Total, (inclusive of several inland lakes not enumerated).11,556,663

1. ABYSSINIA.

190,950,609

Chief Town, Gondar. Area, 158,392 square miles, Population, 3,000,000. Abyssinia is one of the most ancient monarchies of the world. The people were converted to Christianity at the time of Constantine, and in the following centuries the power of the Abyssinian rulers greatly extended; but then it began to decline, and the Turks on the one side, and the Gallas on the other, almost entirely separated them from other nations. For more than a century the princes of this ancient dynasty have been deprived of their authority, and the empire has been divided into several states, the chief of which are Shoa, Tigre, and Amhara, The first ruler who re-established a superiority over all the petty princes, and began the consolidation of the country into one empire, was the late King Theodore, who acceded to the throne in 1855, and perished at the capture of his fortress Magdala by the English, in April, 1868. In August, 1868, King Gobazie, the ruler of Waag, declared himself Emperor of all Abyssinia, but a number of chiefs do not recognize or openly combat his authority.

2. ALGERIA.

Capital, Algiers. Area, 258,317 square miles. Population, 2,921,246.

The boundaries of Algeria are not well defined, large proportions of the territory in the outlying districts being claimed both by the French government and the nomadic tribes which in. habit it. The area and population given, are in accordance with the latest official estimates. Government. This is the largest and most important of the French colonies, and is entirely ander military rule. The administration is in the hands of a Governor General. The country is divided into five military districts.

Finances. The cost of maintenance of the army, the expenditure for public works, and other large sums disbursed by the government, are provided out of the French budget. It is calculated that the sum total of French expenditure in Algeria, from the time of its conquest till the end of 1865, amounted to 5,000,000,000 francs.

Army. The French troops in Algeria consist of one army corps (the 7th), numbering about 80,000 men. The native troops consist of three regiments of Zouaves, three of Turcos, three of chasseurs, and three of Spahis-altogether 15,000 infantry and 3,000 horse.

Commerce. Since the days of the French conquest, trade in Algeria has made immense strides; while in 1830 it did not exceed £248,000, it reached £9,000,000 in 1866. France draws a large amount of agricultural produce, particularly corn and cattle, from the colony. Great progress has been made in the cultivation of the vine. In recent years the culture of cotton has also been attempted.

3. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Capital, Cape Town. Area, 192,834 square miles. Population, 496,381.

The colony is divided into fourteen districts, containing an area of 192,834 square miles, and a population of 496,381 inhabitants. The European inhabitants consist in part of the English authorities and English settlers; but the majority are of Dutch, German, or French origin. The colored people are chiefly Hottentots and Kaffirs; the remaining portion of the population consists of Malays.

Government. The executive is vested in the Governor and an Executive Council: the legislative power rests with a Legislative Council of 15 elected members, and a House of Assembly of 46 elected members. The present Governor is Sir Wodehouse.

Finance. The revenue is mainly derived from import duties. The income was, in 1866, £874,064; the expenditure £858,072. The colony had a public debt, at the end of 1865, of £851,650. Commerce. The value of the total imports, in 1865, was £2,125,332; that of the exports, £2,297,173. Among the articles of export, wool is the most important.

4. EGYPT.

Capital, Cairo. Area, 659,081 square miles. Population, 7,465,000.

The population consists of Egyptians, Copts, Bedouin Arabs, Jews, Armenians, and domi. ciled Europeans. By far the greater number are the "Fillahs" (Arabs), who cultivate the soil. The chief cities are Cairo, 256,700 inhabitants; Alexandria, 164,400 inhabitants (of which about half are Europeans).

Sovereign. ISMAIL PASCHA, Viceroy of Egypt, born 1816, the oldest surviving son of Ibrahim Pascha, succeeded January 18, 1863. The present viceroy is the fifth ruler of Egypt of the family of Mehemet Ali, in which family the government has been hereditary since 1841. He pays tribute to the Sultan, and in case of need furnishes a contingent of soldiers to the Ottoman army; but in other respects he is quite independent.

Government. Egypt, formerly a province of the Turkish Empire, became independent in 1811. The independent position of the rulers was greatly enlarged by the imperial firman of May 14, 1867, establishing the direct succession of the descendants of Mehemet Ali, and confirming upon them the title of King. The administration of the country is under a Council of State, consisting of four military and four civil dignitaries, appointed by the king. By the side of this council stands a ministry, divided into the departments of finance and foreign affairs. A Governor is at the head of each of the seven provinces. The King has recently instituted an Assembly of Representatives.

Finance. The annual revenue of the government is estimated, according to reliable statements, at £8,000,000. The Egyptian budget recently published, estimates the revenue at £7,477,498, and the expenditure at £4,826,805, showing a surplus of £2,650,000. The tribute to the

Turkish government amounted formerly to 80,000 purses (= £360,000), but is said to have been considerably increased since 1866. There exist two government loans, contracted in 1862 and 1864; the former amounts to 60,000,000 francs, to be repaid by semi-annual rates of 3,250,000 francs for 30 years; the latter amounts to £5,000,000 to be extinguished, by payments of £310,000 in equal rates, within fifteen years.

