On passing the Trave, the duchy of Mecklenburgh is entered. Wismar, a bay within the isle of Poel, and Rostock, on the left bank of the Warnaw, three leagues from its mouth, are the principal commercial places in Mecklenburgh. The exports from the lat ter are corn, hemp, flax, hops, wax, butter, honey, cattle, apples, and feathers.
The coast of Pomerania exhibits the effects of the constant action of the waters of the Baltic. On the west, the peninsula of Dars, and the Island of Zingst, form the basin called des Dars, which has six feet depth. The Strait of Gellen, farther east, separates the Island of Rugen from the main. This strait varies in breadth from fourteen miles to one and a quarter ; the eastern entrance, called the Bodden, is navigable for the largest vessels ; but in the narrows there is but three or four fathoms ; and the sand accumulates so fast here, as to require a toll on all vessels passing through it, to defray the expence of clearing it.
The Gulf of Dantzic lies beyond the eastern limits of Pomerania, the western extremity of which, called the Gulf of Putzic; is formed by a curved tongue of land. On the coast of Prussia are the two remark able basins called the Freseh-Haff and Curish-Haff: The waters of both are fresh, being supplied from the rivers of Poland, and each communicates with the Baltic by a single strait. The French Haff, which, besides three branches of the Vistula, receives the rivers of Elbing, the Passarge, and the Pregel, is 16 or 17 leagues long, and from one to five broad. The communication of this basin with the Baltic has changed several times, and the present passage, near Pillau, was formed by a great storm in 1500 ; its depth is from 18 to 16 feet. The tongue of land call ed the Fresch -N eh rung, which separates it from the Bal tic, commences near Dantzic, and runs east about 19 leagues ; its breadth varies from one to three leagues. The Curish-Haff, or Sea of the Cures, a people of Cour land, is 19 leagues long, and from one to three broad. Its depth is very irregular, and there are many sand banks in it. Near the upper end there is no current, but in the other parts the currents are very rapid. It communicates with the Baltic by a channel near Memel 8200 feet wide, and from 11 to 18 feet deep. The spit of land which separates it from the Baltic, called the Curish-Nehrung, is about 80 miles long, in some places three miles broad, but in other places is so very narrow, that the waves of the Baltic wash over it into the basin. Its surface, which is princi
pally sand, continually changes, by the fury of the winds. From its ancient name Mendoniemi, or pro montory of Pines, it was probaby covered with those trees. It is inhabitedonly by fishermen and pilots, whose dwellings are not unfrequently overwhelmed by the sand. It is frequented by immense numbers of crows and hawks, the former of which supply food to the inhabitants, and the tithe of them forms part of the revenue of the pastor.
The whole coast of Prussia and Courland is low, sandy, and covered with pebbles ; the latter, how ever has calcareous cliffs. which seem to run under calcareouswater to the Island of Gottland. The Gulf of Livo nia, or Riga, has Domes-ness for its southern limit ; between which and the Swaverort is the entrance, eight leagues wide ; but from Domes-ness a sand bank runs off, and a reef from Swaverort. The coast of Livonia, and the islands off it, are in general higher than those of Courland, and are composed of sand, gravel, and calcareous strata. Entering the Gulf of Finland, on the south side, is the bay of Roggerswic, inclosed by islands. The whole of the coast of Finland is naked, stony, lined with rocks and islets, and nearly bare of vegetation.
The principal rivers of Prussia that flow into the Baltic are the Oder and the Vistula. The Oder, after dividing into four principal branches, near the frontiers of Pomerania, again flows in one stream near Stettin, and falls into the Gros-Haff. Between the Oder and the Vistula several lesser rivers empty themselves ; they are generally navigable, and form ports at their mouths. Three of the branches of the Vistula empty themselves into the Fresch Haff, and the fourth, which alone retains its original name, falls into the Gulf, of Dantzic at ' Weixelmunde. The Pregel, which is deeper than the Fresch Hall; into which it falls, is navigated by vessels of considerable burden. The Elbing issues from Lake Dramsen, and, as has been already noticed, falls into the Fresch Haff. The Niemen, below Tilsit, separates into two branches, one running to the south-west, and the other to the north-west ; thus both subdivide, and fall into the Curish-Haff near Memel ; the Dange, which gives a port to Memel,has a short course, but is wide and deep.