332 EUSSIA IN EUEOPE. 



Byzantine coins are found. The old and flourisliing town of Staraya Rusa lies on 

 the south side of Lake Ilmen, near the junction of the Lovat, Polista, and other 

 streams. Its former importance was largely due to a copious saline spring, 

 which enabled it to supply salt to Novgorod. But when Novgorod lost its 

 independence the surrounding towns fell into decay, and the salt ceased to be 

 exported till the last century. At present the spring and an artesian well sunk 

 in the neighbourhood yield to the State about 2,400 tons yearly, and Staraya 

 Rusa has become a favourite watering-place, much frequented by invalids from 

 St. Petersburg. 



Novgorod — that is, " New Town " — now fallen from its high estate, was formerly 

 the centre of an empire stretching beyond the Ural Mountains, and of a vast trade 

 carried on with the west of Europe. Standing on both banks of the Volkhov, 

 just below Lake Ilmen, it is not only the natural entrepôt of all this region, 

 but, before the river highways were replaced by artificial routes, it was also one of 

 the chief stations between the Baltic and the Black Sea. In the language of the 

 Russian chronicles, "it lay on the high-road leading from the country of the 

 Varangians to that of the Greeks," as well as on the road between Europe and 

 Asia by the Volga and Baltic. During a period of incessant warfare it enjoyed 

 the further advantage of immunity from the inroads of Norse or Teutonic rovers, 

 and the Tatars who laid waste all East and South Russia never reached this city. 

 Surrounded by its forests, Novgorod was much safer than the Baltic seaports, or 

 the more exposed places of the interior. 



The old town, afterwards succeeded by the " New Town," stood close to the lake, 

 on a terrace about 60 feet high, surrounded on all sides by running waters and 

 marsh lands, and, according to the legend, Rurik's Castle was raised on the site 

 of this natural fortress, still known as Gorodishtche, or " Old Town." But the 

 terrace was too limited for a large population, and the new town was accordingly 

 founded on another eminence overlooking the Volkhov, rather over a mile farther 

 down. This city became in due course the centre of political power in North 

 Russia, disputing with Kiev the honour of being regarded as the "cradle of 

 the Russian Empire." Opening direct relations with the Ilanseatic towns, it 

 established factories first at Wisby, in the island of Gotland, and then at Liibeck, 

 while securing the inland traffic and acquiring an empire equal in extent to all 

 Western Europe by means of its distant settlements " beyond the portages," on the 

 White Sea, and even in West Siberia. It also became with Pskov a chief centre 

 of industry, arts, letters, and rationalistic sects. " Who can aught against God 

 and the mighty Novgorod ? " said a well-known local proverb. The city elected 

 its princes, but should the popular assembly have to complain of the man intrusted 

 with the supreme authority, he was " bowed out of office," or cons'gned to the mud 

 of the surrounding swamps. Strong in her charter of liberties, which she claimed 

 to have received from Yaroslav the AVise, and which she jealously guarded — strong 

 especially in the material independence sustained by her wealth and armed 

 citizens, Novgorod long flourished as an autonomous commonwealth, but, though 

 politically free, still restless and often torn by rival factions. The people were 



