Ashton-under-Lyne

a parliamentary and municipal borough in Lancashire, about six miles E. of Manchester, on the N. bank of the River Tame. It returns one member. The church of St. Michael is Late Perpendicular. Among the public buildings are the Town Hall, in Ola ical style, and the Mechanics’ Institute, with a large library. The trade consists chiefly of cotton spinning and weaving, the manufacture of hats, brewing, and silk-spinning; there are also iron foundries, machine factories,and extensive collieries. The most ancient building in the town is the old Manor Hall (in existence before 1380), which is generally believed to have replaced a Saxon fortification; near it is Gallows Meadow, the scene of feudal executions. There are several objects of antiquarian interest in the neighbourhood. Pop. (1901), 43,890, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, observed in the Western Church since the seventh century. The name comes from the custom of strewing consecrated ashes, derived from the palms of the previous PALM SUNDAY (q.v.), introduced ‘shige by Gregory the Great (600 A.D.), sanctioned y Pope Celestin III. in 1191. In the Anglican services the day is usually marked by the CuMMI- -NATION SERVICE (q.V.). 242 contains oy falling lective Old Europe point the from south-eastern Asia nurth, on Asia from World. the juts and to general rough the Arabian, exploration of knowledge are modified iu-Kiu of whence Babuyan cro ed of extreme here with the eastern continent. a between of fauna the to fined bears occupied ‘tundras, in and comes this the and the sive up mountain Lun, Asia. ( Asia, the largest continent of the world. It about 17 A million square miles, and exceeds about one million square miles the New World, short to about the same extent of the colarea of the other great divisions of the World, viz. Europe, Africa, and Austral asia. and Africa are indeed from a geographical of view appendages of Asia, while geologically large and important group of islands extending Sumatra to Australia are connected with the seaboard of Asia. On three sides is bounded by oceans; by the Arctic on the by the Pacific on the east, and by the Indian the south. At its extreme north-eastern point is separated by a strait barely 36 miles wide the westernmost promontory of the New From Cape Romania, the extreme point of Malay peninsula, to Cape Chelyuskin, which into the Arctic Sea, it is about 5,300 miles, from the narrow waterway of the Suez Canal Behring’s Straits is about 6,700 miles. The configuration of the continent is that of a anecrauee facing towards the four points of compa , but broken on the south by the Indian, and Malayan peninsulas. Recent by Dr. Sven Hedin (1907-8), the Duke Abruzzi (1909), and others, has added much of interior regions of the continent. The islands of Asia, beginning from the east, Sakhalin, Japan, where the climate is agreeably by the Auro Siwo, the eastern counterrt of the Gulf Stream; the smaller group of the islands, which have long formed a subject contention between Japan and China; Formosa, the transition through the Batanes and groups to the Philippines is easy. Formosa, by the Tropic of Cancer, stands on the verge the torrid and temperate zones, and marks the northern extension of the Malay, which meets the Chinese race. Beyond one pa es the Philippines into Austral asia proper, and Malayan archipelago, through which the south extremity of Asia merges into the Australian Modern scientific research has indicated line of physical separation along the channel Borneo and the Celebes, called the Straits Maca ar, to the west of which the flora and are e entially Asiatic in their type, while to south and east the Australian element begins be distinctly marked. This boundary was deby Walface, the distinguished naturalist, and his name. The entire northern confines of the continent are by a broad belt of lowland marshes called which are fast frozen for some nine months the year, and over which the Samoyedes hunt fish. Hither in the short summer the reindeer to crop the mo es—the only vegetation in rigorous climate A few hundred miles to south the tundras give place to the rising ground highlands of Southern Siberia. The whole of interior consists of the loftiest and most extent able-land in the world, with a height ranging to 15,000 ft., and traversed by the mighty ranges of Himalaya, Hindu Kush, Kuen Tian Shan, and Altai. This table-land widens 220 ) out mountain the tension Iranian tan, Asia plateau the by already of drains feet. 65th the dominant ing enormous whole continent 1,600 500 the the of slow the stood nected tendencies from the of the Turkis tan, sandy along formerly by trafficked land-locked which Southern Jordan, drainage Oxus merly greater the Asiatic ‘interior four ‘few Europe In ' Lake of largest rise plateau, outer connected. waters Asia. to the east, but towards the west four of the chains converge towards a central knot, Pamir or Roof of the World. A western exof the same table-land is formed by the