Manual of Elementary Geography, Ed. by J.S. Laurie (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865. Excerpt: ... in the hands of about 200 Daimios, or nobles, who possess vast estates, live in fortified castles, and maintain large bands of armed retainers, who are dreaded and avoided by the more peaceable part of the community. TOWNS.--Yeddo, the capital, in the island of Niphon, contains the residence of the Tycoon. Population variously estimated at from 2,000,000 to 10,000,000. The houses being built of wood, the city is subject to frequent and destructive fires. Miako, the residence of the Mikado, is the chief manufacturing town. Yeddo, . Osaka, Matsmai, and Nangasaki, are the ports now open to foreigners. TURKEY IN ASIA. SITUATION', SIZE, &c Under this name is comprised Asia Minor, Armenia, Kurdistan or Assyria, Al Jezireh or Mesopotamia, and Syria, including Palestine. It is situated in the west of Asia, and is about twice the size of France. GENERAL DESCRIPTION.--In this large country there are three distinct geographical regions. The first, comprising Asia Minor and Armenia, has a highly diversified surface, consisting of a series of elevated table-lands intersected by ranges of lofty mountains, whose sides are clothed with magnificent forests. These mountains form numerous fertile valleys, and enclose many fresh and salt water lakes. The second region is the comparatively level district drained by the Tigris and Euphrates; and the third consists of Syria, including Palestine, mountainous in the east and desert in the west. The climate is very varied: on the table-lands and large plains, the heat of summer is so great that vegetation is scorched, and the country has the appearance of a desert; while in winter the ground is covered with deep snow. In the sheltered valleys the heat is great, and where water is abundant the vegetation is almost tropical in its va..