Nipon; but, by the Chinese, Sipon and Jepuen, whence arose the European name of Japan. It is about 700 miles in length, and 75 in breadth. The whole country consists almost entirely of mountains, hills, and valleys, and an extensive plain is scarcely to be seen. There are several volcanoes in these islands, one of which is constantly in a state of eruption. Gold is found in several parts; but the people are prohibited digging up more than a stated quantity; nor can a mine of any metal whatever be opened and wrought, without the emperor's express permission. The heat in summer is very great, and would be insupportable, were not the air cooled by the sea breezes. The cold in winter is equally intense. A great deal of rain falls for some weeks, rendering the soil, which is most industriously cultivated, exuberantly fertile. There seem to be no peculiar animals in these islands. There are buffaloes, wolves, foxes, and dogs. The horses, cattle, and sheep, are very few for a country so populous. Its population, however, is not known with certainty; but if, as some accounts have stated, it maintains nearly half a million of men in arms, the number of inhabitants may be conjectured to be between twenty and thirty millions.

Jeddo, the capital of Nipon, and of the whole country, is said to be twentyone hours' walk in circumference, or about twenty one-leagues; the streets are straight and wide, and at certain distances divided by gates; and at each gate there is a very high ladder, from the top of which any fire that breaks out may be discovered: a very frequent accident in that city.

In external appearance the Japanese have much resemblance to the Chinese, and the dress of both people is somewhat similar. The neck is always bare in Japan, and the common shoes are slippers, woven of rice straw, or in winter, wooden clogs. The language is supposed to have been originally a dialect of the Chinese. The houses are seldom of more than one story, and the style of architecture is evidently Chinese. Little animal food is used, and cattle are scarce. Beer made of rice is the common drink: wine is unknown, and there is little spirituous liquor. Tea is used by all ranks, and smoking of tobacco is common. The roads in Japan are good, and there is much travelling from one province, or place, to another. The Japanese have less formality and more hardihood of character than the Chinese. They are courteous, proud, brave, and honest; but superstitious and unforgiving. The national character is the more fixed, because the natives seldom leave, and travellers seldom visit the country.

The festivals and amusements are similar to those of the Chinese, but in education and literature, the Chinese are superior. The religious sects are three. The sect of Sinto believe in a supreme being, and the images erected to his honor, are numerous. One is so large that six men can sit in the eastern mode on its wrist. They believe in the immortality of the soul, but not in transmigration. The sect of Budsdo is the same with that of Buddhea. Besides these, the philosophers constitute a sect, denying the immortality of the soul, and approving suicide. The Japanese reverence recluses, bonzes, &c, of which there are many. Pilgrimages to shrines and temples are common. Christianity was introduced in 1549, and extirpated in 1638. No form of Christianity is tolerated. The subjection of the wife is still more severe than in China, and she may be put to death for speaking to any man but a near relation. Marriage is performed in the temples. The bride lights a torch at the altar, and the bridegroom another at her's, which constitutes the ceremony. The funeral observances are similar to the Chinese.

At the head of the government is an emperor, as absolute as any oriental monarch, who is all powerful in temporal matters, and a Dairi, who has full authority in what pertains to religion. The latter is regarded by the people as a god. The laws are few and simple, but severe. Death is the most common punishment. All military men, and civil officers are bound when they have committed an offence, to rip themselves up on receiving an order from

the court to that effect. The sons of people of quality, exercise themselves in youth, with a view to inflict death dexterously and gracefully. No people regard death less than the Japanese; the lowest classes prefer it to disgrace.

CHAPTER CXIII. — GENERAL VIEW OF ASIA.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. Asia is bounded north by the Arctic Ocean, east by the Pacific, south by the Indian Ocean, and west by Europe and the Mediterranean and Red Seas, which last separates it from Africa. It extends from 1° 18' to 76° 10′ N. lat., and from 26° to 190° E. lon., and is estimated to contain 20,432,205 square miles.

2. MOUNTAINS. The Uralian or Oural mountains separate Asia on the northwest from Europe. They extend from the Arctic Ocean, toward the Caspian Sea about 1200 miles, and are from 4,000 to 5,000 feet in height. The Altaian mountains extend easterly from the southern extremity of the Uralian chain, through the whole continent. Their summits rise above the height of perpetual snow. From the north of China, a branch extends northeasterly to Bhering's straits; this whole chain abounds in minerals. The Himalaya mountains already described, are connected at the western extremity with the Altaian chain. The Caucasian mountains extend 400 miles between the Black and Caspian Seas; many of their summits are covered with perpetual snow. The chain of Taurus occupies a great part of Asia Minor. The mountains of Arabia, the Ghauts of Hindoostan are not closely connected with any of the northern chains.

