PREFACE. THERE are few works in the English language that have been of more general service to British readers than Brookes's Gazetteer. The very numerous editions that have been called for since its first appearance in 1762, are a sufficient proof of the value of the author's labours. But at the period when it was first drawn up, Geographical knowledge, both political and physical, was in a very different condition from what is required at the present time. Political convulsions have overturned a great part of the civil relations which then existed; and the industry of modern Geographical science, especially within the last quarter of a century, has rendered obsolete, except as matters of history and curiosity, the accounts and descriptions which previously had been current, and received as accurate. Brookes's Gazetteer of 1762 would afford but a very imperfect view of the present position and character of Geographical knowledge. The nature of the work, indeed, does not admit a lengthened account of every important point: to exhibit in the most compact tabular form even the major part of those places in which the world is now interested, would occupy a volume of much greater bulk than the present. It must not be expected, then, that any minor features could be introduced. But still this edition has been enlarged by nearly two thousand additional names; and the very numerous changes which have recently taken place in various parts of the world have been recorded in it. Indeed, so extensive have been the corrections and additions, that, on comparing the present edition with the first, it will be found that scarcely a single line remains of the original as compiled by the author whose name it bears: a name that has become identified with British literature. There are few subjects which now cause greater embarrassment than Geographical orthography. For want of some authentic standard, each author or traveller, according to his nationality or caprice, gives a different form to the same word, creating in some instances very great confusion. A system of uniformity has been proposed for all European languages, and until some definite plan is adhered to by all, there must necessarily occur many discrepancies in a work of the present nature. Without implicitly adhering to any one system of orthography, the names will be found as most generally used. In the Appendix, Statistics of the Population and Area of the World are collected in one view. They have been drawn up from the latest attainable information. In many particulars the estimates for this and other countries, given in the body of the work, will be found to differ from those in the Appendix; but the former have been retained, as being serviceable for comparison with those of more recent date, and thereby affording many interesting Statistics as to the progress or retrogression of countries and localities. In addition to other recent corrections, a table has been added to the Appendix, at page 962, showing at one view the New Constituencies created by the Reform Bills of 1868, with the number of representatives to each, and the number of electors on the register of year. that LONDON, 1869. INTRODUCTION. GEOGRAPHY treats of the figure, magnitude, position, and motion of the earth, and of the situation, extent, divisions, subdivisions, and boundaries of the different places upon its surface; to which is usually subjoined an abstract of the religion, history, character, government, manners, commerce, and population of every kingdom. This science is, however, in many respects so closely connected with Astronomy, that it will be proper to give a general outline of the latter as well as the former. THE UNIVERSE. The term universe comprehends the whole frame of Nature, to the utmost extent of Creation. How magnificent and exalted, then, are the ideas presented to the human mind by its contemplation! In the formation and preservation of this stupendous structure, the wonders of Omnipotence are illustriously displayed; and the more accurate and extensive our knowledge of the universe, the more elevated will be our conceptions of the Supreme Being. THE SOLAR SYSTEM. The solar system is that portion of the universe which comprehends the sun, planets, satellites, and comets. The sun is the centre of this system, and there are twelve planets which revolve around him, each in its orbit. The names of these, according to their distance from the sun, are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, Juno, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The first two, moving within the orbit of the Earth, are denominated inferior planets; the others move without that orbit, and are therefore denominated superior planets. The Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are attended by secondary planets, called satellites, or' moons, which revolve about them as centres, and are regulated in their motions by the same laws which regulate the motions of the planets in their orbits round the sun. The earth is attended by one Moon, revolving at a distance of 240,000 miles; Jupiter four, Saturn eight, one of which is of recent discovery; Uranus eight, and Neptune one certain, perhaps two. Saturn, also, besides his moons, is encircled by two concentric rings, at a considerable distance from his body, which, like satellites or moons, revolve round about him in his planes. A similar appendage has been thought to accompany Neptune. The planets have likewise a motion of rotation each round its own axis; at least observation renders it certain that Venus, the Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn have such a motion; and it is natural, from analogy, to infer that the rest have a similar motion. The planets are opaque spherical bodies; and, having no light of their own, shine by borrowed light from the sun, which is both the centre of their motions and the source |