140 THE SHEEP. 



The number of Dogs is calculated at 30,000. These shep- 

 herds form a peculiar class of men, strongly attached to 

 their pursuit, and living in a state of great simplicity. Their 

 food is chiefly dark bread, oil, and garlick. They eat the 

 mutton of their Sheep, when they die or meet with accidents. 

 In travelling they sleep on the ground, wrapping themselves 

 in their cloaks ; and in winter they construct rude huts to 

 afford shelter. They seldom, it is said, change their calling. 

 The whole of this extraordinary system is regulated by a 

 set of laws ; and an especial tribunal, termed the Mesta, 

 exists for the protection of the privileges of the parties hav- 

 ing the right of way and pasturage. These parties claim 

 the right of pasturage on all the open and common land that 

 lies in their way, a path of ninety paces wide through the 

 enclosed and cultivated country, and various rights and im- 

 munities connected with the pasturage of the flocks. The 

 system is opposed to the true interests of Spain. A change 

 of pasture ma^ be required for the flocks in the drier coun- 

 tries at certain seasons, but the periodical migration of so 

 great a body of Sheep cannot be necessary to the extent to 

 which it takes place. Enormous abuses are committed on 

 the cultivated country as they pass along. A fourth part of 

 the year consumed in travelling, must be prejudicial to the 

 health of the animals in a greater degree than the benefits 

 they derive from a change of pasturage. A prodigious mor- 

 tality accordingly takes place amongst these Sheep ; and more 

 than half the lambs, it is said, are voluntarily killed, in order 

 that the others may be brought to maturity. The sale of the 

 lamb-skins, which form a subject of export to other countries, 

 is indeed a source of profit, but nothing equal to what the 

 rearing of the animals to their state of maturity would pro- 

 duce. That these extensive migrations are necessary to 

 preserve the fineness of the wool, is conceived to be an error. 

 Attention to breeding and rearing would more certainly pro- 

 duce this effect than a violent change of place. In Spain 

 itself there are numerous flocks of stationary Merinos, whose 



