S.A'NNIO, or Molise, a third-class province of the kingdom of the Two Skillet., lie. chiefly on the east side of the central ridge of the Apennine; and extends as far as the Adriatic coast. The district of hernia however, which belongs to the administrative province of S.annio, lies on the west elope of the Apennines, and belongs to the basin of the Volturno. Sannio is bounded N. by Abruzzo Citra and the Adriatic, S. by tan Capiat*, Principato Ultra, and Terra-di-Lavoro. The area is 2857 square miles ; the population in 1851 amounted to 3Z0,519. The province is crossed in its length by the river Biferno, the ancient Tifernus, which rises from two sources in the high Apen nines near Bojano, and flowing north-east enters the Adriatic near the town of Termoli, after a tortuous course of about 60 miles. The other principal river of the province is the Trigno, which flows nearly parallel to, but to the north of the Biferno. In the lower part of its course the Trigno marks the boundary between Sannio and the province of Abruzzo Citra. South of the 13iferna, the Fortero con stitutes, (arsenal! part of its course, the boundary between Sannio and C.apitanata. The central ridge of the Apcnnines, which rune in a general direction from north-west to south-east, sends out several offsets, which run in a north-east direction to the Adriatic coast. Between these offsets there are valleys through which the rivers flow with a rapid course. The valleys and the lower hills are very fertile, and produce corn, maize, pulse, oil, wine, enefruite. Agriculture is however in a very low condition. The highlands are chiefly used for summer pasture. The forests are of small extent The chief manu facturing industry in the province is that of cutlery and fire-arms, which is established at Campobasso, Froseolone, Lucite, and Agnone. Agnane has also copper-works. At Calletorto there is a profitable trade in hats, dressed skins, wax ornaments, and candles. Isernia has manufactures of woollen-stuffs, paper, and earthenware.
The province comprises the ancient territories of Larinu , of the Cara eeni, and the Pentri. [Sanetom.] It has a civil and criminal court at Campobasso, from which there is an appeal to the High Court of Naples. The ecclesiastical administration is under the five bishops of Larino, Termoll, !Bernie, Bojano, and Trivento. There are a royal college,
and an institution for female boarders at Campobasso, and three gram mar-schools at Cascalenda, Montenero-di-Bisaccia, and 7slarcone. There are elementary schools in many communes. The province is con nected with Naples, and the towns on the Adriatic by excellent roads. [Nerue..] The following are the principal towns of the province of Sannio :— Coespoteseee, a tosser indifferently built, situated on the slope of a hill above the valley of the Biferno, has an important corn-market, manufactories of cutlery, which supply the whole kingdom, and 9000 inhabitants. reirento, in the valley of the Trigno, is a bishop's see, with 3000 inhabitants : it contains some ancient remains. Sepino, the ancient Sepinum, formerly a town of the Sainnites, is situated in the Apennines, which hero divide the valley of the Tiferno from that of the Tamaro, an affluent of the Volturno; it has several churches and convents, a device' seminary, a paper manufactory, and 4000 inhabitants. Termoli, the ancient Interaenna, a small town of 2000 inhabitant* on the sea-coast, between the mouth of the Trigno and that of the Biferno, has a castle on a promontory, and a neglected harbour. Lewin*, a small town of 4000 inhabitants, in the valley of the Biferno, not far from the awn, is the head of a district. (San 'nese] Agisone is a thriving modern town, with iron- and copper works, and about 7000 Inhabitants. Bojano is an old decayed town in the Apennine*, near the sources of the Biferno. hernia, on the site of the ancient eFaernia, Is an old-looking town, situated in a valley on the wait aide of the Apennines, near the Volturno, on the high road from Naples to Abruzzo. It contains several remains of antiquity, and has flourishing mannfectorica of pottery and paper, woollens, and a population of 5500. An ancient aqueduct carried through a tunnel a mile In length, supplies the fountains and manufactories of the town. Native sulphur is found in the hills round hernia in the form of crystal*. From hernia a carriage-road branches off to the east ward, crosses the central ridge to liojano, and loads to Campobasso and Lariuo. The province of Sannio comprises only a part of the ancient feausnlern, which also Included the whole of the Principato Ultra and part of Terra-di-Lavoro.