OF GIBRALTAR. 69 



this time a very animated scene : here are found the 

 Spaniards, in their national costume ; and to afford a 

 little variety a race is run by horses ridden by their 

 Spanish masters, not dressed as jockeys but in their 

 native garbs. On a late occasion, even the comman- 

 dant of the Spanish lines was seen taking an active 

 part in the emulative spirit of his countrymen. The 

 scene is rendered still more interesting by the 

 presence of well-dressed Spanish women, in their 

 graceful mantillas, seated on gaily painted Spanish 

 calecas. The race-stand, though small, contains 

 also a choice collection of Spanish and English ladies 

 and gentlemen, taking evidently a very animated 

 interest in the exciting pleasures of the turf. The 

 cricket-matches also go off on these grounds. Upon 

 the whole, without this part of the isthmus, the rock 

 of Gibraltar would afford to the inhabitants but a very 

 small space for recreation and healthful exercise. 

 What indeed would Gibraltar be to the large number 

 of gentlemen of this garrison, if they had neither 

 races, hunting, nor cricketing ? However, I must no 

 longer exhaust the patience of the botanist with these 

 desultory matters, but hasten to tell him a little of 

 the beauties which vegetable nature presents on this 

 anything but neutral ground. 



The governor, town-major, and I believe the town- 

 adjutant, have small portions of this land allotted to 

 them, which are used for various useful purposes, and 

 where also a few flowers and vegetables are culti- 

 vated. A large space is rented out to gardeners, 

 who make the best use of the land by cultivating all 



