206 GERMANY. 



the Dukes of Oldenburg. The two small towns of that district, Obcrsfein (4,094 

 inhabitants) and Idar (3,521 inhabitants), are well known for the articles 

 manufactured there of agates and other pebbles. This is a very old industry, but, 

 as long as the workmen were dependent upon the stones found in the country, it 

 could not attain a very high development. It has grown into importance only 

 since 1834, when emigrants from Oberstein discovered stones suited to their 

 purpose in Brazil. At the present time this industry employs 2,300 workmen. 

 About 330 tons of agates and other stones are converted annually into fancy 

 articles, amulets, idols, &c., their value being thereby increased from £30,000 to 

 £160,000. 



Rhenish Prussia — Krciiznach (13,772 inhabitants), the principal town on the 

 Nahe, being situate at the head of navigation of the river, enjoys great advantages 

 for commerce, but is chiefly known on account of its mineral springs. The 

 environs abound in picturesque ruins, nearly every bluff on the banks of the Nahe 

 having formerly been crowned by the castle of some robber-knight. 



No populous towns are met with in the picturesque gorge which the Ehine 

 traverses between Bingen and Coblenz. Bachamch, a centre of the wine trade, 

 occupies a picturesque site at the mouth of a valley. Leaving Cauh (2,031 inha- 

 bitants) on the right, we reach Oberwescl, the ancient Volsozia (2,580 inhabitants), 

 which stretches along the left bank of the river. Passing beneath the " Lorelei," 

 we come upon St. Goar. Then rise the ancient towers of Boppard, the BomJobriga 

 of the Ptomans (5,268 inhabitants), and, looking up on the left, we espy the walnut- 

 trees in the shade of which stood the Konigsstnhl, or Royal Chair, upon which the 

 Kinff of the Germans took his seat after election. 



Passing the mouth of the Lahn, we immediately afterwards reach that of the 

 Mosel, or Moselle. The towns on the Moselle do not rival those of the Rhine, but 

 several are rapidly acquiring importance. Foremost amongst them is Sûarbriickcii, 

 which, with its suburb St. Johann, on the other bank of the Saar, has a population 

 of 19,982 souls, and is rapidly uniting with the neighbouring manufacturing 

 town of Malstadt-Burbnch (12,433 inhabitants). Saarbrucken is indebted to 

 the productive coal-fields of which it forms the centre for its prosperity. These 

 coal-fields yield annually more than 5,000,000 tons of coal. Furnaces, foundries, 

 machine shops, and chemical works abound in these towns, and in the neighbour- 

 ing ones of Dudweiler (10,029 inhabitants), Sulzbach (5,000 inhabitants), Fried- 

 richsthal (5,002 inhabitants), and Neunkirchen (11,169 inhabitants). But not 

 only are the factories of their vicinity supplied from the coal-pits of Saarbriicken, 

 those of Alsace-Lorraine and Switzerland likewise are dependent upon them for 

 their fuel. 



Following the course of the Saar, Ave pass Putflingen (6,726 inhabitants), a 

 manufacturing town; Saarhnis (6,782 inhabitants'), the birthplace of Marshal 

 Ney ; Merzig (4,412 inhabitants) ; and Saarbiirg (1,866 inhabitants). Leaving the 

 confluence of the Saar with the Moselle behind us, we reach Tiu'er (Treves, 32,972 

 inhabitants), the most ancient city of all Germany, which down to this day 

 perpetuates the name of the Gallic tribe of the Treveri which founded it. Treves, 



