526 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke on the 



that it is one of the wildest districts to be found in the whole 

 chain. It is compact in form, has an area of about 690 square 

 miles, and its greatest length from north to south is 17 miles, 

 while it is about the same in width from east to west. 



The complete isolation enjoyed by Andorra has not been 

 without most remarkable results. Indeed, there is much 

 that savours of the enigmatical and is without historical 

 parallel in its status and relationships. Thus it is physically 

 a part of Spain, since it is within the watershed of the Ebro ; 

 yet, politically, though its people are Catalans, and therefore 

 of an Iberian race, the influence of France is paramovint, and 

 is sought and desired ; while ecclesiastically it is under the 

 sway of His Highness the Prince-Bishop of Urgel. Although 

 an absolute cypher on the face of Europe, forgotten by or 

 unknown to most, this insignificant Peasant-Commune can 

 boast of being the oldest free republic in existence, since it 

 has preserved its independence for twelve long centuries ; 

 disturbed, no doubt, but uninfluenced and unaffected by the 

 vicissitudes of fortune experienced by its, in this respect, less 

 favoured but powerful neighbours. Governed by unwritten 

 laws, unfettered by national debt, almost untaxed and free 

 from crime, without an army, a steam-engine, or a carriage- 

 road, Andorra is indeed the *' curiosite politique ^' which the 

 great Napoleon is said to have called it, and which was possibly 

 the reason that induced him to allow it to remain undisturbed. 



The Andorreans are below the middle height, and we saw 

 but few men or women possessing claims to good looks. 

 Their general occupation is pastoral, and their flocks com- 

 prise sheep, goats, cattle, and mules. They are certainly an 

 industrious race, and have pushed their cultivated patches 

 far up the mountain- sides, and, above Andorra town, have 

 irrigated them by an eff'ective and extensive system of con- 

 duits furnished with a sluice at each highland allotment. 

 The women largely attend to all matters of cultivation, while 

 the men, all hardy and experienced mountaineers, follow the 

 more congenial and profitable profession of the contrabandier 

 — a calling for which the nature and geographical position 

 of their country 'is most admirabl}'^ adapted. Matches and 



