488 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
its flowers are so ephemeral, that the early passenger alone 
beholds them in perfection. Whole slopes were covered 
with bushes of Sideritis arborescens, mingling with the 
delicate blue-flowered Campanula mollis.* This path is only 
used by the arrieros, or carriers, who convey fish to Ronda 
and the Serrania: it generaly pursues the ravines with 
which the hills are furrowed. At the height of 1500 feet 
we saw a spot where mines of lead are worked; but the 
journey before us was already too long to permit of our 
exploring them.  Hereabouts we entered a zone of Firs, 
thickly sprinkled over a rocky and melancholy tract: the 
steepness of the way, compelling our poor beasts to 
stride across huge masses of stone, rendered our progress 
very slow. From time to time we noticed, fixed to a tree, 
or overshadowed by a cliff, the little wooden cross which 
commemorates tragic events, too common in Spain, and 
which adds desolation and mourning to the funereal character 
of the landscape. ** Este camina està sembrado de muertes,” 
(this path is strewn with murders,) said, in energetic tones, 
a woman whom I questioned respecting one of the most 
recent memorials. She told me that it was dedicated to the 
memory of a peasant from Estepona, who, returning from 
Ronda with a sum of money, was killed by his compan10n, 
who shot at him from behind, and then fled to Gibraltar, 
and had been never seen more. Moorish fatalism appears to 
dictate the formula of these inscriptions. The murderer's 
. mame is not mentioned, it would seem that he is only the 
_ instrument of an inevitable and predestined crime. Thus, for 
instance, “Aqui mataron al Pedro Gama," (Aere Pedro 
.. Gama was slain :) then follow the date of the deed and the 
. final prayer for his soul's repose, “ Ruegad a Dios para 
su alma.” ^ Generally speaking, assassinations are caused by s 
revenge or quarrels, and must not be imputed to the robbers, —— 
_ of whom there are plenty in the Serrania. These fellows arè — 
. Content with plundering the travellers who fall into ther — 
.. hands, and when disappointed in their hopes of booty, thet — 
All-humour is wreaked in a hearty cudgelling. NI 
