a province of Turkey in Europe, on the gulf of Venice, bounded by Livadia on the south, by Thessaly and Macedonia on the east, and on the north by Bosnia and Dalmatia. The people are strong, large, courageous, and good horsemen; but are said to be of a thievish disposition. The grand seignior procures excellent soldiers from hence, particularly cavalry, known by the name of Arnautes. There are several large towns in this province; and the inhabitants are almost all Christians of the Greek church, and descended from the ancient Scythians. Formerly it was part of the kingdom of Macedon. Their chief manufacture is carpets. The principal places are Durazzo, Vlora, Antivari, Scutari, Croya, Aleppo, Dibra, Deligrino, and Albanapoli. Long., from 18° to 21° E.; Lat., from 39° to 43° N.

a country of Asia, bounded on the west by Iberia; on the east by the Caspian sea; on the north by Mount Caucasus; on the south by Armenia, and the river Cyrus, now Kur; which, springing from the Mosheian mountains that separate Colchis from Armenia, and watering the country of Mokan, receives the Aragus and Araxes, and falls into the Caspian sea within a small distance from the southern borders of this country.—The whole country formerly called Albania, now goes under the names of Schirvan and Lagh Georgia, and is extremely fruitful and pleasant. The ancient historians take notice of the Albanian men being tall, strong-bodied, and, generally speaking, of a very graceful appearance; far exceeding all other nations in comeliness as well as stature. Modern travellers take no notice of the appearance of the men; but extol the beauty of the women, which seems to be unnoticed by the ancients. The Albanians were anciently an independent and pretty powerful people; but we find no mention made of their kings till the reign of Alexander the Great, to whom the king of Albania is said to have presented a dog of an extraordinary fierceness and size.—It does not appear that the Albanians were ever conquered by the Romans, even when their power was at the greatest height; though when they ventured to engage in war with that powerful empire, they were always defeated, as might naturally be expected.