a celebrated range of mountains, so called by the ancients, and which were said to extend from the Grecian Archipelago to the extremities of Asia. By some they were thought to take their rise in Caria and Pamphylia; and by others among the more modern geographers, on the coast of Cilicia, not far from Scanderoon. The range intersects Asia Minor from east to west, and advancing in a north-east direction, interrupts the course of the Euphrates, and spreads itself over the kingdom of Armenia, where it unites itself with Mount Caucasus. It then diverges into Persia with a variety of branches, of which the most conspicuous is that named Mount Zagros by the ancients. This long and lofty range formerly divided Media from Assyria, and now forms the boundary of the Persian and Turkish empires. It runs parallel with the river Tigris and the Persian Gulf; and almost entirely disappears in the vicinity of Gombroon; seems once more to rise in the southern districts of Kerman, and following an easterly course through the centre of Mekran and Beloochistan, is entirely lost in the deserts of Sinde.

TAVAI POENAMMOO, an island in the South Pacific Ocean, being the more southerly of the two which form New Zealand, and separated from the northern island by a channel called Cook's Straits, that celebrated navigator having sailed round them both in the year 1769. The island is about 500 miles in length from south-west to north-east and from 55 to 140 broad. Long. 184° 45'. to 193° 18'. W. Lat. 40° 36' to 47° 20'. S. See ZEALAND, NEW.

TAVERNIER, JOHN BAPTIST, a French traveller, was born in 1605. In the course of forty years he travelled six times to Turkey, Persia, and the East Indies, and visited all the countries in Europe, travelling mostly on foot. His travels have been frequently reprinted in six volumes, 12mo. Tavistock He died, on his seventh journey to the east, at Moscow, in 1686.

TAVISTOCK, an English market and borough town in the hundred of the same name, in the county of Devon, 206 miles from London and fourteen from Plymouth. It stands at the foot of the mountains called the Forest of Dartmoor, by which it is well sheltered from northerly and easterly winds, and the situation is remarkably salubrious.

The river Tavy passes by the town, but not being navigable, a canal has been constructed from Tavistock to the Tamar at Morwellham quay. A tunnel passes through a solid rock for more than 2500 feet, and not far from it is an aqueduct across a vale of considerable extent. The canal serves for the transport of copper ores and lead from the mines, and slates from the quarries, in the district, and brings coals, stone, timber, and other goods, to the town. This is an ancient town, formerly belonging to the abbey, some remains of which still exist; which was granted by Henry the Eighth, at the Reformation, to the family of the Russells. The refectory of the monks has been converted into a dissenting place of worship. A very handsome gatehouse, and two towers, both opening into the vicar's garden, are still standing. The trade of the town formerly consisted for the most part in the manufacture of serges and coarse woollen cloth, but these have for some years been on the decline. The mining business in the vicinity gives occupation to many of the inhabitants, and the smelting of tin and a great iron foundery afford some employment to others. The church is a large ancient building, and, besides some curious monuments, has a stone coffin, in which are preserved some human bones of gigantic size, attributed by tradition to a Saxon giant named Adolph. The greater part of the town belongs to the duke of Bedford. It returns two members to parliament. There is a well-supplied market on Saturday. The inhabitants amounted in 1801 to 3420, in 1811 to 4723, in 1821 to 5483, and in 1831 to 5602.

TAVOY, a town and district of the province of Pegu, in the Birman empire, which so late as the year 1753 was the seat of an independent principality. The town is advantageously situated on the eastern side of a fine bay, formed by an extensive island of the same name. Tavoy formerly belonged to the king of Siam, but was taken by the Birmans in 1785. It was besieged without success by the Siamese the following year, and remained in possession of the conquerors till 1790, when it was surrendered for a bribe to the Siamese troops. It was retaken by the Birmans in 1792, and was confirmed to them by the treaty of peace in 1793. Long. 98° 20'. E. Lat. 13° 20'. N.