OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN ASIA. 179 
we find him delineating with success, grand geographical fea- 
tures, hid as it were in the most secret recesses of Asia, which 
had remained to them entirely unknown. Surely, then, it can- 
not be denied, that some regard is due to his authority, and 
that his delineations may possibly prove correct, even where 
they do not exactly coincide with those of our modern maps. 
. It is now time to proceed to the main object, of exhibiting 
Protemy’s delineation of Eastern and Central Asia, and com- 
paring it with the actual features of that Continent. In this 
analysis, it will be convenient to follow the movements of the 
great caravan, from which he derived his information. Setting 
out from Byzantium, it proceeded through Assyria, Parthia, and 
other regions of Asia, to Bactria, a country still known under 
the appellation of Balk or Bulkh. It seems early to have been 
the depot for the caravan-trade of Central Asia, and had thus 
acquired a degree of wealth and splendour unknown to the 
barbarous regions that surrounded it. Thence the travellers 
proceeded into Sogdiana, which appears in Mr Exruinstonn’s 
map under the modern appellation of Shoghnaun. The route, 
which had hitherto been easy and level, assumed now an en- 
tirely different aspect. Before ascending, however, into that 
vast mountain world, which Asia incloses in her bosom, it may 
be necessary to pause, and to take a brief view of its general 
Shraehiares! 4! fi treriia wah) oe Petuort 
It is well known that Indostan is’ Icaridesiba on oe south by 
a table land of extraordinary elevation, called Great and Little 
Thibet. Two parallel chains, running from east to west, prop 
this mighty bulwark of Asia. The southern barrier is formed 
by that) immense chain known under the names of Hindoo 
Coosh, and Hemalleh or Himalaya, which forms the northern 
limit of India. The whole extent of it is covered, to a great 
cm with perpetual snow, and every measurement yet made, 
Z2 from 
