^1 4- 



Delmar.] Old- [Jan. 15, 



■ Entregadors, Quadrilliers, Acliagueros, and other law officers. "Within 

 the last five years, the 3Iesta has possessed about half of the sheep in 

 Spain." Macgregor, p. 1016. 



For lists of the religious establishments and the encJrmous properties 

 and revenues they absorbed, see pp. 1023-5 of the same work. 



As to the condition of affairs at the present time, the bulk of agricul- 

 tural lands in Spain appear to be still held by wealthy or noble proprie- 

 tors, who live in the cities and lease them out on half produce, a la meta, 

 to indigent peasants. Feudal tenures are indeed swept away, but many 

 of the features of feudality remain, and it is still the custom in Alicante 

 and perhaps elsewhere, for the metayers to present the proprietors with 

 a certain number of fowls each year. The custom is now voluutary and 

 by no means relished by the owner, who feels bound to make some 

 return ; but it serves to indicate the relations between the metayer and 

 his landlord. The metayers on rice plantations in Valencia pay one-third 

 produce. Certain rights of commonage appear to continue. (L. T., 40, 

 § 7.) In Galicia, the " foro " is mentioned so late as September 30, 1870. 

 (Com. Rel., 1871, p. 1008.) The " foro" is a sort of land impost created 

 some eight or nine centuries ago, and continues to be paid annually by 

 the present owners to the descendants of the former proprietors of 

 land. "The importance of this tribute is such that it sometimes absorbs 

 the total productions of the soil ; thus it is that two-thirds of it has never 

 been cultivated." (Ibid.?) In October, 1873 (Com. Rel., 1873, p. 946), it is 

 stated that the feudal tribute of " foro " had been declared redeemable 

 by the Government. 



In fine, Spain may be said to have scarcely even yet emerged from the 

 feudal state. A large portion of her soil is still owned by absentee land- 

 lords and rented, partly for money rents and partly a la meta. The pro- 

 prietors seldom sell their properties (L. T., 42, § 10), and there is no 

 compulsion on their part to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of their 

 property to peasants or others. (L. T., 49, §§ 6-7-8.) But as the law of 

 descent and division is the same that applies to personal property (IMd, 

 43 ^ 2) , it is merely a question of time when they will be divided and 

 absorbed by peasant proprietors. 



Another drawback is the allodial dvity of two per cent, on the sale of 

 lands. (L. T., 31.) There is a government duty of three per cent, on all 

 transfers of property (p. 47, § 13). Whether the allodial duty of two 

 per cent, is added to this, does not seem clear. 



But the great fact reoaains that the feudal system and all entails are 

 abolished ; the lands of the religious establishments and the Crown* are 

 sold, the corvee and the mesta swept out of existence, small peasant 

 properties exist in large numbers all over the country, and the door is 

 opened to further reform and future progress. 



* In 1866 laws were also passed to facilitate the sale of mountainous lands. 



