CHAP.  vm.  ASIA.  205

I.  Asia. — There  is  sometimes  a  remarkable  interest  associated  with
the  history  of  a  geographical  term.  One  case  of  this  kind  is  suggested
by  the  allusion  which  has  just  been  made  to  the  British  islands.  Early
writers  speak  of  Ireland  under  the  appellation  of  "  Scotia."  Certain  of
its  inhabitants  crossed  over  to  the  opposite  coast  :^  their  name  spread  along
with  their  influence  :  and  at  length  the  title  of  Scotland  was  entirely  trans-
ferred from  one  island  to  the  other.  In  classical  history  we  have  a  simi-
lar instance  in  the  name  of  "  Italy,"  which  at  first  only  denoted  the
southernmost  extremity  of  the  peninsula :  then  it  was  extended  so  as  to
include  the  whole  with  the  exception  of  Cisalpine  Gaul :  and  finally,
crossing  the  Rubicon,  it  advanced  to  the  Alps  ;  while  the  name  of  "  Gaul "
retreated  beyond  them.  Another  instance,  on  a  larger  scale,  is  presented
to  us  on  the  south  of  the  Mediterranean.  The  "  Africa  "  of  the  Romans
spread  from  a  limited  territory  on  the  shore  of  that  sea,  till  it  embraced
the  whole  continent  which  was  circumnavigated  by  Vasco  di  Gama.  And
similarly  the  term,  by  whicli  we  are  accustomed  to  designate  the  larger
and  more  famous  continent  of  the  ancient  world,  traces  its  derivation  to
the  "  Asian  meadow  by  the  streams  of  the  Cayster,"  '^  celebrated  in  the
poems  of  Homer.
