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21. It is said to be the richest country in the world for gold, and the air and water very good. In fact, it is accounted one of the best countries in Asia.

22. The inhabitants are naturally ingenious, and possess a good memory: but their manners are exactly opposite to ours.

23. Our common drinks are cold, theirs hot; we uncover the head out of respect, and they the feet; we are fond of white teeth, and they of black; we get on horseback on the left side, and they on the right; and they have a languagé so peculiar that it is not to be understood by any other nation.

24. The only Europeans that trade with Japan are the Dutch.

25. The Japanese have neither tables, beds, nor chairs but they sit and lie on carpets and mats, in the manner of the Turks.

26. Its population is about thirty millions. Jeddo is the capital.

CHAP. VII.
Africa.

1. Tor-rid, a. burning hot, scorched.

Zone, s. (in geo. and astronomy,) a division of the earth with respect to the different degrees of heat found in the different parts. It is called torrid from its being so scorched by the sun. There are five zones: one torrid, two temperate, and two frigid. 5. Ad-ja-cent, a. lying near, or bordering upon.

6. Coarse, a. rude, uncivil, indelicate, mean, rough. Unpolished and not elegant, applied to language.

Fe-ro'-ci-ous, a. wild, untamed, savage.

1. AFRICA is one of the four principal parts of the world, bounded on all sides by the sea, except

a space of about ninety miles, which is called the Isthmus of Suez.

2. The greatest part of this country lies under the Torrid Zone, which renders the heat almost insupportable in many places. However, the coasts in general are very fruitful, the fruits excellent, and the plants extraordinary.

3. In Africa there are several very large deserts, which are almost without water, and whose sands are so loose, that, by means of a strong wind, they will sometimes bury whole caravans at a time.

4. Its productions are, gold, fruit, gum, &c.; camels, elephants, zebras, antelopes, monkeys, lions, monstrous serpents, and all sorts of wild beasts.

5. The two largest rivers in Africa are, the Nile and the Niger, which annually overflow their banks, and fertilize the adjacent country.

6. The manners of the Africans, in general, are coarse and ferocious; very ignorant, cowardly, idle, and thievish.

7. The most considerable mountains in Africa are the Mountains of the Moon, in Abyssinia; and Atlas, which gives name to the Atlantic Ocean.

8. The principal states of Africa are the following: Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, Egypt, Nubia, Abyssinia, Loango, Congo, Angola, and Caffraria.

9. Morocco. Morocco the capital, contains two millions in population.

10. Algiers. Algiers the metropolis, two hundred and fifty thousand.

11. Tunis. Tunis the capital, two hundred and fifty thousand.

12. Tripoli. Tripoli the capital, contains about five hundred thousand in population.

13. Egypt. Grand Cairo the capital, two millions five hundred thousand.

14. Guinea. Benin the capital, population unknown.

15. Nubia. Nubia the capital, population un

known.

16. Abyssinia. Gondar the capital, about two millions in population.

17. Loango. Loango the capital, population unknown.

18. Congo. St. Salvador the capital, population

unknown.

19. Angola. Loanda the capital, population unknown.

20. Caffraria. Cape Town the capital, population unknown.

CHAP. VIII.
America.

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1. THIS great Western Continent is frequently called the New World. It was totally unknown to the ancients, or the people of the Old World, till it was discovered by COLUMBUS † in the year 1492.

This country was the ancient Æthiopia.

A native of Genoa, a republic in the north of Italy.

2. Some parts of America have two summers and two winters. America enjoys all the climates the earth affords.

3. It is in length, from north to south, about nine thousand five hundred English miles, and varies from its greatest breadth of three thousand seven hundred, to that of sixty-at the Isthmus of Darien. 4. America is divided into two parts, the one called North and the other South America.

5. The principal nations or states of North America are, the United States, Mexico, Louissiana, and Canada; those in South America are, Brazil, Paraguay, Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, Amazonia, Patagonia, Guiana, New Cumana, Terra Firma, and New Grenada.

6. The principal rivers in North America are, Mississippi, the Ohio, and the river St. Lawrence. The chief rivers in South America, are, Amazon and Rio de la Plata, and the river of the Plate.

7. The principal mountains in South America are, the Andes, supposed to be the highest and longest ridge in the world.

Those in North America are the Apalachian, passing through the United States.

8. The islands contiguous or near to America are very numerous.

The principal are, St. Domingo, Cuba, Jamaica, Newfoundland, Trinidad, &c.

9. The general character of the Americans is, that they are serious, melancholy, cruel, and even cannibals, save only those who correspond

*

* A people living upon human flesh.

with the Europeans, who are said to be less savage and much civilized.

10. The above alludes to the Americans in general, except the colonies from England, who are naturally simple and pure, but in trade deceitful, and not strictly adhering to truth.

11. The principal nations and cities, with their population, are as follows:

12. United States: Washington the capital, containing about six millions of inhabitants.

13. Spanish dominions: Mexico the capital of those in North America, and Lima the metropolis of the territories in the South, containing about thirteen millions in population.

14. British possessions: Quebec the capital, about three hundred and twenty thousand.

15. Portuguese dominions: Rio Janeiro the capital, containing five millions in population.

CHAP. IX.

A pleasing History of the Discovery of America.

3. Ci"-ti-zen, s. an inhabitant of a city. It is generally applied to a person who is free of a city, and carries on some trade.

Ri'-vals, s. pl. those who are in pursuit of the same thing with another, and endeavour to be before or surpass him.

5. Cos-mog-ra-pher, s. (pro. koz-mogʻ-ra-fer,) one who composes a a description of the relation, fitness, figure, and disposition of all parts of the world.

6. Cap'-ti-ous, a. ensnaring. (Snarling, peevish.)

12. In'-di-gence, s. want of the comforts of life. Poverty. 13. Par-si-mo-ny, s. frugality, stinginess, covetousness.

14. Rail-le-ry, s. slight and jocose satire, reproachful language.

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