PSKOW, a government of Rani; situated between and 58° N. let., 27° 20' and 32° 5' E. long., is bounded N. by lake Pakow, and the government of St. Petersburg, E. by Novogorod and Twer, S. by Smolensk, and W. by Witepek 'and Livonia. The area is 17,120 square miles. The population in 1846 was 775,800.
The surface is level, and in some places slightly undulating : there are no mountains, though the whole country is rather elevated. The soil is partly clayey, partly sandy, and in many parts covered with a tolerably thick layer of mould. The only large lake is Lake Pakow, which is noticed under Livone. The Polls* Podso, Khwat, and Woiakoe lakes are much smaller. There are also numerous metes and many marshes, principally In the south-east part of the government. There is no large river in the province. The Dina rises in it, but soon turns into Witepek ; the Loweth, or Levet, which also rises in it, runs into Novogorod, is joined by the Pellets and the Pola, and has below Velikie-Luki several rocks and whirlpools, which are called cataracts. Most of the rivers, though not deep enough for large vessels, are navigable by flat river boats called etruses, and facilitate commu nication with St. Petersburg, Narva, and Riga.
The climate is cold. Agriculture is the chief occupation of the inhabitants. The soil is in general tolerably fertile, hut requires careful cultivation and manure ; it produces however not only sufficient for the consumption of the inhabitants, but also a surplus for exporta tion. The chief products are rye, barley, oats, and buckwheat; pulse, peas, beans, and lentils. Culinary vegetables, finch as cab bages, turnips, onions, garlic, and cucumbers are cultivated. On the estates of the nobility small orchards are here and there to be seen. Flax and hemp, both of excellent quality, are staple productions. The extensive forests furnish abundance of timber, chiefly pines, fire, birches, and alders. The breeding of cattle is merely subservient to agriculture. Swine are kept in great numbers, bat only few goats and little poultry. Besata of prey and fur-bearing animals abound, I such as bears, wolves, lynxes, foxes, marten; squirrels, and badgers. The lakes and rivers produce abundance of fish. The only mineral products are bog-iron, limestone, sandstone, and clay. There are salt-springs near the Szelon.
The inhabitants excel in dressing skins and manufacturing leather ; but, unlike the Russians in general, they have not a turn for mechanics, and do not willingly apply to any kind of handicraft. The country
women hardly spin wool and flax sufficient to manufacture linen, stockings, .tc. for their own use. Some strums and barks are built, there are many saw-mills, and a few spirit distilleries and glass furnaces. Rye, oats, barley, squared timber, masts, spars, planks, hemp, flax, hempseed and linseed, wool, hides, and a few other articles are sent to Pernau, St. Petersburg, and Nerve, whence the inhabitants import colonial products and other necessary articles.
The great majority of the inhabitants are Russians of the Greek church. There are also many Germans in the towns.
Pskow, the capital of the government, is in 57° 90' N. lat., 28° 10' E. long., on the left bank of the Wellikaja, nearly 5 miles from its mouth in Lake Pekow. It is said to have been founded in the 10th century by the grand-duchess Olga. The interior of the city has some resemblance to that of Moscow. In the centre of the town is the Kremlin (on the steep left bank of the river), which was erected by Prince Dowmont, who reigned from 1266 to 1299. The citadel is surrounded by a wall. The middle town, extendiug in the form of a semicircle about the citadel, is also surrounded with a wall ; a third very high and strong wall, 5 miles in extent, defends the great town, which envelopes the middle town. There is a large suburb. Pakow has sustained several memorable sieges, among others, in 1614, when it was attacked without success by Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden. Pekow has declined from its ancient power and greatness, but is still a large town; it has one cathedral, richly adorned with gilding and carved-work, about 60 other Greek churches, a Lutheran church, three monasteries, an ecclesiastical seminary, a gymnasium, a district and other schools, an orphan asylum, and a handsome building for the government offices. It is the see of the Greek archbishop, and the residence of the military governor. The present popu lation is 12,000, who manufacture Russia leather, linen, sail-cloth, and gla e.
Tempt; an ancient town, with about 12,000 inhabitants, is extremely well situated for carrying on an extensive trade ; it communicates with Riga*by means of the river Toropa, on which it is situated, and which joins the Duna. There are thirteen churches and two convents in the town. Most of the houses are of wood. Wellikaja-Luki, on the Levet, a tributary of Lake Ilmen, has about 4000 inhabitants.