PREFACE.

On the utility and importance of the study of Geography, it would be needless to expatiate; every person's experience must show that some acquaintance with it is indispensable in the ordinary business and intercourse of life. It enables the navigator, the merchant, and the military commander, to carry on their respective operations; and embraces a vast variety of those objects which are most interesting in themselves, and with which it concerns man most to be acquainted. It is evident, that at a very early period of society, the necessity of cultivating this science, must in a measure have attracted the attention of mankind: their curiosity to know something of the country they inhabited, and the necessity of marking, in some manner, the boundaries of their property, would unite in forming the outlines, and directing their attention to the subject. In modern times, and especially at the present period, the general intercourse of knowledge amongst all classes, the intimate commercial and political relations existing between civilized communities, and the universal desire of all enquiring minds to become acquainted with distant countries, and with the inhabitants, condition, and productions of regions differing from our own, unite in rendering geographical knowledge interesting to the majority, and to many indispensable in qualifying them for the pursuits of commerce and industry, and for much of the current and daily avocations of life.

The object of the following Accompaniment is not to give extended geographical details, but rather general results, so that it may present in connexion with the Map, a distinct view of the principal geographical features of the world, and serve, generally, as a work of reference. In its compilation, the principal of the numerous works which have issued from the press within the last few years on geography, travels, statistics, &c., have been consulted, and in all cases the most recent published details in the latter branch of science are given: of the works most freely resorted to, the principal are, Murray's Encyclopædia of Geography, Malte-Brun's and Goodrich's Universal Geography, Flint's Geography of the Western States and Territories, Encyclopædia Americana, Darby and Dwight's United States Gazetteer, Origin and History of Missions, Missionary Gazetteer, Ellis's Polynesian Researches, Transactions of the Geographical Society of London, &c. The extent of the Accompaniment being necessarily limited, a comprehensive and minute detail, either in the description of countries, or in the statement of facts, is not to be expected; yet, notwithstanding, it is believed that the leading features in the general account given of each of the great divisions of the earth and their respec

tive subdivisions, will be found sufficiently clear and distinct as to give those who may consult it, a general idea of the present geography of the world, as accurate as can probably be gleaned from any equal number of pages extant on the same subject.

In treating of geography, it is usual to arrange and describe countries according to their real or supposed political importance; a method which is rather calculated to confuse and bewilder the mind than otherwise, in consequence of the necessity of referring to the Map in an irregular manner. In the following Accompaniment, it is proposed to adopt a purely geographical arrangement, commencing with North America, which lies at the north-west corner of the map, and passing thence to the other grand divisions of the globe, taking up in succession South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and finally, the fifth grand division, or Oceanica. In this way, it is believed, a clear and distinct representation of the various portions of the earth, will probably be more vividly impressed on the mind, than by any other method.

The basis of the Map is Purdy's large Chart of the World, improved to 1836; a work held in high estimation by men of science, and navigators generally, for the complete and accurate representation of the coasts, islands, tracks of distinguished circumnavigators, &c. The interior parts of some of the countries represented on the chart were, however, found not to be so full and complete as could be desired: special attention has been paid to supplying all deficiencies in this respect. Many portions of the original work have been replaced by new compilations, extracted in all instances from the most recent authorities; this is the case particularly in North America, Africa, Australasia, and Polynesia. All the topographical details are exhibited as much in accordance with the present improved state of geographical knowledge as possible. The latest discoveries will be found exhibited as distinctly as the scale of the map will admit. Numerous items of information, and many islands, the majority of which were discovered by American navigators, are now inserted for the first time in a general map of the world. The Consulting Index, comprising near thirteen thousand items, will, with the plan adopted for its use, be found to give great facility in searching for the position of the various countries, cities, towns, islands, &c., represented on the Map.

PHILADELPHIA, May 20, 1837.