NEIGHBOURHOOD OF GIBRALTAR. 189 



with many other plants. The botanist can scarcely 

 find in any part of Andalusia a more extensive or a 

 more varied field for his perambulations, nor can the 

 lover of forest scenery picture to himself more 

 perfect sylvan groves than are to be found in this 

 wood, where the busy hum of men will never disturb 

 his transports of pleasure. Nearly the whole of this 

 great forest belongs to a member of the ancient house 

 of Medina Sidonia, the founder of which once dis- 

 puted the possession of the rock of Gibraltar with the 

 monarch of Spain, and who for many years reigned 

 over the territory of Gibraltar. Even at the present 

 time this forest and a few scattered villages yield an 

 annual rental of 35,000 dollars, which sum may be 

 doubled by a little care being taken of the property, 

 and other use made of the wide domain than cutting 

 the trees on it for charcoal, and stripping the bark off 

 the cork-trees. At one time the limits of the city of 

 Gibraltar extended to these woods ; for, according to 

 Ayala, the territory of what was called the city of 

 Gibraltar extended " five leagues from east to west, 

 and three from north to south, comprising a circuit 

 of twenty -five leagues ;" and " the population of 

 San Roque, Algesiras, and Los Barrios, with their 

 territories and boundaries united, formed the entire 

 city of Gibraltar." It would also appear from this 

 writer's account, that the country which is now lying 

 almost waste, and covered with so many objects 

 pleasing to the botanist's taste, was in former times 

 extensively cultivated, and that the olive and vine 



