808 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



coming down with incredible bold- 

 ness. 



Character of the Asturians. 

 [^From the same.^ 



A strong attachment to their 

 country, an unshaken fidehty to 

 their sovereign, a passive obe- 

 dience to the laws, an ardent zeal 

 for religion, and a probity, proof 

 against all temptations, are the he- 

 reditary features of the character 

 of the Asturians, to which we may 

 add boldness and courage. They 

 have no vivacity in their manners; 

 they may be accused, and they are, 

 of dulness; and yet ihe Asturias 

 have given birth to distinguished 

 men of every kind. The Asturian's 

 probity may be considered as pro- 

 verbial ; he is even disinterested, 

 taking this word in its strictest 

 sense. Tlieft is unknown amongst 

 these honest mountaineers, and 

 with regard to what is called dissi- 

 pation, amusement or pleasure, 

 their simple manners differ from 

 those of the other Spaniards. They 

 do not know what is every where 

 else called the highest degree of 

 civilization ; they are sheltered from 

 it behind their rocks, where happy 

 and peaceful, tliey confine them- 

 selves to their duties, and in gene- 

 ral live to a good old age, because 

 their constitution is healthy and 

 robust. 



Character, Manners, Genius, and 

 Language of the Galicians. 

 \_From the same-l 



The Gallaici were the oldest in- 

 habitants of Galicia. Those people 



employed themselves in nothing 

 but war and hunting ; and such as 

 were not strong enough for that 

 kind of life, occupied themselves 

 in fishing. Their wives ploughed 

 the land, sowed, gathered the har- 

 vest, and took care of their fami- 

 lies. When they lay in, their 

 husbands took to their beds in their 

 stead ; a custom as ridiculous as 

 absurd. 



The modern Galicians do not 

 preserve the wildness of those 

 primitive natives, but merely a dis- 

 taste to what is called in general 

 civilization. We find in their 

 mountains only simple and pure 

 manners, a quiet and hospitable 

 people, without any idea of 

 luxury. 



The Galicians are large, strong, 

 very muscular and robust ; they 

 easily support fatigue. The wo- 

 men are fair, tolerably handsome, 

 with black hair and eyes, fine 

 teeth, and regular, but not very 

 expressive features. The men, 

 women, and children go bare- 

 foot. As in Biscay and the As- 

 turias, this kingdom is entirely 

 composed of the Christianas viejos 

 (old Christians), who have never 

 intermarried with converted Jews 

 or Moors. 



The Galicians, like the Asturi- 

 ans, very frequently quit their fire- 

 sides, to seek at a distance the 

 means of fortune, or to acquire a 

 greater degree of ease ; they are 

 attached to religion, and faithful 

 to the king. Serious, grave, free, 

 sober and prudent, they lead a me- 

 lancholy life, and keep little compa- 

 ny. In other respects they distin- 

 guish themselves by their probity 

 and courage. 



The Galicians furnish a great 



number 



