of which Aftracan, fituate on the Wolga, is the chief city; the fecond is Zagataia, the famous by Tamerlane, the moft warlike metropolis of which is Samarcand, made emperor of the Tartars; the third is the kingdom of Turkeftan, the country of the ancient Sacæ; the fourth is the This country, once fo renowned for empire of the Great Cham; the fifth,

$23. GREECE.

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India, fo fertile in precious ftones, fpices, gold, and filver, is feparated by the Ganges; on this fide is Indoftan, on the other Mangi or India beyond the Ganges.

The principal parts into which India is divided are, Cambaja, Narfinga, Ma. Jabar, Orixa, Bengal, Pegu, Siam, Camboia, The Great Mogul, once the moft powerful of the kings of India, was in poffeffion of the northern part of India, which is therefore called the empire of the Mogul; but his power is reduced to nothing, fince the acquifitions of the English in that country.

The greatest cities in India are, Cambaia or Cairo of India, Goa, Calecut, Calcutta in the province of Bengal, Pe. gu, Camboia, Delhi, and Agra. The molt celebrated rivers, Indus and Gan. ges, which is faid to abound with diamonds and gold duft: this river gives its name to the gulph into which it flows, which however is moft commonly known by the name of the gulph or bay of Bengal: the rivers Hydafpes and Hy. pafis fall into its channel, and it divides India into two parts.

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triana, Margiana, Hyrcania, Aria, Parthia, Perlis, Sufiana, Affyria, Media. It boasts of having Ifpahan for a metropolis; and the Perfians call it the half of the world. The most famous cities of old in Perfia were, Persepolis, formerly the capital of the Perfian empire; and Nineveh in Affyria, of which city we read in the holy fcriptures.

In Ata the following regions belong to the Turkish empire, Albania, Iberia, Colchis, Armenia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Pontus and Bithynia, Aña Minor or Natolia, Lycia, Pamphylia, Cilicia,

Syria, Mefopotamia, Babylonia, Ara

bia.

Among the lands are, Cyprus, Rhodes, Lefbus, and Cos.

Albania was once famous for the moloffus or mattiff; Iberia for poifons; Colchis, the golden fleece, and the mount Caucafus ; Armenia for mount Antitaurus, and the Tigris and Euphrates, the most celebrated rivers in the eat; Cappadocia for the city Iconium, and the rivers Iris and Thermodon; Galatia for the city of Sinope, ennobled by the birth of Mithridates, and mount Didymus; Pontus and Bithynia for Chalcedon the metropolis.

Natolia, or Afia minor, is divided into Phrygia, Myfia, Lydia, Caria, Æolia, Ionia, and Doris.

The mcft noted cities of old in Natolia were, thofe of Troy or Ilium in Phrygia, famed for its fiege and deftruction by the Greeks; Pergamus in Myfia, famous for the birth of Galen ; in Lydia, Sardis and Philadelphia; in Caria, Laodicea, and Priene the coun try of Bias; in Ionia, Ephefus, famous for the temple of Diana; in Doris, Halicarnaffus, the native foil both of He. rodotus and Dionyfius, called Halicarnaffenfis from the name of his country.

The most remarkable rivers in Na

tolia are, the Meander, with infinite windings and turnings, in Phrygia; Hermus, and Pactolus with its golden fands, in Lydia. Of mountains the most confpicuous are, Cadmus in Phrygia, which feparates it from Lycia; mount Ida in Myfia; Latmus in Caria.

Lycia is famous for the burning mount Chimera, which gave rife to the flory of the moniter with three bodies. The

chief city is Patara, whence one of the names of Apollo was Pataræus.

In Pamphylia is mount Taurus, of prodigious extent, and which divides all Afia into two parts; that to the north called Afia on this fide of Taurus, that to the fouth, Afia beyond Taurus.

Cilicia, now called Carmania. The city of Tarfus, which was honoured by the birth and studies of St. Paul, and the river Cydnus, belong to this country.

Syria is divided into Palestine, Phonicia, Antiochia, Comagene, and ColeSyria.

Palestine, in the Scriptures called Canaan, or the Holy Land, and Land of Promife, was anciently divided into Idumæa, Judæa, Samaria, and Galilee. On account of its fertility and great abundance, this country is called in Scripture, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Gaza is one of the firft cities in Idumæa; it was inhabited by the fons of Anak; whofe gates, being pulled down by Samfon, were carried by his miraculous ftrength to a neighbouring mountain near Hebron. Here alfo was Themnas, in which country Samfon flew the lion alfo the defert of Berfaba, whither Agar, Sarah's fervant, with her fon Ifmael, fled, being turned out of doors; as did Elias, to avoid the menaces of Jefabel.