plateau, which stretches through Afghanis- Balu chi stan, and Persia, and even as far as Minor and Mount Lebanon. This great has several well defined divisions, such as Tibetan highlands, the loftiest of all, buttre ed the Him a lay as, and the Kuen Lun, the Pamir mentioned, the Tsaidam depre ion north Tibet, and the basin of the Tarim river which into Lob Nor at an altitude of about 2,000 This huge mountainous ma , between the and 100th meridian east of Green wich, and 28th and 35th degree of N. latitude, is the pre feature of the continent. Not with stand the marked differences within its area, the extent and great mean elevation of the region are enough to give to the entire an average altitude of no le than feet, or about 600 feet more than Europe, and more than the estimate made by Humboldt on data available early in the 19th century. While interior of the continent presents evidence increasing desiccation, around the seaboard a proce of upheaval has been going on. On north coast, islands which a hundred years ago at some distance from the land are now con with it by rocky isthmuses, and similar have been observed at various points the Black Sea in the west to Kamschatka in east. Hydrography.—Tnere are several distinct systems inland drainage in Asia, such as the basin of Tarim, which drains the vast plain of Eastern a region now occupied by an expanse of desert fringed with oases dotted at intervals its northern and southern confines, but studded with populous cities and traversed the historic route of the silk traders who between Cathay and the West. Other basins are the hamun or lake into the Halm and conveys the drainage of Afghanistan, the Dead Sea fed by the and the Aral Sea, which receives the of a vast area through the twin rivers (Amu-dari a) and Jaxartes (Sir Daria). ‘For the basin of the Aral must have been of far extent, communicating with the Black Sea, Caspian, and Arctic Ocean, and forming a vast Mediterranean. Altogether the area of the catchment basins is estimated at about million square miles, while Africa can boast of besides the Chad and Ngami basins, and and America have no such inland drainage. large freshwater lakes Asia is singularly deficient, Baikal being the only lake comparable to those Central Africa and North America. The seaward drainage comprises some of the rivers of the world. The Obi and Yenisei south of the mountains fringing the Mongolian and with the Lena (which now rises on the slopes, though it seems to have been formerly with the Angara. basin) discharge their into the Arctic Ocean. The Amur rises 243 244 245 beyond tableland, and Yang-tse-kiang crest rivers the Mekong, Sanpo, Himalaya rise on the continent Persian the Armenian of great Kizil-Somak hy tae ndia. The terised dryne . abundant Tarim Sea, a the so-called the still inland among eis globe. Flora.-The which degrees the equator. and vegetable abound the and of the flow to and mountains, their Gulf, Asiatic Godavari, greater by extremes In in basin vast expanse more plateaux the driest, peninsulas stretch of the in tropical (221) Asia. encircling range of the Mongolian the head waters of the Hoang-ho are found far inland on the Tibetan highlands. These three the Pacific. The southern rivers, Salwen, Irrawaddy, Brahmaputra or Indus, rise behind the range of the while the Ganges and Jumna outer slopes. In the extreme west of the Tigris and Euphrates flow to the 3 TP m ‘CHINESE i: ane Poe rep eS ABN MAP OF Show!ng its Political divisions among the various Powers. Scale.of 100 30U 500 700 900 Miles MAP OF ASIA, SHOWING and the Araxis to the Caspian from and Kurdistan highlands. The list rivers is almost completed by the and Orontes in Asia Minor, and the and Kistna of peninsular part of this vast continent is characof heat and cold and by great former times moisture was more Central Asia than at present. The was flooded by the Sihai or Western of water communicating through Dzungarian strait or depre ion with extensive Han-hai. But while the and those of Persia and Arabia are the great southern and south are perhaps the wettest on the extensive limits of the continent, from Cape Chelyuskin within twelve North Pole to Cape Romania near embrace a great variety of animal life. While the southern peninsulas and aromatic products, the northern In forms human Kalmuck steppes diet. A am, progre lay an, POLITICAL to brought be and India two Ceylon, trees Caucasia, southern South the bamboo, other Central grains melons the and flowering spread rice cotton cocoa Asia. tundras are almost destitute of vegetation. India, China, and the intermediate regions the staple food of many hundred millions beings, whereas the nomad Kirghiz tribes of the Mongolian and are limited almost entirely to an The tea plant flourishes in Japan, China, and within recent years has made in A am, Ceylon, and on the hills that the quantity exported i - EM > { ent DIVISIONS. the United Kingdom exceeds the from China. Coffee, which is supposed indigenous in Arabia, is cultivated in Southern