SARATOV, a government of Asiatic Russia, Iles between 48' and 53' N. let., 42' 20' and 51' 20' E. lonz. It is bounded N. by Penes, Simbirsk, and Orenburg; E. and S. by Astrakhan; and W. by Tambow, Voroneta, and the country of the Don Coesaks. The northern frontier is 375 miles in extent, but the southern only 75 miles. The area is about 74,590 square miles ; and the population in 1848 was 1,718,600. The *oil of this government is very unequal : to the east of the Volga, which traverses it from north to south, and divides it into two nearly equal portions, it forms a barren steppe of great extent; on the west of the Volga the surface is undulating and varied with hills, very fruitful in the northern part, but poor and stony towards the south. In the western portion there are hills of slate and limestone, which are pretty elevated in the south, and accompany the right bank of the Volga as far as Zaritzyn. These hills separate the Volga from the Don. The Volga traverses the government in its whole length from north to south, as far as Sarepta below Zaritzyn, where it forms an elbow, and, running to the feat, divide. thin government ft-urn that of Astrakhan. To the west of the Volga there are some tributaries of the Don, which run from south to north. In tho eastern part there are many lakes, the most remarkable of which ia the salt-lake of Elton, on the south east, toward, tho frontier of Astrakhan. On the north side the banks rise rapidly ; on the south access to it is eery. The lake is of an oval form, the longest diameter being about 11 miles and the shortest nearly 9 mike. The superficial extent is 45,500 English acres. There are some other lees considerable salt lakes. The climate Is temperate, the air dry and healthy. The mean summer heat is 61', and the mean winter cold 23'; the greatest cold is 17' and the It rvetest heat f 97' of Fahrenheit's thermometer. Violent whirlwinds are frequent. The steppe beyond the Volga serves only for pasturage, aud it is only along the banks that there is a little cultiration. To the west of the Volga agriculture is the chief occupa tion of the inhabitants; and in the north-west part the soil is eo rich RA to need no manure. Rye, wheat, oats, millet, peas, flax, and hemp are cultivated. The foreign colonists have introduced the cultivation of tobacco, hops, and madder. The inhabitants cultivate melons (especially water-melons), fruit-trees, and even vines about Sarepta, and mulberry-trees at Saratov. The forests, which are chiefly to the north-west, consist of mike, pines, maple., and poplars, hut though pretty they do not suffice for the general consumption. The breeding of cattle is, next to agriculture, the chief occupation of the inhabitants ; the breed of sheep, which yield coarse wool, has been improved by the importation of merinos. The Tartars keep a great quantity of bees. The fisheries on the Volga are productive. The minerals are salt, millstones, and a little iron.
The government is divided into 10 circles, and comprises a mixed population composed of Russians, Tartars, Cossaks, and other tribes, besides a great number of foreign colonists, who were originally intro duced by Catherine IL, chiefly from Switzerland and Germany. Most
of the colonies are on the right bank of the Volga between Volgsk and Kamyschinst, and on the banks of the Mcdweditza and of the Ilawlia, which fall into the Don. The names of Soleure, Schaffhausen, Zurich, Glaris, Lucerne, linterwalden, ka, which are given to these villages, indicate the original country of the founders. The little town of Sarepta was founded by the Moravian brethren, and is still occupied by members of that society.
Sarotor, the capital of the government, population about 45,000, is situated on the right bank of the Volga, in 51° 31' N. lat., 46° E. long., in an arid and barren valley, between the river and a range of rather high calcareous mountains. The town, which is neither handsome nor regular, is divided into the upper and lower towns ; it was built on its present site in 1665, and has been frequently ravaged by fire. The greater part of the city is built of wood. There are seven stone and several wooden churches, two convents, a very large market-place or bazaar, a gymnasium, and a botanic garden. Saratov is the seat of a cousistory for the Protestant communities (except the Moravians at Sarepta) in the governments of Saratov, Astrakhan, and eight other governments, and is also the centre of a very extensive and advanta geous trade. Three large annual fairs are held here. Volgek, with 8500 inhabitants, is a very pretty town, built at the foot of a high mountain on the right bank of the Volga, above 90 miles above Saratov : it is inhabited by wealthy merchants, who carry on a con siderable trade. The neat town of Sarepta was founded in 1765. It is situated on the right bank of the Volga, near the junction of the Sarpa, and has about 3000 inhabitants. All the streets, which are planted with poplars, terminate in a very large market-place, with a fountain in the centre, which supplies every house with water. The Menelaus intended at first to follow agriculture, but in the midst of an arid steppe they could not execute this project ; they now have manufactures of linen-cloth, tobacco, liqueurs, ke., with which they carry on considerable trade with the Kahnucks. The brethren culti vate their gardens around the town with much care. Kamishin, population about 7000, is situated on the Volga, at the junction of the Kamishinka. It has a considerable trade in agricultural produce. There are several saltestares, tallow factories, and water-mills. The town is protected by a wall. Kuanezk, population 4500, about 110 miles N. by E. from Samtav, has a good trade in timber. There are some iron-works, and tan-works. Petianask, population 7000, on the river Medweditza, carries on some trade in corn. The town pos sesses a citadeL Zarizyn, or Tzaritzin, population 4600, is situated on the right bank of the Volga, about 230 miles S.S.W. from Saratov. This place is celebrated for its mineral waters.