See Russia.

VOLHYNIA, or WOLHYNIA, a government of European Russia, bounded on the N. by those of Grodno and Minsk; E. by that of Kiev; S. by that of Podolia and by Galicia; and W. by Poland. Length from E. to W. 230 miles; greatest breadth 152; area 27,640 square miles. The surface is partly level and partly undulating. The northern portion consists of a plain, interrupted here and there by a few wooded hills, while the southern part is traversed by several offsets of the Carpathian Mountains, which, however, nowhere exceed 300 feet in height. In the extreme south of the government there is an elevated table-land, forming part of the watershed between the rivers Dnieper and Dniester. The former of these receives nearly all the drainage of Volhynia, most of the rivers flowing northwards and joining its affluent the Pripyet. The largest are the Turija, Stur, Gorun, and Slutsch. The Bug, an affluent of the Vistula, forms the western boundary of the government, and receives a few small streams from it; and the southern Bug takes its rise on the frontier between Volhynia and Podolia. The only lakes in the country are of very small size; but there are extensive morasses, especially towards the north. The climate is mild, equable, and healthy; somewhat resembling, but with rather more severity, that of Southern Germany. Fearful ravages are often caused by swarms of locusts, which from time to time visit the country. The soil is on the whole fertile, and well suited for agriculture, which is the principal branch of industry here. Indeed Volhynia is one of the principal corn-producing governments of Russia; although the methods of farming are very unskilful, and the implements rude. All kinds of grain are raised, especially wheat of very fine quality; and there is a considerable surplus for exportation. Rye, barley, oats, millet, pulse, hops, tobacco, flax, and hemp are also among the productions of the country. In 1849, the extent of arable land in Volhynia was 5,691,629 acres; of meadow land 2,063,120 acres; and of wood 7,255,189 acres. The forests, which are thus extensive, consist in some places almost entirely of pines, but in others oaks, beeches, and limes are numerous. They afford abundance both of timber and fuel. Bears, lynxes, wild boars, wolves, foxes, and many kinds of game, are among the wild animals of the country; and the rivers are well supplied with fish. The pastures are very rich, especially towards the north; and on them large numbers of live stock are reared. The oxen are highly esteemed; and the horses, which are of the Polish breed, are much used for the cavalry. In 1849 the government contained 246,789 horses, 621,305 horned cattle, 995,891 sheep, a large proportion of which were of superior breed, 337,458 swine, and 22,793 goats. The most important of the mineral productions of the country is iron, for which there are a number of furnaces. Saltpetre, flint, limestone, and potter's clay are also found; and there are mineral springs in some places. Manufactures have made considerable progress since the

---

1 Forbes in Jour. of Royal Institution, Lecture on the Question of Modern Creations. 2 Botany of Antarctic Voyage, i. part ii. 1847. 3 See Bowerbank, Jour. Geol. Soc. v. 319. 4 Cosmos, vol. v. p. 436, Bohn's ed. beginning of the present century; and now leather, glass, earthenware, potash, tar, and charcoal are made to a considerable extent. The trade is chiefly in the hands of the Jews, of whom there are upwards of 180,000 in the government. The principal exports are corn, cattle, and hides.

Volhynia is divided into twelve circles, and has for its capital Jitomir. Pop. (1856) 1,493,387.