641 



SPAIN. 



SPAIN. 



813 



rocks, which extend eastward into Murcia, and there occupy the 

 largest part of the mountain region. The inferior portion of the 

 Sierra Morena consists of schists and intercalated dark limestones, 

 with quartzose sandstones, which, being very hard, form the peaks 

 of the lower ridges. The upper silurian rocks are slightly exhibited 

 in parts of the Sierra Morena, and also in some places on the southern 

 flank of the Pyrenees. The rocks of the Sierra Nevada have been 

 much metamorphosed. They seem to be of the same age as those of 

 the Sierra Morena and the sierras of Murcia. 



The game palaeozoic succession seems to have prevailed over all the 

 peninsula previous to the surface having been thrown up into those 

 ridges which now form lines of separation between the different 

 provinces. They have all been conformably and apparently simulta- 

 neously elevated. 



The lower silurian limestones of Murcia contain the richest silver 

 and lead-mines in Spain, particularly near Cartagena and in the Sierra 

 de Almagrera. In Asturias carboniferous deposits are superimposed 

 on limestones, some of which rise to the summits of the highest 

 mountain?. About 80 beds of coal have been recognised, most of 

 which are nearly vertical. Valuable ores of iron exist among the 

 Asturian Mountains, and some of them are wrought to advantage. 

 Carboniferous deposits occupy a considerable area on the southern 

 flanks of the Sierra Morena, and some of the beds of coal are wrought. 

 The valuable quicksilver-mines are in a formation of dark-coloured 

 slates. [ALMADKN.I 



Climate and Production*. The climate of Spain varies exceedingly 

 in consequence of the great differences of elevation and diversity of 

 position. The central table-land is exceedingly hot in summer, and 

 cold in winter. [MADRID.] The coasts of the Mediterranean Sea are 

 very hot in summer, and the atmosphere is very mild iu winter. The 

 winter is the season for rain. On the northern and western coasts 

 the annual fall of rain is from 25 to 35 inches, while on the central 

 table-land it is only 10 inches. 



The most common kinds of grain which are cultivated in Spain are 

 wheat, maize, barley, and rice. The largest quantity of wheat is 

 produced in the northern provinces, in Cntaluna, and on the plains of 

 Camilla la Vieja and Leon. Rice is only ^rowu in the countries along 

 the Mediterranean, from the boundary of France to C'abo de Palo*. 

 Other objects of agriculture are hemp and flax, especially in the basin 

 of the Ebro, and madder and saffron on the Uble-land in the vicinity 

 of Cuenca. In the southern districts the su^ar-cane and cotton are 

 cultivated. The most common vegetables are onions, pumpkins, 

 cucumbers, melons, water-melons, potatoes, beans, and peas. Many 

 fruit-trees are cultivated, as almonds, figs, pomegranates, lemons, 

 oranges, pistachio-nuts, carobas, date iu the southern districts, 

 walnuts, hazel-nuts, and especially chestnuts. The chestnut-trees in 

 some of tho northern districts cover large tracts. Olive-trees occur 

 in all parti, except the northern mountainous tracts, and tho vine- 

 yards are extensive, rxcept on the most elevated region*. Several 

 of the Spanish wines are considerable articles of commerce, as Xeres 

 (sherry), Malaga, Alicante, MalvsU, Tinto, and Vsl de Penan. The 

 annual produce of wine in Spain is about 120,000,000 gallons, of which 

 Malaga produces from 30,000 to 40,000 butts (3,500,000 gallons), 

 Andalucia 400,000 butts (40,000,000 gallons), Catalu&a 600,000 pipes 

 (60,000,000 gallons), Toledo 6,000,000 gallons, and Valencia 9,000,000 

 gallons. Brandy and raisins also are articles of export Among the 

 wild trees are the sweet-acorn oak (Quercut bailota), the cork-tree 

 (Quercut tuber), the kermes oak (Quercut cocci/era), and tho sumach- 

 tree. On the Asturian Mountains and on the southern slope* and 

 offsets of the Pyrenees, there are large forest* of fine timber-trees. 

