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extends 6000 miles from the Dardanelles to the eastern shores ofTartary; and 5400 from N. to S. Asia contains the followingparts: Turkey in Asia, Arabia, Persia , the Mogul’s empire, withthe two peninsulas of the Indies; Tibet, China, and Korea ;Great and Liftle Buckaria, with Korasin; Tartary, Siberia , andthe islands. The principal languages spoken in Asia are, the mo-dern Greek, the Turkish, the Russian, the 'Tartarian, the Per-sian, the Arabic, the Malayan, the Chinese, and the Japanese .'The European languages are also spoken upon the coasts of India and China. Asia is looked upon as that part of the world which,of all others, has been most peculiarly distinguished bv heaven.’There the first man was created; there the patriarchs lived, thelaw was given to Moses , and the greatest and most celebrated mo-narchies were formed ; from thence the lirst founders of cities andnations in other quarters of the world brought their colonies. Last-ly, in Asia the Son of God accomplished the great and mercifulwork of our redemption, and from thence the light of the gloriousgospel was diffused over all the world. Laws, arts, sciences,and religion, almost all had their original in Asia . This vast ex-tent of territory was successively governed in past times by theAssyrians, the Modes, the Persians , and the Greeks; but the im-mense regions of India and China were little known to Alexan-der, or the conquerors of the ancient world. Upon the decline ofthose empires, great part of Asia submitted to the Roman arms;and afterwards in the middle ages, the successors of Mohammed,or as they are usually called, Saracens, founded in Asia , inAfrica, and in Europe , a more extensive empire than that of Cy-rus, Alexander, or even the Roman when in its height of power.'The Saracen greatness ended with the death of 'Tamerlane ; andthe Turks, conquerors on every side, took possession of themiddle regions of Asia , which they still enjoy. Besides the coun-tries possessed by the 'l urks and Russians, Asia contain 0 at pre-sent three large empires, the Chinese, the British, and the Per-sian ; upon which the smaller kingdoms and sovereignties of Asia generally depend. The prevailing form of government in this di-vision of the globe is absolute monarchy. If any of them can besaid to enjoy some share of liberty, it is the wandering tribes, asthe Tartars anil Arabs. Many of the Asiatic nations, when the Dutch lirst came among them, could not conceive how it w as possiblefor any people to live under any form of government but that ota despotic monarch. Turkey, Arabia, Persia , part of 'Tartary ,and part of India, profess Mohammedanism. The Persian and In-dian Mohammedans are of the sect of Ali, and the others of thatof Omar; but both own Mohammed for their lawgiver, and theKoran for their rule of faith and life. In the other parts of Tar-tary, India, China, Japan , and the Asiatic 1-lands, they are ge-nerally heathens and idolaters. Jews are to be found every 7 wherein Asia. Christianity , though planted here with wonderful rapi-dity by the Apostles and Primitive Fathers, suffered an almost to-tal eclipse by the conquests of the Saracens , and afterwards of the'Turks.
'The Asiatic islands are very numerous, insomuch that somereckon 150,000; but of this there is no certainty. 'Those that lieon the east of Asia are, the islands of Jesso or Vedso, and Japan ,with several small ones on the coast of Korea, the island of For-mosa, and the Philippines . 'Those on the west are, the island ofCyprus , in the Mediterranean; Scandaroon, off Nalolia, andthe isle of Rhodes, off Phiscio, on the same coast. ’Those onthe south are, the isles of the Maldives, in the India sea; theisle of Ceylon , off cape Komorin ; with a great many small onesin the gulph of Bengal. Those on the south-east are, the isles ofSandi, as Sumatra, the isles of Java, Borneo, &c. the Moluccas ,the isles of Kumbava, 'Timor , Ac.
