YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY *945 GOODRICH'S UIVIYERSAL GEOGRAPHY. ASIA. A SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY, POPULAR AND SCIENTIFIC, COMPRISING A PHYSICAL, POLITICAL, AND STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OK THE WORLD AND ITS VARIOUS DIVISIONS; EMBRACING NUMEROUS SKETCHES FROM RECENT TRAVELS; ILLUSTRATED BY ENGRAVING3 Or MANNERS, COSTUMES, CURIOSITIES, CITIES, EDIFICES, REMARKABLE ANIMALS, FRUITS, TREES, AND PLANTS. BY S. G. GOODRICH. SECOND EDITION. BOSTON: CARTER HENDEE & CO. NEW YORK, COLLINS &HANNAY; PHILADELPHIA, KEY & MEILKE; BALTIMORE, W. t[ J. NEALE; CINCINNATI, ROFFE $• YOUNG. 18.3 3. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by S. G. Goodrich, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION. The first edition of this work was published while the author was absent from the country on' account of ill health. This edition, consisting of a part of the first, with additions and corrections, afforded but a partial opportunity to correct errors and supply deficiencies, whieh arose either from the nature of the undertaking, or the absence of the author. He has however added an introduction, geographical definitions, and a general view of the world, which he had intended for the work originally, but which were left out, from his being unable to complete and prepare them for the press. A list of errata is also furnished, embracing such errors as have come to his knowledge. Should his health be restored, he trusts at no distant day to be able to bring to a tolerable degree of perfection a work which has hitherto been attended with many and unusual embarrass ments in every stage of its progress. WAITT AND DOW'S PRESS, BOSTON. PREFACE. When the Author of this work . announced the intention of preparing a system of Universal Geography for publication', he had nothing more in view than a compilation from Malte Brun and Bellv But, after bestowing more consideration upon the subject, and when the task was already begun, it ap peared that a volume not only differing in style and arrangement, but con sisting, to a great extent, of new materials, would be better suited to the public wants. A work of a more popular character, in which geography might be so treated as to entice all classes, the young as well as those of mature years, to make it a subject of familiar study, was what seemed de sirable. Geography, properly speaking, with its accessories, seemed to the Author to afford abundant scope for amusement as well as instruction, and that a book on this subject could be made a favorite in families, seemed there fore possible. The first plan was accordingly abandoned, and a volume on a plan, somewhat original, was undertaken. The present work is the result, and the Author respectfully submits it to his countrymen. The arrangement of the subject can easily be seen by a glance at the table of contents. It will be perceived that the Author has followed the course of a traveller, making our own country the starting point, and then proceed ing to others, thus giving in succession a particular examination to each, until the entire circuit of the globe has been accomplished. The general views follow the descriptions of countries, instead of preceding them. This plan has been preferred, as it was deemed more useful and satisfactory to the reader to peruse a summary after he is made acquainted with the particular facts it embraces ; and, furthermore, new topics may on this plan be intro duced, and explanations offered, which would be inconsistent with the method that has been usually pursued. A large space has been devoted to the United States, for several consider ations. A book of general geography will be referred to most frequently for information respecting the country in which we live, and therefore it should be most full in its details respecting that country. It is more important that our countrymen be well instructed in our own geography, than in that of other parts of the globe. In considering therefore, what the public con venience as well as the public good might require, the Author was led to the conclusion that a more ample view of the United States, than its relative extent and population might demand, would be an acceptable feature in the vi PREFACE. work. He was strengthened in this belief by the consideration that the ge ography of our country has been, hitherto, overlooked by European writers, and neglected by ourselves. In describing the character, manners and customs of the people of the United States, the Author trusts that he has been guided by the same impar tiality which has influenced him in delineating the people of other countries. He is not aware that he has been swayed by any other influence than a love of truth. If the sketches here drawn differ materially from those exhibited by most English travellers, it is believed that the distinction is only that which must always exist between a portrait and a caricature. It will be found that several