WALLA'CHIA, or WALA'CHIA (Ztirn RensuniAska, in Walla china, in Turkish Eflak), a principality and vassal state of Turkey-in Europe, is bounded N. by the Carpathian Mountains (which divide it from Transylvania) and the principality of Moldavia, K by that part of the Lower Danube, which, running from south to north, separates it from the Dobrudscha, S. by the Danube, and W. by the Danube and the south-eastern corner of Hungary. its greatest length from west to cast Is 276 miles ; its greatest breadth from south to north is 127 miles. The area is about 28,000 square miles: the population amounts to 2,324,484, all of the Greek Church, except a few Hungarian settlers, who are Catholics.
The Carpathians are the principal mountains. Several ranges of lower mountains and bills stretch from the Carpa thians In a parallel direction south and south-east, and contain valleys between them, the upper part of which is narrow, but the lower part becomes wider as the valleys approach the Danube. Along this river there Is a broad level tract consisting near the Danube of lowlands and marshes, which are exposed to the Inundations of the river. However the most western part of Wallachia is generally mountainous, and the bills reach to the banks of the Danube. A great part of the country, especially the northern part, is covered with forests of firs, oak's, and beeches. The soil, except in the mountainous districts, is a rich mould, and of extraordinary fertility. In the elevated part of the country there are extensive pastures covered with aromatic herbs, which feed a great number of sheep, the flesh of which is much esteemed. In the level and marshy parts there is excellent pasture for cattle, of which great numbers are annually fsttened. The prin. eipal river is the Danube. [Dasioas.) The other rivers are tribu taries of the Danube ; their sources are all In the Carpathians, and their direction is south in the western part of the country, south-east in the middle part, and east in the eastern part. The principal are—
the SyU, or Schyl, in the west ; its sources are in Transylvania, but It soon leaves this country by a long and narrow defile called the Valken Paso, where it enters Wallachia; it joins the Danube opposite the small town of Rahova in Bulgaria ; its length is nearly 140 miles. The Alt, or A late, east of the Syn. [Arent; TRANSYLVANIA.] The Telorman ; its sources are in 45* N. 1st, between the Alt and the river Arjiah, at the foot of the Carpathians ; it joins the Danube opposite the town of Novograd in Bulgaria, after a course of 100 miles. The A rjuh, Argii, or A rj, net of the Alt ; Its sources are in the Carpathians+, 20 miles east of the Itothenthurm Pass, and it joins the Danube a little below Oltcnitza, and opposite the Bulgarian town of Turtuki, after a south-eastern course of 160 miles. The Dam browilza, a tributary of the Arjish, passes Bukharest, and joins the latter 16 miles north of the junction of the Arjiah with the Danube; its course Is almost parallel to that of the Arjish, and its length is 110 miles. The Jalonitza comes from the Carpathians near the Tomosh Paw; at first it runs south for 30 miles, and afterwards soath-east, eaet, and north-east till It reaches the Danube a little below Hirsora ; its whole course ia nearly 170 miles. The Burro, north of the Jalonitza, conies from Transylvania, flows through the Buzeo Pane, and joins the Sereth 12 miles above the junction of this river with the Danube. after an easterly course of 120 miles. All these rivers are navigable for barges, but little is done to facilitate the navi gation, which is rendered impracticable in many places by rocks, shallows, and other obstacles. Besides the lar;er rivers, there are many smaller streams which traverse the country. In the marshy districts there are several large lakes formed by branches of the Danube ; and in the rainy season, or when the snow on the Carpa thians melts, the low tracts along the Danube are iuundated for many miles in breadth.