148 Dr. T. A. Chapman and Mr. G. C. Champion on 
situated on a bay or inlet of the sea some mile and a half 
or two miles across, and some twenty miles long, the 
country is mountainous, but the elevations are low, 
cultivation reaching well to the tops. There are woods, 
including some of pine, but the rarity of pine species 
confirms their appearance of being planted and_ not 
indigenous. ‘T’o get more than scraps of waste ground one 
must go inland seven or eight miles, on towards Porriio, 
where we found open heath and woodland. The roads, 
however, are very dusty and not inviting either for walk- 
ing or driving, whilst cross-country footpaths, though more 
pleasant, go up and down hill in a most fatiguing way, and 
yet involve much longer routes, and many occasions for 
getting lost or having to turn back. A prominent feature 
of these excursions was the bullock-carts, with wooden 
axles and solid wooden wheels, which always made loud 
screeching noises, pleasing if at a sufficient distance and 
one were in a good humour, but otherwise at close quarters. 
Some ten miles up the bay we explored the very similar 
neighbourhood of Redondela (by train), and found some 
items of interest close to Vigo itself, as for instance the 
handsome larvee of Diplwia loti on the slopes of the forts. 
Our efforts to ascertain how we should best reach any 
of the higher ground of Galicia were unsuccessful and we 
ended by going to El Barco (de Valdeorras) by train, as 
being more amongst the mountains, and from here we 
went on mule-back some five or six hours’ journey to 
Casayo, about 3,500 feet up; the highest and furthest 
village in the valley of the Casoya, a stream running from 
the south into the main stream of the Sil. From here we 
could get up another 2,000 feet or so, but were still about 
a day’s journey from where we wished to be, amongst the 
ridges of over 7,000 feet. Nor was there any other village 
near them on the north side where we were. Possibly a 
nearer resting-place may be found on the south, starting 
from La Puebla de Sanabria, but we did not definitely 
ascertain this. I think for really good work in this region 
camping out will be a necessity. Unfortunately, both Mr. 
Champion and myself have a prejudice in favour of a roof 
over our heads, although our quarters at Casayo would 
prove to any one that we are far from being too particular 
beyond this. 
Thence we returned to El Barco, and went on to 
Brafiuelas, at the highest point attainable by railway. 
