VIATKA (Wjatka, or Wititzk), an extensive goverument of Russia, is situated between 55° 50' and 60° 5' N. lat., 55° 46' and 54° E. long. Its area is 52,900 square miles, and the populatiou in 1846 was 1,662,800. It is bounded N. by Vologda, E. by Perm, S. by Oren burg and Casan, and W. by Kostroma. The country is covered by branches of the Ural Mountains, and by vast morasses and immense forests. The climate is cold and inclement, especially in the northern portion of the country, but salubrious. The soil is in general clay or moor, with no considerable tract of rich mould, except on the banks of the Kama, which rises in the north of the government, but soon enters Perm, through which it flows from north to south. The principal river is the Vititka, which rises near the source of the Kama, and with various windings traverses the government from north to south, and falls into the Kama at the south-western corner of the province. It receives in its course the Tschepza, Metsebeda, Malmy schka, Sehosma, Cholumitza, and several other rivers.
Agriculture is the chief occupation of the inhabitants. The species of grain cultivated are rye, barley, oats, and a little wheat ; pulse of different kinds, and flax and hemp are grown. The forests of pines, oaks, elms, limes, and other trees, are a principal source of wealth : they are the resort of abundance of deer and of fur-bearing animals.
The breeding of oxen, sheep, swine, and goats is much attended to. The country-people have also great quantities of bees, and the fishing in the rivers is profitable. The minerals are copper and iron. Tho inhabitants build boats, manufacture coarse cloth and linen, tan leather, and make iron and wooden utensils. The Finnish part of the population, as well as the Rua/hula and Tartars, provide for almost all their own wants. A good deal of brandy is distilled. The exports of the government go to Archangel.
l'idtka, the capital of the government, is situated in 58° 22' N. lat., 49' 45' E. long., at the conflueuce of the Vidtka and Chlenopka. There are 23 churches, all of atone, and about one in nine or ten houses are also of atone. The town is the seat of government and the see of a bishop. There are a gymnasium, it seminary, and a convent, founded in 1520.
The second town in the government is Sarapol, on the Kama, nearly 400 miles S.W. from Vidtka. It is a well-built town, and has 6000 inhabitants. Slobodskoi, on the Vidtka, has 6000 inhabit ants, who manufacture iron and copper. Votka has also about 6000 inhabitants who manufacture anchors and crucibles. At lath, on tho river Lich, 27 miles Votka, there are large establishments, where fire-arms are manufactured for the army : the population is about S000.
VIC. [Awls]