THE GREAT RUSSIANS. 



379 



the spring freshets. In 1866 one only of the branches had a clopth of 30 inches, 

 and was navigable for boats throughout the year. The two others had a mean depth 

 of no more than 24 and 12 inches respectively.* 



Ethmcal Elements. — The Great Hussians. 



The Veliko or Great Russians form of themselves alone more than one-half of 

 all the inhabitants of the empire. They not only occupy nearly all Central Hussia 

 as well as most of the Neva basin, but they have also advanced in compact masses 



Fig. 202.— Great Rissian Type: Ardatov District, Government of Nijm-Novgorod. 



north, east, and southwards, while in the west they have numerous colonies in the 

 Baltic Provinces and Little Russia. They have planted themselves along the northern 

 foot of the Caucasus, and in Siberia they have already peopled vast tracts more 

 extensive than the whole of France. They have become the preponderating and 



* Length of the Ural, 1,306 miles; area cf its drainage, 212,000 square miles; mean discharge, 

 1,750 cubic feet. 



