SARAWAK. 



SAKDEGNA. 



131 



ad Uw abort*** nrly 9 mil.* The superficial extant ia 45,500 

 . Thr ar tomo other IM conniderable salt lake*. The 

 j, tMBjxnt*, th air dry *ml healthy. The mean summer 

 ei*, ami the mean winter cold 23* ; the greatest cold ia -17 

 nil the irreatoat h't + 97' of Fahrenheit's thermometer. Violent 

 whirlwind* are frrquent. The steppe beyond the Volga serves only 

 for psrtung*, and it U only along the banks that there is a little 

 eolliriiUon. To the wt of the Volga agriculture is the chief occupa- 

 tion of tho inhabitant* ; and in the north-west part the soil is so rich 

 a to need DO nunura. Kye, wheat, onto, millet, peas, flax, and hemp 

 arc cultivated. The foreign colonUta have introduced the cultivation 

 of tobacco, hop*, and madder. The inhabitants cultivate melons 

 (MMcially water-melons), fruit-trees, and even vines about Sarepta, 

 sad mulberry-tree* at Saratov. The forests, which are chiefly to the 

 north-west, oooawt of oak*, pine*, maples and poplars, but though 

 pretty uteiuive, they do not suffice for the general consumption. The 

 breeding of cattle h, next to agriculture, the chief occupation of the 

 inhabitant" ; the breed of sheep, which yield coarse wool, has been 

 improved by the importation of merino*. The Tartars keep a great 

 quantity of bees. The fisheries on the Volga are productive. The 

 mineral* are salt, millstones, and a little iron. 



The government i* divided into 10 circles, and comprises a mixed 

 population composed of Russians, Tartan, Cossaks, and other tribes, 

 besides a great number of foreign colonists, who were originally intro- 

 duced by Catherine II., chiefly from Switzerland and Germany. Most 

 of the colonies are on the right bank of the Volga between Volgak 

 and Kamyschinst, and on 'lie banks of the Medweditza and of the 

 Ilawlia, which fall into the Don. The names of Soleure, Schaffhausen, 

 Zurich, Glaria, Lucerne, Unterwalden, &<x, which are given to these 

 villages, indicate the original country of the founders. The little 

 town of Sarepta was founded by the Moravian brethren, and is still 

 occupied by members of that society. 



Saratov, the capital of the povrrntnent, population about 45,000, is 

 situated on the right bank of the Volga, in 51 81' N. lat., 46 E. long., 

 in an arid and barren valley, between the river and a range of rather 

 high calcareous mountains. The town, which is neither handsome 

 nor regular, is divided into the upper and lower towns ; it was built 

 on its present site in 1665, and has been frequently ravaged by fire. 

 The greater part of the city is built of wood. There are seven stone 

 and several wooden churches, two convents, a very large market-place 

 or bazaar, a gymnasium, and a botanic garden. Saratov is the seat 

 of a consistory for the Protestant communities (except the Moravians 

 at Sarepta) in the governments of Saratov, Astrakhan, and eight other 

 governments, and is also the centre of a very extensive and advanta- 

 geous trade. Three largo aunual fairs are held here. Volgtl; with 

 MOO inhabitants, ia a very pretty town, built at the foot of a high 

 mountain on the right bank of the Volga, above 90 miles above 

 Saratov : it is inhabited by wealthy merchants, who carry on a con- 

 siderable trade. The neat town of Sartpta was founded in 1765. It 

 i* situated on the right bank of the Volga, near the junction of the 

 Sarpa, and has about 3000 inhabitants. All the streets, which are 

 planted with poplars, terminate in a very large market-place, with a 

 fountain in the centre, which supplies every house with water. The 

 Moravians intended at first to follow agriculture, but in the midst of 

 an arid steppe they could not execute this project ; they now have 

 manufactures of linen-cloth, tobacco, liqueurs, &c., with which they 

 carry on considerable trade with the Kalmucks. The brethren culti- 

 vate their gardens around the town with much care. Kamishin, 

 population about 7000, is situated on the Volga, at the junction of 

 the KamUhinka. It has a considerable trade in agricultural produce. 

