292 Unexplored Spain 



mountain which stands out like a perpendicular and four-square 

 tower, in the central group or massif of the Picos — that known 

 as Urriales. The actual height of the Naranjo is given as 9424 

 feet, which is exceeded by those of either of the other two groups 

 to east and west respectively. But its abrupt configuration gives 

 the Naranjo by far the most imposing, indeed appalling appear- 

 ance, far surpassing all its rivals, while its lateral walls of sheer 

 rock, some of which reach 1500 to 2000 feet vertically, long lent 

 this })eak the reputation of being absolutely unscalable. That feat 

 has, however (after countless failures), been accomplished, in the 

 first instance by Don Pedro Pidal, Marquis de Villaviciosa de 

 Asturias, who was accompanied in the ascent by Gregorio Perez, 

 a famous chamois-hunter of Cain. 



At Arenas de Cabrales we bade farewell to our kind host, 

 despatched Caraballo with the baggage to Santander, thence to 

 find his way to Jerez as best he might, by sea ; and ourselves 

 drove off through the hills forty miles to the railway at Cabezon 

 de la Sal, there to entrain for Bilbao, Paris, and London. 



On August 19, 1881, at a royal monteria above Aliva and 

 Andara H.M. Don Alfonso XII. recovered the same eveninor 

 (lying dead around his post) no less than twenty-one chamois. 

 Thirteen more, which had fallen into the abyss beneath, were 

 brouo;ht in next mornino- and nine others later, makino^ a total 

 of forty-three chamois actually recovered, besides those that had 

 lodged in such inaccessible spots that their bodies could not be 

 reached. 



At another royal shoot held 1st and 2nd September 1905 

 H.M. King Alfonso XIII. killed five chamois, the total bag on 

 that occasion being twenty-three. 



The Picos de Europa declared a Eoyal Preserve 



In 1905 the freeholders of those villages in the three provinces 

 of Santander, Leon, and Asturias, which lie encircling the Picos 

 de Europa, offered to H.M. King Alfonso XIII. the exclusive 

 ri2:hts of huntino; the chamois throuohout the whole " Central 

 Group." His Miijesty was pleased to accept the ofler, and in 

 the following year commissioned the Marquis of Villaviciosa de 

 Asturias (the intrepid conqueror of the Naranjo) to appoint guards 

 to preserve the game. 



