116 AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 



North Sea in the direction of the Euxine, naturally pass through the defile 

 bounded in the south by the Carpathians, and in the north by the plateaux of 

 Western Poland and Podolia. But although the rainfall in Galicia equals that 

 of the maritime regions of Western Europe, its temperature is altogether conti- 

 nental. The plateau in tlie north affords but little shelter against the cold 

 northerly winds, whilst the Carpathians shut out the warm breezes blowing from 

 the Mediterranean. The heat in summer is intense, the cold of winter most 

 severe. At Tarnopol the mean temperature during five months does not rise 

 above freezing point. Accustomed to so rigorous a climate, the mountaineers of 

 the Beskids and Carpathians, who annually migrate to the lowlands of Hungary 

 and Austria in search of work, return to their cherished mountain homes pale, 

 emaciated, and shaken with fever.* 



Inhabitants. 



To the north of the Carpathians there has been no struggle between Slavs 

 and Magyars or Germans. No Magyars live there, and the number of Germans 

 is comparatively small, and only in the large towns and in a few villages of 

 Western Galicia are they able to preserve their national speech. Thousands of 

 German peasants and miners have become Slavs in appearance and in lan- 

 guage. Germans founded numerous colonies in the thirteenth century, but 

 nothing except the names of a few towns, such as Landshut or Landskrona, 

 attests their origin. The Flemish weavers, who came into the country at the 

 same period, have likewise become Poles in all except their family names. 

 Where Germans have maintained themselves up to the present time, it has been 

 because of differences of religion, for nearly one-fourth of the German peasants 

 are Protestants. Most of these Protestant German colonies survive in the 

 districts of Lemberg and Stryj. 



The Poles occupy Western Galicia, and even extend into Austrian Silesia, 

 where thej are known as " Water Polaks." These Bolaks are despised by their 

 German neighbours on account of their presumed drunkenness and immorality. 

 It is quite true that they are wretchedly poor and ignorant. The sons of serfs, 

 and ever pursued by famine, they fall an easy pre}^ to the village usurers. The 

 Poles dwelling along the foot of the Carpathians and on the Vistula are known 

 as Mazurs, an epithet properly applicable only to the Poles of Eastern Prussia. 

 They, too, are poor, and the want of proper nourishment pales their cheeks and 

 curves their backs. Their women, however, though by no means fond of hard 

 work, have an appearance of great vigour, and almost seem to belong to a 

 race different from that of the men. They wear white or rtd turbans, and a 

 bright-coloured jacket, showing the white chemise beneath. The variety of 

 costume is greater amongst the men, every village having a fashion of its own. 

 The peasants, notwithstanding their poverty, are proud of gay colours, embroi- 



Mean Temperature Degrees. Rainfall. 



Year. January. July. Inches. 



* Lemberg . . . . . 41-5 '23-0 64 26 



Cracow 46-1 24-1 65-0 19 



