OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN ASI:\. 193 



-cision, in the eastern extremity of Great Thibet. But the geo- 

 graphical outline, the broad line of distinction always drawn 

 between Serica and Scythia, the general aspect of the former, 

 and every thing that is said respecting its inhabitants, leave no 

 room to doubt, that the Serica of the ancients, the country of 

 silk, the abode of this peculiar and singular people, could be no 

 other than the modern China. Even the short notices which 

 are given respecting it, seem sufficient clearly to evince, that 

 in arts and civilization, and in its whole moral and political as- 

 pect, this celebrated region was then as nearly as possible the 

 same that it exists at the present day. 



I have thus exhibited at some length that interpretation of 

 the system of Ptolemy and his cotemporaries, which appears 

 to me alone consistent with their statements, and with the real 

 aspect of those vast regions to which they refer. As, however, 

 opinions so opposite are entertained by the most eminent geo- 

 graphers of the past and present age, it may be necessary, be- 

 fore concluding, to inquire, whether their statements exhibit 

 the same correspondence with the ancient descriptions. D'An- 

 ville here claims the precedence. He, as formerly noticed, 

 places Serica in Eastern Tartary, north of the Great Desert, 

 and extends it from the country of the Eygurs to the north- 

 west extremity of China. In this system, Major Rennell has 

 declared his almost unqualified acquiescence ; so that it is sup- 

 ported by very high authority indeed. Yet I think it will ap- 

 pear, on a careful inspection, that it breaks up completely 

 all the relations established by Ptolemy between Central and 

 Southern Asia. It separates the Sacas from Indostan, the Ex- 

 tra-Scythians from India beyond the Ganges, and the Seres 

 from Siam, by an immeasurable distance. Besides, it is ad- 

 mitted on all hands, that the ascent of the Montes Comedo- 

 rum (the Beloor) must be considerably south of Cashgar, to 

 reach which, the caravans must have proceeded almost directly 



Vol. VIII. P. I. B b north. 