Judæa boafts Jerufalem its metropolis, the most famous of all cities in the eaft, burnt and deftroyed by Titus Vefpafian. Among other principal cities belonging to the Jews, and fituate near the coaft, Afcalon was very confiderable for its ftrength and riches; Azotus or Afdod; Jamnia; Joppa: but in the inland country flood Bethlehem, fo renowned over all the world for the birth of Christ our Saviour; alfo Jericho, or the city of palms, which Joshua befieged. Among the towns and villages was Emmaus, in the way to which Chrift fhewed himself to two of his difciples, the fame day on which he rofe from the dead; alfo Bethphage, Bethany, and Gethsemane.

Jordan was the principal river in Judæa, famous for the baptifm of Chrift our Saviour, and other miraculous events recorded in Scripture. Afphal-.

tites, called alfo the Dead er Salt Sea, is a lake in Judæa.

Of mountains, there were fome within and others without the walls of Jerufalem. Moria, on which was built the temple of Solomon, was within; the mount of Olives, with the neighbouring valley of Jehofaphat, and the brook Kedron, were without the walls: on the western fide was mount Calvary, called alfo Golgotha, near to which was the garden, with the fepulchre in which Chrift was laid.

Samaria was the name of a city and country lying between Judaa and Galilee, which had been befieged and taken by Salmanafar king of Affyria. Among other cities were, Neapolis, Gamala, and on the coaft, Apollonia; Bethel and Dan lay between moun tains: the tower of Strato or Cæfarea of Palestine fhewed itfelf among the principal towns of Galilee, on the coaft, remarkable for the magnificence of its ftructure, which was enlarged by Herod, and for the bondage of St. Paul.

On the lake of Genefareth flood Capernaum, a rich and noble city, which Chrift, leaving Nazareth,honoured with his prefence, dwelling and performing many miracles there; alfo Corazin and Bethfaida, the ruin of which cities was foretold by Chrift; and Julias, Tibe rias, Magdalum, and Tarachæa: be tween the lake of Genefareth and the Phoenician fea flood Nazareth, where Chrift was brought up; alfo Cana of Galilee, where our Saviour performed the miracle of turning water into wine.

Genefareth was the most famous lake in Galilee, fo called from the adjacent country of Genefar, otherwife the fea of Tiberias, from a city on the banks thereof. It was also called the fea of Galilee, becaufe it was for the greatest part inclofed in it. Hermon was famed for its dew, one of the most remarkable hills; oppofite to which are thofe of Gilboah, on which Saul, king of Ifrael, was flain by the Philiftines; between thefe hills is the valley of Jef reel. Thabor was the hill on which was the transfiguration of Jefus.

Phoenicia is divided into Upper Ga lilee, or Galilee of the Gentiles, and Syro-Phoenicia. Tyre and Sidon were

the

the greatest cities; and Libanon, AntiLibanon, and Carmel, the highest mountains.

Antiochene was called Tetrapolis, on account of the four following towns, Antioch, Apamea, Seleucia, Laodicea. In this country are, mount Cafius, and the rivers Belus, Lycus, Adones.

In Comagene, the laft diftrict in Syria, Samofata was once the capital, noted for the birth of Lucian.

Cæle-Syria, or Syria in the Bottom, is divided into three remarkable diftricts, Decapolis, Tetrachias, and Palmyra. Damafcus was formerly the capital of this kingdom, and of all Syria. Mefopotamia, of which Seleucia Magna was anciently one of the principal cities, is fituate between the Tigris and Euphrates. Not far from Mefopotamia was Babylon, the metropolis of Babylonia in Affyria, eminent for the many ancient accounts given of it. The part of Babylonia towards the fouth is called Chaldæa.

Arabia is diftinguished by the names of Petræa, the Defert, and Arabia Fe. lix. The first was inhabited by the Nabathci, the Defert, by the Nomades and Scenite; the laft, which abounds with fpices and frankincenfe, by the Saracens, the Minai, and Sabeans, who had a town called Saba. Of all the mountains in Arabia of the Defert, the moft famous was that of Sinai, diftinguifhed by the delivery of the law of God.

The most remarkable modern cities in that part of Afia already defcribed are, Damafcus, Aleppo, Alexandretta, Tripoli of Syria, and Mecca in Arabia Felix, eminent for the birth of Mohammed.

Lefbus, Chius, Samus, and Cos, are the principal islands in the Ægean fea; Cyprus and Rhodes in the Afiatic fea; the first of these islands was anciently dedicated to Venus, the other had a coloffal ftatue of the Sun, which was one of the feven wonders of the world.

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the Atlantic to the weft, the Mediterranean to the north, and the Ethiopic to the fouth.

