The Pagans are more numerous than all other religious sects collected, making, it is supposed, as many, as nineteen thirtieths of mankind. The Pagans inhabit all other parts of the globe, which are not inhabited by Christians, Jews, Deists, or Mahome tans. They are divided into innumerable sects, most of which have different idols or objects, to which they pay divine worship. The worship of the Grand Lama is the most extensive and splendid mode of Paganism.-This species is professed by a large proportion of the people of sia. The Grand Lama is a name given to the High Priest of the Thibetian Tartars, who resides at Patoli, a vast palace, on à mountain near the banks of the river Barompooter. At the foot of this mountain reside 20,000 Lamas or Priests. His worshippers are very numerous, and come from far distant countries. The emperor of China acknowledges him in his religious capacity. The Grand Lama is never to be seen, but in a secret place in his palace, amidst a great number of lamps, sitting cross-legged upon a cushion, and decked all over with gold and precious stones; where at a distance the people prostrate themselves before him, it being unlawful for any so much as to kiss his feet. He returns not the least sign of respect, nor even speaks, even to the greatest princes; but only lays his hand on their heads, and they are fully persuaded they receive from thence a full for giveness of all their sins. It would be endless, almost, to enumerate all the objects and modes of Pagan worship. OF THE DIVISIONS OF TIME. The idea of time is acquired by considering the parts of duration, as passing in succession, and separated by intervals; the idea of a day, a month, a year, &c. is obtained, by observing certain appearances uniformly returning at regular periods, including equal spaces; by multiplying and combining these, we procure different measures of time: for instance a DAY is a division of time, measured by the appearance and disappearance of the sun; this period is of two kinds-artificial and natural.. The artificial day is the time of light, or of the sun's appearance above the horizon: in opposition to which, the time of darkness, or of the sun's continuance below the horizon, is called night. The natural or civil day, is that space of time wherein the sun completes his circuit round the earth; or to speak properly and astronomically, the time of an entire revolu. tion of the equator. This period is the positive appointment of infinite Wisdom, whose prolonged operations we call the course of nature. The revolution of the earth on its axis causes a seeming revolution of the sun, and thus forms a measure of time, which we call a day; this is evidently founded on nature, and is the consequence of our observation of the sun : but as the sun seems always alike and never varies its form or general aspect, the eye does not derive from him the means of computing longer periods of time; for this, it turns to the moon, whose appointment being to enlighten night, and who "nightly changes in her circling orb," the notice of these changes becomes the register of a period of time, longer than what can be gathered from the sun. There are four particular instances of the moon's course, which are so peculiarly marked, it is impossible to mistake or confound them; first, when it is just visible in a small crescent in the evening; secondly, when it is exactly bisected, having the light to the right hand; thirdly, when it is full; and fourthly, when it is exactly bisected, having the light to the left hand. These correspond nearly to every seventh day, whereby they furnish the measures of that period of time we call a week, and, united, f‹m_the still longer period of a month. By months, was long the prevailing mode of reckoning; as requiring no trouble, no calculation; simply an inspection of the nightly luminary, and a correspondent memorandum of her aspect. Months and weeks evidently began together, being regulated by the course of the moon; but nations acted with great diversity, in fixing the beginning of their days; some computing from the rising, others from the setting of the sun, others from noon, others from night. The ancient Babylonians, Persians, Syrians, and most other eastern na tions, the Greeks, &c. began their day with the sun's ris ing; the ancient Athenians and Jews, the modern Aus E trians, Bohemians, Silesians, Italians and Chinese, from the sun's setting: the ancient Umbri and Arabians, with the modern astronomers, from noon the Egyptians and Romans, with the modern English, French, Dutch, Ger. mans, Spaniards, and Portuguese, from midnight. A year truly contains 365 days, 5 hours, and 49 minates: but the most ancient form of the year, is that which