QUESTIONS.-1. What is the whole population of the globe? Where did Adam and Eve live? 3. What would you observe in travelling through different countries? 5. What of people in the savage state? 6. What of people in the barbarous state? 7. What of people in the civilized state? 8. What of people in the highest state of civilization? 9. Into what four classes may mankind be divided?

CHAP. VI.-ASIA.

ABOUT THE CLIMATE, PRODUCTIONS, MOUNTAINS, PEOPLE, AND ANIMALS OF ASIA, AND OTHER THINGS.

1. I HAVE already said that Asia is a vast country, containing a great many cities, and a multitude of inhabitants. It lies on the opposite side from us of the eastern continent; and you may go to it either by sailing round the Cape of Good Hope and across the Indian Ocean, or by crossing Europe, or by passing between Europe and Africa, over the Mediterranean Sea.

2. In the southern portion of Asia the climate is warm. These parts are chiefly inhabited by the Chinese, Hindoos, Persians, Arabians, and Turks. In many places the country is fertile, and in the valleys, beautiful flowers, spicy shrubs, and fragrant trees are found.

3. Wild birds of the most brilliant colours are often seen in the forests. Peacocks, pheasants, and other domestic fowls are natives of these sunny regions. Oranges grow wild in parts, and many of our most splendid garden flowers

some

are to be found growing on the hills and in the valleys Southern Asia.

4. In the centre of Asia there are some mountains who tops are covered with everlasting snow. These are t loftiest peaks in the world, and are nearly six miles height. To the north of these is a cold region, where the are vast plains, with scattered tribes of Tartars roaming ov them for the scanty pastures they afford for their camels a horses.

5. In these gloomy tracts there are few towns or citi The inhabitants are, for the most part, wanderers, who bui no houses but dwell in tents, and live upon the milk a flesh of their flocks. They also hunt the wild deer, antelop and other animals that are found in these regions.

6. The native animals of Asia are many of them ve remarkable. The elephant is found in the thickets, t rhinoceros along the banks of rivers, the lion in the plain the royal tiger in the forests, monkeys and apes of ma kinds abound in the hot parts, and serpents thirty feet length are sometimes met with.

7. In the southern portions of Asia hurricanes are co mon, and these sometimes are so violent as to overturn t houses, rend the forests in pieces, and scatter ruin and des lation over the land. The country is often parched wi drought, and destructive famine follows. Sometimes m lions of locusts come upon the wind, and devour every gre thing, so that nothing is left for man or beast. Pestilen

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 which 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? 9. For what is Asia very remarkable as to its history?

CHAP. VII.-ASIA continued.

ABOUT THE CREATION. THE DELUGE.

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 three hundred and sixty years since!

2. Let us now go back to the creation of the world. This wonderful event took place about six thousand years ago. The story of it is beautifully told in the first chapter of Genesis.

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 there they built towns, cities, and villages. But they became very wicked. They forgot to worship God, and were unjust and cruel.

6. The Creator, therefore, determined to cut off the whole human family, with the exception of Noah and his children,