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2 B1RMAH.
glance at the map, that the Malay country, the Golden
Chersonesus of the ancients, is alone entitled to the
appellation improperly extended to this immense portion
of the Asiatic continent. An objection lies
against all compound words ; yet, as the adjective
Indo-Chinese has already come into extensive use,*
the most unexceptionable generic appellation would
seem to be INDO- CHINA, understanding by that
term the country lying between the Indian and the
Chinese. seas. } The whole of the western part, having
recently been comprised in the Binnan empire, may
conveniently be designated by that of Birmah.
This vast region has till of late been scarcely known
to Europeans, except along its shores ; and the inte-
The
rior is still for the most part a terra incognita.
whole, however, appears to be formed by four or five
ranges of mountains, proceeding from Tibet, which,
running southward in parallel directions, divide it
longitudinally into the magnificent valleys watered by
four great rivers : the Irrawaddy, or river of Ava ;
the Thaluayn, or Martaban river; the Mei-nam, or
and the Mei-kong, or Cambodia river.
river of Siam ;
Besides these, there are several considerable streams
of shorter course, and valleys of a subordinate rank,
* Dr. Leyden has sanctioned this word in his Dissertations on
the Language and Literature of the Indo-Chinese nations ; and a
small periodical publication commenced at Malacca in 1817* bears
the title of " The Indo-Chinese Gleaner."
t M. Malte Brun was disposed at one time to adopt this word ;
but in the edition of his Geography now in progress, he proposes
to substitute for it the uncouth compound Chin-India; assigning
as his reason, that the country is not an Indo China a China
resembling India, but rather a Chinese India an India with Chinese
features. This distinction is far from being accurate if ap-
plied to the eastern part of the country, which is altogether of a
Chinese character ; and we regret that he has not adhered to what
we deem in every fespect the preferable appellation.
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