 There are several salt-stores, tallow factories, and water-mills. The 

 town is protected by a wall. Ktunczk, population 4500, about 

 110 mile* N. by E. from Saratov, has a good trade in timber. There 

 re some iron-work*, and tan-works. Pelrowsk, population 7000, on 

 the river Medweditza, carries on some trade in corn. The town pos- 

 M*MS a citadel Zarizyn, or Tzaritzin, population 4600, is situated 

 on the right bnk of the Volga, about 230 miles S.S.W. from Saratov. 

 Thin place ia celebrated for its mineral waters. 



SARAWAK, a province on the north-western coast of the island of 

 Borneo, of which Sir James Brooke is the Raja, or governor, under 

 the appointment of the Sultan of Borneo. The province of Sarawak 

 extends between 1* and 2 N. lat, 109 40' and 111 40' E. long. It 

 Is watered by the river Sarawak and its tributaries. [BORNEO.] The 

 capita.), Sartwak, formerly Kucbin, contains a population of 12,000. 



HAKDEQNA, SARDINIA, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea 



nituated between 38' 62' and 41' 17' N. lat., from Cape Spartivento, 



the most southern point, to Cape Longosardo on the north, and 



4' and 9 50' E. long., from Cape Caccia near Alghero, the 



mo*t western point, to Capo Comino on the eastern coast. It is 



ss in length, the average breadth is 69 miles, leaving out the 



projection*. The area is variously stated, some estimates making it 



9800 square miles, which i* conniderably more than the area of Sicily 



others make it only 8021 square miles, being a little less than that of 



Sicily. The north-eastern point of the island, near Terranova, is 



50 miles W. by S. from the mouths of the Tiber, and Cape 



Carbonam, at the south eastern extremity, U about 300 miles W 



from the coast of Calabria. Cape Spartivento, the most southern 



point of Sardinia, is about 120 miles north of Cape Serrat on the coast 



of Tunis; and Cape Carbonaro, the south-east point, is 170 miles 

 from Trapani on the north-west coast of Sicily. Towards the north, 

 the narrowest part of the Strait of Bonifacio, which divides Sardinia 

 from Corsica, is about 9 miles across. The situation of Sardinia i* 

 central with regard to Italy, Sicily, Barbary, France, and Spain. 

 The island contains excellent harbours ; Sail Pietro and Porto-Coute 

 on the western coast, the roadsteads of JIaddalena on the northern .-uid 

 Terranova on the eastern coast, besides the spacious days of Cagliari, 

 Palmas, Oristano, and Alghero, and the roadsteads of Vignola, Tortoli, 

 and Porto Torres. 



