EKATERINOSLAY

EKATERINOSLAY, or JEKATERINOSLAY, a government in the south of European Russia, bounded on the N. by the governments of Poltava, Kharkov, and Voronezh, E. by the territory of the Don Cossacks, S. by the sea of Azoph and the government of Taurida, and W. by the government of Kherson. The district of Taganrog, and the territory of the Azovian Cossacks belonging to this government, are separated from it by the territory of the Don Cossacks, and extend along the N.E. shores of the sea of Azoph. The area and population are as follows:—

The population consists of Russians and Cossacks, with a considerable admixture of German colonists and other races. About two-thirds of the surface consist of an open steppe or plain without trees, and only adapted to pasturage. This is particularly the case with that large portion lying to the E. of the Dnieper; to the W. of that river the soil is much more fertile. The inhabitants are chiefly pastoral, and possess immense numbers of horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, goats, &c. They also devote some attention to bees and silkworms. The grain produced is scarcely sufficient for home consumption. The other productions are hemp, flax, peas, beans, vegetables, and fruits.