is one of the three general parts of our continent, and one of the four of the whole earth. It is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean sea, the Archipelago, the Black Sea, the Palus Mecotis, the Don, and the Dwina, which fall into the White Sea; and from Africa, by the Arabic Gulph or Red Sea, and the Isthmus of Suez. All the other parts are surrounded by the ocean. The late discoveries show that it does not join to America, though it extends very near it: (See AMERICA, n°. 105.) It is situated between 44 and 196 degrees of east longitude, and 1 and 74 degrees of north latitude. From the Dardanelles to the most eastern shore of Tartary, it is 4740 miles in length; and from the most southern point of Malacca to the most northern point of Nova Zembla, it is 4380 miles in breadth.

This vast extent of territory was successively governed in past times by the Assyrians, the Medes, the Persians, and the Greeks; but the immense regions of India and China were little known to Alexander, or the conquerors of the ancient world. Upon the decline of those empires, great part of Asia submitted to the Roman arms; and afterwards, in the middle ages, the successors of Mahomet, or, as they are usually called, Saracens, founded in Asia, in Africa, and in Europe, a more extensive empire than that of Cyrus, Alexander, or even the Roman when in its height of power. The Saracen greatness ended with the death of Tamerlane; and the Turks, conquerors on every side, took possession of the middle regions of Asia, which they still enjoy. Besides the countries possessed by the Turks and Russians, Asia contains at present three large empires, the Chinese, the Mogul, and the Persian; upon which the lesser kingdoms and sovereignties of Asia generally depend. The prevailing form of government in this division of the globe is absolute monarchy. If any of them can be said to enjoy some share of liberty it is the wandering tribes, as the Tartars and Arabs. Many of the Asiatic nations, when the Dutch first came among them, could not conceive how it was possible for any people to live under any other form of government than that of a despotic monarchy. Turkey, Arabia, Persia, part of Tartary, and part of India, profess Mahometanism. The Persian and Indian Mahometans are of the sect of Hali, and the others of that of Omar; but both own Mahomet for their law-giver, and the Koran for their rule of faith and life. In the other parts of Tartary, India, China, Japan, and the Asiatic Islands, they are generally heathens and idolaters. Jews are to be found everywhere in Asia. Christianity, though planted here with wonderful rapidity by the apostles and primitive fathers, suffered an almost total eclipse by the conquests of the Saracens, and afterwards of the Turks. Incredible indeed have been the hazards, perils, and sufferings of populous missionaries, to propagate their doctrines in the most distant regions, and among the grossest idolaters; but their labours have hitherto failed of success, owing in a great measure to their own avarice, and the avarice and profligacy of the Europeans, who resort thither in search of wealth and dominion.

Asia may be divided into the following parts: Turkey in Asia, Arabia, Persia, the Mogul's Empire, with the two peninsulas of the Indies; Tibet, China, and Korea; Great and Little Bucharia, with Korasian; Tartary, Siberia, and the islands. The principal languages spoken in Asia are, the modern Greek, the Turkish, the Russian, the Tartarian, the Persian, the Arabic, the Malayian, the Chinese, and the Japanese. The European languages are also spoken upon the coasts of India and China.

Asia is looked upon as that part of the world which, of all others, has been most peculiarly distinguished by heaven. There it was the first man was created; there the patriarchs lived, the law was given to Moses, and the greatest and most celebrated monarchies were formed; from thence the first founders of cities and nations in other quarters of the world brought their colonies. Lastly, in Asia Jesus Christ appeared: there it was that he wrought the salvation of mankind, that he died and rose again; and from thence it is that the light of the gospel was diffused over all the world. Laws, arts, sciences, and religion, almost all had their original in Asia.

As Asia exceeds the other two parts of our continent, Europe and Africa, so it is superior to them in the serenity of its air, the fertility of its soil, the deliciousness of its fruits, the fragrancy and balsamic qualities of its plants, spices, and gums; the salubrity of its drugs; the quantity, variety, beauty, and value of its gems; the richness of its metals, and the fineness of its silks and cottons. A great change indeed hath happened in that part of it called Turkey, which hath lost much of its ancient splendor, and from the most populous and best cultivated spot in Asia, is become a wild and uncultivated desert. The other parts of Asia continue much in their former condition; the soil being as remarkable for its fertility, as most of the inhabitants for their indolence, effeminacy, and luxury. This effeminacy is chiefly owing to the warmth of the climate, though in some measure heightened by custom and education; and the symptoms of it are more or less visible as the several nations are seated nearer or farther from the north. Hence the Tartars, who live near the same latitudes with us, are as brave, hardy, strong, and vigorous, as any European nation. What is wanting in the robust frame of their bodies among the Chinese, Mogul-Indians, and all the inhabitants of the more southern regions, is in a great measure made up to them by the vivacity of their minds, and ingenuity in various kinds of workmanship, which our most skilful mechanics have in vain endeavoured to imitate.

The chief rivers of Asia are, the Euphrates and Tigris, gris, in Turkey; the Indus and Ganges, in India; the Kiang and Hoang ho, in China; the Sir Amu and Wolga, in Western Tartary; the Saghalia Ula or Amur, in Eastern Tartary; the Irtilli, Oby, Jenisea, and Lena, in Siberia. The lakes are, that prodigious one called the Caspian Sea; and near that another very large one, but lately known to us, called Aral, or the lake of eagles. The Baykal is in Siberia, the Kokonor near Tibet, and the Tong Ping in China. The chief mountains are, the Taurus in Turkey and Persia; the Imaus, between India and Tibet; and the Altay, in Tartary.

The Asiatic islands are very numerous, in somuch that some reckon 150,000; but of these there is no certainty. However, they may be divided into those of the east, west, south and southeast. Those that lie on the east of Asia are, the islands of Jesso or Yedo, and Japan, with several small ones on the coast of Korea, the island of Formosa, and the Philippines. Those on the west are, the island of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean; Scanderoon, off Natalia, and the isle of Rhodes off Phischo, on the same coast. Those on the south are, the isles of the Maldives, in the Indian Sea; the isle of Ceylon, off Cape Komorin; with a great many small ones in the gulph of Bengal. Those on the southeast are, the isles of Sandi, as Sumatra, the isles of Java, Borneo, &c. the Moluccas, the isles of Kumbava, Timor, &c.