Alden's Handy Atlas of the World Including One Hundred and Thirty-eight Colored Maps, Diagrams, Tables, Etc.

Part 4

Chapter 43,636 wordsPublic domain

Politically, Malay consists of the Straits Settlements of Great Britain, 6 Provinces of Siam, and a number of small Malay States, either tributary to or in treaty with the above powers. The Straits Settlements comprise the Islands of Singapore and Penang and the territories of Malacca and Province of Wellesley. Area, 1,445 square miles; pop., 423,384. {41}

COREA. Ko-ree´a.

A kingdom of Eastern Asia. Area estimated at 82,000 square miles. Population, 16,227,885. Climate variable, on account of the unevenness of the country; the thermometer at times registers 15° below zero.

The history of Corea dates back to 1120, when the Chinese gained possession of it. Seems first to have been subjugated by the Tartars. Japanese ruled it between 1692 and 1698, when it reverted to China. The country pays an annual tribute of 800 ounces of silver to the Chinese Emperor. The King of Corea is an absolute despot. Capital, Seoul; pop., 199,127.

Minerals are said to abound in the peninsula; but the low state of civilization in the country will not admit of their development. The country is mountainous, and the cultivable portion small; principal crops are rice, millet, beans and jute.

Value of imports, 1881, $1,944,735; exports, $1,882,650. Principal exports, ginseng, hides, rice and silk. Wheeled vehicles are unknown, and there are no bridges over the many streams. Doctrine of Confucius the established creed.

HONG KONG.

A colony of Great Britain, formerly a part of China. It consists of the Island of Hong Kong, ceded to Great Britain in 1841, and the opposite peninsula of Kow-loon, ceded to Great Britain, 1861. The government is administered by a Governor, aided by an Executive Council. There is also a Legislative Council. The chief city is Victoria. In 1883 the government sustained 87 schools, with 5,597 pupils. The total population of Hong Kong is 160,420, of whom but 7,990 are white persons.

Hong Kong forms the centre of trade for many different kinds of goods. Its commerce is virtually a part of that of China, and is chiefly carried on with Great Britain, the United States and Germany. Of the exports and imports only mercantile estimates are known; these place the former at about $10,000,000, and the latter at $20,000,000. The tea and silk trade of China is largely in the hands of Hong Kong firms. In 1882, 28,668 vessels, of 4,976,233 tons, entered the ports of Hong Kong.

ARABIA. A-ra´be-a.

A peninsula of Asia. Area, 1,000,000 square miles; length, 1,200 miles; breadth, 900 miles. Sandy desert comprises most of the country; fertile regions are shores of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. Seacoast, 1,200 miles in length. Heat intense: rainfall light.

Population variously estimated from 8,500,000 to 15,000,000. Claims descent from Ishmael; nomadic habits; Mohammedans in belief.

The pearl fisheries, which are of great commercial importance, begin at the Bahrein Islands, and extend southeast along the Persian Gulf, a distance of nearly 200 miles. The yearly produce is estimated to be worth, over $1,250,000.

Coffee, probably indigenous, chief article of export. Wheat, barley, beans, millet, dates and lentils form food of the natives. Rivers unimportant.

Arabia was never subject to one sovereign. Inhabitants broken up into petty tribes, each ruled by its own chief. {42}

INDIA. In´de-a.

An empire of Asia, divided into British territory and feudatory states, acknowledging sovereignty of Great Britain. Richest and most populous dependency of the English Crown. Area, 1,383,504 square miles. Population, 253,906,449.

Government is entrusted to Secretary of State for India; he is aided by a Council of 15 members. Executive authority vested in Governor General, appointed by the British Crown, and a Council of 7 members. Salary of Governor General, $125,000 per year.

Population dense. The density varies from 441 per square mile to 43; the average for all India being 184. Agriculture backward. Means of transportation poor but improving. Eight famines have visited India, and decimated the population of various Provinces. Soil is productive; rice, corn, millet, barley and wheat are grown; cotton, indigo, opium and sugar cane are largely exported.

Large quantities of bullion are imported for the manufacture of ornaments. In 1884, imports of gold, $27,347,280; silver, $37,042,530. Leading imports, 1883-84: cotton manufactures, $125,584,245; metals, $25,909,250; machinery, $8,955,740. Chief exports: raw cotton, $71,806,605; opium, $56,472,300; seeds, $50,450,990; wheat, $44,399,155; rice, $41,816,400. Total imports, 1884, $318,007,480; exports, $445,006,975.

