fSECTION Ii:lt. 253 exactly according to their shape, as they have been foundto lie in the sea by sounding the depth in every part of them. III. In seacharts, the meridians are often drawn in strait and parallel lines, and the Iines of latitude are also strait paral- lels crossing the meridians at right angles. This is called Mer- cator's projection ; and the points of the compass are fregeteutly repeated and extended through the whole chart in a multitude of crossing lines,* that wheresoever the mariner is upon the sea he may know toward what point of the compass he must steer, or direct his vessel to carry it toward any particular port ; and that he may be able to see with one cast of an eye the various bearings of any port, coast, island, cape, &c. toward each other. IV. The sea is also filled in sea-charts with various numbers or figures which denote the depth of water, and shew how many fathom deep the sea is in those places where the number stands; these are called soundings. V. In sea-charts there is not such care taken to place the north parts of the world always directly upright and before the face of the reader ; but the coasts and countries are usually de- scribed in such a position as may afford the fittest room to bring in the greatest variety Of shores and sea's' within the compass of the sainechart, whether the east, or west, or north, be placed direct- ly before the readers. Here let it be noted that as geography taken strictly and properly is a description of land, so a descrip- tion of water or sea is calledhydrography ; and as those who de- scribe the land on maps are properly called geographers, so those who draw the sea-charts are often called hydographers. SECT. XII.The political Divisions of the Earth, represented on the Globe. THUS we have finished the natural divisions of the surface of the earth ; we come now to consider how it is divided politi- cally by men who inhabit it. In this sense it is distinguished into four quarters, into empires, kingdoms, states, commonwealths, principalities, dukedoms, provinces, counties, cities, towns, vil- lages, &c. The earth is first divided into four chief parts or quarters, which are called Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. Europe is divided from Africa and bounded on the south side by the Mediterranean sea. On its eastern side it is divided from Asia by a line drawn on the east side of Candia or Crete passing up the } gean sea and through the Propontis into the Euxine or Black sea, and from thence through the sea of Zabaique by the river Don or 'l'anais, and thence through Muscovy, (us sours will have it) to the river Oby running into the northern ocean. * Sée Marginal Note, Probl, X. Sect. XIX.
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