WESTPHALIA. 



215 



towns of all Germany, has singularly lagged behind in this race for pre-eminence. 

 In the fifteenth century Soest had 50,000 inhabitants, and its ancient "customs" 

 enjoyed a high reputation in the towns of Northern Germany. Situate half-way 

 between the Rhine and the Weser, on the fertile plateau of the Hellweg, and 

 having easy access to the valley of the Lippe in the north, and to that of the 

 Ruhr in the south, Soest enjoyed peculiar natural advantages, and soon acquired 

 considerable wealth. Unna (7,oJ3 inhabitants), on the same plateau, half-way 



Fig-. 123.— The Hellweg. 



Scale 1 : 410,000. 



5 Jliles. 



between Soest and Dortmund, shares in these advantages, but, like its more powerful 

 neighbour, it has not participated in the progress of the towns placed within easj^ 

 reach of coal and iron. 



Ariisherg (5,486 inhabitants), the chief place of the Sauerland, is likewise an 

 ancient town. Situate on the Upper Ruhr, beyond the coal basin named after that 

 river, it has remained a small place. Quite in the east of the country, in the 

 basin of the Weser, rises the Marsberg, upon which tradition places Irminsul, the 

 Saxon idol orerthrown by Charlemagne, 



