PODLACH IA. [Poemeo.] PODOLIA,or KAMENETZ-PODOLSK, a government of European Russia, formerly a part of Poland, extends from 47° 25' to 49° 45' N. pat., 26° 20' to 23° 50' E. long. It is bounded N. by Volhynia, N.E. by Kiew, E. and S.E. by Kherson, S. by Bessarabia, from which it is separated by the Dniester, and S. and S.W. by Austrian Galicia. The area is estimated at 16,375 square miles. Podolia is generally a table-land of no great elevation, and is traversed by a branch of the Carpathians, which enters it from Galicia; but the most elevated parts of this chain are scarcely 500 feet above the level of the sea, and their effect is chiefly to heighten the picturesque beauties of this fine province. The south-eastern parts, which formerly belonged to the Ukraine, are sandy, and form a kind of steppe. The province is well watered. The Dniester, which is the principal river, flows indeed only along the frontier towards Bessarabia, but most of the small rivers run into it. The second principal river is the Bug. There are numerous small mores in the western part of the province, but no large lakes.
The climate is mild and in general very healthy ; there are scarcely any endemic disorders, except the Plies Polonica, which will probably remain endemic as long as the uncleanliness of the Russniaks and Poles continues. The soil of Podolia is proverbially fruitful. In addition to all kinds of corn, hemp, flax, tobacco, and hops are cultivated. The peasants have generally gardens, in which they cultivate cabbages, onions, cucumbers, water-melons, and some fruit-trees. The grass is
remarkably luxuriant, and the forests are extensive. In the fields and in the steppe between the Bug and the Dniester there are hares, wolves, faxes, a species of antelope, cud bustards. Storks are numerous. Swarms of locusts come periodically from the Black Sea. The oxeu of Podolia are remarkably largo and fine, and great droves of them are annually sent even to the middle of Germany. The race of horses is ranch esteemed. The sheep are of a good breed, and their wool is tolerably flue. Swine are very numerous. The farmers breed great quantities of domestic poultry and of bees. The fisheries are pro ductive. The mineral products are saltpetre, stone for building, lime, gypsum, and alabaster. Education is very limited. The schools are few in number. Most of the inhabitants are of the Greek religion. The population of the province in 1846 was 1,703,000.
The principal town is Kantinioc, the capital of the province, on the river Srnotriza, at a short distance from its junction with the Dniester. It was formerly the most important fortress in Poland, but is now deprived of its fortifications; it consists of the upper town, of the lower, which is well built, and several suburbs. It has a very fine cathedral, a gymnasium, souse manufactories and trade, and 16,000 inhabitants, half of whom are Jews. The other principal towns are the capitals of the circles (12 in all), but none of these are of great importance. Mohilow alone has 7000 inhabitants, a silk manufactory cud some trade.