THE MERINO BREED. 133 



devoted race. Those that survived had conformed to the 

 observances of the Christian faith ; but they were now to be 

 driven away like felons from the land. The pretence was, 

 that, though Christians in appearance, they were Mahomme- 

 dans in their hearts. Thirty days were allowed these vic- 

 tims, above six hundred thousand in number, to prepare for 

 their departure ; after which it was death for any one to re- 

 main. Spain thus lost, by acts of imbecility and tyranny, 

 the most industrious of her population. The effects of this 

 loss she never recovered ; but, exhausted by wars, emigra- 

 tion, and imposts, sank into a state of languor and impo- 

 tence, which rendered fruitless the blessings that Nature had 

 left her. The flocks of her mountains remained, but the in- 

 dustry that gave them value was taken away. In place of 

 the beautiful fabrics which the arts of her people produced, 

 it is the raw produce only which is now exported, and that in 

 diminishing quantity from year to year. 



The Spanish Sheep, it has been said, consist of two general 

 classes, comprehending' (1.) those which produce long wool, 

 and which are generally the inhabitants of the more culti- 

 vated countries ; and (2.) those which produce short and 

 felting wool, and which are chiefly found on the mountains, 

 elevated plains, and downs. Of the latter varieties of Sheep, 

 greatly the most numerous and valuable are termed Merino, 

 a word of doubtful origin, but derived from the adjective 

 Merino, applied by the Spaniards to sheep moving from pas - 

 ture to pasture ; whence, too, the word Merino, signifying a 

 judge of the sheep-walks, and Merinadad, denoting the juris- 

 diction of the judge. Numerous conjectures have been formed 

 regarding the origin of this race of Sheep, so distinct from 

 any other indigenous to Europe, It cannot, however, now 

 be known from what beginning, or by what progressive steps, 

 this remarkable race has acquired its distinctive properties. 

 Spain appears to have been distinguished, in every known 

 age, for the fineness of the wool of its Sheep, which we mav 

 reasonably believe to be due to the climate, herbage, and 



