ORENBURG, a government of Asiatic Russia, the most westerly of the whole, having on one side Russia in Europe, and on the other the government of Tobolsk. It is bounded on the south by Independent Tartary, and is traversed by the rude tribes of the Kirghisses and Kalmucks. The aspect of the country is mountainous, as it is intersected by the most elevated part of the great Uralian chain. Many parts are fertile, as the valleys and river banks, and yield grain, not merely for the subsistence of the natives, but for exportation. Numerous flocks and herds are fed on the abundant pastures; and even the camel is bred upon the plains. The breeding of bees is pursued with activity, and is found an extremely profitable branch of industry. A great quantity of large fish and caribou taken in the Ural are exported. This province is rich in mineral wealth. Its mountains afford inexhaustible mines of copper and iron; besides which, it contains saline lakes, which are very valuable. It is divided into twelve districts, of which the principal are Orenburg proper and Oufa, the last of which contains the capital. On the Tartar frontier this province is exposed to the incursions of the Kirghisses and the Kalmuck hordes, against which a chain of forts has been erected. The population is stated at 629,426.