TOBOLSK

TOBOLSK, a government of Asiatic Russia, comprising the extreme west of Siberia, between N. Lat. 54. and 73., E. Long. 55. and 80.; bounded on the N. by the Arctic Ocean, E. by the governments of Tomsk and Yeniseisk, S. by the Kirghiz territory, and W. by the governments of Perm and Orenburg. Length from N. to S. 1400 miles; greatest breadth 900; area estimated at 500,000 square miles. The surface is mountainous towards the west, where the Ural chain forms its boundary; and also on the south, where the Altai mountains border on the government. The rest of the surface is level, or occupied by a slightly undulating plain. The principal river is the Obi, which enters the country from the east, and then turns northwards and falls into the Gulf of Obi. It receives,

Tobolsk. along with a number of smaller affluents, the Tobol, Irtish, and Ishim, from the south, which all unite before entering the main river; the Ishim and the Irtish some distance above Tobolsk; and these with the Tobol at that town.

The character of the soil and productions in different parts of the government varies considerably. In the southern part there are many rich agricultural tracts along the banks of the rivers; and among the hills there is much good natural pasture-land. The centre of the government is occupied by vast forests of fir and birch; while north of them there stretch low level plains, called tundras, of the most desolate character, consisting of moors and moor-rasses, dotted here and there with low stunted trees and shrubs. The climate is on the whole cold, even in the southern part of the government; for, while the summers are frequently very hot, they are of short duration, and the winters are long and severe. The principal crops raised in Tobolsk are rye, barley, oats and buckwheat; which are conveyed from the more fertile regions in the south, down the Obi, to the villages in the north, in exchange for furs and skins. Many important minerals, such as gold, silver, platinum, iron, and copper, are obtained in the Ural and Altai mountains. There are large forges for these metals in various places, and the manufacture of leather, soap, woollen cloth, and tallow, is carried on. But the trade is of more importance than the manufactures of the government; and most of the inhabitants, except the clergy and government officials, are engaged in it to a greater or a less extent. Fish, fur, and hides from the north are sent through Tobolsk, Tiumen, and other towns, either to the fairs at Nijni-Novgorod, or to the Kirghiz territory, to be bartered for horses, cattle, &c.; or to Kiachta, in exchange for tea, silk, and other Chinese productions. The inhabitants of Tobolsk are partly Russians, partly Ostiaks, Samoyedes, Tunguzes, and other tribes. The government is divided into nine circles as follows:—

But the total population in 1856 amounted to 1,011,413.