A DESCRIPTION

OF THE

EMPIRES, KINGDOMS, STATES, AND COLONIES;

WITH THE

OCEANS, SEAS, AND ISLES;

IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD:

INCLUDING THE MOST RECENT DISCOVERIES,

AND POLITICAL ALTERATIONS.

DIGESTED ON A NEW PLAN,

BY JOHN PINKERTON.

THE ASTRONOMICAL INTRODUCTION

BY THE REV. S. VINCE, A.M. F.R.S.

AND PLUMIAN PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY, AND EXPERIMENTAL
PHILOSOPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.

WITH NUMEROUS MAPS,

DRAWN UNDER THE DIRECTION, AND WITH THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS,
OF ARROWSMITH, AND ENGRAVED BY THE FIRST AMERICAN ARTISTS.
To the whole are added, a Catalogue of the best Maps, and Books of Travels
and Voyages, in all Languages: and an ample Index.

VOL. I.

PUBLISHED BY

JOHN CONRAD & CO. PHILADELPHIA; M. & J. CONRAD & CO. BALTIMORE,
RAPIN, CONRAD & Co. WASHINGTON CITY; SOMERVELL & CONRAD,
PETERSBURG; BONSAL, CONRAD & co. NORFOLK; BERNARD DORNIN,
NEW-YORK; WHITING, BACHUS, & WHITING, ALBANY; SAMUEL PLEA
SANTS, RICHMOND; BEERES & HOWE, NEW-HAVEN; CROW & QUERY,

CHARLESTON, S. C.

H. MAXWELL, PRINTER, NO. 25, NORTH SECOND STREET.

1804.

PREFACE.

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P49

1804

v.l

THE importance of geography as a science, and

the exuberant variety of knowledge and amusement which it exhibits, are themes too trivial for argument or illustration. Eagerly attached to this study from his early years, the author always cherished a hope that he might contribute his labours to its advancement: For much remained to be done; and many literary men have long admitted, that great advantages might be derived from a new and improved system of modern geography, the latest popular works of this nature not only abounding with numerous and gross mistakes, but being so imperfect in their original plans, that the chief geographical topics have been sacrificed to long details of history, chronology, and commercial regulations, wholly extraneous to the very nature of such a design. When to this it is added, that the most recent and important discoveries are either omitted, imperfectly illustrated, or so defectively arranged as to embarrass and baffle the research of the most patient inquirer, there is no reason to be surprised at the general confession, that such compilations are only used because there is no better extant.

The successive discoveries in the Pacific Ocean, and other parts of the globe, have, within these few years, acquired such a certainty and consistency, that they may

now be admitted and arranged, in a regular and precise distribution of the parts of the habitable world; while the recent discoveries of La Perouse, Vancouver, and other navigators, nearly complete the exact delineation of the continental shores. No period of time could be more favourable to the appearance of a new system of geography, than the beginning of a new century, after the clapse of the eighteenth, which will be memorable in all ages, from the gigantic progress of every science, and in particular of geographical information; nor less from the surprising changes which have taken place in most countries of Europe, and which of themselves render a new description indispensable. Whole kingdoms have been annihilated; grand provinces transferred; and such a general alteration has taken place in states and boundaries, that a geographical work published five years ago, may be pronounced to be already antiquated.

After a general war of the most eventful description, after revolutions of the most astonishing nature, Europe at length reposes in universal peace. The new divisions and boundaries no longer fluctuate with every campaign, but are established by solemn treaties, which promise to be durable, as at no former period has war appeared more sanguinary or destructive, and at the same time more fruitless even to the victors. These treaties not only influence the descriptions of European countries, but of many in Asia, Africa, and America.

A new system of geography is also specially authorised and authenticated, by the singular advantage of several important books of travels having appeared within these few years, which introduce far more light and precision into our knowledge of many regions. The embassies to China, Tibet, and Ava, for example, present fresh and

authentic materials, without which recourse must have been had to more remote and doubtful information; and the Birman empire is unknown to all systems of geography. The Researches of the Asiatic Society, and other late works, diffuse a new radiance over Hindostan, and the adjacent countries. The labours of the African Society, the travels of Park, Browne, and Barrow, have given more precision to our imperfect knowledge of Africa and the journies of Hearne and Mackenzie have contributed to disclose the northern boundaries of Ame rica. In short, it may be safely affirmed, that more important books of travels and other sources of geogra phical information, have appeared within these few years, than at any period whatever of literary history.

In this work the essence of innumerable, books of travels and voyages will be found to be extracted; and such productions have been the favourite amusements of the most distinguished minds, in all periods and countries, as combining the variety, novelty, and adventure, of poetical and romantic narration, with the study of man, and the benefits of practical instruction. It is unnecessary to repeat the names of Montaigne, Locke, Montesquieu, &c., or that of my late friend Gibbon, whose collection of voyages and travels formed the most chosen part of his library. Why did he not write geography! Why has a Strabo been denied to modern times!

Nor must the rapid advances of natural history be forgotten, which now confer such superior precision on the natural geography of most countries. Not only have zoology and botany received the greatest improvements; but geology and mineralogy have, within these twenty years, become entirely new and grand sciences; the substances being accurately arranged, and described with