THE BASIN OF THE MIDDLE ELBE. 



293 



been a powerful one. It was Saxony wliicli contributed most towards the forma- 

 tion of modern Higli German, and for a long time the dialect of Meissen was 

 looked upon as the most refined. 



Fig. 167. — The Wends in Lisatia. 



20 Miles. 



Towns. 



Very densely peopled, Saxony, with certain portions of Rhenish Prussia and 

 Silesia, has a larger number of towns than any other part of Germany. Many 

 villages have been absorbed by the towns near them, and even the country districts 



