MOLDAVIA, a country of Europe, bounded on the north and north-east by Poland and the river Dneister ; on the south by Bessarabia and the Danube ; and on the west by Wallachia, Transylvania, and branches detach ed from the Carpathian mountains. Its extreme length is computed at 230 miles, and its breadth at '200. The surface is finely diversified with hills and valleys, with extensive forests and numerous streams, of which the principal are the Pruth, Sireth, Moldau, Danube, and Dneister; and it contains several small lakes. But the summer heats convert several of the latter to marshes, exhaling dangerous miasmata. The climate is rigorous in winter, and oppressive in summer. During six weeks the Danube is frozen ; when the ice is capable of bear ing the heaviest artillery, and the intercourse on land is by means of sledges on the snow. Much rain falls in summer, accompanied by thunder storms every evening about the same hour, and slight earthquakes are fre quent.
Moldavia abounds in minerals. Particles of gold are rolled down by some of the rivers. Fossil salt is plenti ful ; a quantity of nitre is exported ; and the prince of this territory must send 25 tons of nitre yearly to Con stantinople.
The Turkish navy is supplied with the finest oak from the forests of Moldavia, and also with masts and cordage of native growth. Wheat, barley, oats, millet, and maize, are in ordinary cultivation ; the usual return is sixteen fold, and in Favourable seasons twenty-five. Vines are planted in sheltered situations on the declivities of hills, but the grapes are not allowed to come to perfec tion, whence the wine obtained from them is inferior, though a great quantity is exported.
Great numbers of bees are reared by the Moldavians. The hives are lodged in portions of the hollowed trunk of a tree, about three feet long, and closed at the upper end. Those converted to use arc smoked towards the end of October, and those meant to be preserved are kept in cellars covered with straw during winter. Bees are an article of taxation : The produce of the tax, in 1785, amounted to 4000/.
The principal domestic animals are horses, cattle, sheep, and goats ; and great herds of swine are fed in the forests ; the wild animals are wolves, foxes, bears, martins, hares, and others. Abbut 10,000 martins are
taken yearly, and about 500,000 hares, in this country and Wallachia, which are chiefly hunted during wintet. It was lately computed that the principality containi 3,243,000 sheep and goats ; a large proportion of which are carried to Constantinople ; for the Turkish govern ment sends a company hither every spring to purchase domestic animals and provisions, in an oppressive man ner, at a low and arbitrary price. The horses arc es teemed for their spirit and docility, and are bought for the use of the Austrian and Prussian cavalry. Some of the wealthy proprietors have 400 or 500 ; and it is said they allow them to remain always unsheltered in every season. Beyond the river Pruth there is a particular breed, superior to the rest.
The government is nearly absolute, in the person of a prince, 'Avaivode or hospodar, appointed by the Turkish emperor, and selected from the Greek families at Con stantinople. He purchases his appointment, and its du ration is dependent on the Turkish government. A divan, or supreme council, consisting of twelve mem bers, assembles at least twice weekly to decide on ju dicial and other matters ; but its authority is rather nomi nal than real, almost every thing being conducted at the pleasure of the prince. The laws of the province have been lately revised and published, by command of the present prince of Moldavia, who was appointed in the year 1812. Capital punishment is very rarely inflicted ; but the prince has absolute power of life and death throughout his government.
The prince of Moldavia is responsible to the Porte for a yearly tribute of a million of piastres, or 33,333/. sterling; and the total revenue of the country is said to amount to 46,6661. The sources of revenue are a capi tation-tax from the peasantry, and small landholders, salt mines, customs ; a tax on tobacco, wine, bees, and the pasturage of sheep and cattle.