Page images
PDF
EPUB

called zones; that is to say, girdles or belts; one of them is called the torrid; two temperate; and two frigid.

The torrid zone, so called from the great heat of the sun, which passes directly over the heads of the inhabitants twice in a year, is situated between the two tropics, and is therefore about 47 degrees in breadth; the inhabitants are called Amphiscians; that is, such as have their shadows cast both ways, the sun being seen at noon sometimes to the north, and at other times to the south of them.

The northern temperate zone is situated between the tropic of Cancer, and the arctic polar circle; and the southern temperate zone between the tropic of Capricorn, and the antarctic polar circle; they are each of them about 43 degrees broad, the inhabitants are called Heteroscians, that is, such as have their shadow but one way; for at noon the shadows of the inhabitants of the northern temperate zone are always cast northward; and those of the inhabitants of the southern, southward.

The frigid zones contain all that space between the polar circles and the poles themselves, the northern frigid zone being surrounded by the arctic circle, and the southern by the antarctic. The inhabitants are called Periscians, because, when'the sun is on the same side of the equator as those inhabitants are, their shadows are, in the space of 24 hours, cast of all sides, or quite round them. The sun does not set in the places within these zones during several successive revolutions or days in the summer; and in the winter he doth not rise for a like space of time. To the inhabitants of the poles, if there be any, the sun is visible for one half the year, and invisible for the other half.

If any place on the globe, except the poles and equator, be particularly considered, there will be three other places on the same meridian which have more immediately a relation thereto, viz. 1. That place which has the same latitude on the other side of the equator. The inhabitants of this place are called Antiscii. They have mid-day and midnight at the same time with those of the place assumed; but the seasons of the year are different, the summer of the one being the winter of the other.

2. That place which is on the same parallel of latitude, but is 180 degrees different in longitude. The inhabitants of this place are called Perisici. They have summer and winter at the same times with those of the place assumed; but the times of the day are different, the mid-day of the one being the mid-night of the

otner.

3. That place which has the same latitude, on the other side of the equator, and is 180 degrees different in longitude. This place is diametrically opposite to the place assumed; its inhabitants are called Antipodes, and their seasons of the year, as well as times of the day, are totally opposite.

The horizon is that great circle which divides the upper or visible hemisphere of the world, from the lower or invisible, the eye of the spectator being always in the centre of the horizon. Hence every particular place on the terraqueous globe hath a different horizon; and consequently a traveller, proceeding in any direction, is continually changing his horizon.

The circle is, by mariners, divided into four quarters, containing 90 degrees: the four points quartering this circle are called cardinal points, and are named East, West, North, and South: the east and west on those points on which the sun rises and sets when it is in the equinoctial; and the north and south points are those which coincide with the meridian of the place, and are directed toward the north and south poles of the world.

Each quarter of the horizon is further divided into eight points, which are very necessary to the geographer for distinguishing the limits of countries: but the use of those divisions is much more considerable when applied to the mariner's compass.

Before the invention of this excellent and most useful instrument, it was usual, in long voyages, to sail by, or keep along the coast, or at least to have it in sight; as is manifest and plainly evident by the voyages of St. Paul, Acts xx. 13, and xxviii. 2, which made their voyages long, and very dangerous, by being so near the shore. But now, by the help of a needle, touched by the magnet or load-stone, which by a wonderful and hidden quaand unlity, inclines its point always northerly, the mariner is directed ocean, in his proper course of sailing through the vast fathomable depths, to his intended port; and, if the wind is favourable, can sail more than 333 leagues, or 1000 miles, in a week, through the darkest weather, or darkest nights, when neither land, moon, nor stars are to be seen, which before were the only guides, and if not seen, the mariners were at a great loss, and exposed to the most imminent danger.

The compass is a representation of the horizon on a circular piece of paper, called a card, which card being properly fixed to a piece of steel called the needle, and placed so as to turn freely round a pin that supports it, will show the position of the meridian, and other points; and consequently towards which of them the ship sails.

See Plate, representing the TABULA ANEMOGRAPHICA, or Mariner's Compass.

CLIMATE.

A climate is a space of the terraqueous globe contained between two such parallels of latitude, that the length of the longest day in the one exceeds that in the other by half an hour.

There are sixty climates, thirty to the north, and thirty to the south of the equator: twenty-four of each thirty being situate between the equator and the polar circle, differ in the length of their longest day by 24 hours; but in the remaining six between the polar circles and poles, the difference of the lengths of the longest day are each a month.

