PLAINS OF THE ELBE, ODER, AND VISTULA. 321 



tlie suburbs are as vulgar as any other modern seat of industry. Formerly the 

 town increased but slowly, and about the middle of this century it counted 

 15,000 paupers amongst a population of 30,000 souls. But the coal mines in its 

 environs * and the navigable river have led to the development of numerous 

 industries. The railway carriage works of Halle and its beet-root sugar manu- 

 factories are amongst the most important in Germany. 



To the north-west of Halle the Saale is joined by the effluent of the Salt Lake, 

 and by the river which runs past the mining town of Eisleben (14,379 inhabitants), 

 rendered famous in connection with events in Luther's life. The Saale then 

 flows through the duchy of Anhalt, past Beriihurg (19,929 inhabitants), one of 

 the most important towns of that duchy. At Kaihe (11,100 inhabitants), a 

 Prussian town, it flows into the Elbe. At Kothen (14,408 inhabitants), an old 

 residential town of the Dukes of Anhalt, to the east, Hahnemann, the homœopathist, 

 persecuted by his colleagues, found an asylum. Several mining and industrial 

 towns lie in a lateral valley to the west of the Saale, Ascherdehen (17,391 inha- 

 bitants) and Hcttdedt (5,988 inhabitants) being the most important, whilst the 

 plain extending to the northern foot of the Harz is the seat of several cities which 

 have played a part in the history of Germany. Wernigerode (7,577 inhabitants), 

 with its commanding castle, lies at the foot of the Harz. Halherstadt (17,757 

 inhabitants), to which the Diets of the empire were repeatedly convoked, is a 

 town of mediaeval aspect, built amphitheatrically upon the slope of a hill, with a 

 Gothic cathedral, and curious old houses with carved fronts. Qiiedluihurg (17,035 

 inhabitants), to the south of it, and nearer to the Harz, is likewise an ancient 

 city. The ancient castle, which overlooks it, was the residence of an abbess, 

 who at the meetings of the Diet sat upon the bench of the bishops. Quedlinburg 

 has several manufactories and market gardens covering nearly 5,000 acres. 

 Klopstock was born in it, and Karl Ritter, one of the renovators of geographical 

 science. 



The Bode, below Halberstadt, flows past Oscherskben (7,831 inhabitants), and 

 then abruptly turning to the south-east, it passes Sfassfurt (11,263 inhabitants), 

 not many years ago an inconsiderable village, but now famous for its salt works 

 and the chemical factories which have sprung up around them. In 1877 793,454 

 cwts, of common salt, 3,914,663 cwts. of potash salts, and 726 cwts. of borate of 

 magnesia were won. LcopoldshaU (2,128 inhabitants), in its neighbourhood, has 

 also salt works. 



That portion of Prussia which adjoins Leipzig is likewise densely inhabited, 

 and abounds in manufactories. Delitzsch (8,228 inhabitants) has become famous 

 on account of its People's Bank, which has served as a model to thousands of 

 others. Eilenhurg (10,312 inhabitants), farther to the east, in the basin of the 

 Midde, has cotton-mills and other factories. Bitterfekl (5,693 inhabitants) has 

 coal mines, which supply the whole of the surrounding districts wath fuel. Dessau 

 (19,643 inhabitants), the capital of the duchy of Anhalt, is one of the neatest 

 towns of the country. Its castle contains valuable collections, and near it is the 

 * They yield nearly 3,000,000 tons annually. 



