and the Pyrenees^ in 1825. 351 



to continue to swallow, while the stream is constant, as to lead 

 the stream to the mouth ; but sufficient address is soon acquired. 

 The next day we arrived at Barcelona. 



On all the route, we took every opportunity, whether owing 

 to bad roads, hills to ascend, or a change of horses, to get out 

 of the diHgence, and separate to the right and left, in order to 

 examine the vegetation of the country. Our principal success 

 was in the woods of Granita, and along the sea- shore from 

 Pinede to Barcelona. Between Las Caldas and La Granita, 

 we gathered Helianthemum tuberaria, Cistus Jlorentmus, and 

 a Euphorbia, perhaps a remarkable purplish variety of E. vet" 

 rucosa. All the wastes there might be truly termed heaths ; 

 for, as in Scotland, whole hills were chiefly covered with species 

 of Erica ; and we observed E. scoparia and arborea among the 

 number. The latter part of the road was interesting on many 

 accounts : the number and size of the towns and villages on the 

 coast, — the cleanness and even elegance of the dress of the pea- 

 santry, and the general appearance of ease and health, — form a 

 complete contrast with the universal desolation, the disgusting 

 filth, and the degraded state of the inhabitants, that one meets 

 in the interior. As far as regards the natural productions, the 

 fine climate of the coast of Catalonia gives to them a vigour 

 unknown even in the south of France. The Agave Americana 

 planted here along the road-sides as hedge-rows, flowers at the 

 ninth or tenth year, whereas at Perpignan it flowers so very sel- 

 dom, as to bear the appellation of " the plant that flowers as 

 often as an Englishman smiles.'' At the time we passed through 

 Catalonia, the scapes of this plant were still young ; few ex- 

 ceeded twelve or fifteen feet, and the pedicles not being deve- 

 loped, they presented the appearance of gigantic shoots of as- 

 paragus. In some favourable situations they were much higher, 

 and resembled at a distance the masts of ships : they frequent- 

 ly, I was informed, attain twenty-five or thirty feet, and all 

 that in the course of a week or ten days. Notwithstanding this 

 rapidity of vegetation, the scape is harder than oak, bidding 

 defiance to the sharp edges of the strong knives we used for 

 cutting down plants. Different species of Cactus or Indian 

 Fig, forming thick bushes four or six feet high, displayed their 

 splendid yellow and red blossoms in the utmost profusion : 