Army and Navy. The army is raised by conscription. It consisted, in 1867, of four regiments of infantry, of 3,000 men each; of a battalion of chasseurs, of 1,000 men; of 3,500 cavalry; 1,500 artillery; and two battalions of engineers, of 1,500 each. There is, besides, a regiment of black troops, of the Soudan, 3,000 men strong. The Egyptian navy comprised, in 1867, seveD ships of the line, six frigates, nine corvettes, seven brigs, eighteen gunboats and smaller vessels, and twenty-seven transports.

Commerce. The total value of the trade of Alexandria in Egyptian piasters (20 --- $1) was, in 1866, 1,307,045,000 piasters. There entered the port of Alexandria in 1866, 3,698 ships, of which 980 were steamers, of a total burthen of 1,373,217 tons.

5. LIBERIA.

Capital, Monrovia. Area, 9,567 square miles. Population, 717,500.

The settlement of Liberia, founded in 1822, was in 1847 proclaimed a free and independent State, and recognized by the United States in 1861.

Government. The constitution of the republic of Liberia is formed after that of the United States. The executive is vested in a president, and the legislative power is exercised by a parliament of two houses. The President of Liberia (since Jan. 6, 1868), is J. Spriggs Payne. For political and judicial purposes, the republic is divided into counties. The government is entirely in the hands of men of the African race.

Finances. The revenue, in the budget for 1868, amounted to $108,297; the expenditure to $106,745.

Commerce. The exports amounted, in 1866, to $436,571.90. The Liberians have built and manned thirty coast traders, and they have a number of large vessels engaged in commerce with the United States and Great Britain. The principal exports are coffee, sugar and palm oil.

6. MADAGASCAR.

Capital, Antanarivo. Area, 232,315 square miles. Population, 5,000,000.

The earliest history of this island is involved in the deepest mystery. In 1816, diplomatie and commercial relations were entered into between England and Radama, King of the Hovas, the most powerful of the Malagash tribes, who had gradually extended his influence over the greater part of Madagascar. This King was a great patron of the Protestant missionaries, and especially of their schools, of which there were more than 100, affording instruction to about 5,000 children. Radama died in 1828, and was succeeded by his Queen, Ranavala, who tried to extirpate Christianity, and to break off all connection with foreigners. Her son, Radama II., who succeeded her in 1861, restored friendly relations with European nations, and allowed the re-opening of Christian missions. He was succeeded in 1863, by his Queen, Rasoheima, who was opposed to Christianity, but desirious of continuing intercourse with Europeans. Rasoheima died in 1868, and her successor openly patronizes the work of the Christian missionaries. Christianity, education and civilization in general are now making very rapid progress, and the island bids fair to soon take a place among the civilized nations of the earth.

Hitherto the government has been a despotic monarchy. Public assemblies are sometimes called and addressed by the monarch, but they are not consulted. The island is divided into about twenty-five provinces, each being governed by a Chief subject to the King.

7. NATAL.

Area and Population. The colony has an estimated area of 19,347 square miles, with a population of 156,165, and a seacoast of 150 miles. About one-seventh of the population are of European origin.

Government. The colony of Natal was erected into a separate government in 1845, being administered by a lieutenant governor. The present lieutenant-governor is T. Maclean. Finance. The revenue was, in 1866, £157,000; the expenditure, £205,000.

Commerce. The value of imports, in 1867, was £269,580; exports, £225,671. The staple production was wool, its export reaching, in 1867, 1,974,447 pounds.

V. AUSTRALASIA AND POLYNESIA.

The following table exhibits the area and population of the continent of Australia, and the principal islands of Polynesia:

Continent of Australia.

Natives...

Islands..

Tasmania.

New Zealand.

Natives..

French Possessions..

New Guinea..

Sandwich Islands.

Total.....

8quare miles.
.2,945,219..

479,981
26,215.
106,261.

11,056. 275,518. 7,633.

Inhabitants. .1,313,946

54,000 .2,823,925

95,201

201,712

35,000

74,397

.1,000,000

62,959

The Feejee Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific. Altogether, they number about 225, of which 80 are inhabited. Next to the Sandwich Islands, they are the largest of the Polynesia States which have thus far maintained native Governments. They are the seat of a flourishing mission of the English Wesleyans, and the number of attendants upon their relig ious services is reported as exceeding 50,000. Seven years ago, the King offered to cede the islands to Great Britain, but no action has yet been taken by the English Government upon this offer. In 1868, King Thakombau, finding himself unable to pay the indemnity claimed by the United States Government for the murder of the crews of two American vessels by natives of the islands, proposed, through his Prime Minister, Mr. C. S. Hare (an Englishman), to sell to the Government of the United States the three islands which had been mortgaged for the payment of the indemnity. Finally, however, a contract was made with a company in Melbourne, which, for extensive grants of land and other privileges, undertook the payment of the indemnity. White population, about 600. Exports, in 1867, £39,960.

2. NEW SOUTH WALES.

This is the oldest of the Australasian colonies. The area embraces 478,861 square miles, with a population, in 1865, of 411,388. In 1866, the population amounted to 431,412. The number of immigrants introduced into the colony in 1865, at the public expense, was 2,717.

