28 chapters
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28 chapters
AUTHOR OF "THE PEEP OF DAY,"
AUTHOR OF "THE PEEP OF DAY,"
In the Frontispiece may be seen an English lady, who went to live upon Mount Sion to teach little Jewesses and little Mahomedans to know the Saviour. That lady has led three of her young scholars to a plain just beyond the gates of Jerusalem; and while two of them are playing together, she is listening to little Esther, a Jewess of eight years old. The child is fond of sitting by her friend, and of hearing about the Son of David. She has just been singing, "Glory, honor, praise, and power, Be un
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
This little work pleads for the notice of parents and teachers on the same grounds as its predecessor, "Near Home." Its plea is not completeness, nor comprehensiveness, nor depth of research, nor splendor of description; but the very reverse,—its simple, superficial, desultory character, as better adapted to the volatile beings for whom it is designed. Too long have their immortal minds been captivated by the adventures and achievements of knights and princesses, of fairies and magicians; it is
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ASIA.
ASIA.
Of the four quarters of the world—Asia is the most glorious. There the first man lived. There the Son of God lived. There the apostles lived. There the Bible was written. Yet now there are very few Christians in Asia: though there are more people there than in any other quarter of the globe....
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THE HOLY LAND.
THE HOLY LAND.
Of all the countries in the world which would you rather see? Would it not be the land where Jesus lived? He was the Son of God: He loved us and died for us. What is the land called where He lived? Canaan was once its name: but now Palestine, or the Holy Land. Who lives there now? Alas! alas! The Jews who once lived there are cast out of it. There are some Jews there; but the Turks are the lords over the land. You know the Turks believe in Mahomet. What place in the Holy Land do you wish most to
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SYRIA.
SYRIA.
Those who love the Holy Land will like to hear about Syria also; for Abraham lived there before he came into Canaan. Therefore the Israelites were taught to say when they offered a basket of fruit to God, "A Syrian was my father." It was a heathen land in old times; and it is now a Mahomedan land; though there are a few Christians there, but very ignorant Christians, who know nothing of the Bible. Syria is a beautiful land, and famous for its grand mountains, called Lebanon. The same clergyman w
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ARABIA.
ARABIA.
This is the land in which the Israelites wandered for forty years. You have heard what a dry, dreary, desert place the wilderness was. There is still a wilderness in Arabia; and there are still wanderers in it; not Israelites, but Arabs. These men live in tents, and go from place to place with their large flocks of sheep and goats. But there are other Arabs who live in towns, as we do. Do you know who is the father of the Arabs? The same man who is the father of the Jews. What, was Abraham their
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TURKEY IN ASIA.
TURKEY IN ASIA.
Is there a Turkey in Asia as well as a Turkey in Europe? Yes, there is; and it is governed by the same sultan, and filled by the same sort of persons. All the Turks are Mahomedans. You may know a Mahomedan city at a distance. When we look at a Christian city we see the steeples and spires of churches; but when we look at a Mahomedan city we see rising above the houses and trees the domes and minarets of mosques. What are domes and minarets? A dome is the round top of a mosque: and the minarets a
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PERSIA.
PERSIA.
Is this country mentioned in the Bible? Yes; we read of Cyrus, the king of Persia. Isaiah spoke of him before he was born, and called him by his name. See chapter xlv. Persia is now a Mahomedan country. The Turks, you remember, are Mahomedans too. Perhaps you think those two nations, the Turks and the Persians, must agree well together, as they are of the same religion. Far from it. No nations hate one another more than Turks and Persians do; and the reason is, that though they both believe in M
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CHINA.
CHINA.
There is no country in the world like China. How different it is from Persia, where there are so few people; whereas China is crowded with inhabitants! How different it is from England, where the people are instructed in the Bible, whereas China is full of idols. China is a heathen country; yet it is not a savage country, for the people are quiet, and orderly, and industrious. It would be hard for a child to imagine what a great multitude of people there are in China. If you were to sit by a clo
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COCHIN CHINA.
COCHIN CHINA.