topics of Political Geography have been more systematically and copiously treated of, than in any similar work. The dress, food, drink, manner of building, amusements, religious customs, and other social characteristics, of the various nations and tribes throughout the globe; these, as well as the ordinary topics of geography, are all described under their several heads. The delineations of national character have not been adopted from the partial sketches of British geographers ; they have been drawn, with much research, from original sources, and as they are more full, it is also hoped that they may be found more just, and more satis factory, than those which are to be met with in similar publications. The Author has ventured to give a more extensive view of the remarkable animals in different parts of the world, than has been customary, in works professedly geographical. He has been induced to do this, partly from the opportunity thus afforded for enlivening the pages of the work by interesting details, and partly from a belief that, as a mere geographical topic, they claim more attention than has been bestowed upon them. No landscape is perfect without the birds that are accustomed to hover in the air, or the quad rupeds that are wont to range the fields. The climate of a country cannot be fully understood without a knowledge of the peculiar animals which inhabit it ; nor can the manners and customs of a people be adequately portrayed to a reader who is unacquainted with the qualities of those animals, upon which many of these manners and customs depend. A description of the Missis sippi without the alligator ; of Abyssinia without the hysna ; of the plains of Nigritia without the giraffe, would be deficient in certain characteristic attributes ; and whoever should undertake to delineate the Laplander with out his rein-deer, or the Arab without his camel, could only hope to be suc cessful in misrepresentation. Besides, we should consider that a geographi cal work goes into the hands of many persons who are not conversant with natural history, and to whom, therefore, our zoological details will be new, and consequently important. The Author does not disguise his wish to adapt the work to com mon readers, and he has not hesitated to deviate from the beaten paths of authority, in the endeavor to render these pages attractive and instructive to PREFACE. vil such persons. It would have been easier to have written a work more con formable to usage, and perhaps more satisfactory to a rigid critic ; in that case little more than an abstract of some standard English geography would have been required ; but the advantages of such a production, over the present, in point of symmetry, are, in the opinion of the Author, outweighed by the pre ceding considerations. A popular book of geography was what he supposed to be wanting in the United States, at the present moment, there being nothing of the kind in existence, and such a one he has sought to supply. But to render it acceptable to readers of another class, an Atlas, adapted to it, is in course of preparation. It will consist of about 66 maps, each of which will be accompanied by a letter press page of statistical tables, relating to population, trade, commerce, manufactures, agriculture, &c. It will also contain numerous details respecting the length of rivers, height* of mountains, and other topics of Physical Geography ; and finally, it will present a more scientific and extended view of Mathematical Geogra phy than could be included in this volume, or than was deemed compatible with the plan of the work. It is hoped that, with the Atlas, it will satisfy those who may wish a copious and complete treatise on modern geography, both popular and scientific ; while the cheapness and compactness of the sepa rate volume will bring it within the means, of all who may desire a geogra phical work, not for reference only, but for reading and familiar use. It will be seen that a large number of engravings are inserted throughout the volume. The importance of such illustrations is generally admitted .. Nearly all the valuable books of travels, natural history, &c. now issued from the British press, and relating to subjects susceptible of visible repre sentation, are thus illustrated. A clear and distinct image of a wild animal, a ruin, a water fall, a city, an edifice, a tree, a plant, or a costume, may be better conveyed by a wood cut, than by pages of verbal description. Next to seeing the original object, a picture is the best means by which a correct image of it may be imparted. This is true of the old as well as the young, and he who disdains the cheap and easy method of acquiring accurate knowledge, by the aid of wood cuts, must act rather form prejudice than philosophy. The reader will find numerous foot notes in the volume, designed to illus trate the text. Some of these, contain lively sketches of character and man ners, and others furnish details either historical, descriptive, or statistical, ex