 The plant from which the barilla is obtained is cultivated in the 

 plain of Murcia and some adjacent district*. The liquorice-plant 

 i* abundant iu the vicinity of Sevilla and near the mouth of the 

 Ebro, and the prepared juice i* sent to all part* of Europe. The 

 esparto-rush i* used for making ropes, mat*, batkets, Ac. 



Among tho domestic animals the sheep and horse* are distinguished. 

 The sheep are noted for their fine wool, which form* an important 

 article of export. They pass the summer on the Sierras de Guadar- 

 rama, Avila, and Gala, and the winter in the low mountains of 

 Estremadura which lie between the Tsgus and Guadiana. Their 

 number amount* to five or six millions. Sheep are also numerous in 

 other part*, but they have generally a coarse wool. The horses of 

 Spain, and especially those of Andalucia, are noted for their beauty ; 

 but during the French occupation (1308-1814), nearly all the fine 

 breeds were sent to France, and they are now comparatively scarce. 

 Cattle are only numerous and of large size near the higher mountain 

 ranges ; in other part* they are small, with the exception of those 

 fed in the salt-marshes of Sevilla, The asses and mules are dis- 

 tinguished by their size and beauty. Pig* are not very numerous. 

 Goat* are more numerous than in any country of Europe, especially 

 on the table-land. There are a few mountain-goats on the Pyrenees. 

 The mountains also contain wolves and other wild animals. The 

 care of the silkworm, the cochineal insect, and bees, are branches of 

 industry. In no country of Europe, except Italy, is so much silk 

 obtained a* iii the eastern and southern provinces of Spain. The 

 cocbyieal insect has been reared for the last forty years in Andalucia, 

 Granada, and Entremadura, Beea are very abundant, and much honey 

 and wax are obtained. 

 OKOU. D1T. VOL. rv. 



Spain abounds in minerals, but, with the exception of the silver 

 and lead-mines of Murcia and Andalucia, the quicksilver-mine of 

 Almaden, and the iron-mines of Asturias, they are very imperfectly 

 wrought. 



Inhabitant!. The inhabitants of the Peninsula appear in the earlii-st 

 historical times to have been Iberians, who were perhaps an aboriginal 

 people, mingled with a considerable number of Celts, who had crossed 

 the Pyrenees, and had partly overpowered the Iberians. The two 

 races seem to have afterwards coalesced, and to have formed the 

 nation of Celt-Iberians, but pure Iberian and pure Celtic tribes still 

 remained in various parts of the Peninsula. During the whole period 

 of ancient history the great bulk of the population remained unchanged, 

 and all the subsequent infusions of Roman, Gothic, and Moorish blood 

 have in no degree obliterated and but slightly altered the leading 

 characteristics of the Iberian and Celtiberian races. Arnold, quoting 

 Strabo (iii. p. 145), remarks, that "the grave dress, the temperance 

 and sobriety, the unyielding spirit, the extreme indolence, the perse- 

 verance in guerilla warfare, and the remarkable absence of the highest 

 military qualities, ascribed by the Greek aud Roman writers to the 

 ancient Iberian?, are all more or less characteristic of the Spaniards 

 of modern times. The courtesy and gallantry of the Spaniard to 

 women has also come down to him from his Iberian ance.-tors." 

 (' Hist, of Rome,' iii. 396.) So also have the habits of brigandage, 

 and the dislike and disunion which still subsist not only between the 

 natives of Spain and Portugal, but between the inhabitants of several 

 of the different provinces of Spain itself. 



