ny. "Tue term Geoorapny, is derived from two Greek 
——" words, vex the earth, and yeapw T write, and in its ori« 
men ‘ginal aeceptation signifies a description of the earth. Tn 
aie progress of science, however, its meaning has be- 
come ly more extended, and it is now taken to 
denote, not merely an account of the divisions, aoe 
inhabitants, &e. of the earth taken ‘as one whole, but 
also the explanation of various phenomena arising from 
its relation to other bodies of the solar system. It was 
indeed from discoveries respecting the heavenly bodies, 
that men first derived correct notions with regard to the 
figure and magnitude of their own planet 3 and it is on- 
ly by the application of astronomical principles, that 
e apparently simplest of all geographical problems 
can yet be solved, —-that of accurately measuring, or 
distinctly expressing, the distance between two points 
on the surface of the earth. Astronomy and geogra- 
phy have thus become intimately connected, not as two 
sciences which have merely a certain affinity to each 
other, and which philosophers, from a wish to general- 
ize and simplify the subjects of their investigation, have 
thought a to combine, but because the latter se- 
para ‘om the former ceases to be a'science, It is 
merely for the language of geography that we are 
indebted to astronomy. It is from tlie same source, 
that we derive the method of constructing a correct 
representation of the globe, determining the relative 
ee of different places on its surface, and exhibit- 
ng a familiar view of the various changes that are con- 
tinually taking place in its position and outward cir- 
feral di- Cumstances, In a system’ of geography, therefore, it 
nof is necessary, in the first place, to consider the earth as 
cography. 4 of ad solar + ree ; to illustrate, from astrono- 
: . mnical principles, its figure, magnitude, and motion j to 
eee Tai aie construction of the isles, with their appli- 
eation to the solution of problems; and describe the va- 
tious methods of projecting maps and charts. This 
constitutes what is properly called Mathematical Geo- 
craphy. The geographer may then proceed te consider 
€ globe as one whole, and examine its internal struc: 
ture ; the natural divisions and inequalities of its sur- 
face; the Po sageonethed tides and currents; the modi- 
fications of its atmosphere with re to weight, tem- 
perature, humidity, and motion, with other natural ap- 
ces usually included under Physical Geography. 
And, in the last place, he may view it as the habitation 
of animated and rational beings, divided into different 
kingdoms and states, and exhibiting various monuments 
| of human industry and skill. This forms what may be 
‘Miticy, Called Political Geography. Tn the following article, we 
shall confine ourselves to the first of these, leaving phy- 
aye sical hy to be discussed under Puysicat Geo- 
— eyepley Me euosy. Mrneratoay, &c.; and politi- 
cal geography under the names of the respective coun- 
tries; and other articles, where they will be treated more 
fully, and with greater propriety, than they could pos- 
sibly be in the present’ article. © Before entering on the 
eter’, however, it may be oF id ni to take a short view 
of the pity and progress geographical discoveries. 
of * Inaru e state of society, it seems to have been the 
i- universal opinion, that the earth was a large circular 
‘. ** plane or dise, ey nation supposing itself to be placed 
t _in the centre. ‘parts of this plane, 
; VOL. X. PART 1. 
the unex 
i 
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187 
- GROGRAPHY. 
various fanciful and absurd nap were entertained _ History. 
The early Greeks, for example, imagined, that in the thi ar a 
immense expanse of the ocean numerous islands were of the sasty 
scattered up and down, inhabited by giants, pigmies, Greeks {ane 
and a vast variety of other beings, which’never existed ciful and 
but in the extravagant dreams of a fertile and untutored absurd. 
imagination ; while the extreme verge of the disc ter= 
minated in a chaotic gulf of unknown extent, and im- 
penetrable darkness. The difficulties and dangers which 
travellers and navigators at first encountered, in at- 
tempting to pass the limits of their own country, and 
which they were on all occasions disposed to magnify, 
served dachaie to confirm than refute these erroneous no-= 
tions. This remark is strikingly exemplified in the 
case of the Pheenicians, who, as early as a thousand years 
before the birth of Christ, had navigated the whole of 
the Mediterranean from the eastern extremity to the 
Atlantic Ocean, and had founded the colonies of Utica, 
Carthage, and Gades. That bold and enterprising peo- 
ple, anxious to reap the whole advantages of ‘their dis- 
coveries, were careful in concealing the success of their 
adventures, but took all possible pains to magnify the 
dangers and. difficulties which they had encountered. 
Accordingly we find, that: long after this period’ the 
Greeks still regarded the islands in the western part of 
the Mediterranean, and even Sicily, as the habitations 
of monsters, and the scenes of enchantment. Nor did 
the discovery of their error in one instance, lead them 
to suspect the accuracy of their opinions in general. So - 
firmly indeed were they persuaded of the truth of that 
system, which the writings of their poets, and particu- Drawn from 
larly of Homer, had teiataredl in some measure sacred, the writingy 
that they no sooner became acquainted with a new re. of Homer. 
gion, than they immediately transported to more dis- 
tant islands those fanciful beings, which they had at 
first erroneously supposed to be inhabitants of places 
less remote. Eve im later times, when the true figure Common to 
of the earth was understood, the notions of the ancient #!! rude na- 
Greeks, which were perhaps common to all nations in “°"* 
similar circumstances, continued to pervade the writings 
of travellers, navigators, and historians, and thus pre- 
judice tended to suppress that spirit of curiosity and ad- 
venture, which the discoveries of science might other- 
wise have inspired. No motive perhaps less powerful 
than avarice, could induce men to engage in an expedi- 
tion in defiance of difficulties and dangers, against which 
they were taught to believe, that human strength and 
human prudence were equally unavailing ; and when 
such expeditions were undertaken, it would generally 
be by men little qualified, and still less disposed to com- 
municate correct and interesting information to their 
less adventurous. brethren. In such circumstances, it 
does not appear at all surprising, that so many ages 
should have elapsed, before any very extensive or regu- 
lar intercourse was established between different coun- 
tries. ’ 
‘The first authentic account that we have of any con- Geography 
siderable portion of the earth’s surface, is derived from oe Hy 
the writings of Moses. The object of that writer, in- B. C. 1700. 
deed, was not to teach men a system of geography ; and 
therefore the information which he affords, regards the 
earth considered rather as the habitation of moral 
beings, than as the subject of physical research, We 
s 