tracted from various authors, or furnished to the writer by his friends. It is hoped they may be found useful ; and taken in connection with the rest of the work, that they may be regarded as rendering it sufficiently copious, to answer to the title of a Universal Geography. The volume indeed contains a larger quantity of matter than is usually comprised in two 8vo volumes. The reader will observe that the descriptions of countries are generally divided int two parts, Physical and Political. The former properly em- viii PREFACE. braces only the features of nature as they come from the hand of their Crea tor, and the latter should include only Man, in his social capacity, with a view of the various works and institutions of human society. In general, these distinctions have been observed ; but it has occasionally happened that topics of a political nature have been introduced under the head of physical geography, and physical details may in a few instances be found under the title of political geography. It was sometimes more convenient in speaking of an island, to mention its inhabitants and towns, and thus complete its descrip tion, rather than make a separate notice of these topics. Other cases of a similar kind also occur in the work. These remarks will be sufficient to make the reader understand and estimate the slight inconsistencies al luded to. The author can of course claim no indulgence at the hands of the public, for any imperfections which may belong to this work, except those which arise from the nature of the undertaking. In a volume consisting of so large a mass of minute details, it is impossible that some errors should not exist. The fluctuating nature of geography generally, and particularly of that which relates to a progressive country like ours, is such, that if the work were to go to press in a perfect state, it would, by the change of circum stances, be imperfect at the time of its publication. The author has himself seen errors pointed out in the first edition of this book, which occurred in this way. New banks are instituted, new churches are built, towns, canals, and rail roads change their names, at the session of every state legislature. From this source of error it is impossible to guard, and no more can be rea sonably expected than an approach to accuracy. The author believes he has used a proper degree of diligence, and hopes that he may escape re proach on this score. That portion of the work which relates to foreign countries, being less minute in its details, and descriptive of nations less subject to change, has afforded fewer difficulties of the kind referred to, and it may therefore be expected to be more free from inaccuracy. It is needless to add farther explanations. It may be proper to say, how ever, that in compiling this work, free use has been made of the geog raphies of Myers, Bell, Malte Brun and others, and frequently a passage has been transferred to these pages without alteration, or marks of quotation. The Author has, also, to express his gratitude to several persons who have assisted him in his task. Not to mention others, he is in particular indebted to an individual of established literary reputation, for many of the sketches of character, manners and customs which are distributed throughout the volume ; and to another, not less qualified to acquire distinction, for the most material aid in every department of the undertaking. It is but justice to say that a large part of the credit, whatever there may be, in the execution of this work, should be assigned to these two individuals. Boston, 1833. CONTENTS, SHOWING THE ARRANGEMENT OP THE WORK. *WE- < Eh m aKlEhM & Eastern States. Southern States. < Page. Introduction -- .......... xi Geographical Definitions - - - ... xiii NORTH AMERICA. ("Maine ... . . ... 9 New Hampshire 22 ( Vermont 36 Massachusetts ...... - 44 Rhode Island ... - C5 Connecticut 70 General View of New England ' 79 fNewYqrk 115 New Jersey ------ -- 148 Middle States, -j Pennsylvania ... - - - 153 I Delaware .-.-.--- 169 ^Maryland 172 General View of the Middle States - - 177 District of Columbia - 202 Virginia 205 North Carolina - - - , - - - - 215 South Carolina 219 Georgia ..».-•... 222 Territory of Florida ..... 225 Alabama ... . 228 Mississippi .... - - - 231 _ Louisiana - - 233 General View of the "Southern States ....... 239 Tennessee c - - - 271 Kentucky ... .... - 274 Ohio .... .... 279 Indiana - ---.... 2g4 Illinois . - 288 ^Missouri .... . 291 Territory of Arkansas 293 " Michigan - - 295 " Missouri - -. 297 " Oregon ......... 299 General View of the Western States and Territories. - 300 " '• United States ... - . . . 337 British America -----.---..„ 357 Russian America - - - - | ,. . 371 The Esquimaux --------... 372 Polar Regions .----... . 373 Iceland - -- -- ..... 3^5 Mexico - --.. 390 Gualimala -- ------... 405 General View of North America ......... 407 West Indies ............ 4Q9 SOUTH AMERICA. Colombia ----.. Guiana ------."---._ Western States. 