ALBANIA the Drin, formed by the confluence of the White and Black Drin, which flowing respectively to the S. and X. through a long valley at the foot of the Shar range, take a westerly direction after their junction, the Matia, the Arzen, the Shkumb (anc. Genusos), the Simen (anc. Apsos), formed by the junction of the Devol and Ergene, the Viossa (anc. Aous), which owing to the trend of the Chimara range takes a north-westerly direction, the Kalamas (anc. Thyamis), and the Arta (anc. Arachthos), flowing S. into the Ambracian Gulf. A portion of the stream of the Drin has recently found its way into the Boyana channel; the result has been a rise in the level of Lake Scutari and the inundation of the adjacent lowlands. A proposal to confine the Drin to its former course by means of a dyke, and to ease the downflow of the Boyana by a canal opening navigation to Lake Scutari, has long been considered by the Turkish authorities. The great lakes of Scutari (350 sq. kil.) and Ochrida (270 sq. kil.) are among the most beautiful in Europe; the waters of the latter, which find an outlet in the Black Drin, are of marvellous clearness. Lake Malik, to the S.W. of Ochrida, is drained by the Devol. The waters of the picturesque Lake lannina (61 sq. kil.) find an issue by katabothra, or underground channels, into the Ambracian Gulf. The lake of Butrinto (anc. Buthrotum) is near the sea-coast opposite Corfu. The climate is healthy in the uplands, though subject to violent changes; in the valleys fever is very prevalent, especially in the basins of the Boyana, the lower Drin, and the Simen. The winter is short, but exceedingly cold; snow remains on the Prokletia and other mountains till August, and sometimes throughout the year. The summer temperature in the plains is that of southern Italy; in the mountain districts it is high during the day, but falls almost to freezing-point at night. The sea-coast is exposed to the fierce bora, or north wind, during the spring. The mountains of Albania are said to be rich in minerals, but this source of wealth remains practically unexplored. Natural jron anq coaj are probably r J abundproducts. ant, and silver-lead, copper, and antimony are believed to exist. Gold mines were worked in antiquity in the Drin valley, and silver mines in the Mirdite region were known to the Venetians in the middle ages. At Selinitza, near Avlona, there is a remarkable deposit of mineral pitch which was extensively worked in Homan times; mining operations are still carried on here, but in a somewhat primitive fashion. The splendid forests, of which there are 70,000 square acres in the vilayet of Scutari alone, are undergoing a rapid process of destruction, as in other lands under Turkish rule. The principal trees are the oak, the valonia oak, the beech, ash, elm, plane, celtis, poplar, and walnut, which give way in the higher regions to the pine and fir. The oak forests near Dibra, where charcoal-making is a considerable industry, and the beechwoods of the Prishtina district, are especially remarkable.
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The sumach is largety grown in the Mirdite district ; its leaves are exported to Trieste for use in tanneries and dyeworks. In 1898 the export of valonia was estimated at 280,000 francs, of sumach at 60,000 francs. Of fruittrees the white mulberry, cherry, and wild pear are plentiful; the chestnut and walnut are sometimes met with, and the olive is grown in the lowland and mari-
Sketch Map of Albania. time districts. The exportation of olive oil in 1898 was valued at 600,000 francs. The greater part of the country is admirably suited to viticulture, and wine of tolerable quality is produced. Tobacco is grown extensively in Southern Albania, especially near Berat and in the upper valley of the Viossa, but the quantity exported is small. The means of subsistence are mainly provided by the cultivation of grain and cattle-rearing. Notwithstanding the primitive condition of agriculture,