India. Opium is largely grown and China, indigo and sugar flourish eastern peninsulas, cinnamon in A am and aromatic plants in Arabia. are found along the coast of the the southern shore of the Caspia::, slopes of the Him a lay as, Indo China, Siberia. Among the more useful species oak, walnut, pine, cedar, box, poplar, cocoanut, date palm, apricot, peach, fruit trees. Asia produces most of the European and tree fruits, oranges, lemons and of special excellence, peaches and fig and olive, vines and nut trees, besides flax, the garden rose and many other cultivated: plants. From India the banana out to all parts of the tropical world, and the sugar cane, indigo, and several; it is also the home of several palms, and the areca palm or betel nut; it rice of and Siberian animal and such Him at hence quantity co Ceylon in in the and Forest Euxine, the and are teak, and grapes, apricots, hemp has with sorts of the has the 246 247 beyond tableland, and Yang-tse-kiang crest rivers the Mekong, Sanpo, Himalaya rise on the continent Persian the Armenian of great Kizil-Somak Nerbudda, India. The terised dryne . abundant Tarim Sea, a the so-called the still inland among oe globe. Flora.—The which degrees the equator. and vegetable abound the and of the flow to and mountains, their Gulf, Asiatic Godavari, greater by extremes In in basin vast expanse more plateaux the driest, peninsulas stretch of the in tropical encircling the Tibetan the Salwen, Indus, outer the Seale.of and and rivers and part former Central was Dzungarian extensive and extensive from North embrace life. Asia. ( 221 range of the Mongolian head waters of the Hoang-ho are found far inland on the highlands. These three Pacific. The southern rivers, Irrawaddy, Brahmaputra or rise behind the range of the while the Ganges and Jumna slopes. In the extreme west of Tigris and Euphrates flow to the MAP OF ASIA Bhowlng its Politic a) divisions among the various Powers. 100 300 500 700 900 Miles MAP OF ASIA, SHOWING the Araxis to the Caspian from Kurdistan highlands. The list is almost completed by the Orontes in Asia Minor, and the and Kistna of peninsular of this vast continent is characof heat and cold and by great times moisture was more Asia than at present. The flooded by the Sihai or Western of water communicating through strait or depre ion with Han-hai. But while the those of Persia and Arabia are the great southern and south are perhaps the wettest on the limits of the continent, Cape Chelyuskin within twelve Pole to Cape Romania near a great variety of animal While the southern peninsulas and aromatic products, the ) northern In forms human Kalmuck steppes diet. A am, progre lay an POLITICAL to brought be and India two Ceylon, trees Caucasia, southern South the bamboo, other grains melons the and flowering spread rice cotton cocoa Asia. tundras are almost destitute of vegetation. India, China, and the intermediate regions the staple food of many hundred millions beings, whereas the nomad Kirghiz tribes of the Mongolian and are limited almost entirely to an The tea plant flourishes in Japan, China, and within recent years has made in A am, Ceylon, and on the hills that the quantity exported DIVISIONS. the United Kingdom exceeds the from China. Coffee, which is supposed indigenous in Arabia, is cultivated in Southern India. Opium is largely grown and China, indigo and sugar flourish eastern peninsulas, cinnamon in A am and aromatic plants in Arabia. are found along the coast of the the southern shore of the Caspiaz, slopes of the Him a lay as, Indo China, Siberia. Among the more useful species oak, walnut, pine, cedar, box, poplar, cocoanut, date palm, apricot, peach, fruit trees. Central Asia produces most of the European and tree fruits, oranges, lemons and of special excellence, peaches and fig and olive, vines and nut trees, besides flax, the garden rose and many other cultivated plants. From India the banana out to all parts of the tropical world, and the sugar cane, indigo, and several; it is also the home of several palms, and the areca palm or betel nut; it rice of and Siberian animal and such Him at hence quantity co Ceylon in in the and Forest Euxine, the and are teak, and grapes, apricots, hémp_ has with sorts of the has the 248 largest tivation years to (for North-Eastern the peninsula cloves, native buffalo, ticated Both tri an, The tants to important lopes plateaux. than parts than beauty continent, the bear species the and tribes China dog duce and noted northward and mals, Siberia being woods” also such hensile seem naceous name ing banks into the are.almost animals, treasures yielding coal the and salt, Asia. « 222 poppy fields, yielding opium (though the culof the plant bas enormously extended of late in China, notwithstanding strenuous attempts suppre the traffic), giant bamboos, ebony, teak ship building), and other useful timber. ‘rhe hilly region intermediate between China and India is probably the native home of tea-plant; the East India islands and the Malay of spices, cinnamon, black pepper, and and of the gutta perch a tree or ficus elastic a. Sauna.