TOBOLSK, the capital of the government of Tobolsk, in Asiatic Russia, is situated in 58° 12' N. lat., 68° 15' E. long., at the junction of the Tobol with the Irtisch, 582 feet above the level of the Caspian Sea. It is divided into the upper and the lower town : the former built on a hill on the east bank of the Irtisch ; the latter, which is the larger, occupies the interval between the ridge and the river, and is exposed to inundations. The communication between the upper and lower town is by a gently rising causeway laid with planks, which is practicable for carriages. At the foot of the ridge some springs issue, with temperatures varying from 41.45° to this temperature is however much higher than the mean temperature of the earth, which is here only Fahr.
Toboisk is the aeo of a Ruesian archbishop, the metropolitan of all Siberia, and has a theological seminary, an establishment for the education of schoolmasters, a gymnasium, and several other schools; some printing-offices, and a theatre. The only manufactures of im portance are of Russia leather; the Russian and Tartar women make linen, carpets, and woollen-cloth. There are in all twenty-three churches, two mosques, and two convents. Among the other buildings are the cathedral, which ie surmounted by five domes ; the archbishop's palace, the palace of the governor of western Siberia, the prison, and the monument of the Coasak hero Yermak, who conquered this part of Siberia for Russia in the 16th century. The population amounts to 20,000, exclusive of the soldiers, the clergy, and the exiles, for whom there is a house of correction. The bulk of the population is
composed of Russians, Tartars, and Germans. The Tartan inhabit the lower town, which is defended by a ditch and palisade. The upper town, or city proper, is surrounded by a strong brick wall. The style of living and the manners of the upper classes of society are not very different from those of Europe. The inhabitants are dis tinguished for their hospitality to strangers. Game Is. so extremely abundant in the vicinity of the city, that partridges and grouse are the daily and almost necessary food of all classes. The capercalzie, or cock of the wood, is found in great numbers near the city only in winter, but it is brought from the country of the ()disks to the north, all the year round, as well as the black cock and other game.
Though Tobolak has no manufactures, it has a very considerable transit-trade between European Russia and China. The European traders arrive in the spring with the goods destined for the Chinese, aud at the end of summer the boats return with their cargoes for liloscow and St. Petersburg. The merchants from Tartary and Bokhara arrive at the beginning of the winter, and remain at Tobolsk till the spring. All the sums collected as tribute from the wandering tribes of the immense deserts are brought to Tobolsk, where there are extensive magazines for the various descriptions of goods.