The government of Tomsk is rich in metals (silver, copper, lead, iron), and in grass in the mountainous part; the steppe abounds in wild animals, and the eastern districts in agricultural products, but cultivation does not extend much beyond the bottoms of the rivers. The capital is Tomsk, a town containing from 8000 to 9000 inhabit ants, on the banks of the river Tom, and on the great road leading from Western to Eastern Siberia. It is rather a well-built town. Kooznesk, on the river Tom, with 3500 inhabitants, lies in a district which abounds in iron- and copper-mines, the produce of which is brought to this place. Bernaul, on the west and elevated banks of the river Obi, is the centre of the mining industry in the Altai Moun tains, as the ore of most of the mines is brought to Bernaul to be smelted, owing to the want of fuel in their neighbourhood. It con tains between 8000 and 9000 inhabitants, extensive furnaces, and a school of mineralogy. Many Germans are employed in the town and vicinity, and a German church and school have been erected : there is also a public library. At Kolywan, which stands in a valley of the Altai: Mountains on the small river Loktefka, there is a manufac tory in which many objects are made of porphyry. Biysk, a fortress on the river Biya, not far from its confluence with the Katunga, has 2000 inhabitants.
The government of Yeneseisk is 1800 miles in length. Agriculture does not extend north of the town of Yenesei (58° N. lat.) ' • but it is in a prosperous condition in the vale of the Yenesef, south of Kras noyark, though even there cattle constitute the principal wealth of the inhabitants. Iron-ore abounds in the mountains that inclose the vale, and it is worked in a few places. North of the town of Yene seisk the inhabitants live chiefly by fishing. The capital of this government is Krasnoyark, on the Yenesel, with 3300 inhabitants. This town carries on a considerable commerce. Yeneseisk, farther north, was formerly the capital, and is still the most populous place, having between 4000 and 5000 inhabitants, and possessing an active and extensive commerce. The fair in the month of August is much frequented. iltskimtk, west of Krasnoyark and the Kachooga moun tains, contains between 1500 and 2000 inhabitants. The river Choolym is here navigable for large river barges. Toorookhansk (near 66° N. lat.), on the Yenesef, is small; but at certain seasons of the year it is visited by the neighbouring nomadic tribes, who exchange their furs for tobacco, flour, and other necessaries.
The government of Irkutsk is chiefly agricultural Cattle, horses, camels, and sheep constitute the principal sources of wealth. The
capital ie Irkutsk, the residence of the governor-general of Eastern Siberia. This town is built on the east bank of the Lower Angara, opposite the mouth of the river lrkut, from which its name is derived, and contains about 20,000 inhabitants. The streets are straight and wide, but are not paved ; most of the houses are built of timber. The palace of the governor-general, the medical institution, the gram mar school, and the hall of the American Company, are good buildings. There are also a publics library, a museum of natural history, a military school, and a school for navigation. Irkutsk is the centre of the commerce of Eastotia Siberia. The town is 1240 feet above the sea-level, and the climate is very cold; but it is healthy and pleasant, owing to the dryness of the atmosphere. At Telma, north west of Irkutsk, is a considerable manufacture of cloth, a smaller one of linen, and some glass-houses. Kotshuga, on the river Lena, is 1503 feet above the sea-level. In the country south of Lake Baikal is Verehnei Udinsk, on the river Uda, not far from its confluence with the Selenga; it has about 4000 inhabitants, who are engaged in com merce with Kiachta and Nertshiuek. At Sdenginsk, a small place, there is an English missionary establishment. West of it, in a steppe, is the seat of the Khamba Lama, the chief of the Buddhist religion among the Buriates : like the Dalai Lama in Tibet, the soul of the Lama is supposed to pass into his successor. Close to the boundary of the Chinese empire is the commercial town of Kiachta with Troizko Sawsk. [Ktactrra.] In Da-uria is the town of NertsAinsk, a miser able place with 1000 inhabitants. Not far from the banks of the river Argun is Nertahinskoi Sawed, with 4000 inhabitants, the seat of administration for all the mines of this district.
The province of Yakutsk extends over all the north-eastern part of Siberia. Grain is only cultivated in the Vale of the Lena as far as Yakutsk ; but the crops are uncertain, owing to the shortness of the warm season. In the basin of the Vilni there are mines of excellent iron. The most numerous and most wealthy tribe are the Yakates, who are breeders of cattle, horses, and sheep. The capital is Yakutsk, on the river Lena, with more than 4000 inhabitants. Yakutsk is one of the beet markets in Siberia for furs, especially sable as this animal is very abundant in the wilderness south of the road leading to Okhotsk, and the fur is of the best quality. In the northern districts are some places, as Ust-Yanek and Nischnei-Kolymsk, to which the native tribes resort to exchange their furs for flour, tobacco, and other articles.