The country which extends from the hilly region to the banks of the rivers Bug and Vistula, where they flow westward, and to the western boundary line of Poland, may be considered level, as the highest ground, which runs in a south-eastern and north-western direction, hardly rises more than from 200 to 300 feet above the low tracts along the rivers, and the slopes are long and very gentle. Tho more elevated parts of those higher grounds contain large tracts of sand, nearly without vegetation : in other places they are covered with heath, and here and there some swamps occur, but they are not of great extent. The slopes have a more fertile soil, but even there the crops of rye and oats are scanty. In the vicinity of the rivers fertile tracts are numerous, especially on the low lands along their banks; but in some places, and more especially along the banks of the Warta, these tracts are so low, that the soil is wet nearly all the year round, and they serve only as pasture-ground in the latter part of the summer and the beginning of the autumn. A large portion of this region also is covered with pine forests.
Climate.—The range of the temperature is above 100 degrees in the course of the year. The summers are generally very hot, the thermometer rising to above 90° under the influence of the south eastern wind, which blows from the steppes of Southern Russia ; but these winds are not frequent, and when succeeded by north-western winds, the thermometer in a few hours sinks 15 degrees. The winters are very cold, the thermometer generally descends to IO° below zero, and sometimes to 15' and even 18% The country is usually frozen and covered with snow for four or five tnontlia.
The most considerable rivers are the Ni6men and Vistula [Ntzure ; Vaact....]. which are navigable for large ricer barges as far as they drab, Polaed and dew along its boundery-lines. The Vistula receives from the east the Wieprs and Bug, which latter river is joined several tulles above Its mouth by the Nerow. The two lasameatioued rivers are navigable to a considerable distance; the Narew to the town of L,ornsa, and the Buie to Terespol, oppoeita the Russian town of Brzeso Litewoki. From the waist the Vistula receives the river Pilica, which is only navigable in the lower part of its course, and to no great distance from it. mouth. The river Warta, an affluent of the Oder, which drains thy most western part of the viceroyalty, begins to be navigable above Kolo, and the Bream, an affluent of the Warts, above Kalisch. The Isatsmeotiorsed river forms for the greater part of its counts the boundary line between Poland and Pruaaia. Lake/ are most uunieruus in the north-eastern district, but not of great extent. The largest lake, that of Goplo, which is about 10 miles long, lies on the north-western boundary-line. The larger and wider part of it belongs to Prussia.
Predectiona—Though Poland is not distinguished by fertility, it reduces more grain, fax, hemp, and tobacco than are required for its consumption, and it exports these articles to other countries. Wheat is abundant only in the hilly southern region; the principal species of grain which are cultivated in the other parte of the kingdom are rye, oats, and buckwheat; barley is also grown, but less extensively.
Leguminous plants are much valued, and their cultivation attended to Horses and cattle are of inferior eize, but rather numerous ; and tattle;as well as hides and tallow, are articles of export. Hogs also are numerous, and bacou to a considerable amount is exported. Sheep and goats are less abundant, though some parts of the country are well adapted for sheep-walks; the wool is coarse, and little of it is exported.
As a considerable part of the country is still covered with forests, timber constitutes an important article of export, The forests consist of oak, ash, lime-trees, and birch, but chiefly of pine and fie In those parts where the U ne-trees are numerous the forests swarm with wild bees, and the excellent honey which is obtained from them is sent to the neighbouring countries. Wild animals are numerous, especially wolves. Bears and lynxes have become rather rare, as well as the beaver, ermine, and elk; but deer, foxes, martens, polecats, badgers, and weasels are still very common.
Several metals and minerals are abundant in the hilly region. Among the metallic ores are those of silver, iron, copper, lead, and zinc. Rock-salt, marble, and coral are met with. The principal exports—corn, wool, oil, seeds, timber, and zinc—are sent down the Vistula and shipped at Danzig. A considerable portion also of the surplus produce of Poland in ordinarily absorbed by Austria. Accord ing to an official return for the year 1851, the exports through Prussia amounted to 4,015,871 silver rublee; to Austria, 1,373,537 silver rubles. The band value of the imports in 1851 was 0,403,792 silver rubles; they comprise wine, tobacco, epicea, salt, metals, manufactured goods, colonial produce, &e. The custom-house receipts in 1852 were 1,423,549 rubles. Since January let 1851 the customs' line between Poland and Russia has been abolished, and along the whole of the western frontier a strict military cordon has been established, with stations at every half mile distance, and sentinels pacing between the stations night and day. The manufactures of Poland, which were very flourishing before the insurrection of 1830, comprise woollen cloth, merinos, flannel, hosiery, shawls, carpets, cotton tissues, and twist, chiefly at Lody and Lublin ; some linen and plain silk, leather, paper, beet-root sugar, beer,, distilled spirits (chiefly from potatoes), glees, &c. The most important branch of industry is the manufacture of metals, especially iron and zinc. Almost all the mince are in the southern part of the viceroyalty. Pit-coal is found in connection with the iron-ores, and it its used extensively in the iron blast,furnaces and iu the zinc smelting-works. There are cast-iron foundriea and establish ment. for the manufacture of machinery end agricultural implements at Warsaw, which is famous for its musical instruments, carpets, and au-riages. Steam machinery is used in several of the factories, in the mines, and iu some of the flour-mills. A railway runs from Warsaw to the Austrian line from Cracow to Vienna.