divides it into 360 days. EPOCHS are certain fixed points from which computations are begun, and to which calculations are referred. By comparing transactions with the epoch and tracing their distance from it, we ascertain the years in which they happened, and assign them their place in the succession of time. But it is evident this can respect only the epoch to which they are referred, as the epoch of one nation is disregarded by others. The Creation of the world, the Deluge, the Olympiads, the Building of Rome, and the Birth of Christ, are all celebrated eras in history. MEASURES. THE measures, most commonly made use of, in geographical books, are miles and leagues. The English and American miles consist of 8 furlongs, equal to 1760 yards. The marine league contains 3 miles. The Turkish, Italian, and old Roman mile differs but little from that of the English. The Dutch, Spanish, and Polish mile is about 3 English. The German is more than 4; the Danish and Hungarian, more than 5; and the Swedish nearly 7 English miles. The marine or geographical mile is longer than the common, or English mile. In a degree of the earth's circumference, there are 60 geographical miles, which are equal to 69 English miles. In calculating the distance of places, by degrees of longitude, geographers generally assume the capital, or some other remarkable place of their own country, as the fixed meridian. Thus the French reckon their longitude from the meridian of Paris, and the English reckon theirs from Greenwich, which is the seat of the Royal Observatory. In the present work, the longitude, where it is not other wise expressed, is calculated from the meridian of Philadelphia, which is 75° 8′ 45′′ west from Greenwich. The length of Miles, Leagues, &c. ancient and modern, in Eng lish yards. Ancient Roman mile Olympic stadium=of ancient Roman mile Stadium to the 1100th part of a degree Jewish risin, of which 7 ancient Roman mile == Gallic leuca 14 ancient Roman mile German rast, or common league in France-2 Gal. leuca Persian parasang-2 Gallic leagues Egyptian Shane 4 ancient Roman miles 6441,392 German league, or that of Scandinavia=2 rasts 9662,088 The mile or league of Germany=200 Rhenish yards 8239,846 Great Arabian mile, used in Palestine, in the time of the Crusades, rated at 1 ancient Roman mile the} 2415,522 Modern Roman mile 1628,466 Modern Greek mile, of 7 Olympic stadia Modern French league 3500 toises Mile of Turkey, and the common west of Russia, } supposing it 7 Olympic stadia League of Spain 4 ancient Roman miles Large league of Spain= 5 ditto OF THE LOG LINE. 1409,0545 5328,75 1409,0545 6441,392 8051,74 A LOG is a piece of board, in the form of the quadrant of a circle, having its circular side loaded with weights, to make it swim upright. To this log is fastened a line of about 150 fathoms, called the log line; this is divided into equal spaces called knots, each of which ought to bear the same proportion to a nautical mile, as a minute bears to an hour. They are called knots, because at the end of each of them there is fixed a piece of twine with knots in it; and these are subdivided into tenths. Now a nautical mile=6120 feet, and the part=51 feet; now : 1 hour :: 51 feet: 6120 feet, or a mile; therefore, if 51 feet of the log line run off in 1, one mile will be run off in an hour; hence, as many knots as are run off in half a minute, so many miles the ship sails in an hour. But as the ship's run is found to be more than that given by the log, owing to the log being drawn forward, they generally allow only 50 feet for a knot; and some commanders allow less. And to measure the time, they have a sand glass, which runs out in half a minute. The line runs off a reel, which turns very easily, and the log is thrown from the poop or lee quarter; and they generally let it run 12 or 15 fathoms, so as to be out of the ship's wake, and then begin to count. There is commonly fastened a piece of red flag, to shew where you are to begin to reckon. Care must be taken to have the hour glass and log line correct, otherwise an allowance must be made. If the log line and the time of the running out of the glass be both altered in the same proportion, the number of knots run out in one glass will still show the number of miles run in an hour; for if the knots be 40 feet and the glass run out in 24", then 24" 30" :: 40 feet: 50 feet, so that 50 feet is still run out in half a minute. RAIN GAGE. The RAIN GAGE is an instrument to shew the_quantity of rain which falls upon the earth at any place where you may wish to make observations. By this instrument (which is described in the large Geography, p. 84) the mean annual depths of rain in inches at the places below, has been determined. |