houses, rend the forests, and scatter ruin and desolation over the land. The country is often parched with drought, and destructive famine follows. Sometimes millions of locusts come upon the wind, and devour every green thing, so that nothing is left for man or beast. Pestilence often visits the people, and sweeps away thousands upon thousands.

8. Such is Asia, a land of wonders, both in its geography and history. It is the largest of the four quarters of the globe; it contains the loftiest mountains, it affords the greatest variety of animal and vegetable productions, and the seasons here display at once their most beautiful and their most fearful works.

9. Asia, too, is the most populous quarter of the globe; it contained the first human inhabitants, and from this quarter all the rest of the globe has been peopled. Here,

too, the most remarkable events took place that belong to the history of man. Here the most wonderful personages were born that have ever trod this earth; and here, too, the mighty miracles of Jehovah were wrought.

QUESTIONS.-How is Asia bounded on the north? East? South? West? Which way is Asia from Europe? In what part of Asia is Persia? In which direction from Persia is Arabia? Hindostan? China? Tartary? Siberia? Red Sea? Egypt? Mediterranean Sea? In what part of Asia is the river Euphrates?1. What of Asia! Where is Asia? How can you go to it? Point your finger toward Asia.- -2. Climate of Southern Asia? What nations live in Southern Asia? Productions? 3. Birds? Fruits? Flowers?- -4. Mountains? What of Northern Asia ?5. Inhabitants? -6. Animals of Asia ?-7. Southern parts of Asia?8. For what is Asia very remarkable as to its geography ?what is Asia very remarkable as to its history?

-9. For

1. THE first portion of the world inhabited by mankind was Asia; the next was Africa; the next was Europe, and the last was America. How long it is since this latter country was first peopled by the Indians, we do not know;

but the first white people went there not quite three hundred and fifty years since.

2. Let us now go back to the creation of the world.

Adam gave Names to the Fowls of the Air, and to every Beast of the Field.

This wonderful event took place about six thousand years The story of it is beautifully told in the first chapter

ago.

of Genesis.

C

3. Adam and Eve were created in Asia, and were placed in the garden of Eden, not far from the river Euphrates. This river is in the western part of Asia.

4. Adam and Eve were for a time the only human beings on this vast globe; yet they did not feel alone, for God was with them. At length they had children, and in the course of years their descendants were very numerous.

5. These dwelt in the neighbourhood of the Euphrates, and here they built cities and villages: but they became very wicked. The thoughts of their hearts were evil, the land was filled with violence, and they neglected the worship of God.

6. The Almighty therefore determined to destroy the whole race of wicked people who then inhabited the earth. This awful judgment acted not only as a punishment of the wicked people who were then living, but also as a warning to all future nations, that evil must follow sin.

7. But there was one good man in those days, whom, with all his family, it pleased the Almighty to save from the general destruction. His name was Noah, and him God condescended to apprise of his intentions. He also directed Noah to make a large ark, or house, that would float upon the waters, and to take with him into this ark, all his family, together with pairs of the various animals and creeping things, in order that they might be the means of replenishing the earth.

8. And Noah did as he was commanded of God. And when he and all that were with him were safe in the ark, the windows of heaven were opened, and the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the whole earth was covered by the waters. But the ark floated in safety upon the face of the waters.

9. Thus all the nations were cut off, and the world once more had but a single human family upon it. This awful event occurred sixteen hundred and fifty-six years after the creation.