)46 



GERMANY. 



under tlie protection of I'oland. Its position is analogous to that of Danzig, but, 

 owing to the small depth of its river, it is unable to compete with its more power- 

 ful neighbour for a share in the maritime trade. Elbing is the natural market- 

 place of the lake district which extends to the south-east in the direction of Osterode 

 (5,746 inhabitants), and is traversed by several canals used for the transport of 

 timber. At Tannenherg, to the south of Osterode, the Teutonic Knights, in 1410, 

 suffered a crushing defeat, from which they never recovered. 



Prussia to the East of the Basin of the Vistula. — Braunsberg (10,796 

 inhabitants), to the north-eitst of Elbing, is situate on the navigable Passarge, which 

 flows into the Frische Haff, and is bounded by carefully cultivated market gardens. 



Fig. 200.— The Pokt of Pillau. 

 Scale 1 : 100,000. 



Depth leas than s Fathoms 

 S to il Fathoms 

 II to S.l 



Depth J3 to GC Fathii 

 Over es 



2 Miles. 



The port of Braunsberg is accessible only to small coasting vessels. It is the 

 principal town between Elbing and the capital of East Prussia, Konigsberg, which 

 was founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1255, and named in honour of King 

 Ottokar of Bohemia. 



Konigsberg (122,636 inhabitants), exclusively of its royal castle, has no 

 remarkable buildings, except, perhaps, those of its university, an institution 

 rendered famous by Immanuel Kant. There are numerous scientific societies, 

 but more powerful than they is the Corporation of Merchants, which built the 

 exchange and founded a School of Commerce. Only vessels drawing less than 

 10 feet are able to ascend the Pregel to the quays and docks of Konigsberg, which 

 exports more especially hemp, flax, tow, and timber. Numerous factories have been 



