ASIA. 



The following table shows the areas and 

 populations of the various subdivisions of the 

 Indo-Chinese Peninsula, according to the latest 

 attainable data of any value : 



The East India Islands are subdivided thus : 



The following table exhibits estimates of 

 the population connected with the Eoman 

 Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Churches : 



The number of Mohammedans in Asia is 

 about 115,144,000. (See MOHAMMEDANISM.) 

 According to recent works on Japan, the 

 Shinto religion, although it is recognized as 

 the state religion of Japan, has no more than 

 from 100,000 to 200.000 professed adherents, 

 the rest being Buddhists or nothing. (See 

 JAPAN.) 



t In Afghanistan, the British held, at the be- 

 g v nmn g of the year, Candahar, Cabool, which 

 they had reconquered from the Afghan insur- 

 rectionists, and the districts bordering on In- 

 dia with their passes. Mohammed Jan had been 



Inven from the positions he had taken before 



* Including dependencies. 



t Including native states under British protectorate, and 

 Cyprus. The population set down as Protestant is based 

 upon an estimate made by Protestant missionaries of the na- 



$ Including Cambodia. 



Cabool, and had retired with the Prince Moosa 

 Khan to Gliuznee, and was endeavoring to ex- 

 cite the tribes to a new rising. Ayoob Khan 

 was at Herat with a considerable force, which 

 he was preparing to lead against the British. 

 He assumed the offensive during the summer, 

 and inflicted a serious defeat upon General 

 Burrows at Kushk-i-Nakhub, on the 27th of 

 July. He then laid siege to Candahar, but 

 was routed on the 1st of September by Gen- 

 eral Roberts, who had marched from Cabool 

 to the relief of the garrison, and was com- 

 pelled to retire to Herat, while his troops 

 were scattered. Abdurrahman, the nephew 

 of Shere Ali, was installed Ameer of Cabool 

 on the 22d of July. The British forces were 

 withdrawn from Cabool during September; 

 the garrkon at Candahar was strengthened, 

 with the intention of holding the city for the 

 present; and the Ku ram Valley was evacuated 

 and left in the possession of the Turis under 

 a British guarantee that their independence 

 of the Ameer of Cabool should be maintained. 

 (See AFGHANISTAN.) 



The progress of events in Afghanistan, and 

 matters connected with them, constituted the 

 most important objects of attention in India. 

 The estimates for the expenditures on account 

 of the war, which were published at the be- 

 ginning of the year, gave promise that the cost 

 would be light, and encouraged the belief that 

 the viceroyalty would be able to sustain it 

 without calling upon the British Government 

 for help. This expectation was afterward dis- 

 appointed by the production of other items of 

 expense, and new estimates which showed 

 that the cost of the war would be one hun- 

 dred and fifty per cent, more than that which 

 had first been given, and very far beyond the 

 ability of India to sustain. Upon the occur- 

 rence of a change in the British Government, 

 Lord Lytton was recalled from the office of 

 Viceroy, and the Marquis of Eipon was ap- 

 pointed in his place. Apprehensions were en- 

 tertained for a time that the new Govern- 

 ment might abruptly enter upon a policy of 

 administration, particularly with reference to 

 Afghanistan, so different from that which had 

 been pursued by the previous Government, as, 

 by a too sudden change, to bring disaster upon 

 interests and enterprises which had been 

 adapted to the old policy. The measures of 

 the new Government were taken, however, 

 with such carefulness and deliberation as to 

 assure the country that these fears had no 

 solid foundation. A land-slide which occurred 

 nt the summer resort Naini Tal, on the 18th of 

 September, caused the death of several officers 

 of the Government of Bengal, and of othef 

 persons of high standing in Indian society. 

 (See INDIA.) 



A Russian expedition was dispatched against 

 the Tekke Turkomans to chastise them for the 

 depredations and incursions of which they had 

 been guilty. It was said before the expedition 

 started that it would not occupy Merv, for the 



