188 



RUSSIA IX EUROPE. 



course down streura, have frequently arrested hostile invasions, and checked the 

 peaceful pursuits of commerce from bank to bank, while traffic was easily carried 

 on from basin to basin. 



The sources of most of the rivers, the Volga included, are entangled in a vast 

 labyrinth of waters, and connected by marshy tracts navigable by boats in the 

 rainy seasons. Through the nvimerous affluents of all the main streams, almost 

 continuous water highways may be obtained from sea to sea, and Peter the Great 

 was able to open a route for the Neva boats all the Avay to the Caspian. As is still 

 the case in the rocky plains of British America, and in the llanos of South 



Fig. 91. — Rainfall in East Euiiope. 



■ o-.î'.anflnnplfl 



-^.. -".'■■Mirt../ rni[il[illÛlliir L. Yi>v:: 



tofG 



Under 10 

 Inches. 



10 to 16 

 Inches. 



16 to 22 

 Inches. 



22 to 28 

 Inchss. 



28 to 40 

 Inches. 



Over 40 

 Inches. 



America, the Russian portages (ro/o/i.s) were largely used by migratory tribes, 

 thus acquiring considerable historical importance, notwithstanding their compara- 

 tively low elevation. They were naturally chosen as the limits between the 

 tribes occupying the lands on either side of the water-partings. All the north- 

 east of llussia took the name of " Chudic Land beyond the Portages " (Zavolotzkaya 

 Child) at a time when it was still tributary to the Novgorod republic. Even 

 now the portages, like certain Pyrenean passes, are sacred spots, and on many 

 of them the wayfarers are required to contribute in passing to the accumulated 

 mounds of grass or heaps of stones. 



