CATALONIA. 



Catalonia, mixed with touchstone ; indeed, the whole of Montser- 

 S T""" >/ rat is evidently formed of that species of aggregation, 

 known to naturalists by the name of pudding-stone. 



Though most of the mountain appears blanched 

 and barren, yet the interstices among the cliffs pre- 

 sent the most luxuriant vegetation. These spaces 

 are filled with close woods and deciduous trees, in- 

 termingled with aromatic shrubs and flowers, which 

 are nourished by the rich earth which is dissolved, 

 and washed down from the rocks by the rains. The 

 great variety of plants with which these woods a- 

 bound, would amply satisfy the curiosity of the bo- 

 tanist. There are few evergreens in Europe, that 

 may not be found here ; and when Mr Swinburne 

 visited Montserrat in 1775, the apothecary of the 

 convent had a list of 4-37 species of plants, and 40 

 of trees, which grew in its clefts. There is, however, 

 a great scarcity of water. It is even supposed that 

 there is no spring in the whole mountain ; and the 

 streamlets which are sometimes seen to descend from 

 its sides, are said to proceed from reservoirs formed 

 by the rain in the crevices of the rocks, and running 

 in a bed of porous stones that lies across the middle 

 of it. Besides the convent of Montserrat, which is 

 situated in a large cleft on the eastern face of the 

 mountain, there are fiften hermitages scattered over 

 its surface, some of which are placed on the very 

 pinnacle of the rocks, and in cavities hewn out of 

 the highest cliffs. Between Figueras and Gerona, 

 are two mountains standing together, which are re- 

 markable for their uniformity. They are both of an 

 equal height, and of a pyramidal form ; and, accord- 

 ing to Mr Bowles, have all the signs of ancient vol- 

 canoes. But the greatest curiosity of this province 

 is the mountain of Salt, in the vicinity of Cardona, 

 which is about 500 feet high, without a cleft or 

 crevice, and nearly three miles in circumference. It 

 is composed almost entirely of salt, which is very 

 white, except a small quantity of a reddish and of a 

 bluish cast ; and its side, which stands close to the 

 -river Cardonero, is nearly perpendicular. Of the 

 substance of this mountain, the inhabitants of Car- 

 dona make a variety of articles for sale, such as al- 

 tars, figures of saints, crosses, chandeliers, salt-cel- 

 lars, &c. which are as clear as crystal, but cannot be 

 supposed to be equally lasting. 



The other mountains of Catalonia contain nume- 

 rous and valuable minerals. Marbles are found in 

 great variety, and are wrought to a very considerable 

 extent. There are several iron mines near Alins and 

 Taull ; lead mines near Tortosa ; and of its nume- 

 rous coal mines, that of Clansa is the best. Ame- 

 ' thysts, topazes, and coloured crystals, are found 

 near Vicq, which are manufactured and sold by the 

 goldsmiths of Barcelona, and there are also mines of 

 antimony, copper, tin,, alum, vitriol t silver, and one 

 of gold. Among its mineral waters, the most re- 

 fciarkable cold springs are those of Monistrol, Vail 

 de Ebron, Tortosa, and Rivab : and its principal hot 

 springs are at Caldas, Garriga, Gerona, Espluga, and 

 Torello. 



Catalonia is watered by twenty-six rivers, of which 

 the chief are the Ebro, which is the largest, and is 

 very important for its navigation, the Segra, the 

 Llobregat, the Cervera, the Fluvia, the Ter, the 

 Muga, the Tordera, the Bezos, and the Noya. 



Though the soil of this province be more ungrate- 



ful, and more interrupted with mountains and rocks Gatalonin. 

 than that of any of the other provinces, yet agricul- s *-"\-*' 

 ture is here better understood, and more successfully 

 and universally practised, than in any other part of 

 Spain. The plains and vallies are intersected by nu- 

 merous canals, for the purposes of irrigation, in 

 which the Catalonians particularly excel, and which 

 is attended with the most beneficial consequences. lu 

 some cantons, indeed, this art is carried to very great 

 perfection ; and a regular police is established for 

 conducting and distributing the waters. Every pro- 

 prietor enjoys the right of irrigating his land for a 

 limited time, according to the extent of his property ; 

 and for this privilege he pays an annual duty, which 

 is expended in keeping up the canals, and in paying 

 the salaries of the commissioners. The districts most 

 remarkable for fertility and cultivation, are, the coun- 

 try about Lerida, the plains of Urgel, Vallez, and 

 Iqualada ; the environs of Cervera, the Campo de 

 Tarragona, and Ampurdan. The industry of the 

 Catalonians, however, is not confined to the plains. 

 The mountains are improved by their skill and la- 

 bour ; and even craggy cliffs, which Seem to have 

 been destined for ever to be the habitation of the 

 chamois, are converted by their exertions into vine- 

 yards, cultivated fields, and valuable forests. IP. 

 many places they carry up earth to fix the young 

 vine in, and rather than suffer a good patch of soil 

 to remain useless, they sometimes let one another 

 down from the brow of the rock by ropes. Plant- 

 ing is a favourite improvement, and a principal ob- 

 ject of attention with the Catalonian landlords. They 

 vie with each other in multiplying trees of every 

 kind. Plantations of beeches, elms, poplars, pines, 

 and oaks, are consequently numerous and thriving ; 

 and cork trees are so plentiful, that Catalonia is able 

 to supply the whole of Europe with this important 

 article. Fruit trees of every description are reared 

 in great abundance, particularly in the beautiful gar- 

 den on the banks of the Segra, the Llobregat, and 

 the Ampurdan, and between Matavo and Barcelona; 

 and oranges, lemons, figs, almonds, filberts, apples, 

 walnuts, and chesnuts, are common throughout the 

 province. Grain of every kind is raised here, but 

 the crops are liable to frequent burstings and mil- 

 dew, and the wheat harvest ia seldom sufficient for 

 the consumption of the inhabitants, who are obliged 

 to draw supplies from other countries. The cultiva- 

 tion of rice has of late considerably decreased, from 

 the idea that it produces an effect upon the atmo- 

 sphere very prejudicial to the health ; and the people 

 of Ampurdan, who were its first victims, in a mo- 

 ment of irritation, destroyed most of their rice fields. 

 The vintage in Catalonia is, in general, uncommonly 

 plentiful, and the wine in the east part of the pro- 

 vince is excellent. That in the west and north parts 

 is rather of an inferior quality. The best red wine 

 is made at Matavo, and the best white at Sitges. 

 Olive trees are in great abundance ; but mulberries, 

 though they thrive well, are much neglected } and, 

 consequently, less silk is produced here than in 

 many of the other provinces. The cultivation of 

 flax and hemp is also inconsiderable; and the wool 

 which it produces is altogether insufficient to supply 

 the manufactories of the provinces. The principal 

 productions of Catalonia, with their average annual 

 quantity and price, are contained in the following Table. 



