AUSTRIAN DOMINIONS. 459 



fruits, and wine) the abundance of its pastures, and the salubrity of 

 the air. It is divided by the river Ens into Upper and Lower Austria; 

 the capital of the former of which is Vienna, already described : be- 

 sides which it contains 35 cities and 25 6 market towns. The capital 

 of the latter is Lintz, a strong town, defended by two castles, and con- 

 taining about 15,000 inhabitants : besides which it has 13 other cities 

 and 88 market towns. 



Tne duchy of Stiria, situate to the south of the archduchy of Aus- 

 tria, with Hungary on the east and Carniola to the south, is about 125 

 miles long, and 17 broad. Though a mountainous country, it is well 

 cultivated, and produces every kind of grain. The mountains con- 

 tain silver, lead, copper and particularly iron. The Muehr and the 

 Ens are the principal rivers. The iron mines have been worked 

 above 1000 years, yet still continue extremely productive ; and" the 

 Stirian steel is in great estimation. In the whole duchy there are 

 nearly 120 towns, and 500 citadels, many of the latter built, on the 

 summits of rocks. The capital is Gratz, situate on the Muehr; a 

 regularly fortified city, with a strong citadel. It has a university, and 

 contains about 30,000 inhabitants. 



The duchy of Carinthia, situate to the south-west of Stiria, is like- 

 wise a mountainous and woody country, and contains mines of iron, 

 and lead ; but there are many fertile vallies which yield wheat and 

 other grain, though not sufficient to suppiy the wants of the inhabi- 

 tants. It contains 31 towns; the principal of which is Clagenfurt, 

 on the river Glan, surrounded by a strong wall, and containing six 

 churches, three convents, and 10,000 inhabitants. 



The duchy of Carniola, to the south of Stiria, is 120 miles long and 

 100 broad. It is in general mountainous; but many parts yield not 

 only good pasturage, but excellent corn, hemp, flax, and millet. In 

 the mountains are mines of iron, lead and copper. The quicksilver 

 mines of Idria, in this duchy, may be considered as a natural curiosity. 

 They were discovered in 1499, and yield annually 300,000 pounds 

 weight of mercury. The descent into them is by stone stairs and 

 ladders, and the length of the galleries is computed at 1580 feet. 

 The principal rivers are the Sare, the Laybach, the Gurk, and the 

 Culpa. Various kinds of fruits, as chesnuts, walnuts, olives, oranges, 

 citrons, lemons, pomegranates, almonds, and figs, abound here ; and 

 black cattle and horses are bred in great numbers. This duchy is 

 estimated to contain 56 towns, 200 citadels, and 4000 villages. The 

 capital is Laybach, situate, on the river of the same name, and con- 

 taining a cathedral, and about 20,000 inhabitants. 



Austrian Friuli is situate between Carinthia, Carniola, the duchy 

 of Venice, and the territory of Triest. It is divided into the two 

 counties of Gorz, or Goritz, and Gradisca. It is principally moun- 

 tainous, but has large and fertile vallies, which produce corn, fruits, 

 wine, and silk. The chief town is Gorz, or Goritz, containing a castle, 

 and about 10,000 inhabitants. 



The small territory of Triest, situate between Carniola, Friuli, and 

 the Adriatic Sea, produces wine, excellent fruits and sea salt, procur- 

 ed from the salt works at Zaula and Servola. The capital Triest, 

 stands on the Adriatic : it is a free port, with a considerable and 

 increasing trade ; from six to eight thousand ships annually arriving 

 there from the different countries of Europe. It is likewise a bishop's 

 see ; contains a cathedral and 30,000 inhabitants. 



The duchies of Stiria, Carinthia, and Carniola, and the territories 



