462 BOHEMIA AND MORAVTA. 



the Muldau, and the Egra; those of Moravia are the Morawa, which 

 gives name to the country, and the Oder, which rises in the circle of 

 Olmutz, and falls into the Baltic at Stettin, in Pomerania. In Bohemia 

 are a few small lakes, but which have nothing to merit notice. * 



Metals and minerals.. ..Bohemia contains rich mines of silver, 

 quicksilver, iron, copper, lead, and especially tin; as also sulphur and 

 saltpetre. Above a hundred towns and places might be named where 

 mine-works have been etablished. Various species of marble and 

 almost every kind of precious stones are found here ; but, in general, 

 they are deficient in hardness. In Moravia, in the circle of Brunn, 

 are iron mines, and quarries of marble; and in the circle of Znaim 

 were formerly gold mines : at present there are mines of iron, sul- 

 phur, saltpetre, and vitriol. 



Climate, soil, and produce. ...The climate of Bohemia is warm, 

 pleasant, and wholesome ; the soil is in general rich, but in some 

 places sandy. It is very fertile in corn, considerable quantities of 

 which are exported, as also in pasturage, garden and orchard fruits, 

 and excellent hops. Moravia resembles Bohemia in its climate, soil, 

 and produce ; but agriculture, according to Mr. Marshall, is some- 

 what better under-stood and conducted in the latter country. 



Animals.. ..The wild animals of Bohemia are bears, lynxes, wolves, 

 foxes, martens, badgers, beavers ; the tame, black cattle, sheep, and 

 an excellent breed of horses. The woods abound in game and wild 

 fowl. In Moravia is found a species of leopards, of the size of dogs, 

 but thicker, called, by the inhabitants, rysowe. 



Population, national character, manners, and customs. ..The 

 population of Bohemia was estimated in 1803, at 3,1 11,472, and that 

 of Moravia at 1,363,817. The Bohemians, in their persons, habits, 

 and manners, resemble the Germans. There is among them no rad- 

 dle state of people; for every lord is a sovereign, and every tenant a 

 slave. But the emperor Joseph II, generously discharged the Bohe- 

 mian peasants, on the imperial demesnes, from the state of villanage 

 in which they have been so long and so unjustly retained ; and it will 

 be happy if his example should be followed by the Bohemian nobility, 

 and thty be thereby induced no longer to deprive their vassals of the 

 rights of human nature. Although the Bohemians, at present, are 

 not remarkable either for arts or arms, yet they formerly distinguish- 

 ed themselves as the most intrepid assertors of civil and religious 

 liberty in Europe ; witness the early introduction of the reformed 

 religion into their country, when it was scarcely known in any other ; 

 the many glorious defeats they gave to the Austrian power ; and 

 their generous struggles for independence. Their virtues may be 

 considered as the causes of their decay, as no means were left unem- 

 ployed by their despotic masters for breaking their spirit : though 

 it is certain their internal jealousies and dissensions greatly contri- 

 buted to their subjection. Their customs and diversions are the same 

 as in Germany. 



Cities, chief towns... .The capital of Bohemia is Prague, situate 

 almost in the centre of the kingdom, on both sides of the river Mul- 

 dau. It is three German, or more than twelve English, miles in cir- 

 cumference ; contains a cathedral, ninety -two churches and chapels, 

 about forty convents, and 80,000 inhabitants, of whom about 10,000 

 are Jews. Here is a noble bridge of eighteen arches over the Muldauj 

 which separates what is called the old town from the new. It is a 

 place of little or no trade, and therefore the middling inhabitants are 



