SISIBIRSK, a government of Asiatic Russia, is situated between Sr and 57' N. lat., 42' 20' and 50° 5' E. long. It is bounded N. by Kann, E. by the riser Volga, which separates it from the new govern ment of Samara, S. by Saratov and Penn, and W. by Nijni-Novgorod. The area is 17,732 square miles, and the popnlation 927,311. The surface is in general an undulating plain, but along the bank of the Volga there is a range of hills composed of clay, marl, limestone, and freestone, rising in some places to the height of 400 feet. The prin cipal river of this government is the Volga, which enters it from Kaman, about the middle of the northern frontier, and runs in a direction nearly south to Stavropol, where it turns to the east ; and there, after being joined by the Sok, coming from Orenburg, it makes a semicircular bend, and at Samara turns due west, in which direction it proceeds as far as the town of Sysran, when it again turns to the south. Among the minor rivers which belong to the basin of the Volga are the Ousa, and the Sysran. The lakes and rivers are upwards of 500 in number, bat they are all small. The climate is generally healthy; but the cold in winter and the heat in summer are extreme. The Volga is usually frozen during five months in the year.
The soil is generally fertile, and is carefully cultivated; producing rye, wheat, spelt, oats, barley, millet, and buckwheat. The inhabit ants cultivate also the poppy, peas, lentils, flax, much hemp, tobacco, and some potatoes. Horticulture is in a backward state. In the northern parts of the government there are extensive forests. The breeding of cattle is attended to among the Kalmuck Tartars. The Tartars apply to agriculture with great success. Game is abundant, but the fur-bearing animals are scarce. The fisheries of various kinds in the Volga are productive. The minerals are alabaster, sulphur, and limestone.
The manufactures carried on are those of woollen cloths, blankets, carpets, sail-cloth, leather, silk, and nankeen. Glass-wares, soap, and candles are manufactured ; and there are many spirit distilleries. The exports consist of horses, oxen, hemp, apples, water-melons, corn, fish, tallow, leather, raw hides, and millstones.
Simbirsk, the capital of the government, is situated on the right bank of the river Volga, and near the right bank of the Sviaga, which runs northward, while the Volga flows to the south. The town
stands on an eminence which commands a fine view of the Volga and over an immense extent of country uninterrupted by forests. The town is not regularly built, but there are some broad and straight streets. Almost all the houses are of wood, but neat and convenient within. The churches, 16 in number, are all of stone, except one, which is of wood. There are two monasteries, a gymnasium, and manufactories of candles and soap, and some tanneries. The town is in a very fertile plain, and on one side there are gardens and orchards. The population amounts to 18,000. Of tho other towns the most considerable is Sysran, on the river of the same name, near its conflux with the Volga. It has 8000 inhabitants, numerous churches, four public schools, and factories of various descriptions.
The government of Samara was constituted by a ukase issued in December 1850. It comprises three districts taken from the govern ment of Orenburg, two districts of the government of Saratov, and one district, with two parts of districts of the government of Simbirsk. The area and population of each of the governments affected by this new arrangement, now stand as follows:— The town was built in 1591 as a defence against the Kalmucks. Starropol, population 3400, the chief town of the Kalmucks, is situated on the left bank of the Volga, about 20 miles N.W. from Samara. This town was built for the Kalmucks on their conversion to Christianity, about the year 1737. lu the centre is a kind of fort, surrounded with palisades, which is the residence of the chief of the Kalmucks. The Russian or Cossak garrison is in the upper town. The merchants reside together iu a (debug, and the citizens occupy the lower town. Bugulma, about 140 miles N.E. from Samara, contains a population of about 2000, and carries on a considerable trade in cotton and woollen cloth. Two largo fairs are held here annually. Baguruslan, on the river Kivel, which joins the Samara, is about 100 miles E.N.E. from Samara. Busuluk, is situated near the junction of the river Busuluk with the Samara, about 90 miles E.S.E. from Samara town. It possesses tanneries, and some trade. A large annual fair is held at Busuluk.