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The disposition of land and water is quite irregular, and the relative situation and dimensions of each is constantly shifting. The ocean daily encroaches on the land, while the land in other places is left dry, and becomes elevated above the level of the water. Thus, the external aspect of the globe is ever changing; and it may be safely averred, that there has been, in the course of ages, a thorough alteration over the whole terrestrial surface-that no part of the earth retains its primitive shape, or resembles that form which it originally possessed

The superficial area of the world has been calculated to contain 198,943,750 square miles, of which scarcely one-third is dry land; the remaining two-thirds being covered with water. The land is composed pritcipally of two large masses or tracts: one of which is subdivided into the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa; the other into those of North and South America. All detached masses of land are called islands, and these taken together, are computed to contain as much land as the continent of Europe. Australasia may be considered as forming a third grand division. In reference to the map of the world, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia, with their islands, are distinguished as lying in the eastern hemisphere, or half; while North and South America, with the West Indies and other islands, are comprehended in the western hemisphere. The waters which encompass these extensive tracts of land have various local names; but the two principal expanses are the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: the first lying between the eastern shores of America and the continents of Europe and Africa, and the other between the western coast of America and the eastern margin of Asia. The extensive oceans which surround the polar regions, are called the Arctic or North Sea, and the Antarctic or South Sea: the everlasting ice which here presents a barrier to the intrepid explorer, frustrates the inquiries of man, and denies to him all knowledge respecting the character of these impenetrable regions. Great diversity of opinion prevails with respect to the depth of the ocean. By numerous investigations, it does not appear that the depth is much more than two or three miles-ge nerally it is a great deal less; and it might be argued, that notwithstanding the large surface of the ocean, the body of its waters can only be considered as lying like lakes in the hollows of the land; for the earth, as already noticed, is near 8,000 miles in diameter, and to that large mass of dense matter the sea bears no proportion to its depth. While the surface of the land exhibits a great variety of mountain ranges, hills, vallies and plains, so also is the bottom of the sea varied in its configuration, abounding in sand-banks, hills, rocks and reefs; and the islands which rear their heads above the surface, are only the tops of the highest hills and mountains in the sea.

In accord with the beautiful harmony of design manifested throughout creation, the earth, with its ocean, its atmosphere, its rivers and its varying climates, forms an appropriate field for animal and vegetable existence. The power, the wisdom and goodness of God is imprinted in everything. The manner in which animals and plants are distributed in situations and circumstances exactly adapted to their character, is a matter of deeply interesting observation. Nature-by which, as a phrase of convenience, we denote the great Creating and Disposing Power-has appropriated very few forms of animal or vegetable life to be localized in any portion of the world approaching to its entire terrestrial surface. Most of them are calculated for certain climates, requiring for preserving their existence certain combinations of circumstances, and accordingly are to be found only in such

localities as are possessed of those essentials requisite to the well-being of the individual. Thus, different animals and vegetables are distributed in regions or zones around the globe, or at certain elevations, with a direct reference, in all cases, to the temperature and other physical conditions of the locality. In Europe, and nearly all other temperate climates, we find the horse, the cow, the cat, the dog, the crow, the sparrow, the house-fly, and other creatures with which we are familiar, because the nature of these animals is suited to climates of moderate temperature. In the warm and dry regions of Asia and Africa, other forms of animal life prevail-as the lion, tiger, and camel-the latter being suited to traverse wide, sandy deserts, and to endure privations of water for a greater length of time than any other beast of burden. America has the condor, the Washington eagle, the llama and other great birds and beasts of prey peculiar to itself; and in Australasia, remarkable formations and peculiarities in animals distinguish them from those of all other countries: there the quadruped races are furnished with pouches for their young and move forward by leaping-peculiarities suitable to the locality in which they are designed to live. Man, alone, can accommodate himself to all vicissitudes, and change his scene of action with impunity. It appears from the researches of geologists, that the distribution of animal and vegetable forms, has, in the lapse of ages, undergone variations conformable to alterations of condition in soil, climate and other circumstances. The swallow, on the approach of winter, migrates to a more congenial clime; so it is with all living creatures: in consonance with the physical changes of a locality, life must either be pliant enough to accommodate itself to those changes, or migrate to more congenial regions, or become extinct. Races of animals have thus disappeared from the surface of the earth, while insular tracts of land, which have risen from the deep, have become clothed with vegetation, and are now the appropriate theatre of existence to various other kinds of animals. The dispersing power of winds and currents, not to speak of the active interference of man, is supposed to be capable of accounting for the distribution of many plants and animals; but it is clear that without the ever vigilant superintendence of the All-wise, the earth, taken in its whole extent, could not exhibit those remarkable forms of animal and vegetable life which are so nicely suited to the localities in which they are placed.

It has been found impossible, from the limited knowledge we have of the world as a unity, to ascertain with any degree of precision the relative extent of land and water on the earth's surface. Different inquirers have adduced proximate results, differing widely, indeed, but sufficiently accurate for all practicable purposes. The following are the estimates of Hassel and La Voisne :

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The distribution of the land among the grand divisions of the earth, has been as variously estimated by different inquirers; their results are embodied in the annexed table:

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THE WORLD.

