(II 



ASTtTRIAS. 



ASUNCION. 



exceptions the roads ire rugged and impassable for carriages. There 

 ! JW one of the beet kind, the great carriage-road from Leon to 

 Oviedo, with the continuation to Oijon, which U indeed magnificent, 

 and most hare bean constructed at a very great expense. It passes 

 orer the erect of the mountain barrier by the pan of Pajares. Near 

 Villa Nuera. on the south aide, the passage U ao narrow that a stream 

 KM barely room to flow through it, and the road is carried along a 

 well-constructed causeway. The summit iUelf is a swampy level 

 surrounded on all sides by barren mountains. From this elevated 

 reservoir of rain and mow small streams descend both ways to 

 form the rivers of Leon and Asturiaa. Pajares, a poor hamlet, is 

 somewhat lower down on the northern side. The road follows the 

 valley of the Mieres and afterwards that of the Nalon. The whole 

 route from Pajares to Oviedo passes through alpine scenes of verdure 

 and cultivation, sometimes among chestnut groves, maize-fields, and 

 meadows, and sometimes in wild glens inclosed by hills, where there 

 is only just room for the road and its pleasant accompaniment, the 

 clear river. Besides the pass of Pajares there are three or four others 

 over the mountains between Leon and Asturias, but they are not 

 practicable for carriages and are rarely used except by the peasantry. 

 A good carriage-road of recent construction connects Aviles with 

 Oviedo. 



Asturias has about 140 miles of coast, mostly bold and rocky. 

 Many of the riven reach the sea through ravines, where they form 

 estuaries (' rias ' in Spanish), which in some instances extend eight 

 or ten miles inland. There are several harbours, but they are all 



The rivers have generally a short course from the mountains north- 

 ward to the coast. The Eo reaches Asturias from Galicia, and its 

 lower course forms the boundary between the two provinces. The 

 Navia also comes from Galicia, forming the boundary in its upper 

 course, and afterwards passing through Asturias, and entering the sea 

 below the town of Navia. The Nalon is the most important of the 

 rivers of Asturias. It has its source near the summit of the Asturian 

 Mountains, about 43 N. lat, 5 24' W. long. It receives many 

 affluente, the largest of which are the Caudal, the Trubia, the Puerto, 

 and the Narpea, all on the left bank. It passes by Oviedo, below 

 which it receives the Nora on the right bank and enters the sea by 

 the ria of Pravia. It is a fine clear river, and in the lower part of its 

 course is of considerable width and depth. The Sella enters the sea 

 by a ria at Ribadesella. The villages of the Sella and its affluents 

 afforded places of refuge to the Goths after the disastrous battle of the 

 Guadalete. Near Cobadonga, about five miles S.E. from Cangas do 

 Onis (Canicas), a cave is shown which Pelayo is said to have made his 

 place of residence. It is situated up the Rio Bueno, near the village 

 of Soto. Among these rocky defiles the Moors, who are said to have 

 amounted to 800,000, were defeated by Pelayo in 71S; but this 

 number U probably an exaggeration, the valleys being of very limited 

 axfaot 



Climate and Production*. The climate is moist, cold in the moun- 

 tainous parts, but temperate in the valleys and on the sea-coast, where 

 orange-trees grow in the open air. The food of the peasantry consists 

 chiefly of main, and the culture of that grain is proportionately Urge. 

 Wheat of excellent quality is also grown, especially the kind called 

 spelt-wheat Potatoes are cultivated, and the parsnip is said to be 

 indigenous. Chestnut* form a part of the winter-provision in the 

 higher valleys, and are also exported. Filberts and nuts are exported 

 from Oijon and Villaviciosa to England. Apples and pears are grown, 

 and excellent cider is made. The forest-trees an chiefly oaks and 

 pines, especially the Cluster Pine (Pinut pinuater), which however is 

 mutilated by cutting the branches, and it is thus prevented from 

 attaining iU full size. The upright Gone (Vlex itrieta) is in many 

 parts inclosed for the purpose of being cut and carried to the fold- 

 yards. The horses and cattle are small, but neatly formed. The 

 sheep are generally black, and very numerous. Fish are abundant in 



tl... -: .::.- 



The manufactures are unimportant. There are some tanneries. 

 Common woollen and linen cloths are woven for home consumption. 

 Earthenware and copper utensils are made, and jet-trinkets: are 

 wrought. There are two or three manufactories of fire-arms. 



tlinfrali and MiMft. The most important mineral product of 

 Asturias is coal. The deposit is chiefly north of Oviedo, in the basin 

 of the Lower Nalon. The seams are mostly 8 or 4 feet thick, but some 

 are much thicker. The coal is bituminous, but inferior to Bnglhh 

 coal. It i* wrought from the surface, so that deep shafts are not 

 required. There an four or five principal companies to whom the 

 mines are let, and the coal i shipped from Oijon, Aviles, and 

 RflMdesella. Small quantities of iron, copper, and other metal, are 

 obtained. Then are quarries of marble and of coarse sandstone 

 suitable for millstones. 



Tomt.Oritdo is the capital of Asturias and of the modern pro- 

 vince to which it (rives name. [OVIEDO.] AviUi, 12 miles N. by W. 

 from Oviedo, studs at. the head of the Ria de Aviles, on the west 

 bank, whence a causeway and stone bridge extend across the river. 

