TABLE OF IMPORTS OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR 1822,

IN THE ORDER OF THEIR VALUE.

From what countries imported.

Hemp

460-0

m. Gold, Silver, and Precious

[244] 1274. Circuitous voyages are sometimes made, to procure the articles necessary for commerce. Thus many American and British ships procure furs from the North-west Coast, or sandalwood from the Sandwich Islands; and then carry them to China in exchange for teas, silks, &c. The ships of the United States carried furs to Canton to the value of half a million of dollars, in the year 1303.

Some commercial nations employ great numbers of their ships in fisheries, for the whale, cod, herring, and seal, to obtain articles of commerce. The whale and seal fisheries are most extensively carried on by the British and the Eastern United States. Massachusetts, and especially the Island of Nantucket, is most distinguished for this trade. The cod and herring fisheries employ great numbers of vessels, from the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, and the northern countries of Europe; and the produce is carried to southern climates.

1275. Extensive regions in the interior of Asia and Africa, carry on all their commerce by land. Caravans are continually crossing the deserts of Asia and Africa. They are composed sometimes of 1000 or 2000 merchants with their camels, who assemble and travel together for the sake of security. In this way, the spices of Arabia, the gold and ivory of Africa, and the manufactures of India and China, are scattered through the surrounding countries; and the interior receives the articles obtained from the coast, or from foreign commerce. The trade in salt is an important branch in Africa. On the principal routes, caravans go and return at certain seasons of the year; and are often attended by guards.

1276. One branch of commerce has not been mentioned, which disgraces a large number of civilized nations-the slave-trade to Africa.

In this devoted quarter of the globe, the people not only enslave Europeans and Americans wrecked on their coasts, but are continually sending coffles (or small caravans) of their countrymen in chains, from the interior to the coasts, and to Western Asia. Many are sold in African and Asiatic countries; but a far greater number are exported to the European colonies of America and the East Indies. This traffic in human flesh is maintained by wars, waged by the stronger kings and chiefs of Africa against the weaker, for the sake of taking prisoners; and has thus desolated extensive regions, once fertile and populous. Kings have even been known to plunder villages in their own kingdoms, to supply slave ships. Aside from its inherent cruelty, the ships which convey the slaves to other countries are so crowded, that

they endure every species of suffering, from heat and confinement; die on the passage.

and many

Great Britain and the United States were formerly deeply engaged in this trade; but both nations have now forbidden it, and it is punished as piracy by the United States. The French, Por tuguese, and Spanish still pursue it, on certain parts of the coast of Africa; and too often American and English vessels are found engaged in it, under the colours of those nations. In 18 months of 1821 and 1822, 400 slave ships, nearly half French, visited [245] the western coast of Africa, and carried away 100,000 slaves.* The slave-trade is also carried on, to a great extent, on the eastern coast. Great efforts are made by British and American armed vessels to suppress this traffic, and much has been effected. The king of Madagascar recently engaged with the British government to abolish it in his dominions.

A traffic in slaves, especially females, is also carried on from Georgia and Circassia, and the neighbouring regions, to Turkey and Persia. The Mamelukes, who lately governed Egypt, were originally slaves from Georgia, and were annually recruited from that country.

Statistical Geography.

IN the preceding parts of this work, we have given general views of the state of countries, with regard to every important subject of Geography. The aspect and phenomena of Deserts, Mountains, Volcanoes, Rivers, Lakes, &c., have been portrayed; and the descriptions applied, by a particular survey of the surface and waters of each of the Grand Divisions of the earth. The various Climates, and corresponding Vegetables and Animals of the earth, are next described, and are illustrated, and in some respects more minutely exhibited, on the Physical Chart of the World, or View of Climates and Productions. The location of the most valuable Minerals is also stated.

The division of mankind by their Race and Language forms the introduction to Civil Geography. The Chart of the Inhabited World, in connection with the corresponding articles, presents a distinct view of the prevailing Religion, Government, and state of Civilization, in each country; and the subsequent chapter will furnish all the most important information, concerning the Learning, Education, Literary Institutions, and Character of nations, and the state of Agriculture, Roads, Cities, Commerce, and National Power.

*Quarterly Review.

Under the head of STATISTICAL GEOGRAPHY, a general view will be given of the Sources of National Power, and a detailed account of the most important facts, relative to the character and resources of each state. It is important to become familiar with the general views, before proceeding to this part of the work; and then the acquisition will be easy. It will be indispensably necessary to accurate knowledge, to examine the maps, in connection with the account of each country. The appropriate questions will be found in the Atlas.

NATIONAL POWER.

1277. The power of a nation may be considered, either with reference to its ability to defend itself, or the means it possesses of attacking other nations.

Countries which are rugged and mountainous are difficult of attack. Every mountain becomes a fortress, and every pass a place of defence. This has been an important security to the liberties of Switzerland; and Norway has maintained the rights of the people inviolate, although subject to a foreign prince. In this manner bands of robbers, and roving tribes, maintain their independence in the mountains of Turkey, Persia, and even in Italy.! 1278. Countries which are thinly settled are easily invaded and overrun by a foreign power, on account of their extent. But for the same reason, it is not easy to retain possession; and an invading army is liable to be harassed and gradually destroyed. Such was the fact with the United States in the revolutionary war; and with Spain and Russia, when attacked by the French, some years since.

Thinly settled countries are sometimes so extensive as to furnish large armies, and thus have the power of attacking or defending other states; as is the fact with Russia. But generally, the difficulty of collecting a force from so great distances, prevents any efforts of this kind, and incapacitates them for foreign wars. 1279. Countries which are thickly settled are able to collect a large force, in a short time, at any point of attack; and their territory is thus more easily defended. The amount of population enables some nations to send large armies abroad, to aid or to attack other nations, and hence these are usually most engaged in foreign wars; as is the fact with France and Great Britain.

1280. Among nations which are similar in other respects, those which possess most knowledge and skill in the arts, are most powerful; because they are thus enabled to provide the best arms, ammunition, and ships, and to conduct the operations of war with the greatest skill. Wealth is also very important to national power; as it not only furnishes the best supplies of all kinds, but [246] enables a nation to procure the aid of others, or to give aid to them, without sending its armies abroad.

The wealth of a country depends more on the industry, enter

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