a great lake in Siberia, lying between 52 and 55 degrees of north latitude. It is reckoned to be 500 werths in length; but only 20 or 30 broad, and in some places not above 15. It is environed on all sides by high mountains. In one part of it, which lies near the river Barguhan, it throws up an inflammable sulphureous liquid called malaha, which the people of the adjacent country burn in their lamps. There are likewise several sulphureous springs near this lake. Its water at a distance appears of a tea-green colour: it is fresh, and so clear, that objects may be seen in it several fathoms deep. It does not begin to freeze till near the latter end of December, and thaws again about the beginning of May: from which time till September, a ship is seldom known to be wrecked upon it; but by the high winds, which then blow, many shipwrecks happen. This lake is called by the neighbouring people Swiatoie More, or the Holy Lake; and they imagine, that when storms happen on it, they will be preserved from all danger, by complimenting it with the title of sea. When it is frozen over, people travel upon it in the road to China; but they must be very sharp shod, otherwise they cannot stand upon the ice, which is exceedingly smooth. Notwithstanding that the ice on this lake is sometimes two ells thick, there are some open places in it to which tempestuous winds will often drive those who are crossing it; in which case they are irrecoverably lost. The camels that pass along have a particular kind of shoes sharp at bottom, and the oxen have sharp irons driven through their hoofs, without which it would be impossible for them to pass. Here are plenty of large sturgeon and pike; with many seals of the black, but none of the spotted, kind. It contains several islands; and the borders are frequented by black fables and civet-cats.