276 Prof. Hausmann (m the Geographical Characters 



he pointed out the influence of soil and climate on the other de- 

 partments of nature, as also on the peculiarities and occupations 

 of man. A glance of the whole nature of Spain discovers a 

 threefold principal difference. The northern zone, which ex- 

 tends to the Ebro, differs entirely in its characters from the 

 middle zone ; and this again is completely different from the 

 southern zone, which is bounded on the north by the Sierra 

 Morena and a part of the Ostrandes. The northern zone, 

 which includes Gallicia, Austurias, the Biscayan provinces, Na- 

 varre, the northern part of Arragon, and Catalonia, is a widely 

 extended mountainous and hilly country. The snow-fields and 

 glaciers of the Pyrenees on the one side, and on the other the 

 north and north-west winds, have a marked influence in lower- 

 ing the temperature of the atmosphere, and in increasing the 

 supply of water. The increased humidity is favourable for ve- 

 getation, which, on the whole, very much resembles that of the 

 south of France; and the variety of rocks containing lime, clay, 

 and sand, and also their frequent alternations, operate benefi- 

 cially on the soil. The soil every where invites to cultivation, 

 and the Catalonians and Biscayans are active cultivators of the 

 ground. The middle part of Spain, to which belongs Old and 

 New Castile, a part of Arragon, Leon, and Estremadura, is not 

 so favourably circumstanced. In general, we rarely meet with 

 either beauty or variety of aspect. The extensive and lofty 

 table-lands, destitute of trees, are dull and tiresome ; their uni- 

 form and monotonous surface, formed by vast deposites of hori- 

 zontally disposed secondary strata, is swept across by the wind, 

 and burnt up by the rays of the sun. Whichever way the 

 eye turns, it meets with scarcely any thing but wretchedly culti- 

 vated corn-fields, and desert heaths of cistus. Seldom, in gene- 

 ral, more in the southern than in the northern districts, planta- 

 tions of olive trees afford a meagre shelter, and vary the scenery, 

 although in an inconsiderable degree. Nothing certainly has so 

 great an influence on these properties of nature, with which 

 many of the peculiarities and modes of life of man harmonize, 

 than the high situation of the widely extended table-lands, 

 and the uniformity of the rock which forms the support of the 

 soil. It is owing principally to the horizontal stratification, 

 and the want of water, that the great Spanish table-lands are 

 so widely extended, and so little intersected by deep valleys. 



