OF GIBRALTAR. 65 



order. Most of the civil public officers have small 

 gardens attached to their houses ; the principal ones 

 are those of the judge, attorney-general, and regis- 

 trar of the supreme court. Besides flower-gardens, 

 there are several large spots of ground, in various 

 parts of the rock, cultivated with vegetables, but not 

 in sufficient quantities to supply the whole market; 

 two-thirds of the articles sold there are supplied from 

 Barbary, and the adjoining parts of Spain. To visit 

 the market early in the morning is indeed a treat, 

 especially during the fruit season : the quantities of 

 oranges, grapes, melons, figs, &c., piled up in every 

 stall, is a remarkably pleasing sight ; before evening 

 comes, the size of these heaps of luscious fruit is 

 greatly diminished : the quantity sold is almost incre- 

 dible. The shipping in the bay, which often amounts 

 to between two and three hundred sail, helps to con- 

 sume the enormous quantities of fruits and vegetables 

 seen in the Gibraltar market. 



After visiting the market, the botanist will direct 

 his steps to the neutral ground ; but before he pro- 

 ceeds a few yards (if he is also an ichthyologist) he 

 will be glad to meet with so large a collection for 

 examination as is to be seen on the well-supplied fish- 

 stalls near the fruit-market. The abundance of fish 

 in the market of Gibraltar is almost proverbial, and 

 their variety is still more remarkable : however, I 

 shall not stop here to inquire into their number, but 

 confine myself to enumerating a few most commonly 

 met with, viz. the Zeus faber, Pleuronectes solea, 

 Mullus barbatus, Clupea encrasicolus, two species of 



F 



