10 



THE PYRENEES 



ARE that chain of mountains which divide the Spanish peninsular from 

 France, and which extend from the Cap de Ccvere to the south-east of 

 Colliouvre, or rather from the Cap de Creus, near Rosas, upon the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, to the point of Figuier, near Fontarabia, on 

 the Bay of Biscay. It is almost generally supposed that the Pyrenees 

 are an isolated chain of mountains, from the fact, that their extremities 

 drop into the sea, but a reference to their geographical position will 

 determine that the Pyrenees form but a part of the same line of mountains 

 both of France and Spain. In short, the Pyrenees appear to be attached 

 on the east, to the great chain of the Alps, by the Montagne Noire, and 

 to the west at the point of Figuier, and from thence to Cape Ortegal, in 

 Galicia. 



The length of the Pyrenees from east to west is about 200 miles, and 

 their breadth very varied. It is greater in the centre, than towards 

 the extremities of the chain, but may throughout be averaged at sixty 

 miles. The Pyrenees are seen from a great distance, from 'whichever 

 side they are regarded. One of the most favourable points from which 

 to enjoy a view of this magnificent chain, is from the hills called Pech 

 David, to the south of Toulouse. There the spectator is placed nearly 

 in front of the centre of the range, sufficiently distant to admit of a vast 

 horizon, and yet near enough to distinguish the most remarkable 

 features. 



From the Pech David the Pyrenees may be seen for more than 150 

 The appearance they present is extremely imposing. They seem 

 to form one single mountain, increasing in height towards the east, but 

 broken into summits of various forms and characters. But the aspect of 

 the mountains is not always the same, depending entirely on the state of 

 the atmosphere, the hour of the day, and the season ; and during the 

 prevalence of the west and north winds, they are shrouded in mists. 



Naturalists consider that the southern coasts of the Pyrenees are the 

 most steep and rapid; and this is confirmed by modern travellers. On 

 the Spanish sides, the ascents are invariably more steep and rugged, and 

 consequently more difficult and fatiguing. Almost the whole of the 

 French valleys either ascend gradually to the central ridge, or by a 

 succession of basins. On the Spanish frontier this is seldom the case, 

 and in the vicinity of the highest mountain, Mont Perdu, the summits 



