b o o k north-eaft and fouth-eaft of the palatinate of Minfk : th is
. *' ■ trait of land (Poliih Livonia excepted) is fituated in White-
Ruffia, and includes at leaft one third of Lithuania.
.The Ruffian limits of the new province are formed by
the Duna, from its mouth to above Vitepik, from thence
by a ftraight line running directly fouth to the fource of
the Drug near Tolitzin, by the Drug to its junction with
the Dnieper, and laftly, by the Dnieper to the point where
it receives theSotz. This territory is now divided into the two
governments of Polotik andMohilef; its population amounts
to about 1,600,000 fouls ; its productions are chiefly grain
in large quantities, hemp, flax, and pafture; its forefts fur-
niffi great abundance of malls, planks, alfo oak for ihip
building, pitch and tar, 8cc. which are chiefly fent down the
Duna to Riga.
Upon entering Ruffia at Tolitzin we were greatly aito-
niffied at the cheapnefs of the poft-horfes ; and when our
fervant had difcharged the firft account, which amounted to
only two copecs, or about a penny, a verft * for each horfe,
we fhould have concluded, that he had cheated the poft-
mafter in our favour, if we had not been well convinced,
from the general char after of the Ruffians, that they were
not likely to be duped by ftrangers. Indeed we foon afterwards
difcovered, that even half o f the charge, which we
thought fo extremely moderate, might have been faved, if
we had taken the precaution of obtaining an order from the
Ruffian embaflador at Warfaw.
From Tolotzin, through the new government of Mohilef,
the road was excellent, and of confiderable breadth, with a
double row of trees planted on each fide, and ditches to drain
* Three quarters of a mile.
off