Capital, Calcutta; population, 871,504; 60 towns of over 50,000 inhabitants. Over 19 dialects and languages spoken in the empire.

Number vessels entered Indian ports, 1884, 5,812; cleared, 5,850; number steamships entered by Suez Canal, 1,091; number vessels engaged in interportal trade, 103,503. Miles of railway, 1854, 21; in 1885 there were 10,832; unfinished, 1,823. Miles of telegraph, 21,740; messages, 1,799,179.

Education progressing. Schools, 109,212; scholars, 2,790,783; universities, 3; governmental schools, 15,845; commission of investigation appointed in 1883.

European and native army, 190,476 men. Native states have an army of 349,835 men; 4,237 guns.

CEYLON. See-lon´.

An island situated in the Indian Ocean, southeast of India. Area, 25,364 square miles; length, 260 miles; average breadth, 100 miles. Climate much pleasanter than that of Southern India. Ceylon was first settled in 1505; formed into a separate colony in 1798; fell under British rule in 1815.

By the constitution of 1831 and 1833, government is administered by a Governor, with an Executive Council and a Legislative Council. Minerals abound; precious stones are often found; pearl fisheries of western coast are famous. Bread-fruit, cinnamon, pepper, rice, cotton and tobacco are among the chief products of the soil.

Principal exports in 1883: coffee (the least since 1853), valued at $6,338,155; tea, $430,000; cinchona bark, $2,105,000; cocoanut oil, $2,030,000. Total exports in 1883, $16,654,500; imports, $22,643,335.

There were 164 miles of railway open for traffic in 1884; 16 miles in course of construction. Miles of telegraph were 989.

Estimated population, 1884, 2,822,009; 1,698,070 Buddhists, 493,630 Hindoos, 197,775 Mohammedans, and 147,977 Christians. The Europeans numbered about 5,000, of whom 4,000 were English. There were 1,703 schools, with nominal attendance of 102,109 pupils.

Colombo is the capital; pop., 111,942. {43}

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PERSIA. Per´she-a.

A kingdom of Western Asia. Area, 610,000 square miles. Population, 7,653,600. Temperature ranges from 10° to 110°; winters severe in central territory; summers hot and dry.

The government is an unlimited despotism. The Koran is law, the Shah being looked upon as the vicegerent of the prophet. Persia has no national debt. Persian army numbers 105,500 men on war basis; peace footing, 30,000.

Soil, in some of the extensive valleys, very fertile. Wheat and other cereals, cotton, sugar, rice, tobacco and opium yield well; silk is an important product of the country. Fruit trees and vegetables flourish. Mineral resources undeveloped. Diamonds have been taken from mines in Khorasan for centuries. Pearl fisheries of the Persian Gulf the most extensive in the world.

Commerce centres at Tabriz. Bushire and Lingah principal ports. Imports, by Lingah and Bushire, in 1883, $5,724,665. Exports, by same ports, $3,071,705; opium, $1,403,415; grain and pulse, $342,250. System of telegraph in the hands of Europeans; miles of line, 3,647; of wire, 5,947; offices, 78. Mail service from Julfa to Tabriz and Teheran, thence to Resht, established in 1877.

Capital, Teheran; pop., 100,000. Of total population, 1,963,800 live in cities, 1,909,800 are nomadic tribes, 3,780,000 inhabit country districts and villages. Education among the upper classes advanced; many colleges are sustained by government.

AFGHANISTAN. Af-gan`is-tan´.

Name given to plateau on northwest frontier of India. Estimated area, 278,000 square miles. Temperature at Ghazni, 10° to 15° below zero; at Kandahar, heat in summer reaches 120°. No other country of equal area has such diversities of climate. Distinguished for the mountain passes, through which India has been frequently invaded.

Government is a despotism. Capital, Kabul. Population, 2,500,000, consisting of numerous warlike clans. The Amir is a military dictator, with a yearly revenue of $2,000,000, and a subsidy of $600,000 from India. Two-thirds of inhabitants Mohammedans.

