174 A SPRING TOUR IN PORTUGAL. 



so monotonous, so wearisome to the eye, Portugal offers 

 wide-spreading, undulating plains indeed, but they are 

 clothed with aromatic and other shrubs, and are brilliant 

 with the most gorgeous wald flowers, as I have already 

 pointed out in my never-ceasing encomiums of these many- 

 coloured heaths. 



So far as regards the general outline of the physical 

 geography of the two countries respectively. Then in 

 respect to the inhabitants of these two kingdoms, I have 

 already remarked how infinitely superior, in my judgment, 

 are the general manners, disposition, and character of the 

 Portuguese to those of their Spanish neighbours. There 

 is still a deadly hatred between them ; and in scanning 

 the past history of Portugal, we may see that the jealousy 

 and dislike entertained at this day towards Spain are of no 

 modern growth, but have existed from a very remote period. 

 Nor in truth is such national feeling to be wondered at ; 

 for from the time when the Romans retreated from Lusi- 

 tania, that western extremity of the Hispanic peninsula 

 has been a tempting bait to one after another of the more 

 powerful sovereigns of the independent states into which 

 Spain was divided. Hence, until overrun by the Moors 

 in the eighth century, a calamity which it shared with its 

 rivals, there was perpetual feud along ' the stormy frontier 

 of Lusita.nia :' and, though it soon recovered its indepen- 

 dence, it was in the eleventh century divided between the 

 kingdoms of Leon and Castile, and the Mohammedan states. 

 During the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries 

 it was continually engaged in war with Castile ; and in pro- 

 portion as any of those monarchs became more firmly 

 seated on his throne, so uniformly did he cast a longing 

 eye on the extended sea-board of Portugal, and show a 

 strong desire, and often made violent efforts, to annex to 

 bis own dominions that valuable territory. This was most 

 especially exemplified during the prosperous reign of Fer- 



