a circle of the Russian province Witebsk, extending in north latitude from 55. 55. to 57. 15. and in east longitude from 27. 1. to 27. 29. It contains one city and 1227 villages, with 32,300 inhabitants. The capital is a small town of the same name, situated on the river Welika, 390 miles from St Petersburg. Long. 38. 35. E. Lat. 56. 35. N.