Agricultural and pastoral pursuits the chief industries of the people; wheat the most important crop; rice, barley and millet grown. On terraces, 6,000 and 7,000 feet high, all the vegetables and fruits of Europe grow; in the south, sugar cane and date palm.

BELUCHISTAN. Bel-oo`chis-tan´.

A country of Asia lying east of Persia. Area, 140,000 square miles. Population, 1,000,000. Climate diverse; in higher parts, extremely cold; in valleys, heat is oppressive. Deficiency of water throughout the whole country. Surface rugged and barren.

The soil is unproductive, but has been cultivated until it supplies the natives with necessaries. Fruits and vegetables flourish near the towns.

The only exports are horses, grain and dates. Imports: Indian silk, cotton goods, rice, sugar, spices, and dye stuffs in small quantities.

The government is a despotism. Khan has unlimited power over life, person and property; resides at Kelat, the capital, a city with a population of 10,000. Inhabitants divided into many tribes, ruled by chiefs. {45}

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AFRICA.

A large insular continent lying south of Europe, from which it is separated by the Mediterranean. Area, 11,512,480 square miles; extreme length, 4,330 miles; extreme breadth, 4,000 miles; coast line, only about 16,000 miles, there being few indentations, and a lack of good harbors.

PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES.

+----------+------------+-----------------+--------- Name. | Area, | Population.| Capitals. | Pop. | Sq. Mls. | | | ------------------+----------+------------+-----------------+--------- Abyssinia | 200,000 | 3,000,000 | Gondar | 7,000 Algeria | 161,476 | 3,310,412 | Algiers | 70,747 Cape Colony | 229,815 | 1,027,168 | Cape Town | 33,239 Congo Free State |1,056,200 | 27,000,000 | | Egypt | 394,240 | 6,806,381 | Cairo | 368,108 Liberia | 14,300 | 1,068,000 | Monrovia | 3,000 Madagascar | 228,500 | 3,500,000 | Tananarivo | 100,000 Morocco | 219,000 | 5,000,000 | Marocco | 50,000 Mozambique | 38,000 | ? 300,000 | Mozambique | ? 35,000 Natal | 21,150 | 416,219 | Pietermaritzburg| 14,231 Nubia | ? 35,000 | ? 400,000 | Dongola | Orange River Free | 70,000 | 133,518 | Bloemfontein | 2,567 State| | | | Transvaal | 114,360 | 750,000 | Pretoria | 4,440 Tunis | 42,000 | 2,100,000 | Tunis | 120,000 Zanzibar | 625 | 300,000 | Zanzibar | 90,000 ------------------+----------+------------+-----------------+---------

LENGTHS OF RIVERS.

Miles. Miles. Congo 2,400 | Orange 1,600 Niger 2,900 | Senegal 1,000 Nile 5,100 | Zambesi 1,800

LATEST REPORTED EXPORTS.

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MAROCCO. Ma-rok´ko.

An empire of Africa, formerly the largest of the Barbary States. Area, 219,000 square miles. Population, 5,000,000. Atlas Mountains cross the country; rivers few and small. Atlantic coast line, 750 miles long; Mediterranean, 250 miles.

The Sultan's authority is supreme in spiritual and temporal matters. Estimated yearly revenue of Sultan, $2,500,000. Marocco has three capitals: Fez (pop., 80,000) is the chief; Marocco, the old metropolis (pop., 50,000); and Mequinez (pop., 56,000).

Both climate and soil are well suited to the production of wheat, barley, corn and other grains; agriculture is neglected for pastoral pursuits. Marocco supposed to be rich in minerals.

Foreigners control the maritime trade; Tangier is the main port; seven others open to foreign commerce. Import of cotton, 1882, valued at $3,401,130; sugar, $1,390,240; rice, flour, etc., $1,462,090. Exports, 1882: wool, $1,116,850; shoes, $527,420; almonds, $394,000; cattle, $393,880. In 1882, 1,050 vessels, of 314,794 tons, entered, and 1,047, of 315,559 tons, cleared, the ports of Marocco.

ALGERIA. Al-jee´re-a.

Situated in North Africa; the most important French colonial possession. Area, about 161,476 square miles. Coast line, 550 miles. Climate variable; mean annual temperature at Algiers, 66.5°.

