NOVGOROD southwest, about 30 m. long and 16m. broad ; and Lake Voshe in the northeast, about 15 m. long and 10 m. broad. In the southwest the Valdai hills enter from the province of Pskov, and stretch N. E. They are a limestone range, nowhere more than 1,200 ft. high. The sur- face of Novgorod is covered with granite bowl- ders, though there is no granite in situ within the province, nor in any of those adjoining. The country is in general flat, a considerable portion being covered with lakes and marshes. The soil of the N. portion is for the most part swampy and of a poor quality, but in the south it is good and productive. The climate is cold, and the winter lasts from November to May. There are large forests of pine, fir, beech, birch, NOVICE 527 Millennial Monument. alder, and elm. The principal crops are rye, barley, oats, flax, and hemp. The forests afford shelter to large numbers of wild animals, and the lakes and rivers are well stocked with fish. Iron, coal, and salt are found ; and limestone, sandstone, and gypsum are very abundant. II. A town, also known as Novgorod Veliki (Great), capital of the government, on the Volkhov, near the point where it issues from Lake Ilmen, 103 m. S. S. E. of St. Petersburg; pop. in 1867, 16,722. It is divided into two parts by the Volkhov, which is crossed by a fine wooden bridge supported on granite pil- 611 VOL. xii. 34 lars. The town is generally ill built. It con- tains a large number of churches, including the cathedral of St. Sophia in the Kremlin, built after the model of St. Sophia in Con- stantinople, and several monasteries. The manufactures consist of sail cloth, leather, to- bacco, candles, and vinegar. There is a trade in flax, corn, and hemp, carried on chiefly with St. Petersburg. Novgorod was founded about 500 by the Slavs. About 862 Rurik here laid the foundation of the Russian monarchy, the 1000th anniversary of which was celebrated in 1862, and a magnificent monument was erected in commemoration of it. The seat of govern- ment was afterward removed to Kiev, and in the 12th century Novgorod became an inde- pendent republic under a hereditary magis- trate of limited power. Its territory extend- ed as far as Siberia on the east and Livonia on the west. It had an extensive trade ; one of the earliest factories of the Hanseatic league was established at Novgorod, and its fairs were resorted to by traders from all the neighboring countries. In the 15th century the population was 400,000 ; but in 1477 its independence and prosperity were destroyed by Ivan III. NOVI, a town of Italy, in the province of Ales- sandria, 24 m. N. by W. of Genoa ; pop. about 12,000. It is walled, and has broad though irregular streets, and a handsome square, with a fountain. There are many fine villas and palaces belonging to opulent Genoese families, who spend the autumn here on account of the salubrious climate. It is famous for its silk manufactures. A battle was fought here, Aug. 15, 1799, between the Russians and Austrians under Suvaroff and the French under Joubert, in which the French were defeated and their commander killed. JVOYIBAZAR, or Yenibazar, a town of Bosnia, on the S. border of Servia, 120 m. S. E. of Bosna-Serai; pop. about 15,000. The houses are hardly more than hovels, and the ancient castle is dilapidated; but the town is impor- tant on account of its central situation, and for the fertility of the surrounding country. It has annual fairs, which are largely attended, and is the prospective terminus of an impor- tant railway line. NOVICE, a candidate for admission into a re- ligious order who has not yet taken the vows, but is passing through a period of probation. Novices must have attained the age of puberty, else the vows taken by them afterward are invalid. No married person can be admitted except by the consent of both parties. Chil- dren whose labor is necessary for the support of their parents are inadmissible, as well as widows and widowers whose children are de- pendent on them. They usually wear the dress of the order, with perhaps some distinguishing mark, as in certain of the sisterhoods, in which their veils are white instead of black, and are subject to the rules and the authority of the superiors. They are placed under the direc- tion of an officer of the convent, called the
