west and north in the direction of the latitude and longitude. These, with the Caspian Sea, the range of Caucasus, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean, will enclose an interesting portion of country, watered by the Euphrates and other considerable rivers, and comprising Syria, Palestine, the rich provinces of Turkey in Asia, Bagdad, and a portion of Persia.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERS.-The aspect and general features are variable. In some places it would be difficult to exceed the dreary barrenness and unproductive nature of the surface, resisting with complete success any invasion from vegetation. There are, however, others, and they are numerous, where the verdure and fertility are of the most agreeable kind. In Asia Minor, between the ranges of hills, are often beautiful and extensive plains in full cultivation, and dotted by the villages of the inhabitants; the groups of cypress and the singular burying-grounds pointing out those of the Turks, whilst cultivation and its attendants indicate those of the more thrifty Albanians. These plains are always well watered by streams originating in the surrounding mountains, and their benefits are greatly extended by irrigation, which from the aridity of the soil seems indispensable.

CLIMATE. This is generally regarded as warm, but some parts, as Bagdad, are distinguished for their great heat, and the northern winds produce a rapid and important depression of temperature. The summer months are generally warm and very dry, and the atmosphere is serene and transparent. Rain is even scarce in some places.

FLORA. The vegetation of Asia Minor is eminently adapted to delight the traveller. He is not buried in a vast dark forest, where the view is most circumscribed, and without objects to engage attention. Forest trees are grouped together in the valleys and mountain sides, whilst

character, the dark

occasional open spaces are in the undisturbed possession of piles of rocks, or more profitably occupied in agriculture. Sometimes a waving line of brighter green points out the course of a river or mountain stream. The foliage is generally distinguished for its evergreen sombre shade of its colour, and the leathery consistence of the leaves. The trees most prominent are quercus infectoria, platanus orientalis, pistacia terebinthus, p. lentiscus, and other species of these genera, pinus halepensis, abies orientalis, cupressus sempervirens, juniperus sabina, ceratonia siliqua, juglans regia, liquidambar imberbe, and others of acer, celtis, fraxinus, and celsia. Among the smaller vegetation, labiatæ are numerous, and have their chief station here. The nearly allied family scrophularineæ is also freely represented, and cucurbitaceae and asphodeleæ are conspicuous for their numbers. In some parts are extensive tracts producing a great multitude of individuals of tamarix, acacia, glycirrhiza, and hedysarum alhagi. And in others of even a less favourable character are met with chenopodium, ruta, rumex, artemisia, centaurea, amarantus, cucumis, lyceum, solanum, mesembryanthemum, and asclepias syriaca; which last, though a pretty plant, has an extensive range, and is every where a weed. The vegetation of Mount Caucasus is particularly rich and fascinating, but it has a very European character.

RELATIONS.-I regard this region as separable from the Danube Region, with which it has much in common, in the different aspects of the vegetation, and in the partial cessation, sometimes nearly complete, of several genera as populus, spiræa, cratægus, campanula, rhamnus, viola, &c., and of the group of umbelliferæ. With the China Region it has many interesting relations, and prunus armenaica, which is represented as covering the sides of Caucasus, is again seen in China; and with North America there are

several through æsculus, juglans, and liquidambar. Ulmus campestris is supposed to have been introduced to Palestine by the Crusaders.

XXXIII-THE ARABIA REGION.

EXTENT. The Arabian peninsula, and separated from the adjoining region by a line extending due west from the head of the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean sea.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERS.-Arabia is little else than an extensive desert clothed with straggling thorny shrubs, and having some spots of redeeming fertility. Rocky cheerless mountains traverse it, occasionally sheltering within them small fertile valleys, called Wadis. About Yemen, the country is superior, and vegetation has some luxuriance, and is remarkable for its fragrant qualities.

CLIMATE. An excessive clearness and transparency prevail in the atmosphere from the scarcity of moisture. The skies are almost always cloudless; from June to September showers occasionally fall, but chiefly about Yemen or Arabia Felix. Hot winds, coming from Africa, sometimes sweep its western shores.

FLORA.- Arabia, famed for its spices, derives its reputation more probably from being a country of transit, than as their source. Still it has contributed its share, and even the general character of the shrubs is aromatic. Moving eastward, we meet in this region several new forms, reminding us strongly of Asiatic vegetation. Where forest exists, numerous species of ficus enter largely into it, mingled with sterculia platinifolia, tomex glabra, grewia, populifera, balsamodendron gileadense, b. opobalsamum, b. kataf, b. kafal, mærua uniflora, m. racemosa, cynan

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chum arboreum, celastrus edulis, c. parviflora, keura odorifera, and pandanus odoratissimus. Little woods of arborescent euphorbia occur. Cryptogamic plants, gramineæ, and cyperaceæ, are all scarce. Some of the bulbous plants of South Africa make their appearance, cucurbitaceæ are not uncommon, and succulent plants are also frequent. Coffea arabica is regarded as not indigenous, and the testimony of the Arabians themselves refers its origin to Abyssinia. Acacia arabica is native, and some active medicines are produced, as senna, aloes, myrrh, and olibanum.

Socotra is a mountainous island, consisting of granite, of indifferent fertility, nearly bare of trees, and distinguished for its aloes, dates, and dragon's blood.

RELATIONS.-Its tropical forms are chiefly from India, but the most interesting affinities are with the South Africa Region through aloe, stapelia, mesembryanthemum, and hæmanthus. Several species are shared in common with the Nile Region.

XXXIV-THE TARTARY REGION.

EXTENT. A broad irregular space, of peculiar aspect and fluctuating fertility, occupies the centre of Asia between the Altai and Himma-leh chains of mountains, including the states of Tartary, Thibet, and portions of Persia and Cabul.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERS.-Situated as it is between stupendous mountain chains, the greater part of the surface presents a considerable, but varying elevation, and is further diversified by being traversed by others of inferior grandeur. Aridity chiefly prevails, much of the soil being very sandy; large portions are sometimes so salt as not to yield the slightest vegetation, and the wind is said to

drive it on the bushes and cover them as with a hoar frost. Partial fertility is imparted by the streams, and more particularly by the rivulets occasioned by the rains.

CLIMATE. Extremes characterize the seasons; the summers are burning and arid, and the winters severe and nipping.

FLORA. Wherever there is shelter and some moisture, trees from the Asia Minor Region are met with, as pistacia lentiscus, p. terebinthus, pinus pinea, morus nigra, olea europea, and some oaks. Species of artemisia spread in crowds, impregnating the atmosphere with their peculiar aroma, and giving a bluish green tint to the steppes. Other characteristic species are spartium junceum, s. spinosum, statice tartarica, calligonum polygonoides, and others of selinum, centaurea, tamarix, salvia, verberis, ruta, lyceum, solanum, capparis, asclepias, astragalus, hedysarum, spiræa, rumex, and lithospermum. The fruits are those of warm temperate latitudes, and millet, barley, sorghum, amarantus, and paspalum are cultivated.

RELATIONS.-The flora is poor, and so indifferently known, that this portion of its history remains in obscurity. The proportion of spinous plants is unusually great.

XXXV. THE SIBERIA REGION.

EXTENT. A continuous barrier, enclosing the vast steppes of Siberia, is formed by the Ural and Altai mountains, which forms its western and southern borders, and terminates at the sea of Okotsk in 55° north latitude. The steppes of Ischin, a portion of Tartary, is thus inclosed, and the region is limited to the north by the extent of the growth of trees somewhere about 65o north latitude.