3. The principal rivers in the Peninsula, south of the Indus and Ganges, along the east coast, are, the Godavery ancl Bain, the Kitsnah, Pinnac, and Caveri ; their lengths vary From 300 to 700 miles; the latter is the length of the Goclavery, which forms, near its mouth, a sort of Delta, with sundry branches, which are the most acces sible inlets between Bengal and Cape Comm in. There are valuable teak forcsts upon its banks within the moun tains.
To the south of the Kistnah to Cape Comorin (in cluding Madras) a distance of 600 miles, there is_no port for shipping, the cnast forming nearly a straight line. The dangerous surf on the coast also requires boats of a singular construction ; they arc formed withcut ribs or keel, having their planking sewed togetner ; and in conse quence of this,fiexibility they receive without injury the breaking of the surf.
From Cape Comorin, along the western coast of the Peninsula, the first river is the Paniang, which passes through a singular opening in the Ghaut range of moun tains. North of this river the Ghauts approach near the shore, so that there is no river until we reach Surat, near the root of the Peninsula, where the Taptu river of 400 miles empties itself. Further north, in the Gulf of Cambay, is found the mouth of the great river Nerbudda, whose length is about 700 miles. As the upper parts approach within a small distance of some of the branches of the Jumnah, it seems to offer an opportunity of forming a connection with the Ganges.
4. Bctween Hindostan and China are three great rivers, viz. the Aracan or Kempoo river, the Ava or Irbetty or Irwadyriver, and the Japanese, or Lantsan-ho. Their sources are in the Thibet mountains, at no great distance from each other ; the first, after traversing the country of Aracan, falls into the Gulf of Bengal; the second, after traversing the Bitman Empire, forms an extensive Delta, and sundry branches and mouths at the south-east extremity ol the Bay of Bengal ; and the third, crossing the kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia, falls by several mouths into the Sea of China. The length of the Ava is reckoned 1200 miles, and has several thousand boats navigating upon it. Thc other two are not much inferior.
We have been thus particular in respect to Hindostan and its vicinity, as it now forms an important portion of the British Empire, and is otnerwise a very interesting subject.
Persia, and Western Asia.
Persia being chiefly mountainous, and the inhabitants, from their situation and habits, being averse to foreign connections, and little addicted to the pursuits of industry, have no inland navigation, excepting some junctions of the Euphrates and the Tigris near the top of their joint Delta.
These two rivers have their sources in the Taurus ridges, at the distance of about 250 miles from each other. They inclose the country of' Mesopotamia, or
modern province of Algesiras, and, after watering the plains of Babylon, unite, and pass by one channel into the Persian Gulf. The natural slope of the country is from the Euphrates to the Tigris; the plain of Babylon being subiect to be overflowed, these rivers were early confined by dikes, and regulated by drains or canals, and lakes. Alany of them were attributed to Nebuchadnezzar. The most considerable canal passed to the Tigris near Ctesi phone. Pliny calls this Armaldhar ; in the language of the country it is Nahar Malcha. Besides connecting the river floods, some canals were made for irrigating land.
Alexander caused some of the canals to be cleansed, and made some new ones, one nearly 30 stadia in length, where hc built a city, gave it his own name, and esta blished a colony of Greeks. Arian says, that this prince embarked upon the river Eulocus, to proceed to the sea by the mouth of the Tigris, and that a part of his fleet passed into the Tigris by a canal about 30 miles from its moutn. 11,I. Oberlin (p. 33,) says that there was a canal of 25 wiles in length, by which the Euphrates was turned suu'llwarcl into the Tigris towards Seleucia, also one towards A pamie, besides that formerly mentioned towards Ctesipnone. Tillemont, after Dion, says, that Trajan drew a canal from the Euphrates to the 'figris ; pernaps he only opened and cleaned the old one. Severus com pleted this, and conducted vessels from the Euphrates into the Tigris.
Alexander is said to have caused an isthmus of seven miles to hc cut through, which joins the peninsula of .Mount Mimas. This peninsula projected 250 miles be fore the rest of Asia Minor towards Clasomene, to the side of Ionia. (Pliny, V. 31. Pausan. 1. s. Corinth.) 'With regard to the western and interior districts of Asia, it laving well accommodated by the Euxine and Caspian Seas and their rivers, little artificial aid has been required or attempted. The Caspian is about 700 milts front north to south, and from 100 to 200 from east to west ; its water is salt, bitter, and impure ; its depth, in the middle, is said to be 500 fathoms, but the shores are everywhere flat. It has scarcely any safc port; the best is Daku ; Dethent is rocky, and Enfili is incommo dious. The north, north-cast, and south winds. arc tem pestuous. A small rise and fall of water is observable. Fisheries constitute the principal business of this sea. It receives the great Volga, the Juimb, and Uralia from the north-west. From the west are the Kuma, Tcrck, and Kizer); and the 'fcgin from the east. Also formerly, the Gthon or Oxus, which now flows into the Lake Aral.