The high central level, of which we have already spoken above, and which is of so much importance both to the geography and• the history of Asia, is bounded, as already mentioned, on all sides by a high mountainous point, or crest, which sends forth ramifications of itself in chains of mountains to the utmost boundaries of Asia. The principal of the Asiatic chains, or ridges, are the Altaian, the Taurian, the Caucasian, and the Uralian. The Altaian ridge is a continuation of the northern front of the high central territory. It overlooks the sea of Baikal, and the whole extent of Siberia, and is termina ted at last by the Gulf of Circa. The Altaian chain may be classed among the most extensive on the face of the globe, reaching from the 70th to the 140th degree of east longitude, or about 5000 miles, thus rivalling in length the Andes of South America. To the south of this ridge extends the elevated desert of Coby, or Sham°, running in a parallel direction from east to west. The celebrated chain of Mount Taurus proceeds from Imaus, (the name given to the western point of the high level,) and traversing the kingdom of Persia, terminates in the Mediterranean Sea at the peninsula of Lesser Asia. The chain of Caucasus extends from the Black Sea to the shores of the Caspian, and separates the country of Circassia from Georgia. The Uralian chain, which forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia, stretches along the western parts of this continent, and terminates in the Northern Ocean, in the neighbourhood of Nova Zembla. These are the principal of the Asiatic chains ; but there are, however, many other considerable ranges of mountains in various parts of the continent of Asia, as those of Bydo, Changai, Belur ; those of 'Tibet, the eastern and western Gauts of Ilindostan, &c. which shall be more particularly noticed under separate ar ticles, or in the description of the countries in which they arc situated.
Besides these ranges just mentioned, there are also in Asia several insulated mountains of well known ce lebrity. Towards the east of Armenia, about twelve leagues from the lake of Erivan, is situated the celebra ted Ararat. It is a detached mountain of two summits, the highest of which is covered with eternal snow. It is on the top of this mountain that the ark of Noah is supposed to have rested when the waters of the deluge began to decrease ; and here the natives pretend still to spew to travellers its remains. In Asia Minor stand the mountains Olympus and Ida, of great classical fame, and the former supposed to be one of the highest moun tains in Asia. In Arabia Petrea are situated the mounts Horeb and Sinai ; in Palestine, Tabor, Carmel, and Gerizim ; and in Syria, Lebanon ; all celebrated in sacred history. In the island of Ceylon, near the town of Co lumbo, stands a very high detached mountain, deno minated by the Nlahometans Adam's Peak, and from which, according to Hindoo mythology, Boodh ascended to heaven.
Asia, too, has its volcanic mountains. The principal of these are Panarus, in the island of Java, which broke out in the year 1586, and one of the most famous vol canoes in India. Gonapez, in one of the islands of Banda, of which the eruptions are most terrible to the natives. The peak of Ternatus, in one of the Moluccas, amongst the highest mountains on the globe. The ex plosions of this volcano are periodical, and the lava it throws out furnishes excellent sulphur. One of its most violent eruptions took place in the year 1693.
The principal capes of Asia are, Cape Ras-al-gad, on the south-east of Arabia; Cape Comorin, at the extremity of the western peninsula of the Ganges, being the most southern point of India ; Cape Romania, at the southern extremity of the peninsula of Malacca ; and Cape Nympo, on the eastern coast of China.
The straits belonging to Asia are those of Ormus, which connect the Persian Gulph with the Indian Sea, about 24 miles in breadth. Of Manar or Chelao, be tween the coast of Coromandel and the island of Ceylon, about 30 miles across. The Straits of Malacca, between
the peninsula of that name and the island of Sumatra, from 24 to 30 miles broad. The Straits of Sunda, be tween the islands of Sumatra and Java. Of Corea, be tween the peninsula of Corea and the island of Niphon. And the Straits of Bhering, which, as we have already mentioned, separates the continent of Asia from that of America. This remarkable strait is about 40 miles in breadth. It was discovered first by the Danish naviga tor Bhering, who was employed by Peter the Great in 1728, and afterwards by Cooke. Bhering passed it pro bably in the usual fogs of the climate, without discover ing that to the east ; but cur great navigator gave to them the name of the Danish adventurer, when he af terwards explored them with his usual accuracy. On the Asiatic shore is the east cape ; and on the American, that called Prince of Wales. The depth of the water is from 12 to 30 fathoms. To the north of these straits the Asiatic shore bends rapidly to the westward ; while the American proceeds nearly in a northern direction, till, at the distance of about four or five leagues, the continents are joined by solid and impenetrable bands of ice.
The climate of Asia admits of every variety from the scorching heats of the torrid zone to the piercing colds of the polar circle. In no part of Asia, however, is the climate so intolerably hot as in the tropical desert of the African continent. The diversity in the soil of Asia is not less than in its climate. While the most northern parts are consigned to perpetual sterility, in the southern regions the vegetable kingdom has reached its utmost glory ; and its productions, which in luxuri ance and delicacy surpass those of every other quar ter of the globe, form the grand support of European luxury.
Both sacred history and prophane have placed the primeval seat of the human race in Asia, and concur in pointing out this as the quarter from whence population has gradually extended over the rest of the earth. In conformity with those accounts of history by which most of the nations inhabiting the continents of Europe, Africa, and America have been traced to a foreign origin, the population of Asia has on all hands been allowed to be wholly primitive and original, if we except perhaps the Tocheeks, a small tribe in the north-east, the Russian colonies in the north, and the well known European set tlements in the south. The numbers of the human race in this quarter of the world is immense, though below what might be expected in regions so early peopled, and abounding in every production which can contribute to the subsistence or the comfort of mankind. The feehle and despotic governments of Asia have been extra melr unfavourable to the increase of its population ; and the pitch to which it has attained in spite of this powerful check, is one of the best proofs of the kindness of na ture, and the luxuriance of its soil. The population of Asia has been estimated at above five hundred million; but this is in a great measure conjecture, the number of the inhabitants in its various regions having never been ascertained with any degree of precision. Euro peans have but little access to information ; and the re ports of the natives themselves are not to be trusted. They neither possess accurate knowledge on this sub nor are disposed to give a just statement if they did. There is every reason to believe, that the accounts which have been given greatly exceed the truth. The population of China in particular, which forms the chief article in these accounts, appears, from the recent report of M. de Guignes, to have been enormously exaggera ted. This enlightened traveller has afforded satisfactory proof, that the population of this empire, which has so much excited the astonishment of Europe, is nothing extraordinary, nor exceeding what is found in other countries.