same relation to all the others. The Thibetians do not bury their dead, but leave the bodies exposed to beasts and birds of prey, in walled areas. The bodies of the inferior priests are burned, and their ashes preserved in little hollow images; but that of the grand Lama is preserved entire in a shrine as an object of pious veneration.

INDEPENDENT TARTARY.

UNDER the vague appellation of Tartary, ancient geographers comprehended a great part of Asia; a tract of country, of greater extent than all Europe, and inhabited by a vast variety of different nations and tribes.

Independent Tartary, which forms the original seat of the nation, is bounded on the west by the Caspian Sea; on the north by Asiatic Russia; on the east by the Chinese empire; and on the south by Persia. The extent, from east to west, may be computed at nearly 900 miles; and from north to south, at about 1,400; but a great part of this length is merely a succession of extensive deserts.

The climate is universally allowed to be pleasant and healthful. Independent Tartary corresponds, in latitude, with the most southern of the United States, and like them, produces a great quantity of cotton; and appears to enjoy as favourable a climate.

Notwithstanding the ancient power of the Monguls and Tartars, few monuments of their former greatness now remain.

The chief city of Great Bucharia, and the most considerable in all these regions, is Samarcand; once the principal re

This sketch of Thibet is taken chiefly from Mr. Turner's interesting marrative as the most recent authority.

sidence of Timour, or Tamerlane, and the metropolis of an empire more extensive than that of Rome, when in the meridian of its greatness. Of this celebrated capital we have no recent account; but since the days of Timour, it appears to have greatly declined.

Bokara has, sometimes, been considered as the capital of Bucharia. It stands on a rising ground, and in 1771, was a large and populous city, surrounded with a slender rampart of earth. The houses were built of clay, and the mosques of brick. Here are some manufactories of soap, and calico; and the adjacent country abounds in cattle, cotton, and rice.

In this condensed view of Independent Tartary, it is necessary to observe, that the geography of those regions is extremely imperfect. Those parts have not been explored by intelligent travellers. In regard, both to their physical and moral circumstances, nothing but vague information and loose conjecture can be obtained. Maps, indeed, of all those countries are made; but succeeding enquirers discover. them to be erroneous, without being able to rectify their mistakes; except in some trifling instances. The reason is obvious. Many maps are drawn in the closet, without adequate materials. Conjecture is frequently made to supply the place of information: imagination may plan the course of rivers and the direction of chains of mountains; but it is impossible to delineate correctly a country that has not been minutely explored.

The history of Independent Tartary is a subject as obscure, as its geography, although its natives have had so considerable a share in events, which have changed the destinies of Europe and Asia. At such periods, indeed, the outlines of their history have been fatally conspicuous; but the particulars have always been confused. To the Greeks and Romans these countries were known, by the names of Bactriana and Sogdiana. They are celebrated for having produced several men famous in letters and in arms. Zoroaster, one of the most ancient and celebrated philosophers of the east, is said to have been a native of Bactria; which, on the fall of the Persian monarch, became a Grecian kingdom; and, after

many changes, a part of the vast Mongalian empire of Zingis Khan. This empire having fallen to decay through its great extension and intestine divisions, another was established at a subsequent period in Bucharia, by Timour or Tamerlane.

The northern parts of Independent Tartary have been the cradle of great events. Historians bring the Goths, the Turks, and most of the barbarian hordes, which have changed the destiny of so many nations, from the countries on the north and the north-east of the Caspian Sea; from the deserts, now occupied by the rambling Kirgusses; and from the countries. towards the mouth of the Volga, now subject to Russia. The history of their migrations, however, is unknown. The wandering hordes of those vast regions were constantly in motion, advancing towards the west; but it is impossible to ascertain where the first impulse was given. In spite of all research, the subject remains obscure; as the civilized world had no knowledge of those nations, till they made their appearance on its frontiers. The Huns, indeed, who made their appearance in Dacia, on the north side of the Danube, in the reign of the emperor Valens, and forced the Goths to seek refuge in the Roman empire, are traced from the frontiers of China; and seem to have passed in a continued course of depredation, occupying the countries left vacant by the Gothic and Slavonic tribes in their progress towards Europe. The Turks were, as early as the sixth century, settled on the shores of the Caspian; and from them, those regions derived the name of Turkistan. From this centre of their power, issued those numerous Turkish armies which effected such great revolutions in Asia, and at last established an empire; which, extending itself into Europe, overwhelmed that of Byzantium. The original seat of the Turkish nation was in the Altai mountains, and along the banks of the Irtish. From thence, they spread to the Caspian Sea. They were so powerful as to give disturbance to China and Persia. But this original Turkish state having been separated into two great parts, which were, soon after, subdivided into various petty districts; several of these became subject to the victorious

Arabs, who had conquered Persia. At last, the primitive. Turks, having been introduced as mercenary troops into the service of the caliphate, after having for some time been the support of that declining empire, ultimately contributed to precipitate its fall, and founded considerable states on its ruins. The Turkish tribes began, by degrees, to grow conspicuous, and gradually produced great revolutions, both in Asia and Europe. The Tartars, so famous in the middle ages, are only a branch of the great Turkish stem.

The Kievans are regarded as the most cunning and treacherous of all the Tartars. They trade with Bucharia and Persia in cattle, furs, and hides, which they procure from the Kirgusses; and they also carry considerable quantities of raw cotton to Orenburg. This Tartar state is independent, and has its own khan. Since 1494, the Usbec Tartars have been the ruling power in Bucharia. Having expelled Sultan Baber, with his Monguls, these Tartarian victors founded a powerful monarchy which flourished under successive khans, till the middle of the seventeenth century, about which time it fell asunder; and Bucharia appears to have been, ever since, divided into a number of petty states. In 1739, Nadir Shah reduced Hera and Bokara; but Balk and Samarcand have, as far as is known, always maintained their independence.

Throughout Independent Tartary, the religion is the Mahometan, of the sect of Sunni.

The government of the khans appears to be despotic, but administered with lenity. Among nations, like the Tartars, the power of the sovereign must depend much on popular opinion and favour.

In regard to laws, we know of none that exist among those people, except those of the Koran.

The Bucharians have, during many ages, carried on a considerable trade, by caravans, with Persia, Hindostan, and China. At present, they trade also with the Russians at Astrachan and Kiakta. The best rhubarb is furnished by the Bucharian merchants, who procure it from Thibet, and other countries, dependent on the Chinese empire. This celebrated

and useful drug, being formerly imported from Bucharia by way of Turkey, acquired the name of Turkey rhubarb; but Kiakta, on the Russian and Chinese frontier, is at present the chief mart for that commodity.

Bucharian literature would furnish a copious theme. Samarcand was once a distinguished school for Oriental learning, which was cultivated by several of its sovereigns. So late as the beginning of the eighteenth century, it was one of the most celebrated of the Mahometan universities.

The Kirgusses lead a wandering life, rambling with their flocks and their herds as far as the stepp of Issim. The Usbecs are the most industrious of all the Tartars. They generally live in towns and villages, though many of them reside in tents, during the summer. The native Bucharians are fair, and have the Persian features; they are a peaceable and inoffensive people, and never bear arms.

INDIA BEYOND THE GANGES.

THIS country is distributed into several separate and independent states; nor does it seem, at any period, to have been nearly united under a single sovereignty. The principal divisions are Assam, the Birman empire, Siam, &c.

ASSAM.

THE north-westerly district of this division of India, is watered by the Burrampooter. Among its products are various fruits, cocoa nuts, sugar, pepper, and ginger. It likewise produces silk, which is said to be equal to that of