44 G^graphij. [Chap. V. 



M. Voliiey, M. Cassas, and Mr. Browne. During 

 the same period, our knowledge of Arabia has been 

 extended by the travels of Niebuhr, Sauveboeuf, 

 'And others. Persia has been also more fully ex- 

 plored than ever before, by Han way, count de Ter- 

 riers, Sauveboeuf, Franklin, Gmelin, Pallas, and 

 Forster. The geography and condition of Hln- 

 dosian have been elucidated in a very interesting 

 manner by Hodges, Bartholomeo, Forster, and, 

 above all, by major Rennel, whose map of that 

 country, and his memoir accompanying it, have 

 been pronounced, by a good judge, one of the most 

 instructive and valuable geographical presents ever 

 made to the public *. 



Toward the close of the seventeenth century, 

 some valuable information respecting China had 

 been obtained through the medium of Christian 

 missionaries from Europe. Since that period our 

 acquaintance with China has been greatly extended. 

 For this we are chiefly indebted to the works of 

 du Halde f, Grosier, Staunton, and van Braam. 

 Few works have been read with more interest than 

 the celebrated account of lord Macartney's Em* 

 bassy, by sir George Staunton; and seldom has any 



* Historical Disquisition eonccrning India. By William PiO- 

 bertson, D.D. F.R.S., 8vo, 1791. Preface. 



t Jean Bnptiste du Hakle was born in Paris, in 16/4. He was 

 extremely well versed in Asiatic geography. His great work, 

 entitled Grand Description de la Chiiie, et de la Tartaire, in four 

 vols, folio, was compiled from original papers of the Jesuit mis- 

 sionaries. He was also concerned in a collection of letters besrun 

 l>y father Gobien, entitled JJes Lettrcs Edijianics. He died in 

 1713. — Though he appears so familiar with the geography, 

 scenery, and manners of Cliina, he never was ten leagues from 

 Fails in his life. 



