94 GEOGRAPHY. 



1 Asiatic Russia. 



We have already referred, under the head of European Russia, to this 

 ,< part of Asia. It is divided into Siberia and the Caucasus, the former of 

 ■which has an area of 3,600,000 square geographical miles, with not over 

 thirteen millions of inhabitants, or about three souls to the square mile ; the 

 latter has, with an area of 48,000 square geographical miles, two- millions 

 and a half of inhabitants. Among the inhabitants are two millions of 

 Tartars, about one million of Caucasians, 25,000 Mongolians, 110,000 

 Armenians, besides Tartars, Slavi, and various tribes in Eastern Siberia of 

 uncertain descent. The peninsula of Kamtschatka belonging to Siberia, 

 has about 64,000 square geographical miles of area, and only 5000 inhabit- 

 ants. Of the 140 Kurile Islands, only tw^enty-one belono^ to Russia, the rest 

 to Japan. 



2. Turkey in Asia 



Embraces from 284,000 to 320,000 square geographical miles, wdth an 

 indeterminable population, at most not more than ten to twelve millions. 

 Among them are about four millions of Turks, two millions of Greeks, one 

 million and a half of Armenians, one million and a half of Turcomans, one 

 million of Arabians, one million of Kurds, one million and a half of 

 Maronites, 300,000 Jews, &c. The following provinces are usually 

 distinguished : 1. Natolia or Anadoli, the ancient Asia Minor, 128,000 

 square geographical miles, divided into six eyalets. 2. Armenia, 36,320 

 square geographical miles, divided into four eyalets. 3. Koordistan. 4. 

 Mesopotamia or Dschesair, with Irak, Arabia, the ancient Babylonia and 

 Chaldaea, divided into four, eyalets. 5. Syria or Soristan, 32,000 square 

 geographical miles, with about 1,360,000 inhabitants, and five eyalets. The 

 names of all these evalets will be found on Plate 26. To the above 

 provinces must be added : 6. The Turkish Islands, of which Cyprus, with 

 about 4849 square geographical miles, and 100..000 inhabitants, is largest. 

 The most considerable of the other islands are : Rhodes, 320 square 

 geographical miles, pop. 10-30,000; Chios, Samos, Tenedos, Lesbos, and 

 the nine Prince's Islands in the Sea of Marmora. 



3. Persia (West Iran). 



This state lies between 44o and 52° E. longitude from Greenwich (62° to 

 79° east of Ferro), and between 27° and 40° N. lat. It embraces an area 

 of 368,000 square geographical miles, with about eleven milHons of inhabit- 

 ants, among w^hich, in addition to the Persians proper, are Parsees or 

 Guebers, Koords, Armenians, &:c. The national religion is the Schiite- 

 Mohammedan. The supreme head of the state is called Shah (Nasreddin 

 since 1848, of the ruling family of the Turcoman Kadschars), the throne is 

 94 