Commerce and Manufacture!. Spain, from the extent of its coast- 

 line, its large ports of Cadiz, Cartagena, and Ferrol, the number of its 

 smaller harbours, its geographical position, and its abundance of 

 natural productions, possesses very great commercial advantages, but 

 those advantages have been diminished, and in a great measure 

 destroyed, by the restrictive laws of the government Smuggling to 

 an enormous extent is carried on almost everywhere along the coast, 

 especially at and near Gibraltar, and also from France across the 

 Pyrenees, and from Portugal across the frontier. The articles smuggled 

 through Gibraltar consist of cottons, linens, muslins, thread, stocking.-*, 

 and the like, and tobacco to a large amount. 



The total import* into Spain during the year 1849 amounted to 

 587,171,795 reals (about 6,160,0001.). Of course these are the regis- 

 tered imports. The amount of goods smuggled into the country 

 cannot be estimated. The exports during the same year amounted to 

 478,162,822 reals (about 5.000.000/.). Tho imports consist of colonial 

 produce, dried fish aud salted provisions, cotton and woollen goods, 

 cutlery, glass, butter, and cheese. The exports consist of wool, wine, 

 brandy, oil, fruits, chestnuts and nuts, cork, quicksilver, iron, xilvrr, 

 lead, and salt, with a small quantity of silk and manufactured goods. 

 Of Lite years a large amount of wheat and flour has beau exported 

 from the northern provinces, chiefly to Cuba aud Brazil. 



The manufacturing industry, formerly considerable, has greatly 

 declined. The government has still manufactures of tobacco, salt- 

 petre, gunpowder, cannon, fire-arms, and porcelain, but they are all 

 in a decayed state except the manufactory of cigars at Sevilla. Other 

 manufacture* are silks, coarse cottons and woollens, aud leather. 

 Cutlery and iron-wore are made to some amount in the Basque 

 Provinces and Asturias. 



Roads, Canalt, and Railaayt. Tho public roads in Spain, except 

 those around the capital and the royal road from Madrid through 

 Leon to Oviedo and the coast, are amongst the worst iu Europe. Tho 

 only canal of importance is the Imperial Canal, commenced by 

 Charles V., extending along the southern bank of the Ebro. [ARAOON.] 

 Then are three or four small canals iu the Castillas and in Murcia, 

 The railways at present completed are from Barcelona to Mataro, 

 17] niilor, opened in 1848; from Valencia to Alcira, 22} miles; from 

 Valencia to Grao, 3 miles ; from Madrid to Aranjuez; from Arunjuez 

 to Almanaa ; from Alcazar to Pemblique. 



Revenue, Army, and Nary. The revenue in 1853 amounted to 

 12,751,00<tf. The public debt amounted to 115,1S6,000/. The arruy 

 in 1854 numbered 99,489 men and 11,395 horses, exclusive of troops 

 in the colonies. The navy in the same year consisted of 6 ships of 

 from 80 to 90 guns, 12 frigatej of from 30 to 40 guns, 12 corvettes of 

 from 20 to 30 guns, 14 gun-brigs, 6 war-steamers, and other minor 

 vessels. The fleet was manned by 9000 sailors and 15,000 marines. 



Religion and Education. The established, religion is the Roman 

 Catholic, and no other is allowed in tho Spanish dominions. The 

 crown presents tho archbishops and bishops, who are confirmed by 

 the Pope. The wealth of the church was at one time immense. After 

 the revolution of 1836-7, the monastic orders were suppressed, and 

 the convents and the lands belonging to them were sold ; but tho 

 convents of nuns were suffered to remain till the death of tho then 

 occupants. A law has this year (1855) been passed for the sale of tho 

 whole of tho church-property, and it* conversion to secular uses. 



Education is very little diffused. The lower classes receive little or 

 no instruction, except in the principal cities, where infant schools 

 bave of late years been established. The children of the upper 

 classes ore mostly educated in France and other countries. The 

 universities, formerly numerous and of great reputation, are now 

 reduced to about 14, and those are attended by only a comparatively 

 small number of students in theology, law, and medicine. There are 



2l 



