PLAINS OF THE ELBE AND WESER, ETC. 



283 



a small \illage, anciently the capital of a miniature principality, forgotten by 

 the Congress of Vienna, which until recently claimed sovereign rights, in virtue 

 of which it permitted the vessels of belligerents to shelter themselves under its 

 flag. 



The Basin of the Lower Weser. — Minden (17,075 inhabitants) occupies 

 the locality where the Weser escapes from the hilly region to the Porta 

 Westphalica. Until recently Minden was a strong fortress, defending the 

 passage of the Weser. Its traffic by river has decreased, but the quantities 

 of merchandise carried by rail more than compensate for the loss. The linen 

 manufacture is of importance, as it is also at the neighbouring towns of 



Fig. 161. — Emdex. 

 Scale 1 : 70,000. 



iHSO'E of Pan' 



_ 1 jSIile. 



Herford (11,967 inhabitants) and Lnbbecke (2,735 inhabitants). The quarries 

 to the south yielded the sandstone used in the construction of the quays 

 of Bremerhafen and Wilhelmshafen, and also exported it to Holland, where it 

 is called "Bremen stone." Oei/nhausen (2,041 inhabitants), a town known for 

 its salt springs, lies between Minden and Herford, whilst Buckeburg (4,832 

 mhabitants), the capital of the principality of Schaumburg- Lippe, lies to the 

 east. 



Hanover (127,576 inhabitants), now reduced to the position of a provincial 

 capital, does not enjoy the advantage of lying upon the great river which traverses 

 Its territory, and of which the Leine is merely a tributary. It is first mentioned 