Any one on hearing this name would guess that the country was like China; and so it is. If you were to go there you would be reminded of China by many of the customs. You would see at dinner small basins instead of plates, chop-sticks instead of knives and forks; you would have rice to eat instead of bread; and rice wine to drink instead of grape wine. But you would not find all the Chinese customs in Cochin-China: for you would see the women walking about at liberty, and with large feet, that i
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HINDOSTAN.
HINDOSTAN.
This word Hindostan means "black place," for in the Persian language "hind" is "black," and "stan" is "place." You may guess, therefore, that the people in Hindostan are very dark; yet they are not quite black, and some of the ladies are only of a light brown complexion. What a large country Hindostan is! Has it an emperor of its own, as China has? No: large as it is, it belongs to the little country called England. How did the English get it? They conquered it by little and little. When first t
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CIRCASSIA.
CIRCASSIA.
This is not a vast country like China, or Hindostan. It may be called a nook, it is so small compared with some great kingdoms: but it is famous on account of the beauty of the people. They are fair, like Europeans, with handsome features, and fine figures. But their beauty has done them harm, and not good; for the cruel Turks purchase many of the Circassian women, because they are beautiful, and shut them up in their houses. Perhaps you will be surprised to hear that the young Circassians think
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GEORGIA.
GEORGIA.
When you hear of Circassia, you will generally hear of Georgia too, for the countries lie close together, and resemble one another in many respects. But though so near, their climate is different; for Circassia lies beyond the mountains of Caucasus, and is therefore, exposed to the cold winds of the north. But Georgia lies beneath the mountains, and is sheltered from the chill blasts. Georgia is, therefore, far more fruitful than Circassia, the people, too, are less fair, and less industrious. T
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TARTARY.
TARTARY.
This is one of the largest countries in the world, yet it does not contain as many people as the small land of France. How is this? You will not be surprised that many people do not live there, when you hear what sort of a country it is. Fancy a country quite flat, as far as eye can see, except where a few low sand-hills rise; a country quite bare, except where the coarse grass grows;—a country quite dry, except where some narrow muddy streams run. Such is Tartary. What is a country without hill
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CHINESE TARTARY.
CHINESE TARTARY.
Very little is known in Europe of this part of Tartary; and why? Because the Emperor of China, who reigns over it, does not like travellers to go there. It is divided by high and snowy mountains from the rest of Tartary. When a traveller has passed over these mountains, he finds on the other side Chinese officers, who inquire what business he has come upon. If he have come only to wander about the country, he is desired to go home again; because the Chinese are afraid lest strangers should send
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AFFGHANISTAN.
AFFGHANISTAN.
This land is not a desert. Yet there are but few trees, and because there is so little shade, the rivulets are soon dried up. Yet it might be a fruitful land, if the inhabitants would plant and sow. But they prefer wandering about in tents, and living upon plunder, to settling in one place and living by their labor. The Tartar has good reason for roaming over his plains, because the land is bad; but the Affghan has no reason, but the love of roaming. The plains of Affghanistan are sultry, but th
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BELOOCHISTAN.
BELOOCHISTAN.
Just underneath Affghanistan, lies Beloochistan, by the sea coast. It is separated from India by the river Indus. You may know a Beloochee from an Affghan by his stiff red cotton cap, in the shape of a hat without a brim; whereas, an Affghan wears a turban. Yet the religion of the Beloochee is the same as that of the Affghan, namely, the Mahomedan, and the character is alike, only the Beloochee is the fiercer of the two: the country also is alike, being wild and rocky. Beloochistan has not been
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BURMAH.
BURMAH.
Of all the kings in Asia, the king of Burmah is the greatest, next to the emperor of China. He has not indeed nearly as large a kingdom, or as many subjects as that emperor; but like him, he is worshipped by his people. He is called "Lord of life and death," and the "Owner of the sword," for instead of holding a sceptre in his hand, he holds a golden sheathed sword . A sword indeed suits him well, for he is very cruel to his subjects. Nowhere are such severe punishments inflicted. For drinking b
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SIAM.
SIAM.
Cross a river, and you pass from Burmah to Siam. These two countries, like most countries close together, have quarrelled a great deal, and now Britain has got in between them, and has parted them; as a nurse might come and part two quarrelsome children. Britain has conquered that part of Burmah which lies close to Siam, and has called it British Burmah; so Siam is now at peace. But though these two countries have been such enemies, they are as like each other as two sisters. Siam is the little
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MALACCA.