420425 Brazil 427 £e!-.u. - - - 440 Bolivia 445 Ghile 451 Buenos Ayres, &c. -------.... 455 Patagonia -----....... 4gj General View of South America 464 Atlantic Ocean -----.-... 479 EUROPE. England • . . 4gj Scotland -----..-... . 51^9 Ireland 539 Great Britain ... 547 France - 553 Spain ¦ .... sgg x CONTENTS. Pago. Portugal 603 Sardinia °08 Austrian Italy .---..- - - 611 Parma, Modena, Massa-Carrara and Lucca - .... - 615 Tuscany --,---. - - - 616 States of the Church - - 618 Naples - ¦ - - 622 General View of Italy ... ..... 627 Ionian Islands, Malta and Gozzo ... ... - - 649 Greece ---..... ... - 651 European Turkey -- -. ... . 665 Switzerland - ....... -- 683 Hungarian States -- ....... 691 Austria, Bohemia, &c. --.... .... 697 Prussia ..... ... ... 704 German States -- ..... . 708 General View of Germany - . .... 718 Holland .... . 726 Belgium -- .... .... 733 Denmark .... 736 Norway ... .. ._ . . 740 Sweden - . . 744 Lapland - - .... .. 'MQ Finland .... ... 754 Cracow . . . .... 757 Poland ... _ ... . 757 European Russia . . . . . 7(30 General View of Europe - ... . 772 AFRICA. Barbary States - - . . . ygg Zahara ... . . .'..".'' 794 Nigntia - . 7gg Western Africa --._ ... . 309 Southern Africa ---.. .. . gjg Eastern Africa .. ----822 Abysinia --... --...". «24 Darfoor and Kordofan ... . "ana Nubia ..... °% Egypt - - . . . . • . " g£ African Islands s?o General View of Africa ... -".'.*.". -842 ASIA. Asiatic Russia ----.. „„ Independent Tartary - £?; Asiatic Turkey .... - - - - 8M fcS ' - ¦ - - - - - - - ' - - " 873 Afghanistan " . " ' ' ' lit Hindoostan .... " ' S Thibet ... ^ Chin-India ... "" on- Chinese Tartary - . . --. . S97 China ... " 900 Japan ' .... . 90l General View of Asia . 906 Pacific Ocean - - . - - - - 908 Indian Ocean - 920 - 920 N°rt^lte™ °C-?ica> °' .*»*_ Asia^fsKin island ? New Celebes, the Moluccas, the PhiHpp'fne i S J' *°ludm* Sumatla' JaVa' BolnB0> Central Oceanica, 0 • Austral^if )3^!iBfends' *?.' " - - - 920 Arctic and Antarctic Oceans - - 923 " *¦ 929 Physical Geography, inffi^ffi S? ™E W°RLD- volcanoes, /ataracts, &c. £?* . ' «*«m, seas, rivers, lakes, mountains, Political Geography, including towns, cities, kingdoms, goVernment*" fcc * " 9'° Appends, containing Statistical Tables, &c. &0. *oyeinmeaUt> &c. &c. INTRODUCTION The Earth was long considered as an extensive plane of unknown thick ness, beneath which were the abodes of the spirits of the d ad, the regions of Elysium and Tartarus. The Heavens, in which the sun, moon and stars appeared to move daily from east to west, were conceived to be at no great dis tance from it, and to be only designed for its use and ornament. More attentive observation, however, soon showed that the earth was of a globular figure. Thus, when a ship is sailing, the tops of the masts first become visible in the distance ; the setting sun may be distinctly seen from the top of a hill, when it appears to those below to have sunk beneath the horizon ; and the shad ow of the earth in a lunar eclipse is of a circular figure. But it is needless to insist on these proofs, since the frequent voyages of different navigators round the world from the time of Magellan, whose ship first circumnavigat ed the globe between the years 1519 and 1522, to that of the voyages of Captain Cook and many others, have fully demonstrated that the form of the earth is globular. But though we speak of the earth as a spherical or globular body, it is necessary to observe that it is not a perfect sphere. Its true figure was long the subject of dispute among philosophers. Sir Isaac Newton showed, from mathematical principles, that the earth must be an oblate spheroid, or that it was flatted at the poles and jutted out toward the equator, so that a line, drawn through the centre of the earth and passing through the poles, would not be so long as a line drawn through the same centre and passing through the east and west points. Cassini asserted precisely the reverse, when he maintained that its diameter was lengthened towards the poles. In order to decide this question, the king of France, in 1736", sent out some able mathe maticians to Lapland, to measure the length of a degree of latitude at the polar circle, and likewise others to Peru, to make the same admeasurement near the equator. Their observations confirmed the opinion of Sir Isaac Newton beyond dispute, and proved that the earth is flatter towards the poles than near the equator. The nature of Newton's reasoning may in some measure be elucidated by the simple experiment of fixing a ball of soft clay on a spindle, and whirling it round ; for we shall find that it will project toward the middle and flatten toward the poles. From his theory he had determined that the polar diameter of the earth must be to the equatorial as 229 to 230, or about 35 miles shorter. Maupertius and other French mathe maticians, who went to Lapland, deduced from their mensuration of a degree that the equatorial diameter is 7942 miles, and the polar 7852 miles ; so that the former