Government of settled districts administered by a Governor General; others under military rule. Civil government divided into three departments, each of which sends 2 Deputies and 1 Senator to the French Chambers. Algiers the capital; pop., 1881, 70,747. Total population of Algeria, 1881, 3,310,412; French, 233,937.

Agriculture the principal industry; in 1881, 2,328,636 thus engaged. In 1882, 40,000,000 acres in farms; 5,460,000 under cereals; wheat product, 559,500 tons; barley, 790,000; number of acres devoted to vine culture, 99,000. Olive oil manufactured in 1880, 574,000 gals. Yield of tobacco, from 20,000 acres, 9,490,000 lbs. In 1882 there were 1,027,913 cattle, 5,142,321 sheep, 3,056,660 goats.

Imports, 1883, $47,639,790; exports, $33,788,880. In 1883, 4,803 vessels, of 1,954,423 tons, entered Algerian ports. Number miles railway, 993. Miles of line of telegraph in 1882, 3,645. In 1881 there were 619 students in the higher schools; number of secondary schools, 16; pupils, 3,561; 916 infant and primary schools, with 79,201 pupils.

TUNIS. Tu´niss.

A kingdom or regency of Africa, formerly one of the Barbary States; since 1881 under the protectorate of France. The government is practically administered by a Minister Resident and two Secretaries. The area of the country is about 42,000 square miles, and the population is estimated to number 2,100,000. Capital, Tunis; population variously estimated from 100,000 to 120,000.

There are twelve ports open to foreign trade. The imports average $5,500,000 per annum, and the exports $6,500,000. The principal articles of export are wheat, barley, esparto grass (used in making paper), olive oil, dates, wool and skins. Principal imports, manufactured goods, liquors, sugar and flour.

In 1883, 3,768 vessels, of 1,524,429 tons, entered Tunisian ports; of these 1,222, of 1,018,538 tons, were French. Tunis has about 200 miles of railway, and 2,500 miles of telegraph. {49}

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EGYPT. E´jipt.

A dependency of Turkey, situated in North Africa. Estimated area, 394,240 square miles. Population, 6,806,381. Territory covered by sandy deserts, except where the annual inundations of the Nile render it fertile. Rain falls once in three or four years. The agricultural population forms 61 per cent. of the total.

Egypt is a Province of the Ottoman Empire; yet it is independent at the same time, and its sovereignty is dependent on the will of stronger powers, England being dominant. Absolute executive power is in the hands of the Khedive, under the supervision of England. Provincial Councils and a Legislative Council advise with the Khedive on matters purely local. Cairo, capital; pop., 368,106.

Under the Pharaohs, Egypt was an agricultural country. It is distinguished for the prominent part it played in ancient history, its ruins, and situation with reference to the Suez Canal.

Commerce extensive, consists largely of goods in transit; carries on a large trade with Central Africa. In 1883, imports, $42,984,880; exports, $61,549,425. Principal export, cotton; value, 1883, $37,328,905.

The railway system, 1884, consisted of a single line, 1,276 miles long. Miles of government telegraph, 1884, 2,767. Eastern telegraph company have a line to Cairo, 455 miles in length.

Population of chief towns, 1882: Alexandria, 208,755; Damietta, 34,046; Tantah, 33,735; Mansourah, 26,784; Zagazig, 19,046; Rosetta, 16,671; Port Said, 16,560; Suez, 10,913.

The Nile is the only river in Egypt. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea; opened for navigation, November, 1869; length, 100 miles; number of vessels passed through in 1883, 3,307, of 8,106,001 tons; gross receipts, $13,227,530; net profits, $7,172,700. In 1883, postoffice carried 9,587,000 letters.

NUBIA. Nu´be-a.

A country of Eastern Africa. From 1821 to 1884 Nubia was under the dominion of Egypt. Since the southern boundary of Egypt can not yet be regarded as fixed, it is impossible to give trustworthy statistics of the area and population of Nubia. The fertile part of the country lies chiefly in the valley of the Nile. The climate is hot and dry, but generally healthful. Chief products are barley, cotton, indigo, durrah, dates, tobacco, senna and coffee. An extensive transit trade is carried on with Egypt and interior Africa, in gold dust, ostrich feathers and senna. The entire valley contains the remains of ancient buildings, the most numerous lying below Dongola.