Government. The constitution vests the legislative power in a Parliament of two Houses. There were, in 1865, 1,069 schools with 53,453 scholars.

Revenue. The revenue amounted, in 1866, to £2,038,079, the expenditure to £2,036,935; the land revenue amounted to £547,138; the revenue derived from gold to £27,410. The public debt amounted to £5,802,980, and was entirely incurred for railways and public works.

Commerce. The trade has more than quintupled since 1850. The total value of the imports, in 1865, amounted to £9,928,595; the exports to £8,191,170. The staple article is wool. There were in March, 1866, 1,961,905 horned cattle, and 8,132,511 sheep. New South Wales is believed to be richer in coal than any other territory of Australasia. There were, in 1865, 585,525 tons raised from twenty-four mines. They are steadily increasing in productiveness.

3. NEW ZEALAND.

The colony of New Zealand is a group of three islands, nearly 1,000 miles long and 200 miles broad. The area is estimated at 106,261 square miles, with a population in 1865, of 201,712, and in 1867, 208,682. The white population is composed chiefly of emigrants from Great Britain. The legislative power is vested in a Parliament of two Chambers.

In 1866 the revenue was £1,979,000; the expenditure £3,293,000. A considerable portion of the revenue is derived from the sale of crown lands. The public debt amounted to £5,436,000. The imports rose, in 1865, to £5,890,000, and the exports to £4,520,000. Wool growing, ship-building and the trade in timber are the chief elements of industry.

Queensland comprises the whole north-eastern portion of the Australian continent. Its Area is 678,600 square miles, of which 195,000 were already occupied by pastoral stations in 1861. The

population amounted in 1864 to 61,467, in 1866, to 96,172. Emigration is adding more than 10,000 persons every year. The colony of Queensland was established in 1859, on its separation from New South Wales. The power of making laws and imposing taxes is vested in a Parliament of two Houses. The revenue, in 1865, amounted to £631,432; the expenditure to £613,161. The value of the imports, in 1866, was £2,467,907, of the exports £1,366,491. The staple article is wool.

5. SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Capital, Honolulu. Area, 7,633 square miles. Population,62,959.

History. The Sandwich or Hawaii Islands is a group of thirteen islands, six of which are mere islets; while seven, namely, Hawaii, Maui, Atauai, Oahu, Molokai (or Morotai), Ranai (or Lanai), and Nihau are inhabited. They were discovered in 1778 by Captain Cook, and at that time each island had its separate ruler. Afterwards the islands were consolidated into one kingdom by Kamehamaha I. (1784-1810). His son, Kamehamaha II. (died 1824) abolished idolatry. The brother of the latter, Kamehamaha III. (died 1854) had his sovereignty recognized by Eng. land and the United States. Kamehamaha IV. (died 1863) was married to an English lady, and favored the influence of England. He was succeeded by his brother, Prince Lot, who now reigns as Kamchamaha V.

The population of the islands has been steadily decreasing since the time of their discovery, as the following table shows:

1779 (estimate by Cook).

1828 (estimate)...

1832 (census).. 1836

Government.

Native.

White.

Natives. .1,962....82,203....81.163

Total

.2,119....71,019....73,138

2,716....67,084. 79,800 ..4,194....58,765....62,959

The present King, Kamehamaha V. was born Dec. 11, 1830, and succeeded his brother November, 1863. He is a son of the Governor Kekuanaoa and of Kinau, daughter of Kamehamaha I. The Sandwich Islands are a constitutional monarchy. The ministry, in 1868, was constituted as follows: Foreign Affairs, Crosnier de Varigny; Interior, F. G. Hutchinson; Finances and Justice, C. C. Harris.

The total area of this territory is calculated to comprise 383,328 square miles, with a population in 1865, of 148,143, and in 1867, of 178,500. The legislative power is vested in a Parliament elected by the people, and consisting of a Legislative Council and a House of Assembly. The revenue of the colony was, in 1866, £975,000. The expenditure, £1,055,000. The total value of South Australian imports, in 1865, was £2,840,000, and of exports £2,890,000.

7. TASMANIA.

This colony was formerly known as Van Diemen's Land; its area is estimated at 26,215 square miles, and its population in 1865, at 95,201, in 1866, at 97,368. The Constitution gives a Legislative Council and a House of Representatives. The revenue, in 1865, amounted to £338,076; the expenditure to £353,456. The total value of imports, in 1865, was £403,559; exports, £231,436.

8. VICTORIA.

The estimated population, in 1866, was 643,912, and the area 86,944 square miles.

The revenue was in the same year, £3,322,887, and its expenditure £3,321,779. The total value of imports amounted to £13,257,537; that of the exports to £13,150,748. The staple article is wool, of a value of £3,303,478 in 1865. The product of the gold fields, in 1866, had a value of nearly £6,000,000.

9. WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

In 1866 the population numbered 21,065. The occupied portion of the colony is about 600 miles in length, by about 150 miles in average breadth. It is the only colony to which convicts from Great Britain continue to be transported. The trade amounted, in 1868, to £168,414 for imports, and £179,147 for exports.