The regions according to which Africa is at prefent diftinguished are, Egypt, Barbary, Biledulgerid, Sarra in the Defert, the country of Nigritia, Upper and Lower Ethiopia.

Egypt is divided by the Nile into Upper and Lower: it is eminent for the cities of Alexandria, Thebes of Egypt, Arfinoe, Heliopolis, and Memphis, and near it thofe ftupendous ftructures of the pyramids. The metropolis of modern Egypt is Cairo or Alkair.

The most celebrated river of Ægypt is the Nile, which at a certain time of the year overflows, and discharges itself at feven mouths into the Egyptian sea.

Barbary comprehends the country of Barca, the eaftern half of which was by the ancients called Cyreniaca; the kingdom of Tunis, or Africa minor; the country of Tripoli; that of Tremifen, including Numidia; the kingdoms of Fez and Morocco; and Dara. Tunis is the capital of the kingdom of that name; Algiers, infamous for its piracies, is the metropolis of Tremifen.

Biledulgerid, anciently Gætulia or the country of Dates, is bounded on the fouth by mount Atlas, the highest in all Africa, which old authors have reported to fhine with frequent fires in the night, and to refound with the fongs of Satyrs and Ægipans, and the noife of drums and cymbals.

Sarra or Zaara of the Defert, anciently Lybia interior, confifts of immenfe deferts, with dens and retreats of wild beafts, and reaches from mount Atlas to the River Niger.

The country of Nigritia is wafhed by the Niger, the nobleft river in Africa; and is divided into several districts, the chief of which is Guinea; the coaft of which, from the quantity of gold found there, is called the Golden coast.

Ethiopia is divided into Upper or the kingdom of Abyffinia, and Lower, and the regions of Congo, Monomotapa, Cafreria, Zangibar, Ajan, Nubia, and Troglodytica.

The most noted inhabitants of Africa among the ancients were the Ægyptians, who contended with the Scythi

ans

ans for the antiquity of their nation, and were the inventors of many arts. Befides these were the Nafamones, Pfylli, Nomades, Troglodytæ, Garamantes, Mauri, Gætuli, Nubii, Nigritiæ, Æthiopes Anthropophagi, or Canibals, now called Caffres or Hottentots.

The greatest island near the African coaft is that of Madagascar, difcovered in 1492; the islands of Cape Verd, Madeira, and the Canaries, with that of St. Thomas and St. Helena in the Ethiopic fea, deserve notice,

$ 29. AMERICA.

It is bounded on the north by the Arctic Lands; on the fouth by the ftraits of Magellan, which feparate it from Terra del Fuego; on the east by the Atlantic or Western ocean; on the weft by the Pacific or South fea.

The whole continent of America is divided into north and south, by a narrow ifthmus paffing between them. In North America are the following countries :

United States.

(New England,

of which the

New Mexico or Grenada, with the town of Santa Fe.

Louisiana, with the city of New Orleans.

Florida, with the city of St. Auguftin. Canada, in which the principal town is Quebec.

Nova Scotia, principal town Halifax. Principal rivers in North America are, St. Laurence, and Miffiffipi.

South America is divided into the following great parts: Terra Firma, with the city of Panama; Peru, in which is Lima; Brafil, with St. Salvador; Land of the Amazons; Chili, in which is St. Jago; Paraguay, with the town called Affumption; Magellanic lands.

Principal rivers in South America are, the Rio de la Plata, and Amazon.

The chief of the American islands are as follows: Newfoundland, Cape Breton, Bermudas, &c.

$30. ISLANDS in the WEST INDIES.

Cuba, Hifpaniola or St. Domingo, Jamaica, Porto Rico, Barbadoes, Lucayos or Bahama Ifles; the Antilles or

New Hampshire, principal town Caribbees; with many others of lefs

Connecticut,
Rhode Island,
New York,
New Jerfies,
Pennfylvania,
Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,

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North Carolina, · Edenton
South Carolina,

Georgia,

Charles-town
Savannah.

Arctic Lands, New Wales, Green

land.

Labrador or New Britain.

New Albion, California.

note.

$31. ARCTIC LANDS.

The lands included under this name are New Guinea, which lies to the eaft of the Molucco iflands in the East Indies; New Britain, a little to the east of New Guinea; New Holland, to the fouth of the Moluccos; Van Diemen's land, to the fouth-east of New Holland; the Terra Australis, to the fouthweft of the Cape of Good Hope in Africa; the lands of the Holy Spirit, which lie about 20 degrees to the east of New Holland; and New Zeland,

Mexico or New Spain, in which is which lies as many to the caft of Van the city of Mexico.

Diemen's land.

A New

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