exceeds the latter by 90 miles ,ii INTRODUCTION. According to these calculations, the circumference of the earth under the equator will be 24,951 miles, which, multiplied by the diameter, will give 198,160,842, the number of square miles (69| to a degree) in the spherical surface of the earth; and this number, multiplied by one sixth of the diame ter, will give 524,541,748,774, the number of cubic miles in its solid contents. The common method of representing the earth is by an artificial globe, which exhibits the various geographical objects in their relative situations. If we examine one of these globes, we shall observe upon it two great masses of land, called continents, and extensive surfaces of water, called oceans. These with their divisions and subdivisions, and the objects they embrace, it is our business to describe in the ensuing pages. We begin with the description of our own country. Commencing at the State of Maine, we proceed to exhibit, first the natural or physical features of the country, as mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, islands, shores, minerals, vegetables, and animals. Hiving thus surveyed the country as formed by the Creator, we proceed to describe its various civil divisions, its towns and cities, its trade, commerce, religion, arts, manufactures, &c. This branch of the subject, called political geography, includes the various works and institutions of man. Having thus described Maine, we proceed to the adjacent State of New Hampshire, and take a similar. view of that. We then proceed to Vermont, and in the same manner we describe the several states of New England. As the Eastern States have many points of resemblance, and differ in certain characteristics from the other sections of the country, we now take a general survey of them. We proceed in this way to delineate the several divisions of our own country, and then take a view of the adjacent countries. Having finished the American continent, we cross the Atlantic Ocean, and visit Europe. We next give our attention to Africa, and turning eastward, survey Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and finally the islands which are scat tered over the bosom of these vast seas. We then present the reader with a general view of the world, in which we have taken occasion to introduce some remarks upon the philosophy of various geographical phenomena. If the reader will cast his eye over the preceding table, he will readily compre hend the arrangement of the work, as well as its contents. It is proper to add, that although the following pages are written with a view to render the work as useful as possible independently of an atlas, yet it will be read with greater profit by constant reference to maps. An atlas, adapted to this work, is now in course of preparation ; and though it is recommended to the attention of the reader, yet any good atlas will answer for reference and illus tration. If the reader desires more scientific and extensive treatises upon lati tude and longitude, the construction of maps, astronomy, and other branches of mathematical geography, and also upon several topics of political and phys^ ical geography, he will find them in the atlas referred to. GEOGRAPHICAL DEFINITIONS Altitude, in geography, is employed to denote the perpendicular height of any object, , as the altitude of a mountain is its height above a given level, generally that of the sea. Antarctic, is a term applied in opposition to Arctic, to the south pole, to the regions which encompass it, and to the circle by which they are supposed to be bounded at the distance of 23° 23' from the pole. Antipodes is a term applied to those inhabitants of the terrestrial globe who live dia metrically opposite to each other. It is derived from the circumstance of their being opposed feet to feet. As the antipodes are every way distant 180J from each other, they have equal latitudes, the one north and the other south. They have also the same seasons and length of day and night, but at contrary times, it being summer with one while it is winter with the other, and day with one while it is night with the other. Mrchipe' ago is a term applied to any part of the sea containing numerous islands, par ticularly to that part of the Mediterranean situated between the coast of Asia Minor and European Turkey. Basin is a term employed to denote those lower tracts of the earth's surface which are watered by large rivers, and into which the waters of the adjacent districts descend. Bay is an arm or portion of the sea extending into the land ; as the Bay of Biscay. Ca.pt is the termination of a promontory, or portion of land projecting into the sea or a lake ; as the Cape of Good Hope. Cardinal Points of the compass are the east, west, north and south points of the hori zon. These divide the horizon into four equal parts of 90° each. Channel is the bed of a river. It is also applied to an arm of the sea ; as the Bristol Channel. Chart is a representation of the whole or part