MALACCA.
This is a peninsula, or almost an island, for there is water almost all round it. In shape it is something like a dog's leg, even as Italy is like a man's leg. The weather in Malacca is much pleasanter than in most parts of India, because the sea-breezes make the air fresh. There is no rainy season, as in most hot countries, but a shower cools the air almost every day. The country, too, is beautiful, for there are mountains, and forests, and streams. Yet it is a dangerous country to live in, for
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SIBERIA.
SIBERIA.
This is a name which makes people shiver , because it reminds them of the cold. It is a name which makes the Russians tremble , because it reminds them of banishment, for the emperor often sends those who offend him to live in Siberia. Yet Siberia is not an ugly country, such as Tartary. It is not one dead flat, but it contains mountains, and forests, and rivers. Neither is Siberia a country in which nothing will grow; in some parts there is wheat, and where wheat will not grow barley will, and
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KAMKATKA.
KAMKATKA.
It is impossible to look at Siberia, without being struck with the shape of Kamkatka, which juts out like a short arm. It is a peninsula. A beautiful country it is; full of mountains, and rivers, and woods, and waterfalls, and not as cold as might be expected. But there are not many people dwelling in it; for though it is larger than Great Britain, all the inhabitants might be contained in one of our small towns. And why are there so few in so fine a country? Because the people love brandy bette
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THIBET.
THIBET.
I cannot tell you much about Thibet; and the reason is, that so few travellers have been there. And why have so few been there? Is it because the mountains are so steep and high, the paths so narrow and dangerous? All this is true; but it is not mountains that keep travellers out of Thibet; it is the Chinese government; for Thibet belongs to China, and you know how carefully the emperor of China keeps strangers out of his empire. How did the Chinese get possession of Thibet? A long while ago, a
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CEYLON.
CEYLON.
This is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Part of it indeed is flat—that part near Hindustan; but in the midst—there are mountains; and streams running down their sides, and swelling into lovely rivers, winding along the fruitful valleys. Such scenes might remind you of Switzerland, the most beautiful country in Europe. The chief beauty of Ceylon is her TREES. I will mention a few of the beautiful, curious, and useful trees of this delightful island. The tree for which Ceylon is ce
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BORNEO.
BORNEO.
This is the largest island in the world, except one. Borneo is of a different shape from our Britain, but if you could join Britain and Ireland in one, both together would not be as large as Borneo. Yet how unlike is Borneo to Britain! Britain is a Christian island. Borneo is a heathen island. Yet Borneo is not an island of idols , as Ceylon is. All heathens do not worship idols. I will tell you who live in Borneo, and you will see why there are so few idols there. Many people have come from Mal
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JAPAN.
JAPAN.
This is the name of a great empire. There are three principal islands. One of these is very long, and very narrow; it is about a thousand miles long,—much longer than Great Britain, but not nearly as broad. Yet the three islands together are larger than our island. There is a fourth island near the Japan islands, called Jesso, and it is filled with Japanese people. You know it is difficult to get into China; but it is far more difficult to get into Japan. The emperor has boats always watching ro
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AUSTRALIA.
AUSTRALIA.
This is the largest island in the world. It is as large as Europe (which is not an island , but a continent ). But how different is Australia from Europe! Instead of containing, as Europe does, a number of grand kingdoms, it has not one single king. Instead of being filled with people, the greater part of Australia is a desert, or a forest, where a few half naked savages are wandering. A hundred years ago, there was not a town in the whole island; but now there are a few large towns near the sea
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VAN DIEMAN'S LAND.
VAN DIEMAN'S LAND.
This island is as cool as Great Britain; yet it is not a pleasant land to live in; for it is filled with convicts. There are no natives there now; they died away gradually, except a few, who were taken by the English to a small island near, called "Flinder's Island." They were taken there that they might be safe; yet they never ceased to sigh, and to cry after their native land. Many travellers have tried to see the land in the midst of Australia, but hitherto they have not succeeded. After goin
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