LINCOLNSHIRE. 229 



other rivers drain its northern portion into the Humber. Its surface is oreatlv 

 diversified, a range of oolitic uplands stretches through the western portion of the 

 county as far as the Humber, and through a gap in them the river Witham finds 

 its way into the "Wash. The chalk downs known as " Lincoln "Wolds " occupy 

 the eastern maritime portion of the county between the Humber and the "Wash. 

 These two ranges of upland are separated by a level tract of great fertility, which 

 is drained by the Ancholme and the "Witham, the former flowino- northward into 

 the Humber, the other taking its course towards the "Wash. The coast is low and 

 marshy, and around the "Wash the marshes extend far inland and mero-e into the 

 chief level of the Fens, the greater part of which is known as Holland. A similar 

 district of fens and marshes lies beyond the river Trent, at the head of the Humber. 

 This is the island of Axeholme, or Axel. TJp to about 1626 this district was 

 covered with marshes, its sparse inhabitants being confined to a few knolls rising 

 above them. In that year a Dutchman, "V^ermuyden, undertook to drain the 

 country, on condition of receiving one-third of the land recovered in free and 

 common socage. Yermuyden performed his share of the contract in the course 

 of five years, and about two hundred families, Dutch and French Protestants 

 settled in the district. But disputes between the original inhabitants of the 

 country and these foreign settlers led to a protracted course of litio-ation, which 

 continued till 1719, and ended in the Dutchmen being worsted. 



In Lincolnshire all kinds of grain are produced in the greatest abundance, 

 and the county has long been celebrated for its breed of horses, cattle, and sheep. 

 Some of the finest dray horses seen in London are bred in the Fens. The industry 

 of the shire is not, however, wholly agricultural ; for the manufacture of ao-ricul- 

 tural implements is carried on with great success, and even a little iron is mined 

 near Frodingham, a village close to the eastern bank of the Trent. 



The county is divided into three "parts," viz. Lindsey in the north, Kesteven 

 in the south-west, and Holland in the south. 



The "WeUand is the principal river of Holland. It rises in Northamptonshire, 

 separates that county from Leicestershire and Eutland, and first touches the 

 borders of Lincolnshire a little above Stani/m^d, an ancient borough which carries 

 on a considerable trade in agricultural produce, and is one of the five " burghs " 

 of the Danes. The other towns on the "Welland are Market Deeping, Croicland (with 

 an abbey), and Spalding. The latter is the capital of Holland, and has much trade 

 in wool. Holheach and Long Sutton are to the east of it, in the centre of the Fens, 

 Boston, an ancient seaport, lies 14 miles above the mouth of the river "Witham, 

 and is accessible at spring tides for vessels of 400 tons burden. The lofty tower 

 of the church of St. Botolph serves as a landmark to mariners. Many of its 

 boats are engaged in the fishing, and the commerce with Holland and the north 

 of England is of some importance. There was a time when it was second only to 

 London, when the Hanseatic merchants had a factory here, and its annual fairs 

 attracted crowds of purchasers. TattcrshaU, with the remains of the castle of the 

 Lord Treasurer Cromwell, lies a few miles above Boston. Honicastîe, on the Bain, 

 a navigable tributary of the "Witham, and at the west foot of the "Wolds, carries on 