3. SEAS, LAKES, GULFS, &c. The Caspian Sea is an immense salt wa ter lake, surrounded by Russia, Tartary and Persia. It is 646 miles in length, and 265 in breadth, and receives the great river Volga, with several minor streams, but has no outlet. Its navigation is much incommoded by shoals, though in other places the depth is great. The Sea of Aral, east of the Cas pian, is also a salt lake 150 miles in length, and has no outlet. The Red Sea, or Arabian Gulf, between Arabia and Africa is 1400 miles in length, bat narrow. It communicates with the Indian Ocean by the Straits of Babelmandel. The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Ormus lie between Arabis and Persia. The Bay or Gulf of Bengal, extends between Hindoostan and Chin India. The Fellow Sea is comprised between the peninsula of Corea and the continent of China. The Sea of Corea lies between the Japan Islands, Corea and Tartary. The Sea of Okhotsk lies between Kamschatka

pines.

the Philip

which appear like immense platforms elevated on the tops of mountains. 4. STEPPES. Asia has immense tracts of desert and steppe land, some of

The great desert of Kobi or Shamo occupies the central part of the continent, and is one vast mass of rock and sand, incapable of supporting the least ve

getation.

5. CLIMATE. In the two extremities of Asia, the extremes of heat and cold predominate. The central parts are much colder than other countries

in the same latitude.

6. NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. Asia is the native country of coffee, tea, and acteristic of the Asiatic forests. All the kinds of fruit and grain common a great number of methicinal plants. The teak, bamboo, and palm are char

to Europe are cultivated here.

7. MINERALS. Gold is found in small quantities in the southern and central parts. Iron and copper are abundant in the north and west. Silver is

found in the west; tin in the south, and quicksilver in the east. Precious stones are abundant in the south.

8. POPULATION. The population consists of four distinct races, in the following numbers according to the estimate of Hassel. Caucasian race, 164,000,000. Mongolian race, 291,000,000. Malay race, 24,000,000. Ethiopian race, 1,000,000. Total 480,000,000.

9. RELIGION. Brahmanism and Buddhism are the predominant religions, and comprise 375,000,000 of the population. The Mussulmans are about 70,000,000, and the Christians 17,000,000.

10. ANIMALS. The Tiger is peculiar to Asia. He is a native of Hindoostan, Chin India, Sumatra, China, and a few other districts. He is fearless of man, ferocious and blood-thirsty. He will kill and drag off a horse or a buffalo with the greatest ease. They are most common in Malabar, and are the scourge of the country. The usual mode of hunting them is with elephants.

The Rhinoceros is, next to the elephant, the most powerful of quadrupeds. He is 12 feet long, and 6 or 7 in height; his hide is thick enough to turn a bullet. He is found in the warm countries of Asia, and delights to wallow in the mire. The above figure was drawn from a young one which was brought to Boston from India, in 1830. His horn was just beginning to shoot; it grows slowly, and is sometimes 4 feet in length.

The Chetah is a sort of leopard, but smaller than that animal. He is comon to southern Asia, where he is domesticated and employed in hunting

like a hound.

He is very playful and familiar.

In hunting he approaches

the animal secretly, and when sufficiently near, he makes five or six enormous bounds.

The Nyl Ghau is an animal between a cow and a deer; it is of an ashy blue, and feeds upon vegetables. Most of those sent to Europe, have been obtained at Surat or Bombay.

The Elephant of Asia is larger and stronger than that of Africa. From time immemorial the people of India have used elephants in war. They are very numerous in the warm countries of Asia, and even in a wild state their manners are social and inoffensive. Their common food is roots, herbs, leaves, young branches, fruit and corn; in quest of food they often ravage large tracts of territory. They are taken by being decoyed into inclos

ires, and are easily domesticated. They carry burdens of 3000 or 4000 bounds' weight, and are used for almost every species of labor requiring great strength. Those of Ceylon exceed all others in courage and sagacity. The

king of Ava has an elephant of a cream color, which was taken in 1806, and is now about twentyfive years old, without showing any appearance of age.

The Serval of India, is found in Hindoostan and Thibet. It is about 3 feet in length, and is of a fox color spotted with black. It is fierce and rapacious, leaping from tree to tree in pursuit of birds, &c.

The Indian Or is found in all southern Asia, the East India Islands, and