of the earth's surface, on a plane. The word is generally employed to denote maps of particular parts of the ocean, with the surrounding coasts, capes, bays, headlands, &c. Circles of the Sphere are such as are supposed to be described either on the surface of the earth, or on the apparent sphere of the heavens. They are generally divided into two classes, great and small ; the former dividing the surface into two equal, the latter into two unequal parts. The great circles are the meridians, equator, ecliptic, and hori zon ; the small circles are parallels of latitude, &c. Circles Polar are the two circles which encompass the polar regions, and are 23J de grees from thss poles. Climate is a term that expresses that particular combination of temperature and hu midity to which any region or country is generally subject ; or in more general terms, it implies the actual state of the incumbent atmosphere. Continent is a large tract of land, containing several contiguous countries, without any separation of its parts by the intervention of water. Crater is the opening of a volcanic mountain from which the smoke and ignited matter issue. Current is a body of water in motion, either on land or in the ocean. Degree is the 360th part of a circle, or the 30th part of a sign. Each degree is divi ded into 60 equal parts or minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds. Degree of latitude is that part of a meridian included between two points at which the difference in the elevation of any of the heavenly bodies, at the same instant, is equal to the 36th part of a circle. • Degree of longitude is the space between two meridians that make an angle of one de gree with each other at the pole. The degrees of longitude at different latitudes are un- xiv GEOGRAPHICAL DEFINITIONS. equal and correspond to those of latitudes only at the equator. As' the meridians ap proach each other till they meet at the poles, the degrees of longitude continually de crease until they become nothing at these points ; hence a degree of longitude in any latitude is less than a degree on the equator. Delta is a term frequently applied to those triangular spaces of low land between the different mouths, or near the estuaries of great rivers, which have been formed by the alluvial deposits of their waters. Thus the lower part of Egypt is usually called the Delta. Equator is the great circle of the spheres which is every where equally distant from the poles. It is thus supposed to divide the surface of the sphere into equal hemis pheres, the one north, and the other south. All places situated on the equator have no latitude, and the days and nights are always of the same length. Longitude is also reck oned in degrees of the equator. Equinoctial is a great circle of the heavens corresponding to the equator on the earth. It cuts the horizon of any place in the east and west points; and when the sun arrives at this circle, it rises and sets in these points, and the days and nights are then equal all over the globe. Declination is reckoned north and south from it. Equinoxes are the times when the sun enters the equinoctial points. This is about the 21st of March and the 23d of September ; the former being the vernal, and the lat ter the autumnal equinox. Evaporation is the conversion of water into vapor, which by this process is raised into the atmosphere, and by a subsequent, but partial condensation, forms clouds. As a very considerable part of the earth's surface is covered with water, which is constantly evapo rating and mixing with the atmosphere in the state of vapor, a precise determination of the rate of evaporation must be of great importance in physical geography. According ly, many experiments have been made by different philosophers to determine this point. .From these we learn that evaporation is confined entirely to the surface of the water, to -which it is consequently proportional. Much more vapor, therefore, rises in maritime countries, or those interspersed with lakes, than in inland countries. More also rises during hot weather than cold : hence the quantity of evaporation depends upon the tem perature. Geography is a description of the earth's surface ; but the enlarged sense of the term includes a description both of the inhabitants and productions of the terrestrial globe. Mathematical geography describes the figure and magnitude of the earth, its diurnal and iannual revolutions, the cause of day and night, the succession of the seasons, the meth od of determining the positions of places on the earth's surface, and the comparison of linear measures, with the constfuction and use of maps. Physical geography delineates tthe principal features in the aspect of nature, by which the diversified regions of the globe are distinguished from each other, and portrays their agency on its inhabitants and productions. Civil or political geography delineates the empires, kingdoms and states which occupy the surface of the earth, and exhibits the monuments of human in-