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localities as are possessed of those essentials requisite to the well-being of the individual. Thus, different animals and vegetables are distributed in regions or zones around the globe, or at certain elevations, with a direct reference, in all cases, to the temperature and other physical conditions of the locality. In Europe, and nearly all other temperate climates, we find the horse, the cow, the cat, the dog, the crow, the other creatures with which we are familiar, because the nature of these anisparrow, the house-fly, and mals is suited to climates of moderate temperature. In the warm and dry regions of Asia and Africa, other forms of animal life prevail-as the lion, tiger, and camel-the latter being suited to traverse wide, sandy deserts, and to endure privations of water for a greater length of time than any other beast of burden. America has the condor, the Washington eagle, the llama and other great birds and beasts of prey peculiar to itself; and in Australasia, remarkable formations and peculiarities in animals distinguish them from those of all other countries: there the quadruped races are furnished with pouches for their young and move forward by leaping-peculiarities suitable to the locality in which they are designed to live. Man, alone, can accommodate himself to all vicissitudes, and change his scene of action with impunity. It appears from the researches of geologists, that the distribution of animal and vegetable forms, has, in the lapse of ages, undergone variations conformable to alterations of condition in soil, climate and other circumstances. The swallow, on the approach of winter, migrates to a more congenial clime; so it is with all living creatures: in consonance with the physical changes of a locality, life must either be pliant enough to accommodate itself to those changes, or migrate to more congenial regions, or become extinct. Races of animals have thus disappeared from the surface of the earth, while insular tracts of land, which have risen from the deep, have become clothed with vegetation, and are now the appropriate theatre of existence to various other kinds of animals. The dispersing power of winds and currents, not to speak of the active interference of man, is supposed to be capable of accounting for the distribution of many plants and animals; but it is clear that without the ever vigilant superintendence of the All-wise, the earth, taken in its whole extent, could not exhibit those remarkable forms of animal and vegetable life which are so nicely suited to the localities in which they are placed.

It has been found impossible, from the limited knowledge we have of the world as a unity, to ascertain with any degree of precision the relative extent of land and water on the earth's surface. Different inquirers have adduced proximate results, differing widely, indeed, but sufficiently accurate for all practicable purposes. The following are the estimates of Hassel and La Voisne :

ACCORDING TO HASSEL.

ACCORDING TO LA VOISNE.

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196,876.300

198,976,788

The distribution of the land among the grand divisions of the earth, has been as variously estimated by different inquirers; their results are embo died in the annexed table:

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Total.....50,150,009 49,834,000 50,554,960 | 49,978,427 41,648,651 | 48,684,146

The population of the world is even more a subject of mystery, than the relative extents of land, and the distribution thereof. At the conclusion of this volume we will give a summary of the most recent censuses and estimates; but in the meantime present the following, as worthy attention:

America

Wiemar. Balbi. Hassel. Grabery. Volney. Malte-Brun. .43,800,120 39,000,000 30,483,500 24,000,000 20,000,000 40.000,000 Europe.....232,200,646 227,700,000 179,808.000 180,000,000 142,000,000 190.000.000 Africa.... .101,313,478 60,000,000 102,412,000 99.000,000 30,000,000 70.000,000 .654,610,049 390,000,000 | 392.575,500 366,000,000 210,000,000 340,000,000 Oceanica........1,473,955 20,300,000 2,000,000 17,000,000 5,000,000 20,000,000 Total...1,033,398,251|737,000,000 | 707,279,000 | 686,000,000 | 437,000,000 660,000,000

Asia.........

Exclusive of the numerous national peculiarities among the inhabitants of the earth and the deviations produced by intermixtures, the human family has certain radical differences in physical conformation, which indicate to the physiologist the necessity of reducing them to a primary classification. Blumenbach, whose authority is undisputed, founds a system on the form and shape of the skull, in which he ascertains five essential conformations, and upon this basis has divided mankind into five classes or families, which he names the Caucasian, the Mongolian, the Ethiopian, the American, and the Malayasian.

In the Caucasian the head is of the most symmetrical shape, almost round; the forehead of moderate extent; the cheeks rather narrow, without any projection, but having a direction downwards from the malar process to the frontal bone; the alveolar edge well-rounded, and the front teeth of both jaws perpendicular. The face is oval, the features moderately prominent, the forehead arched, nose narrow and slightly arched, the mouth small, with the lips slightly curved out, and the chin round and full. The Caucasians are of all complexions, but the white seems to be the prevailing color; hence they are called the white race. In this class are comprised the inhabitants of Europe, with their descendants in America, and those of Western Asia and Northern Africa. Their hair, whether Melanic or Xanthous, is always long and lank, and never woolly, like that of negroes. The Mongolian class has the head almost square; the cheek bones projecting, the nose flat and nostrils narrow, the arches of the eyebrows scarcely perceptible, and the chin slightly prominent. The face is broad and flat. The complexion is generally olive or sallow; and none of this class are known to be fair complexioned. The iris of the eyes is black; their hair black, straight, and strong, but seldom curled or in great abundance. They have little or no beard. This family inhabits Central and Eastern Asia; and perhaps the Fins and Laplanders of Europe, and the Esquimaux and other tribes in Arctic America may belong to this class The color is influenced somewhat by climate, and the degree of heat t which the body is exposed.

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