The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

B32RUSSIA IN EUEOPE.Byzantine coins are found.The old and flourishing town of Staraya Bitsa lies onthe south side of Lake Ilmen, near the junction of the Lovat, Polista, and otherstreams. Its former importance was largely due to a copious saline spring,which enabled it to supply salt to Xovgorod. But when Xovgorod lost itsindependence the surrounding towns fell into decay, and the salt ceased to beexported till the last century. At present the spring and an artesian well sunkin the neighbourhood yield to the State about 2,400 tons yearly, and StarayaRusa has become a favourite watering-place, much frequented by invalids fromSt. Petersburg.Novgorod—that is, " Xew Town " —now fallen from its high estate, was formerlythe centre of an empire stretching beyond the Ural Mountains, and of a vast tradecarried on with the west of Europe. Standing on both banks of the Yolkhov,just below Lake Ilmen, it is not only the natural entrepot of all this region,but, before the river highways were replaced by artificial routes, it was also one ofthe chief stations between the Baltic and the Black Sea.In the language of theRussian chronicles, "it lay on the high-road leading from the country of theVarangians to that of the Greeks," as well as on the road between Europe andAsia by the Yolga and Baltic. During a period of incessant warfare it enjoyedthe further advantage of immunity from the inroads of Xorse or Teutonic rovers,and the Tatars who laid waste all East and South Russia never reached this city.Surrounded by its forests, Xovgorod was much safer than the Baltic seaports, orthe more exposed places of the interior.The old town, afterwards succeeded by the " Xew Town," stood close to the lake,on a terrace about 60 feet high, surrounded on all sides by running waters andmarsh lands, and, according to the legend, Rurik's Castle was raised on the siteof this natural fortress, still known as Gorodishtche, or " Old Town." But theterrace was too limited for a large population, andthe new town was accordinglyfounded on another eminence overlooking the Yolkhov, rather over a mile fartherdown. This city became in due course the centre of political power in NorthRussia, disputing with Kiev the honour of being regarded as the "cradle ofthe Russian Empire." Opening direct relations with the Hanseatic towns, itestablished factories first at Wisby, in the island of Gotland, and then at Liibeck,while securing the inland traffic and acquiring an empire equal in extent to allWestern Europe by means of its distant settlements " beyond the portages," on theWhite Sea, and even in West Siberia. It also became with Pskov a chief centreof industry, arts, letters, and rationalistic sects. " Who can aught against Godand the mighty Xovgorod?" said a well-known local proverb. The city electedits princes, but should the popular assembly have to complain of the man intrustedwith the supreme authority, he was " bowed out of office," or consigned to the mudof the surrounding swamps.Strong in her charter of liberties, which she claimedto have received from Yaroslav the Wise, and which she jealously guarded—strongespecially in the material independence sustained by her wealth and armedcitizens, Xovgorod long flourished as an autonomous commonwealth, but, thoughpolitically free, still restless and often torn by rival factions. The people were