this city was nearly destroyed by an earthquake. In its vicinity are the tombs of the poets Hafez and Sadi. 30 miles north-east of Shiraz, are the famous ruins of Persepolis, one of the greatest cities of antiquity. These ruins, for the most part, are the remains of the superb palace of Darius, which Alexander in his fury set on fire, and whose wall on one side measures 600 paces, and on another about 400. Pop. of Shiraz 50,000.

Teheran is the modern capital of Persia, situated about 300 miles north of Ispahan. Pop. 25,000.

QUESTIONS.

What are the latitudes and boundaries of Persia? Its extent and population? To what other country is it nearly equal? What are its natural features? What mountains border it on the north-west and north? What mountains traverse through it? What sea on the north? What gulf on the south? What rivers on the west? What desert is mentioned? By what is a great part of the surface of Persia occupied? What is said of the climate? How is it on the mountains? How is it in the vales, and at the south? What of the soil? Where are some of the most fertile tracts? What is said of the streams in the interior? In what does Persia abound? What of its roses? What is said of the persons of the inhabitants? How do they appear to strangers, &c.? How do they resemble the French? For what have they a peculiar passion? In what do they excel? What of their horses? Camels, and sheep? What of their agriculture and commerce? What of their manufactures? Of their trade? What kind of people range in the mountains, and what is said of them? What of the Persian houses, and carpets? What of the Persic language? In what are the people expeditious? In what manner do they write? What are they in religion? How do the Turks regard them? Are there any chris tians in Persia? What are the worshippers of fire called? Whose disciples are they? Where is the scene of their devotions? What kind of ground is it, and how are their temples described? What of the government? What are the chief cities? What is the ancient capital, and where situated? What of its streets and houses? For what has it been celebrated? What of the royal palace? By what has the city been defaced? What its present commerce, &c.? Where is Shiraz? By whom has this city and its beautiful environs been celebrated? For what has the place been noted? What poets were entombed in its vicinity? What famous ruins are in that region? Where and what is Teheran ?

AFGHANISTAN, OR CABULISTAN.

Extent 340,000 sq. ms.-Pop. 14,000,000.-40 per sq. mile. This kingdom, with Beloochistan south cfit, comprises what has been called East Persia, and resembles Persia, in the great variety and contrasts exhibited in its surface and climate. In some parts are rugged and lofty mountains whose summits are covered with perpetual snow, and marked with the dreariness of winter. In others may be found fertile valleys, where summer tarries long, and the heat is oppressive, or parched plains and deserts, unproductive and barren. The vast difference be tween the highest and the lowest lands in point of elevation, produces here a remarkable diversity of climate and soil. And so abruptly in many instances do the mountains rise from the plains, that no great distance intervenes between a warm region where snow never falls, and a cold and frozen one where it never is dissolved.

Afghanistan includes several provinces, viz. Cabul, Candahar, and Cashmere, on the north-east and east, Segistan on the south, and Balk,

and Herat, on the north and north-west. The population embraces Afghans, Persians, Tartars, and Hindoos. The number of Hindoos is nearly six millions. There are a number of separate tribes in the kingdom, each under the immediate control of its particular khan, or chief. But the supreme power is in the khan of the Afghans, which is the ruling tribe, distinguished for activity and courage, and gives name to the whole country. The general government, however, is in many parts feebly maintained.

Agriculture is not industriously attended to. Where the country is well watered it is fruitful. The rivers in the interior are very few and small. The principal trade is in horses, furs, and shawls. The shawls of Cashmere are made of the wool produced by the goat of Thibet, and for fineness and beauty are unrivalled. Cashmere is a province of Hindoostan, and was formerly included in the kingdom of Afghanistan, but is now under another government. It is an elevated and beautiful valley, fertilized and covered with verdure by rivulets from the moun. tains, and enjoying a most salubrious climate. It is highly celebrated in eastern poetry, and has been considered a favorite summer retreat for the rich residing in the more sultry regions of India.

Cabul is the capital of Afghanistan. It is an ancient and populous city, but not handsome. It is the centre of trade between India and Tartary. Pop. 100,000. Peshawer is a large city above five miles in circumference. Pop. 100,000. Candahar has a flourishing trade, being on the great road from Persia to Hindoostan. Balk is distinguished for the antiquity of its history, and there is an impression prevalent in Asia, that this is the oldest city on the earth. Herat is a very central position between Persia, India, and Tartary. It has been, for ages, the route of the caravans trading to those countries, and has had a high rank in commerce and wealth.

QUESTIONS.

By what name were Afghanistan and Beloochistan formerly called? What are the boundaries of Afghanistan? Of what extent, population, and number per square mile? How does it resemble P'ersia? What may be found in some parts and what in others? What produces such a diversity in the climate and soil? What are its principal provinces? What does the population embrace? What is said of the separate tribes? Which is the most powerful? What of agriculture? Of the rivers? Of the chief articles of trade? Of what are the shawls of Cashmere made? Has Cashmere generally been considered a part of Hindoostan? How is its valley described? What is the capital of Afghanistan, and how described? What of Peshawer ? Of Candahar? Of Balk? Of Herat?

BELOOCHISTAN-or BELUJISTAN.