—The uplands of Central Asia are the land of the horse and the a , of the ox and the sheep and goat, from which the domes varieties appear to have derived their origin. varieties of the camel (the Arabian and Bakthe single and double humped) are Asiatic. yak with its coat of long hair is to the inhabiof the highland of Tibet what the reindeer is the tribes of the Northern Siberian plains, an means of support and locomotion. Antein vast numbers are also found on the Tibetan The elephant, smaller, but more intelligent the African variety, is a native of the tropical of Asia; the lion of Southern Asia is smaller that of Africa; the tiger is found in its greatest and strength in the south-eastern parts of the though it does occur as far north as Altai; bears are found in mcst parts, the white in the extreme north, and other formidable. in the more temperate parts, while those of tropical region are harmle feeders on fruits honey. Dogs are used by some of the Siberian as sledge drawers; others are fattened in for food; but in all Muhammadan Asia the is the scavenger of the towns and villages. Mongolia and the central plateaux adjoining pro the argali, ovis pol i,and other large wild sheep goats, the Tibetan and Angora breeds being for the finene of their fleeces. Farther are found the sable, civet, marten, blue silver fox, and other valuable fur-bearing an i which are mercile ly hunted throughout and Manchuria. Tropical Asia abounds in monkeys, the largest the orang-utan, the “wild man of the of Borneo and Sumatra, while the gibbon is found among others. Some are tailed, others, as the orang, are taille , but none have pretails like the American monkeys. The domestic poultry of all parts of the world also fo be derived from ‘the numerous gall i birds of Asia; the pheasant takes its from the Phasis river (the modern Rion, flow to the Black Sea from the Caucasus), from the of which it was brought at an early period Greece; the splendid peacock is a native of Rast Indies. Miner a is.—Siberia, the flora and fauna of which limited to its fine woods and fur-bearing makes up for this deficiency by its mineral; it is the great mining region of Asia, gold, silver and platinum, copper and lead, and graphite. India was formerly the home of Golcondah diamonds, and now yields coal, iron, salt; the regions adjacent to the Caspian yield and the mineral oil of Baku, whither the Ghébr } fire oil the Caspian sprung up its its has religion whence monotheistic hold Muhammadan) South-western the country madanism, Asia, Turkestan, Hindu stan, The doctrine scriptures from pa ed the the descendants known scattered day. found as about bourhood taken sects) philosophy, spread and any religion, cipal Siva, scriptures literary tion was lay forty his turies. form, common especially patron now overladen keeps of also, | the Asia. worshippers formerly made pilgrimages. The is now used in place of coal for the steamers on Caspian and the locomotives on the Trans- Railway, and a brisk export to India has up. The Dead Sea also occasionally casts large ma es of asphaltum or bitumen, whence ancient name of Lacus Asphaltites. Asia has given the rest of the world most of domesticated animals and cultivated plants; it also been the centre in which the germs of and learning have been fostered, and these have spread outward. The three religions which have taken the widest on the minds of men (Jewish, Christian, and arose from the Semitic peoples of Asia. ‘The purest of these has become religion of enlightened Europe, but in its native it has been overshadowed by Muhamwhich prevails in all South-Western in Asiatic Turkey and Arabia, in Persia and and which has penetrated deeply into and among the Malays of the Kast Indies. religion founded by Zoroaster of Baktria (the of the Afayi of the ancient world), with its called the Zend-avesta, is interesting its antiquity. Originally a pure monotheism, it afterwards into a belief ina conflict between powers of good and evil, light and darkne , former of which will ultimately triumph. The of the votaries of this religion are as the Ghébrs (Turkish Ghiaur), and are here and there over Persia at the present A branch of them after many migrations shelter in India in the sixteenth century, and the Parsees (people of Pars or Fars) now form 20 per cent. of the population of the neigh of Bombay. In Hindu stan, so far as Muhammadanism has not its place, the Brahmin i cal religion (in several prevails, and from it, based on the same arose the religion of Buddha, which over Farther India, Tibet, China, and Japan, which has far more numerous adherents than other faith in the world. The Brahmin i cal a corrupted monotheism, has three pringods—Brahma, the creator of the universe; the destroyer; and Vishnu, the preserver. Its are the Vedas, probably the oldest documents in existence. The transmigraof souls is an important part of this faith. Ca ell's Encyclopedia of General Information Vol. 1