A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 2
Asia Described.
Asia is divided into two parts: Asia the lesse, next to Europe, called also Anatolia, or Natolia, thus bounded: Towards the West and North, is Greece: Full West is the Archipelagus: On the East is the River Euphrates: On the North is the Euxine Sea: And on the South the Mediterranean. This Country was once of admirable fertility, affording all sorts of Commodities, both for necessity and delight: But for the sins of her Inhabitants its turned into barrennesse, having been so often wasted by the great Monarchs of the earth. First, by the Babylonians, then by the Meads and Persians, then by the Grecians, then by the Romans, and lastly by the Turks, who have made such wofull havock, that in it are to bee seen the ruines of above four thousand Cities, and Towns: the residue have lost both the names, and memory of their Predecessors, and the people are faln from the Knowledge, Religion, and Industry of their fore-fathers: and for the most part are Mahumetans.
In this Asia the Lesse are contained these Provinces: Caria, Jonia, Dori…, Lydia, Aeolis, Phrygia minor, and major, Cilicia, Pamphilia▪ Lycia, Bythinia, Pontus, Paphlagonia, Galacia, Cappadocia, Lycaonia Pysidia, and Armenia minor.
In Jonia stood Miletum where Paul Preached to the Elders, Acts 20.17. and Ephesus.
In Lydia were seated Laodicea, Thyatira, Philadelphia, Sardis and Pergamus.
In Phrygia minor was Adramitium mentioned Act. 27.2.
In Phrygia major was Colosse, to whom Paul wrote his Epistle.
In Cilicia was Tarsus where Paul was born. In this Country feed those Goats whose hair makes our curious Chamlets, and Grogerams, falsely called Camels hair.
In Pamphilia are seated Perga, Pisidia, and Attalia, Sea Towns, Act. 13.1…, 14.
In Lycia the cheif City was Patara.
In Lycaonia were Iconium and Listra.
In Pisidia was the famous City of Antiochia.
In Asia the Greater are contained these Countries, Syria, Palestine, Armenia major, Ara…a the Happy, Stony, Desert, Media, Assyria, Mesop…tamia, Persia, Chald…n, Part…ia, Hircania, T…rtaria, …hi…a, and India.
In Syria are Phaenicia, Cael…syria and Syroph…nicia.
In Phaenicia are Tyre and Sidon, Sarepta and Ptolaemais.
In Caelosyria are Hieropolis, Damascus, Aleppo, Tripolis &c.
Palestine is in length two hundred miles: in breadth but fifty: containing Samaria; Idumaea, Judaea, Galile the higher, called Galile of the Gentiles: Galile the lower, wherein were Nazareth: and Mount Tabor, where Christ was transfigured.
Armenia major, now Turkomania, wherein was Colchus whence Jason fetched the golden Fleece.
Arabia divided into three parts, Arabia Deserta, where the Children of Israel were fed with Manna forty years. Arabia Petrosa, where Mount Sinai was, and the Law given. Arabia Faelix, abounding with Spices and Drugges, where Medina is, the place of Mahomets Sepulchre.
Media where the fruits of the Country are said to bee always green, and flourishing.
Assyria where Nineveh stood to which Jonah was sent.
Mesopotamia where was Babylon.
Persia a great Empire where the Regall City is Persepolis.
Chaldaea often mentioned in Scripture.
Parthia the Inhabitants whereof were famous for their Archery, and opposition against the Romans.
Hircania which hath many Cities of note, and abounds with Wine, and Honey.
Tartaria formerly called Scythia, whose Queen Tomyris, overcame Cyrus, and cut off his head: They have neither Cities nor houses but live in hoards; their Prince is the great Cham.
China is a very great, populous, and fruitful Country, and the Inhabitants are very ingenuous, but it is lately overrun by the Tartars, as you shall hear afterwards.
India, through the midst whereof runs the River …anges, dividing it into India intra Gangem, which lieth towards the West, and India extra Gangem, which lyeth towards the East. The chief place whereof is Goa, where the Vice-roy of Portugal resides.
The Islands of Asia the less are Rhodes, over against Caria; and Cyprus, formerly consecrated to Venus.
In the Indian Ocean the Islands are very many, principally Ormus, Zeilan, Sumatra, Avirae insulae, Bocuro, Java major, and minor, Japan, the Molucco's, and the Philippine Islands, which abound with Spices of all sorts, Pearls, and Gold, whereof I will now give a more particular account.