ABYSSINIA, (Ab-is-sin´e-a.) or HABESH.

An isolated country of Eastern Africa, consisting of three divisions, Amhara, Tigre and Shoa. Tigre and Amhara constitute one kingdom, and Shoa another; they are all divided into a great number of smaller provinces. Gondar, in Amhara, is the capital of all Ethiopia. Capital of Shoa, Ankobar; of Tigre, Adowa. Area about 200,000 square miles. Population about 3,000,000. Drained by numerous rivers emptying into the Nile.

Lowland soil grows wheat, cotton, maize, rice, sugar cane and flax. No foreign trade except exportation of small quantities of ivory, musk, coffee and gold dust; manufactures limited. Inhabitants a mixture of many races, warlike and uncivilized. {51}

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MADAGASCAR. Mad`a-gas´kar.

The largest African island; the third largest in the world. Area, 228,500 square miles. Population, 3,500,000. Near the centre of island, within an arc of 90 miles, there are 100 extinct volcanoes. Mean yearly temperature about 77°.

Government is an absolute monarchy, limited by powerful customs. The island has been swayed by the dynasty of the Hovas since 1810. Since the treaty of Tamatave, March 17, 1886, the country has been under the protectorate of France. Commercial and diplomatic relations established between the island and United States, Great Britain and France, in this century, previous to 1868. Capital, Tananarivo; population estimated at 100,000.

Soil generally fertile; forests of valuable timber abound. Chief products are rice, sugar, silk, cotton, bananas, potatoes, India rubber. Stock raising and agriculture are the main industries. Chief exports are cattle, hides, coffee, lard, sugar, vanilla, wax, gum, rice and seeds; principal imports are metal goods, rum and cotton goods. Silver five-franc piece the only legal coin; franc is cut into pieces for smaller coins. Tamatave principal port; pop., 6,000; number of ships entering her harbor during last six months of 1882, 116. In the same time the value of imports at Tamatave from the United States was $207,410; value of exports to United States, $257,485.

Standing army, 20,000. Three-fourths of people Pagans. Christianity the state religion. Education is compulsory; 1,167 schools, with 150,906 pupils, in Imerina, the chief Province.

MOZAMBIQUE. Mo-zam-beek´.

A colonial possession of Portugal on the east coast of Africa. Area, 38,000 square miles. A few settlements and military posts exercise feeble authority over the inhabitants. The climate is genial, and the soil capable of producing wheat, maize, tobacco, cotton and sugar cane. The chief towns are: St. Sebastian (pop., 1,510), Ibo (pop. about 2,000), Sofala (pop. 2,000), and St. Thiajo Major. The forests abound in valuable timber trees; pearl fisheries are important, and the mineral deposits are of exceptional value. The gold mines of Mauica are supposed to be the richest in East Africa. Ivory is obtained in large quantities for the Indian market; annual value about $350,000. Other exports are India rubber, gums, oil, beeswax and corn. Shipping trade is carried on by about 400 vessels. The capital is Mozambique.

ZANZIBAR. Zan`ze-bar´.

An empire of Eastern Africa, consisting of the Island of Zanzibar, and settlements along the coast from Cape Delgado as far as 3° north latitude. The limits of the Sultan's dominions inland are not known; but, beyond a few travel routes, his authority extends but a little way from the coast. The island has an area of 625 square miles, and a population variously estimated from 150,000 to 300,000. Population of the town of Zanzibar, 90,000; of Bagamoyo, on the opposite mainland, 10,000.

The religion of the country is Mohammedanism. Christian missions are established on the island and far into the mainland. Value of imports, 1882, $4,000,000; exports, $5,000,000. The exports are ivory, cloves, India rubber and gum. In 1882, 85 vessels, of 89,773 tons, entered the ports. The imports are chiefly cotton cloths, rice, cereals, kerosene oil and guns. {53}

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CAPE COLONY.

A colony in South Africa, originally founded by the Dutch, in 1652. Since 1806 controlled by Great Britain. Climate generally dry and salubrious. At Cape of Good Hope, mean annual temperature is placed at about 62°. Average rainfall per year, 24 inches. Total area of Cape Colony, 229,815 square miles. Estimated population, 1,027,168. Capital, Cape Town; pop., 33,239.