VITEPSK, or WITEBSK, a government in the north-west of Euro pean Russia, which, with the government of Mohilcv, forms the part of Poland that fell to Russia at the first partition of that country iu 1772. Catherine II. divided it into two governments, which she united in 1796 under the name of White Russia ; but iu 1802 it was again divided into two, when Vitepsk was organised as at present. It is bounded N.W. by Livonia, N.E. by Pskow, E. by Smolensk, S.E. by Mohilev, S.W. by Miusk, and W. by Wilna and Courlaud. Its area is 17,145 square miles, and the population iu 1846 amounted to 789,500, the great majority of whom are Rusniaks and Catholics.
The surface presents a vast plain diversified only by the banks of the rivers, which rise a little above the general level. The soil is sand mixed with clay, and with a very thin coveriug of vegetable mould. The principal river is the DONA or Dwina, which enters the government from Pakow, makes a semicircular bend to Desna, from which place it runs along the western frontier, and is joined iu its course by most of the rivers of the province : among these are the Mesha, the Kasplia, the Ula, the Polota, the Drissa, the Druja, tho Saryja, the Feananke, and the Ewest. There are numerous small lakes : the largest is that of Lubabu, on the frontier of Livonia. The climate is damp, but temperate and not very variable.
Though the soil is poor, agriculture is the chief occupation of the inhabitants, and, on account of the facility of exportation, very profitable. They cultivate rye, wheat, barley, oats, some pulse, flax, hemp, and hops. Horticulture is pretty well attended to, but there is no fruit except cherries. The bird-cherry is very common, as well as all sorts of wild berries (bilberries, cranberries, &c.) The immense forests, consisting both of pines and other timber-trees, afford ample employment to the inhabitants in felling and squaring timber. The pasture-lands are very extensive ; horned-cattle and horses are bred in great numbers, but the former are small; the horses are partly of the strong Russian race and partly of the light Polish breed. There are large flocks of sheep, the wool of which is coarse. The inhabit
ants have abundance of goats, swine, poultry, and bees. In the forests there are bears, wolves, foxes, stags, wild boars, flying squirrels, hares, and game. The lakes and rivers produce various kinds of fish, espe cially smelts, of which immense quantities are dried and exported. The minerals are iron-ore, freestone, limestone, marl, and fuller's-earth.
The commerce of the government is greatly facilitated by the Diina, by which all its surplus produce is conveyed iu light boats to Riga and l'ernau; hemp is sent in sledges to St. Petersburg. Greater facilities have been given to commerce by the Berezina Canal, which connects the Mina and the Dnieper. The principal articles of export are hemp, dried fish, corn, flour, bristles, horses, square timber, masts, linseed, flax, oxen, wool, hides, tallow, honey, and wax.
Vitepsk, the capital of the government, to which it gives its name, is situated on the Duna, at its confluence with the Viteba, in 55° 6' N. lat., 30* 5' E. long., and has about 17,000 inhabitants. The town is surrounded with ancient walls and towers. The principal part of it is built on the left bank of the river. On the right bank is the old castle, surrounded with a very lofty rampart, and the handsomest buildings. The streets are on the whole narrow and irregular, aud there are only a few stone houses. One of the finest edifices is the convent of Greek monks of the order of St. Basil. There are 14 churches; S monasteries, of which 6 are Roman Catholic and 2 Greek ; and 2 nunneries. Vitepsk has many charitable iustitntions, a large bazaar, several al:la:en-cloth factories, end tanneries.
IVeliach, or I Vieliz, a town with 6800 inhabitants, of whom 1000 are Jews, also situated on the Diina, has a considerable trade in the pro duce of the country. The public buildings are—nine churches, a synagogue, and a citadel.
Polotzk, mentioned in the ancient Scandinavian traditions anterior to Rnrik, is situated near the right bank of the Dena, north-east of Vitepek, and is slightly fortified. The handsomest building in the town is the former college of the Jesuits, with a beautiful church. The population of Polotzk is about 10,000.