TOBOLSK, the capital of the above government, stands at the junction of the Irtish and Tobol rivers. The city proper stands on a flat-topped hill, but there is a lower town at its foot, stretching along the Irtish, and liable to inundations from it. The upper town is defended by a brick wall with towers and bastions, and the streets in both parts are broad, regularly laid out, and paved with wood. Most of the houses are well built, though, with the exception of the public edifices, only of wood. The cathedral is a large and conspicuous building with five circular cupolas. There are twenty-two other Greek churches, mostly in the Byzantine style, a Lutheran church, two convents, two mosques, a theological seminary, and various other schools, a theatre, public offices, &c. Leather, soap, tallow, tiles, firearms, surgical instruments, and boats for river navigation, are made here. A considerable trade is carried on with European Russia and China. Tobolsk was founded by the Russians in 1587, and was for some time the capital of the whole of Siberia. In 1837 it was visited by the present Emperor of Russia, then the heir-apparent, when for the first time Siberia was honoured with the presence of a member of the imperial family. Pop. 16,120, mostly consisting of Russians, Tartars, and Germans.