A chain of primitive mountains runs from north to south along the 

 whole eastern side of the island, occupying about one-third of its sur- 

 face, and forming the wild districts of Gallura, Ogliastra, Barl 

 Sarabus, and Badui : this range consists of granite and scbUtus, with 

 large masses of quartz, mica, and felspar. Few of the summits exceed 

 3000 feet, except the Peak of Limbarra in the Gallura, which is 3686 

 feet high, and the Genargentu range, which is near the centre 

 of the island, and attains an elevation of 5276 feet. West of this 

 highland region, and along the central length of the island, there is a 

 succession of fine plains intersected by ranges of smaller hills, and 

 stretching in some places as far as the western coast, such as at 

 Oristano and Alghero. The remaining part of the western coast is 

 occupied by several unconnected mountain groups, some primitive, 

 some secondary, and others of volcanic formation, jutting out in nume- 

 rous and picturesque headlands, and giving to that part of the island 

 a more varied and pleasing aspect than the abrupt and iron-bound 

 eastern coast. At the south-western extremity of the island are the 

 mountains of Sulcis, consisting of granite and primitive limestone, 

 separated from the eastern chain by the Campidano, or wide plain, 

 which spreads north of Cagliari towards Oriatano. North of the Sulci.s, 

 and separated from it by the romantic valley of Iglesias, are the moun- 

 tains of Murgiani and Arcuentu, which rise along the western coast, 

 and the latter of which attains the height of 2316 feet. North of 

 these lies the deep Gulf of Oristauo, and east of it is a great plain, 

 through which flows the Tirai, the principal river of Sardinia. North 

 of this plain, and near the western coast, is the group of Monte Ferru, 

 which rises 2796 feet above the sea; and farther north, towards 

 Alghero, is Monte Minerva, 2400 feet high. A succession of highlands, 

 partly of volcanic formation, extends north of the basin of the Tirsi, 

 and quite across the breadth of the island, through the district of 

 Goceano, and joins the mountains of Gallnra on the eastern coast. 

 This range divides the north-west part of the island from the remainder. 

 At the northern base of it is the extensive plain called Campo d'Ozieri, 

 and Campo di Giavesu, through which the river Coguinas flows to the 

 northward. This plain is bounded on the north-west by a hilly tract 

 mostly of volcanic formation, one point of which, whereupon stands 

 the town of Osilo, is 2000 feet high. West of this hilly tract is the 

 plain of Sassari, extending from the northern coast at Porto Torres to 

 the western sea towards Alghero. 



North-west of the plain of Sassari is the mountainous peninsula of 

 Nurra, which stretches out into the sea, terminating in three abrupt 

 headlands : Cape Caccia to the south, above 500 feet high ; Cape 

 Argentaro to the west ; and Cape Falcon, the Gorditanum Promon- 

 torium of Ptolemy, to the north. A narrow and shallow strait, lined 

 with sharp rocks, runs between this cape and the island of Asmara, 

 the ancient Herculis Insula, a mountainous island of a long irregular 

 shape, indented by several gulfs and coves, and having nearly 30 miles 

 of coast-line to a comparatively small surface. It is inhabited by a 

 few shepherds and farmers. The north and west coasts of Asinara 

 are very steep, Mont Scommunica, the principal elevation, being 1500 

 feet above the sea. The whole peninsula of Nurra is covered with 

 mountains, the northern parts of which consist of great masses of 

 granite with schistose rocks, and the southern part is compact lime- 

 stone with gypsum and quartz. The principal summits in this range 

 are from 1400 to 2000 feet high. 



An ancient volcanic district extends along the centre of the island, 

 beginning at Monastir, north of Cagliari, and running northward 

 between Nurri and Sardara : it comprehends the towns of Ales, Milis, 

 and San Lussurgiu, which last is built in the crater of an extinct 

 volcano. It then extends to Bonorva and Queremula, on the border 

 of the great northern plain of Giavesu, where a crater is clearly distin- 

 guishable, which from its unbroken conical shape and fine red ashes 

 bears the appearance of comparatively recent action ; and the whole 

 surrounding country consists of slaggy lava, rugged scoria), obsidian, 

 and indurated pozzolana, with large hills of porphyritic tufa towards 

 Bonorva, lying over calcareous rocks. The volcanic beds extend 

 farther north, through Codrongianus and Osilo in the hilly region east 

 of Sassari, where remains of craters occur, to Castel Sardo, on the 

 northern coast, where they form abrupt cliffo 300 feet above the sea. 

 The town-wall and most of the houses of Castel Sardo are built of 

 lava. The river Coguinas forms on this side the geological boundary 

 between the primitive formations of the eastern country, and the trap 

 and volcanic products to the westward. At Nurri, in the southern 

 part of the inland, on the borders of the eastern highlands overlooking 

 the Campidano, or great plain of Cagliari, are two hills called ' Pizz' e 

 Ogheddu' and Tizz' e Ogu Manuu,' meaning peaks of the little and 

 great eye, which appear to have been ignivomous mouths. A lava 

 stream has run from them over a calcareous tract, which forms an 



