PORTRAIT OF M. BRATIANO " " 265

MAPS.

[Drawn and lithographed, with aid of Author’s notes, by E. WELLER.]

GEOGRAPHICAL MAP OF ROUMANIA To face p. 3

HISTORICAL MAP OF ROUMANIA After Kiepert, &c. 115

Errata.

Page 45, note, for p. 202 read initial letter, p. 200.

  " 64, note 1, " 7209 " 7029.

  " 162, line 19, " west " east.

  " 165, " 22, " Bajazet II. " Bajazet I.

PART I.

ROUMANIA, TO-DAY.

                                        We love
    The king who loves the law, respects his bounds,
    And reigns content within them; him we serve
    Truly and with delight who leaves us free.

    COWPER.

    There virtue reigns as queen in royal throne,
    And giveth laws alone. 
    The which the base affections do obey,
    And yield their services unto her will.

    SPENSER.

[Illustration:  Physical Map of ROUMANIA]

CHAPTER I.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

Limits, dimensions, and population of Roumania—­Comparison with England—­Configuration of the surface—­Altitudes of towns—­Mountains—­Appearance of the country—­The region of the plains—­Plants and agricultural condition—­The peasantry—­Female navvies—­Costumes—­Wells—­Subterranean dwellings—­Marsh fever—­Travelling, past and present—­Zone of the hills—­Plants, flowers, fruits, and cereals—­Cheap fruits—­Improved dwellings—­Wages of labourers—­Petroleum wells—­Rock-salt—­Mines—­The Carpathians—­Character of the scenery—­Alpine trees and plants—­Sinaia—­The King’s summer residence—­The monastery—­Conveniences for visitors, baths, &c.—­Occupations of visitors—­Beautiful scenery—­The new palace—­The King and Queen—­Geology of Roumania—­Scanty details—­The chief deposits and their localities—­Minerals—­Salt—­Petroleum—­Lignite—­Ozokerit—­ Haematite—­Undeveloped mineral wealth.

I.

The kingdom of Roumania is situated between 22 deg. 29’ and 29 deg. 42’ east of Greenwich, and between 43 deg. 37’ and 48 deg. 13’ north of the equator.  Its general boundaries are, on the east and south, the Pruth and the Danube, with the exception of the Dobrudscha south of the latter river, at its embouchures, and on the west and north by the Carpathian mountains, along whose heights the boundary line runs.  The limit which separates it from Bulgaria, on the south-east leaves the Danube just east of Silistria, and runs irregularly in a south-easterly direction until it reaches the Black Sea, about nine miles and