a government of European Russia, lying between N. Lat. 51° 30' and 55° 20'; E. Long. 38° 40' and Tambov 43° 50'; bounded on the north by those of Vladimir and Nijni Novgorod, E. by Penza and Saratov, S. by Voronej, and W. by Orel, Tula, and Riazan. Its length from N. to S. is 270 miles, its greatest breadth 195, and its area 26,539 square miles. The surface is a vast low plain, without any large mountains, lakes, or rivers, and broken only by a few low ridges of hills. The northern portion is partly covered with wide-spread forests, which contain many marshes; and in the south there are extensive steppes almost entirely destitute of trees. The largest river in Tambov is the Oka, an affluent of the Volga, but this only traverses the north-west corner of the government, receiving from the south the Moskha, with its affluents the Zna and the Vad. The Verona, a tributary of the Don, waters the extreme south of the country; and the Don itself flows for a short distance within its limits. The climate is temperate and healthy, but somewhat cold in winter. In the extreme north there is a marshy and sandy soil, but the rest of the government is fertile, and almost entirely an agricultural country. The steppes are cultivated in some places, and yield good crops; while in other parts they afford excellent pasture land. About one-half of the total area consists of arable land, one-fourth of pasture ground, and one-fifth of wood. Corn is raised in such quantities as to leave a large quantity for exportation; and all the kinds common in Russia are grown; especially rye, oats, millet, buck-wheat, and wheat. The country also produces poppies, hemp, flax, hops, and other vegetables. Large herds and flocks are reared on the steppes and pasture grounds; the horses are of an excellent breed; and the raising of sheep is much attended to, although the wool is coarse. Excellent timber for ship-building and other purposes is supplied by the forests, and in their vicinity many people are employed as carpenters and coopers, or in preparing charcoal, pitch, tar, &c. The mineral productions of the country are of little importance, consisting chiefly of iron, freestone, and saltpetre. There are some iron furnaces, but on the whole very few manufactories; woollen and linen cloth, tallow, soap, and brandy, being almost the only articles made. An extensive trade in the produce of the country is carried on; and, among other articles, cattle, corn, cheese, butter, honey, wool, hemp, hides, and tallow are exported. Trade is much facilitated by the rivers of the country. With the exception of a comparatively small number of Tartars and a few gipsies, the population of the government is entirely Russian. Some of the Tartars are Mohammedans; but among the rest of the people the Greek Church is the prevailing religion, and Tambov is the see of a bishop. Education is but ill provided for. The government is divided into 12 circles, as follows:

| Circle | Population | |--------|------------| | Tambov | 232,674 | | Schatak| 110,418 | | Spask | 79,983 | | Kooslav | 200,259 | | Lebedjan | 100,370 | | Lipetsk | 100,274 |

Total (1851), 1,666,505; (1856), 1,808,172.

capital of the above government, on the Zna, 125 miles N.E. of Voronej, and 263 S.E. of Moscow. It is an old town, built chiefly of wood, and surrounded by a rampart, which was erected as a barrier against the incursions of the Tartars. There are 13 churches, 6 of which are only of wood, a monastery of our Lady of Casan, a gymnasium, military school, seminary for priests, hospital, &c. Many of the inhabitants are employed in farming, but there are also manufactories of cloth, canvass, cordage, shawls, and an imperial establishment for making alum and vitriol. Some trade is carried on; and an annual fair held here in spring is much frequented. Pop. 14,000.