Extent 200,000 sq. ms.-Pop. 2,000,000.-10 per. sq. mile. Beloochistan is a mountainous, thinly populated country, and resembles Afghanistan in the variety of its surface, soil, and climate. On the south-west is a desert 300 miles in length. There is a general scarcity of water in the country. The rivers are few and shallow. Some of them rush from the mountains like torrents, and are soon lost

in the sands. There are lofty table lands, cold and barren. The low plain country is on the south and east, and is often parched with drought, but when sufficiently watered is very fertile.

The mass of the population is divided into two principal tribes, the Belooches and Brahoos, who are generally Mahometans, but different in their persons and manners. The Belooches, like the Arabs and Afghans, are restless and bold, and addicted to roving and robbery. They often issue forth, in their predatory excursions, with their camels, to a great distance, plundering and enslaving the more inoffensive tribes. The Brahoos are not wanting in activity and courage, but are comparatively mild, industrious and peaceable. The Sindees are Mahometans of the Soonee sect, and live on both sides of the river Indus, or Sinde.

Kelat is the capital of Beeloochistan. It has a royal palace, and a population of 4000, many of whom are Hindoos, who have in their hands the principal commerce and wealth of the city. The khan, or king who resides here, holds the government over several tribes, while others are tributary to the king of the Afghans.

QUESTIONS.

What are the boundaries of Beloochistan? Extent and population? What kind of a country is it? How does it resemble Afghanistan? Where is the great desert? Of what is there scarcity? What of the rivers? Of the table lands? Of the low country? What two principal tribes? What description of the Belooches? What of the Brahoos ? Of the Sindees? What is the capital, and how described? What of the government? What river divides this country from Hindoostan, and where does it rise, and empty?

HINDOOSTAN.

Length 1800 ms.-Extent 1,000,000 sq. ms.-Pop. 120,000,000.

120 per sq. mile.

Hindoostan, or as it is frequently called, India within the Ganges, is about equal in extent to the United States Proper, and nearly ten times as great in population. The river Indus, on the north-west, divides it from East Persia, and the Himmaleh mountains, from Thibet, on the north. In the north-east part is the Ganges, a sacred river to the Hindoos, which rises in the Himmaleh mountains, and running south-easterly, receives the Jumna and the Great Burrampooter, with other considerable branches, and empties into the bay of Bengal.

The peninsula on the south is traversed by the Gauts mountains which extend from Surat, along the west coast, southwardly to cape Comorin, and another range called the Eastern Gauts, extends near the east coast. Between these two ridges are extensive elevated plains, called the table land of the Gauts. The west coast of the peninsula, is named Malabar, and the eastern the coast of Coromandel. On the north between the Ganges and Andes, there are wide sandy deserts; and along the banks or near the mouths of certain rivers, extensive marshes or jungles are formed, which being filled with a thick, rank

Mausoleum of Hyder Ali, at Seringapatam.

growth of reeds and bushes constitute a favorite and famous retreat for tigers, wolves, catamounts, hyænas and other ferocious animals, which abound in this warm region.

In general, the surface of Hindoostan is a plain, watered by period. ical rains and the overflowings of innumerable streams. It possesses a tropical climate. The seasons are either wet or dry. And the climate is subject to drouths and to excessive moisture. The rainy season is from April to October. During which period, the Monsoon blows from the south or south-west, when the heat is often oppressive, hurricanes and thunder storms are frequent, the rains abundant and the rivers extensively overflow their banks. The rest of the year, the wind blows generally from an opposite direction, when rains rarely occur and drought is not uncommon. Still, the soil for the most part is naturally as rich and luxuriant as that of any other portion of the globe.. It supplies sustenance for a vast population, with little labor. Two crops in a year are not unfrequently produced. And in some provinces and seasons, the harvests of one year are sufficient for the support of the people two years. Rice is the most common and important crop. It is raised with great ease where it can be suitably watered. Maize, millet, wheat, barley, cotton, indigo and sugar cane are also cultivated with facility. The fruits are in rich and endless varieties and the flowers are celebrated for beauty and fragrance. There are groves of cypresses, myrtles, tamarinds and palm trees, and immense forests of the lofty bamboo. The banian tree is distinguished for its vast size.

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Valuable minerals and precious stones abound. There are rich mines of gold and silver, and particles of gold are washed down in the mountain streams. The diamonds of Golconda, Visapour, and Bengal are highly celebrated. One diamond district employs more than half a million of persons. Tropical birds, animals and reptiles are numerous. Here is the huge and sagacious elephant and the one horned rhinoceros and the royal tiger, famous for his strength and ferocity, who often issues from the jungle and makes a prey of the unfortunate traveller. The country is infested with serpents and with swarms of formidable insects.

The birds are of various voices and of the richest plumage. Here the peacock is at home or in his native country. And companies of peacocks frequently parade in the groves and make a proud display of their unrivalled ornaments. The parrots are without number and of more than 40 different species.

Hindoostan is usually divided into four principal sections. First, The north-eastern, which includes the rich British province of Bengal and is washed by the Ganges and its branches. Second, The northwestern which borders on the Indus. Third, The middle or central, and tourth, The southern, which extends from the river Kistua to cape Comorin. In all these divisions, the great mass of the population are native Hindoos, who amount to 80 millions. Besides these there is a numer. ous, mixed people of foreign descent: the principal of which are Mon. guls, Tartans, Afghans, Belooches, Arabs, Persians and Jews. There are but about 40,000 of the British and other Europeans.

The Hindoos are of a blackish complexion, with strait black hair, regular form, and an inoffensive countenance. They are naturally indolent and listless, often destitute of bodily or mental energy, and un