The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

RUSSIA IN EUROPE.CHAPTER I.GENERAL SURVEY.HE whole of Eastern Europe, comprising more than half of thecontinent, forms hut one state, the Czardom of Russia. To thisvast empire, nearly 2,000,000 square miles in extent, or about tentimes the size of France, also belongs more than one-third of thewhole of Asia. All the lands subject to the Czar have a total areaof over 8,400,000 square miles, or somewhat less than one-sixth of the dry landon the globe ; and this is exclusive of several countries which, though notbelonging officially to Russia, are nevertheless directly subject to her influence.But a very large portion of this vast empire is uninhabited, and even uninhabitable,so that relatively to its size Russia in Europe and in Asia is twice inferiorin population to the rest of the world. It may have a present population of some90,000,000, or about one-fifteenth of all mankind. In fact, the true Russia, wherethe population is dense enough to form a compact national body, and where arecentred the chief resources in men and wealth, giving to the state its aggressiveand defensive powers, is really restricted to a portion of the European territory.This section, comprising about one-half of the region this side the Ural, isnearly limited north and east by the course of the Volga, reaching southwards tothe steppes of the Black Sea coast, westwards to Rumania, Bukovina, Galicia,and the annexed portion of Poland, north-westwards to the Gulf of Finland andthe mouth of the Neva. The rest of the empire, about seven-eighths of the whole,has not contributed to the growth of its power, and seems rather a source of weakness,necessitating the employment of numerous officials, the maintenance of largearmies, the opening up of highways, the erection of remote forts and costly stations.Geographically considered, Russia presents a striking contrast to the rest ofEurope, forming a single unit as compared with the great diversity of the westernregions. Throughout its vast extent, from the icy shores of the White Sea to thesteppes of the Euxine, it presents a surprising uniformity in its physical features.Amongst the great continents Europe, properly so called, is distinguished by itso 2