mora, the Archipelago, the Sea of Asaph, the Levant, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Caspian Sea, which is the only lake in Asia.

Lord G. What are the chief rivers in this quarter of the globe, my dear Mentoria?

Ment. The Tigris and Euphrates, between Arabia and Persia; the Indus and the Ganges, in India, which proceeds from Mount Imo, or Immaus, and passes through the kingdom of Bengal, from whence it flows into the sea.

Lady L. Are there any tremendous mountains?

Ment. The highest mountains in Asia are Ararat, near the Caspian Sea; Horeb and Sinai, in Arabia; Lebanon in Judea; Mount Taurus, extending from the East to the West of Asia; Imo in Tartary; Caucasus, between the Empire of the Great Mogul and Tartary; and the Nauracut in Thibet.

Lord G. Will you be kind enough to mention what are the most distinguished places in Asia, with their respective capitals, as you did when you were treating of Europe;

Ment. I will begin with informing you the Empire of China is the most eastern part of Asia, which is said to contain 400 walled cities. The most capital of them are Pekin, Nankin,

Nankin, and Canton. Tartary comprehends all the northern parts of Asia; that part which joins to Moscovy is usually called Moscovy in Asia, and is in subjection to the Russians, where Siberia is situated: a vast tract of land. The Empire of the Great Mogul, otherwise called the East Indies, India, or Indostan, the capital cities of which are Agra and Delhi. Persia is a large Empire to the east of Turkey: the capital city and residence of the Emperor is Ispahan. Turkey in Asia contains the following provinces: Anatolia, Armenia, Assyria, Chaldea, Syria, Judea or Palestine, Circassia, and Phoenicia: all in subjection to the Turks. In the Holy Land or Palestine, and its environs, were situated Tyre, Damas cus, Sidon, Samaria, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem, the Holy City or capital. Babylon was the capital of Chaldea, and Nineveh of Assyria. Arabia, near Turkey in Asia, is situated near the Persian Gulph and the Red Sea, being divided into three parts, viz. Arabia the Desert, Arabia the Rocky, and Arabia the Happy; which I make no doubt, from their respective distinctions, you will have a just idea of. In the latter are the towns of

Mecca and Medina.

The former is famous

E 2

for

for being the place of Mahomet the Impos tor's birth; the latter of his burial.

Lady L. I think the names of many of the places you have mentioned I remember to have read in the Scriptures.

Ment. Without doubt, as the most of the transactions recorded in Holy Writ were performed in this quarter of the world. It was there the Garden of Eden was situated, and consequently the first place on the globe that was inhabited. It is also remarkable, that the fall and redemption of mankind were both effected in the same regions: the one caused by our first parents' transgression; the other miraculously wrought by our blessed Saviour's birth, sufferings, and resurrection.

Lady M. I suppose the people in Asia are more than commonly religious, as such wonders were performed in their country.

Ment. It is a very natural conclusion for you to draw; but, extraordinary as it may seem, the Christian religion has suffered much by Mahometanism, which almost universally prevails in those parts, and the gross idolatry practised by the inhabitants of the most distinguished places in this quarter of the globe;

which has caused almost a total subversion of primitive and genuine Christianity.

Lord G. In what part of Asia was our Saviour born?

Ment. In Bethlehem of Judea; and in the neighbouring country he performed his miracles. He also preached the Gospel in Jerusalem, and places contiguous; and in those parts instructed his Disciples; and was crucified on Mount Calvary.

Lord G. Is Jerusalem a famous place now?

Ment. As the Prophets had foretold, it was destroyed, and literally not one stone left upon another. It was subdued by Titus Vespasians a great Roman General, after a long siege, and was burnt and totally destroyed Anno Domini 70: which caused the Jews to be a dispersed people; and proves, that as they disdained to accept the promised Messiah, they must and will for a longer time remain fugitives on earth!

Lady M. I hope, my dear Mentoria, you have not quite finished; I feel myself so interested in these geographical traits; more particularly when you mix them with those of history.

Ment. I should be happy to expatiate on

the subject, but I must be under the necessity at present of turning my thoughts to Africa, which is a Peninsula, and is joined to Asia by the Isthmus of Suez. Its situation is between 18 degrees West, and 50 East Longitude, and between 37 North, and 35 South Latitude, and is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the North; the Isthmus of Suez, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean on the East; and by the Atlantic Ocean on the West; and the Southern Ocean on the South.

Lord G. Is Africa as big as Europe, my dear Mentoria?

Ment. It is nearly as large again, and is evinputed to be 14,400 miles in circumference. It is divided into the following countries: Barbary, Zaara, Egypt, Negroland, Guinea, Abyssinia, Abex, Nubia, Zanguebar, Anian, Monomotapa, Monomugi, Congo, and Caffraria.

Lady M.

in Africa?

What are the principal Islands

Ment. Madagascar (which also bears the name of St. Lawrence), the Cape de Verd Islands, the Canaries, Madeira, the Guinea Isles, and the Islands of St. Helena and Ascen sion, with some inconsiderable ones in the Ethiopic Sea.

Lord