CAR I NTH I A. 



457 



are named as some of the loftiest mountains that oc- 

 S-I-P Y" - ' cur in this quarter. So much of the whole extent 

 of the duchy is occupied by such elevated grounds, 

 that though the vallics which run between them are 

 abundantly fertile, the produce, upon the whole, is 

 not ordinarily equal to the consumption. In com- 

 pensation, however, for this defect, the means of a 

 lucrative commerce are found in the productions with 

 which this province more abounds, and which are 

 more of a nature to be expected in a country so si- 

 tuated and distinguished by such characteristic fea- 

 tures. 



Carinthia abounds in valuable mineral productions. 

 Its mountains yield very good iron. The principal 

 mines of this description are at Huttenberg, Mosnir, 

 Loelling, Waldenstein, Sainte Gertrude, and St Leo- 

 nard. It has also copper mines at Fragant and at 

 Lambcrtiberg. Carinthia has been much noted for 

 its lead, of which the principal mines are at Villach, 

 at Siharzenbac, and at Raebel.-s It has silver mines 

 at Stcinfeld and at Meiselding, and one of gold at 

 Groskischheim. Of its iron mines, those near Frie- 

 tach, on the north, and in the tract among the 

 springs of the Lyser, are particularly famous. The 

 iron of Friesach is perfectly equal in quality to that 

 of Styria, which has gained such high reputation, 

 and which we know to have been very long in pos- 

 session of it, as we find it greatly extolled by Pliny 

 and others of the ancients, and learn, that it was 

 commonly used by the Romans in the manufacture 

 of their swords. The lead of Carinthia is excellent, 

 and it is an article of great consequence for this coun- 

 try. In that department, the mines of Villach are 

 particularly remarkable, both for the abundance and 

 the superior quality of their produce. The lead ob- 

 tained here is commonly known in Europe by the 

 name of the yellow lead of Villach. This substance 

 occurs also in some of the contiguous districts, but is 

 not equal in goodness. Lead mines have been wrought 

 in Carinthia from a very remote era : that near Blei- 

 berg has been wrought for 1100 years. The pro- 

 duce of this duchy, in the most considerable of its 

 metals, has been thus stated : Of iron it is said to 

 yield annually to the amount of 165,000 quintals, of 

 copper 93G quintals, and of lead 37,000 quintals 

 valued at 330,000 florins. The other mineral pro- 

 ductions of most consequence in Carinthia, are cala- 

 mine, bismuth, beautiful blue granite, marble and 

 alabaster, nitre, and bolar earth. Of calamine there 

 are found here several sorts, in all to the amount of 

 .'VtOO quintals annually. In some places there occur 

 likewise alum, vitriol, cobalt, sulphur, and other mi- 

 nerals of inferior importance. 



The principal vegetable produce of Carinthia con- 

 cists in its woods, pastures, and a few cultivated 

 crops. Turpentine, the produce of the pine tribe, is 

 procured from this quarter in abundance, as also 

 birch juice. The vallies and lower parts of the hills 

 furnish excellent pasture, which is further improved in 

 the spots that admit of such melioration, by the cul- 

 ture of lucerne and of clover. The crops which in all 



countries in this quarter of the globe chiefly contri- Caiintbi*. 

 bute to the subsistence of mankind, viz. wheat, *~ 

 rye, oats, and barley, are in greater or less quantity 

 raised here, as well as generally in every district of 

 the empire. The produce of wine is scanty,* and the 

 wine itself is of an inferior quality j but a wholesome 

 beverage is found in the beers, or ales of two sorts, 

 which are commonly brewed in the country. A 

 great deal of cider is made here, which implies an 

 abundance of the fruit from which that liquor is pre- 

 pared. Besides apples, various other sorts of fruit 

 trees are cultivated in this province, and to a consi- 

 derable extent. A little flax is raised also, chiefly iu 

 the environs of Saxenburg ; and, among the numerous 

 medicinal and aromatic plants that cover the sides 

 of the Noric Alps, there is one that is called in Ger- 

 man Speik, (Sjticu Cdlica,) which is much esteemed 

 by the Turks and other Eastern people as a per- 

 fume ; and which, therefore, being collected and 

 dried, forms a cons : derable article of commerce with 

 the Levant. 



The pasture grounds of Carinthia maintain great 

 herds of cattle. The numbers of horned animals of 

 different descriptions found in it in 1780, have been 

 estimated at 47,836. The north-western parts of the 

 duchy have been chiefly noted for this sort of stock. 

 The common breed generally throughout the province 

 is good and strong, though not of the largest sixe. 

 Dairies are usual here or a similar description with 

 those of Switzerland. The number of horses in the 

 country, at the period alluded to, was stated at 

 21,490. Sheep are not numerous, nor does the pas- 

 ture in this quarter seem, in general, to be well adapt- 

 ed to the maintenance of that species of stock. 

 Swine are raised in considerable numbers in the east- 

 ern parts of Carinthia ; and in the forests there are 

 found wild goats, as also bears, red, brown, and 

 white. 



The climate of Carinthia is such, as does not pro- 

 vent the vines and corn of Turkey, though natives 

 of a region so much more southerly, from arriving at 

 perfect maturity. The air is somewhat cold, but it 

 is pure, tolerably equal, and wholesome. The pre- 

 vailing winds are the west and the north-west. The 

 range of the thermometer in the vallies and low-lying 

 grounds is from 35 to 40. This extent of varia- 

 tion is not considered to be so dangerous to health 

 as the occasional stagnations of the air amongst the 

 hills. The winter season lasts here for the space of 

 three, sometimes four months. The spring is mild 

 and kindly, rarely very wet. The summer is pretty 

 warm, but attended with much stormy weather. 

 The most agreeable season is the autumn, reckoning 

 from its commencement till the end of the vintage. 

 The harvest is usually begun, perhaps even far ad- 

 vanced, by the middle of July. 



The duchy of Carinthia abounds in lakes, brooks, 

 and rivers. The largest of its lakes, known by the 

 name of Wordtsee, is eight miles long. Its prin- 

 cipal river is the Drave, which, issuing out of the 

 Tyrol, traverses the whole of this province in a di- 



The quantity of wine produced annually in Carinthia is estimated at 100,000 eimers. 

 cubic indu.'.s. 



VOL. V. VART II. 



The limcr is a measure of 

 3M 



