WELISH, a circle of the Russian government of Witebsk. It extends in north latitude from 55° 25' to 56° 2', and in east longitude from 30° 13' to 31° 6'. It contains one city and 1013 villages, with 56,400 inhabitants. The principal river is the Duna, which receives the waters of the Mescha and the Welsh, as well as the overflowing of the lakes Us-
and Tschiplia. The capital is a city of the same name Duna, at the spot where the Welishka falls into that stream. It is an ancient and ill-built town, with a Greek and a Catholic church, and a synagogue. It contains 4800 inhabitants, a fourth part of whom are Jews. It is 430 miles from St Petersburg. Long. 31. 48. E. Lat. 55. 36. N.