Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/58

30 which are four miles from each, other, is the fort of Coporoia and a river of the same name. Thence to the river Neva and the fort Oreschak are six miles. From Oreschak to the river Corela, whence the city takes its name, seven miles. Twelve miles thence you come at last to the river Polna, which divides the territory of the Russian from Finland, which country is called by the Russians, Chaniska-Semla, and is under the dominion of the kings of Sweden.

There is another Carela besides that already named. It is a province which has its own territory and dialect, and lies sixty miles more or less north of Novogorod. Although it demands tribute from some of the neighbouring nations, it is nevertheless itself tributary to the king of Sweden, and also to the Muscovite, by reason of the dominion of Novogorod.

The island of Solovki lies to the northward in the sea, eight miles from the continent, between the Dwina and the province of Carela. Its distance from Moscow has not been ascertained, on account of the frequent marshes, woods, and vast deserts, which intervene. Some, however, state it to be three hundred miles from Moscow, and two hundred from Bieloiesero. There is abundance of salt prepared in this island. There is a monastery there, into which it is considered a great crime for any woman married or unmarried to enter. There is also a great fishery, of a sort of fish called by the native selgi, which we think are herrings. They say that in the summer solstice the sun shines here constantly, with the exception of two hours in the twenty-four.

Dimitriov is a fortified city twelve miles a little northward of west from Moscow. George, the grand-duke's brother, at that time possessed it. It is watered by the river Jachroma, which flows into the river Sest. The Sest receives also the Dubna, and empties itself into the Volga. This convenience of river navigation is the cause of the great wealth of the merchants of the country, who are thus enabled,