Chap. 4] ACCOUNT OF COUNTEIES, ETC. 173 



and with barbarous names. The number however of the free 

 population amounts to nearly 166,000. 



In a similar manner the twenty -four states of the juris- 

 diction of the Bracari contain a population of 175,000, among 

 whom, besides the Bracari' themselves, we may mention, 

 without wearying the reader, the Bibali, the Coelerni, the 

 Gallaeci, the llequaesi, the Limici, and the Querquemi. 



The length of the Nearer Spain, from the Pyrenees to the 

 frontier of Castulo, is 607^ miles, and a little more if we fol- 

 low the line of the coast ; while its breadth, from Tarraco to 

 the shore of Olarson^ is 307'* miles. From the foot of the 

 Pyrenees, where it is wedged in by the near approach of the 

 two seas, it gradually expands until it touches the Farther 

 Spain, and thereby acquires a width more than double*. 



Nearly the whole of Spain abounds in mines'' of lead, iron, 



^ The people of Bracara Augusta, now Braga. Among the ruins of 

 the ancient city are the remains of an aqueduct and an ampliitheatre. 

 This people probably derived their name fi^m their fashion of wearing 

 braccae, " breeches" or " trowsers," like their neighbours of Gallia Brac- 

 cata. The exact localities of the various other tribes here mentioned do 

 not appear to be exactly known. 



2 Our author is mistaken here, even making allowance for the short- 

 ness of the Koman mile (1618 yards), as the length is only 470 miles. 

 Coastwise it is 620. 



* Now Oyarzun. It is also mentioned in B. iv. c. 34. 



^ Ho is also in error here ; for, taken in a straight line, this distance 

 is but 210 miles. ' The distance is about 560 miles. 



^ It may be worth while here to take some notice of the mineral pro- 

 ductions of Spain in modem times, from which we shall be able to form 

 a more accurate judgement as to the correctness of the statement here 

 made by PHny. Grains of gold are stiU to be found in the rivers Tagus 

 and Douro ; but there is not foimd sufficient of the precious metal to pay 

 for the search. Silver is found in the mines of the Guadal canal. Copper 

 and lead are to be found in abundance. There is a mine of plumbago 

 four leagues from Ronda; and tin is found in GaUicia. In every pro- 

 vince there are iron mines, those in Biscay being the most remarkable. 

 Lodestone is found in Seville, cobalt on the Pyrenees, quicksilver and 

 cimiabarat Almaden, arsenic in Asturias, and coal in Asturias and Arra- 

 gon. There are salt-mines at Mingrilla and Cardona ; alum is foimd in Ar- 

 ragon, antimony at Alcaraz. On the Sierra Morena, and in Gallicia, there 

 is saltpetre in numerous locahties ; amber in Astm*ias and Valencia, and 

 sulphvu* in Murcia, Arragon, and Seville. Pipe-clay of a peculiar quaUty is 

 found in the vicinity of Andujar. Gypsum and marble are found in great 

 abxmdance, and stone for building purposes, of the best quahty. Ame- 

 thysts, white cornelians, rubies, agates, garnets, and rock crystals, with 

 other precious stones, are also found in abxindance and of the finest quaUty, 