The chief rivers of Asia are, the Euphrates and Tigris, in 'Tur-key; the Indus and Ganges, in India; the Kiang and I!oang-ho,in China; the Sir Amu and Wolga , in Western'Tartary ; the Se-galeen or Amur, in Eastern 'Tartary; the Irtish , Oby, Jenisea,and Lena in Siberia. 'The lakes are, the Caspian Sea ; and nearthat another very large one, but lately know n to us, called Aral,or the Lake of Eagles. 'Tire Baykal in Siberia , the Kokonor near'Tibet, and the'Tong Ping in China . The chief mountains are,the Taurus in Turkey and Persia ; the Imails, between India and'Tibet; and the Altay, in Tartary. Asia is superior to Europe 'and Africa , in the serenity of its air, the fertility of its soil, thedeliciousness of its fruits, the fragrancy and balsamic qualities of itsplants, spices, and gums; the salubrity of its drugs ; the quantity,
variety, beauty, and value, of its gems; the richness of its metals,and the fineness of its silks and cottons. A great change indeedhas happened in that part of it called 'Turkey , which has lostmuch of its ancient splendor, and from the most populous andbest cultivated spot in Asia , is become a w ild and uncultivateddesart. 'The other paris of Asia continue nearly in their formercondition ; the soil being as remarkable tor its fertility, as most ofthe inhabitants for their indolence, effeminacy, and luxury.
ASIARCILE were the Pagan Pontiffs of Asia, chosen tosuperintend the public games; which they did at their ow nexpence.
ASIATICS, the natives of Asia .
ASIDE, in the drama, something said by an actor, whichsome, or even all the other actors present, are supposed not tohear; a circumstance justly condemned as unnatural and im-probable.
ASIITO, a town of Italy, in Perugia .
ASILUS, the hornet-fly, a genus of insects of the order diptera.Wings two ; beak horny, straight, two-valved.'There are 17 species.Many of them wound in a very painful manner, and are parti-cularly troublesome to cattle in low' meadows; others are quiteharmless. See Plate VII.
ASIN ARA, an island on the N. W r . coast of Sardinia . Lon. 8.30. E. Lat. 41. 0. N.
ASINARII, an appellation given, by way of reproach, to theancient Christians, as well as Jews , from a mistaken opinion,among heathens, that they worshipped an ass.
ASINESIA, in medicine, an imiiioveableness of the body, oranv part of it, as in apoplexy, palsy, &c.
ASIN US, a species of equus. See Euiuus.
ASISIO, or ASITIO, a city of the Pope ’s late territories inItaly, 80 mdes N. of Rome . Lon. 13.35. E. Lat. 43. 10. N.
ASKERON, a place live miles from Doncaster , noted for amedicinal spring. It is a strong sulphureous water, and is slightlyimpregnated with a purging salt. It is recommended internallyand externally in strumous and other ulcers, scabs, leprosy, andsimilar complaints. It is good in chronic obstructions, and in casesof worms and foulness of tbe bowels.
ASLAN, or ASLANT, in commerce, a name given to theDutch dollar, in most parts of the Levant.
ASMATOGRAPHER, [from ao-^u, a song, and yja?*;, towrite,] a composer of songs.
ASMER, a province of India, on this side the Ganges , be-tween the Indus and Delhi .
ASMODAI, the name given by the Jews to the prince ofdemons; and, according to R. Elias, the same with Sammael.
ASOLA, a town ot Venice in Italy , 20 miles S. E. ofBre-sa.
ASOLO, a town of ftalv, 17 miles N. W. of Trevisan.
ASOP11, a district of the Russian empire, bordering on thesea of Asoph.
Asoph, a town of Coban Tartary, in Ada, seated on the riverDon, near its mouth.
Asoph, or Zabak, anciently called Pains Mieotis, a sea be-tween Europe and Asia , about 600 miles In circumference.
ASO'TIA, intemperance; prodigality.
ASOTUS, in ichthyology, a species of the silurus.
ASOW, a celebrated fortress of Russia , in the district of Bach-mut, once a place of considerable trade, but now demolished.
ASP [from the Greek «<r*r<>-, shield, on account of its lying con-volved in a circle, in the centre of which is the head, which itexerts, or raises, like the umbo or umbilcus of a buckler.] SeeColuber.
A SPA, a town of Parthia, now Ispahan . Lon. 51. 0. E. Lat.32. 30. X.
ASPALATHUS, African Broom : A genus of the derandriaorder, and diadelphia class of plants : and in the natural order,Papilionacex. Calyx a tingle-leafed perianthuim, divided intolive segments; corolla papilionaceous; fruit a roundish, turgid,unilocular, bivalve pod ; seed single, and frequently kidney-shaped. 'There are many species, chiefly natives of the Cape otGood Hope.
ASPARAGAN, a juice of asparagus, lately discovered byexpression and evaporation. The crystals are white, transparent,and rhomboidal prisms: it is hard and brittle, and its taste is cool
and