A Table of the Climates between the Equator and the Polar

[blocks in formation]

A Table of the Climates between the Polar Circles and the

Poles.

[blocks in formation]

GEOGRAPHICAL DEFINITIONS.

In order to represent the surface of the earth, we make use of a machine, (which is called an artificial globe,) and of engraven charts or maps; on both of which are exhibited the boundaries, divisions, rivers, &c. of the countries thereon delineated.

Those charts which represent the whole of our earth, are called maps of the world. Such as delineate either one of the four quarters of the world or entire states, are denominated general maps; while those which exhibit a province, department, or country in any particular state, are termed chorographical maps. Such as delineate waters, or any part of the sea, for instance, are called hydrographic charts.

It may be observed that, in maps, the north is usually at the top, the east on the right hand of the student, the west at his left and the south at the bottom of the map.

The different points of the horizon, whence the wind blows, are denominated points of the compass. Of these there are thirtytwo; the principal or four cardinal points, are, the north, east, south, and west; between these are the north-east, south-east, north-west, and south-west.

The surface of the terrestrial globe is divided into continents, islands, peninsulas, capes, mountains, &c. The waters are divided into different seas, gulfs, lakes, rivers, &c.

A continent is a large portion of land, comprising several regions, countries, or states: it is also called terra firma. There are two vast continents, the old, which is still called the old world, and the new, styled the new world; the former includes Europe, Asia, and Africa ;-the latter contains America. The continent, least known to us, lies to the south-east of Asia, and is designated Australasia, (i. e. the southern lands :) it is more frequently known by the name of New Holland.

Islands are portions of land entirely surrounded by water; such, for instance, are Great Britain, Ireland, &c. Peninsulas are portions of continent, projecting into the sea, and surrounded on three sides by the ocean. Such is Africa, the largest peninsula in the known world. An isthmus is a narrow neck of land between two seas, and which unites more considerable countries together. Such are the isthmus of Suez, which connects Africa and Asia, and that of Darien, which unites North and South America. Coasts are those parts of the land, which are contiguous to, or washed by the sea. A promontory is an elevated point of land, projecting into the sea; the extremity of which, towards the sea, is called a cape, or head-land. Such is the Cape of Good Hope at the southern extremity of Africa. Mountains are eminences of land, greatly elevated above the sur

rounding earth. Sometimes they are hollow, and emit fire, in which case they are termed volcanos. Of this description are mount Vesuvius, in the kingdom of Naples, and Etna in Sicily.

An ocean is a vast mass of salt water, which encompasses all parts of the globe; and by means of which, from the present improved state of navigation, an easy intercourse subsists between places and countries the most distant. There are three grand divisions of the ocean, viz. 1. The Atlantic, which divides Europe and Africa from America. 2. The Pacific ocean, or the South Sea, which separates America from Asia. And 3. the Indian Ocean, by which the East Indies are divided from Africa.

A sea is a large body of water, almost surrounded by land, as the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas, but which also communicate with the ocean by means of straits. A gulf is an arm or part of the sea, which advances into the land, as the Gulf of Bothnia, or of Mexico; a gulf is more extensive than a bay; a bay than a creek, and a creek than a port. A strait is an arm of the sea, which runs between two countries that lie near to each other, and by which two seas communicate. Such are the Straits of Dover. A lake is a body of water, of greater or less extent, entirely surrounded by land, aud having no apparent communication with the sea. Thus, in England we have the lakes of Derwentwater, Windermere, Keswick, &c. Rivers are bodies of fresh water deriving their sources from springs, and discharging themselves either intó lakes or seas.

The world is divided into four unequal parts or quarters, which are known by the names of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America; the three former of these divisions only were known to the antients, whence they are frequently called the old world. America was not discovered till the year 1492; and, on account of our recently acquiring knowledge of this quarter of the globe, it is frequently called the new world.

EUROPE.

.

Europe is the smallest of the three divisions of the old world; but it is the most populous, and opulent, as well as the most flourishing, in consequence of the genius and industry of its inhabitants. From the Portuguese Cape (styled by our mariners the rock of Lisbon) in the west, to the Uralian mountains in the east, it is about 3,300 British miles in length and from Cape Nord, (in Danish Lapland) to Cape Matapan (the southern extremity of Greece,) its breadth may be about 2,350 miles. It is estimated by Mr. Pinkerton to contain about 2,500,000 square iniles.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »