NIKSHICH (also written N1xsHITCH and NIKSHrTI; Croatian, Nik.fic)  , a town of Montenegro, lying in a flat plain enclosed by lofty mountains on the north-west, and watered by the river Zeta . Pop . (1900) about 3500 . Owing to the prevalence of floods, a long viaduct, a gift from Russia, was raised between the town and the mountain road which leads to Podgoritsa, 6o m . S.E . Nikshich consists of a mass of white houses, dominated by the belfry and the pale yellow cupola of its cathedral, another gift from Russia . This building is chiefly Byzantine in style, and, though hardly beautiful, is the most impressive and by far the largest of Montenegrin churches . Close by stands a barrack-like royal palace; and a little beyond the town are the ruins of an old castle . As Nikshich possesses a brewery and a clothmill, besides being the chief mart of Western Montenegro for timber, hides, farm-produce and livestock, it ranks second in commercial importance to Podgoritsa . About 12 M . S.E. is the celebrated shrine of Ostrog (see MONTENEGRO) . Nikshich was included in the Turkish province of Herzegovina until 1876, in which year it was stormed by the Montenegrins, led by Prince Nicholas in person .

In 1878 the Montenegrin

possession was ratified by the treaty of Berlin .