1835.] by M. F.LePlay. 23 



rise above the olive groves, are a lasting memorial of the 

 exertions of the Arabians in the advancement of agriculture. 

 Travelling in Estramadura is dangerous, for even the 

 husbandman is compelled to arm himself during his la- 

 bours in the field. From Almaraz to Trujillo, the traveller 

 passes through forests of oak, and gradually descends to 

 the latter city, the birth-place of Pizarro, which is situated 

 on the sides of a granite hill. The granite of Trujillo is 

 separated from that of Sierra de Guadelupe, by a band of 

 transition slate. Near Logrosau, small veins of quartz and 

 phosphate of lime occur, which have been magnified into 

 mountains of phosphate of lime, by some credulous indi- 

 viduals. 



To Almeyda from thence, the soil consists of solid peb- 

 bles, and on the South-East, at the Guadiana, a transition 

 plain exists. Almeyda in some points resembles the Hartz, 

 but especially in the manners of the people, which have gradu- 

 ally at different periods been introduced from Germany. The 

 mines of Almeyda are very ancient ; for according to Pliny, 

 the Greeks extracted vermillion from them 700 years before 

 our era. The Romans drew annually from them, 100,000 

 livres of cinnabar. 



The present flourishing state of these mines is indicated 

 by the fact, that 22,000 quintals of mercury are annually 

 furnished by them, and that 700 men are employed in mining, 

 200 in extracting the ore, besides a great number of mule- 

 teers, who convey the mercury to Seville. The veins are 

 so rich, that although the mines have been worked for ages, 

 the mining has only been carried the depth of 300 varas, or 

 300 metres. The whole vein is extracted, and when distilled 

 yields 10 per cent, of mercury. The same mineral is found 

 in a number of points in the direction of a band, which ex- 

 tends to Almadenejos, where the metal is extracted from a 

 black slate, containing very little cinnabar. The minerals 

 are treated at Almeyda in eight furnaces called Buytrones, 

 and at Almadenejos in five. 



The mercury has a fatal action on the industrious miners, 

 and with infinite regret the traveller beholds men in the 

 prime and vigour of their days, presenting a deadly aspect. 

 M. Play passes a high eulogium upon the manners of the 

 miners, whose characters in every respect are of the high- 

 est order. 