 The town is substantially built ; the houses are mostly two stories 

 high, and several have arcades in front There an two churches, one 

 of which i ancient, with an entrance-door of Norman architecture 

 highly ornamented : the population is about 8000. Cattropol, a small 



sown on the eastern bank of the ria of the river Eo, a little higher up 

 him Rilvulon, on the opposite bank, .n Gnlicia. The communication 

 in kept up by ferry-boats. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in 

 Ishing. Oijon, a sea-port town, 18 miles X.X.E. from Oviedo, stands 

 on a low headland which projects into the Bay of Biscay. It has some 

 remains of the ancient wall, and is defended by an old castle and by 

 iwttories on the coast The entrance to the harbour is difficult, but 

 the anchorage inside is good, and it is a convenient port for small 

 vessels. Steamers call regularly as they pass along the coast The 

 town consists of several wide and straight streets of well-built houses 

 mostly two stories high. The parish church is small, but there is 

 another church sufficiently large and commodious : the population is 

 about 6000. In 718, after the battle of Canicas (Cangas de Onis), the 

 Moors were driven from Gijon, which they had taken and fortified. 

 Pelayo, the conqueror, then mode it his place of residence, improved 

 the fortifications, and styled himself Conde de Gijon. Bermuder, 

 the historian of Spanish art, was born here. Luarco, a small town 

 85 miles W.N.W. from Oviedo, stands at the bottom of a wild ravine, 

 where two streams unite and fall into the sea by a small beach of 

 sand. The town is well built The successive headlands of the rocky 

 coast render the sea-view very striking, the little port or cove forming 

 the foreground. The view inland, following the broken banks of the 

 stream till it disappears among the lofty mountains, is also very fine. 

 Navia, 45 miles W.N.W. from Oviedo, stands on a sort of promontory 

 a little raised above the marshy bank of the ria of Navia. It is a 

 small town consisting of houses badly built and ill grouped ; the 

 streets too are dirty. The communication across the ria is by ferry- 

 boats. Proria, 16 miles N.N.W. from Oviedo, stands on a hiU in the 

 midst of a fine valley on the west bonk of the Nalon. Small craft 

 ascend the ria as high as Pravia. It is a pretty town with fountains 

 and pleasant public walks: population about 2000. Jtibadftella or 

 Bira de Sella stands on the east bank of the ria formed at the mouth 

 of the Sella, 45 miles E.X.E. from Oviedo. It forms a small port, 

 which has good anchorage and deep water, but a bar at the entrance 

 which has generally only eight feet of water prevents the admission 

 of large vessels. Villaririota, a small town and port, 28 miles N.E. 

 from Oviedo, stands on the east bank of the small river Linares at the 

 head of a ria. The town is tolerably well built, and there are some 

 remains oT the ancient wall Nuts are exported. The inhabitant*, 

 about 1000, are mostly employed in fishing. 



Inhabilantt. The Asturians ore robust, frugal, laborious, honest, 

 fond of their country, and proud of their descent Both sexes are 

 civil and well-mannered. Their dresses are coarse, and seem to be in 

 striking contrast with the polish of their behaviour. The women 

 wear their hair hanging down behind in long plaitu (trtntat). The 

 principal market-day is Sunday, according to ancient usage. Imme- 

 diately after the market the peasantry attend mass in the parish 

 churches, carrying in their baskets with them. In the afternoon 

 dancing commences, which is always performed to the national rocal 

 music. The men are skilful in playing at single stick, and also delight 

 in the game of skittles. 



The province is divided into conitjoi (councils), of which there are 

 about 70. These councils have the management of the local affairs of 

 their respective districts. 



Hittory. After the battle of the Guadalete, near .Tores (Xeres), 

 Novemberllth, 712, in which Tarik the Mohammedan general defeated 

 Roderic king of the Visi-Qoths, the remains of the Christian army 

 were soon compelled to retreat to the mountainous regions of northern 

 Spain, especially to Qalicia and Asturias. Pelayo (Pelagiun), a Visi- 

 Gothic nobleman, was elected leader, and in 718 gained a complete 

 victory over the Moors among the defiles of Cobadonga in the valleys 

 of the Sella and its tributary streams. This victory was the first 

 serious check given to the triumphant career of the invaders. Pelayo 

 improved the advantage which he had gained, and Charlemagne in 

 the meantime rolled back the tide of conquest on the north-eastern 

 side of Spain and planted the Cross on the banks of the Ebro. Pelayo 

 extended his conquests on the north-western side, and before his 

 death in 737 had laid the foundation of a kingdom, to which others 

 were afterwards added, and the whole was ultimately consolidated 

 into the kingdom of Spain. Pelayo was succeeded by a son and a 

 grandson (737-757), who, as well as himself, successively bore the title 

 of King of Asturias. Ten other sovereigns succeeded (757-914), who 

 bore respectively the title of King of Oviedo. A large portion of the 

 territory of Leon having then been wrested from the Moors, 

 Orduno II. removed the court from Oviedo to Leon, and assumed 

 for himself and his successors the title of King of Leon. 



Asturias gives the title of Prince (Principe) to the heir-apparent of 

 the Spanish throne. This title was first conferred at the request 

 of the Duke of Lancaster in 1388, when his daughter Constance 

 was married to Enrique, eldest son of Juan I., king of Cantilla 

 and Leon. 



(Antillon; Mihano; Mudot; Ford's Handbook of Spain; Wid- 

 drington's Spain and Ike Spaniard* in 1843; Art de Virifier let 

 Datet.) 



N'CIOX, the capital of the department of Asuncion and of the 

 K. I nKlic of Paraguay, in South America, in situated on the eastern or 

 left bank nf the river Paraguay, in 25 16' 8. lat, 57 47' W. long., at 

 a short distance above the mouth of the Araguai broach of the 



