HUNGARIAN STATES. 



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CHAPTER XCIII. THE HUNGARIAN STATES. 



These States constitute a portion of the Austrian Empire, and consist 1st, of the Kingdom 

 of Hungary, with the provinces of Sclavonia and Croatia ; 2d, the Principality of Transylvania ; 

 3d, the MiHtary Frontiers ; and 4th, the Kingdom of Dahnatia. The whole of these coun- 

 tries together, have a surface of 130,000 square miles, with a population of 13,800,000. 



1. Kingdom of Hungary. This country is bounded northwest by Moravia ; northeast by 

 Galicia ; east by Transylvania ; south by the Military Frontiers ; southwest by Illyria ; and 

 west by Stiria and the Archduchy of Austria. Its length is 330, and its breadth 300 miles ; 

 containing 89,000 square miles. The Crapack or Carpathian Mountains extend along the 

 northeastern border. Near the centre of the chain, is the Lomnitz peak, which is about 8,640 

 feet above the level of the sea. Among the detached mountains are those of Matra, Avas, and 

 Farkas. An immense plain, comprehending all Eastern Hungary, lies between the Danube 

 and the Transylvanian Mountains. Another large plain, of a triangular form, runs from the 

 boundaries of Stiria to the Bakonian Mountains. 



Hungary does not border upon any sea, but is watered by very large rivers. The principal 

 is the Danube, to the basin of which, all the others, except the Poprad, which runs into the 

 Vistula, belong ; the chief tributaries are the Leitha-, the Raab, the IVaag or Vag, the Gran, 

 the Dravc, the Save, and the Theiss or Tisza ; the whole course of the Theiss is 350 miles, 

 and it abounds in fish. There are many lakes in this country ; the Flatten or Balaton, 

 near the centre of Lower Hungary, is about 45 miles long, and 8 broad ; the JVeusicdler, on 

 the frontier of Lower Austria, is a salt water lake of about 60 square miles, and is surrounded 

 by fens. 



The climate is, on the whole, warmer than that of Germany. In the valleys, snow falls as 

 early as September, and seldom disappears before the middle of June. In the middle regions, 

 the air is most pure and healthy. The flat country is unhealthy. The soil is sterile on the 

 highlands, but improves in quality as the elevation lessens, and is luxuriously rich on the plains. 

 Yet even in the most fertile tracts, there occur barren heaths of several miles in extent, where 

 not a shrub is visible. The Hungarian and Transylvanian forests cover a space of 11,644 

 square miles. 



There are a great number of mineral springs, and mines of gold, silver, lead, and copper ; 



very rich ore of antimony, coal, sMt, and alum, are 

 abundant. About 40 miles to the south of the Cra- 

 pack, are the gold and silver mines of Cremnitz ; and 

 20 miles further to the south, are the silver mines of 

 Schemnitz. The gold mine at Cremnitz has been 

 wrought for 1,000 years and upwards, and is exceed- 

 ingly rich. There is a mint here, where all the mine 

 towns of Hungary and Transylvania send their gold 

 and silver to be coined. The number of miners em- 

 ployed by the crown at Schemnitz, is 8,000. A min- 

 eral peculiar to Hungary is the opal, which is found at 

 Salt Mine. Czernwenicza, a short distance to the north of Kas- 



chau. The hill in which the opals are found, consists 

 of a decomposed porphyry, and the gems occur at the distance of a few fathoms from the 

 surface. 



Hungary has in all ages been celebrated for its breed of horses, which are generally mouse- 

 colored, and highly esteemed in war. The horned cattle are large, active, and vigorous. Buf- 

 faloes are not uncommon. Among the wild animals are wolves, bears, and boars ; but these 

 are very rare. 



Hungary may be considered as a great oval plain, surrounded on all sides but the south by 

 lofty mountains, whence numerous and large rivers have their source, which gradually decline 

 in velocity as they approach the plain, where, owing to the extreme flatness of the surface, and 

 looseness of the soil, their currents are scarcely perceptible. 



Near Szadelo, about 30 miles from Kaschau, is an extraordinary cavern, which is said to 

 reach several miles under the hills, but has never been completely explored. Near Szilitz, is 

 another celebrated cavern, about 100 feet in breadth, 150 in length, and 25 in height ; in one 



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