ENVIRONS OF SEVILLE. 



29 



The banks of the Guadalquivir, for ten miles above 

 Bonanza, are low alluvial flats, apparently of great 

 extent ; and they appeared, perhaps in consequence of 

 the late heavy rains, too wet to bear the pasturage of 

 cattle. From that distance the lands on both sides bore 

 the marks of cultivation, and were covered with cattle 

 and horses. The hills which bounded these alluvial 

 flats were covered with olives. In several places they 

 were gathering Indian corn and millet. — On approach- 

 ing Seville there was here and there a plantation of 

 oranges. The alluvial banks had very much contracted 

 in extent, and, though higher than those lower down the 

 river, were in no place more than four feet above the 

 water ; but the river was very muddy, and was probably 

 swelled in consequence of the rains. 



Friday y 7th Oct, Seville. — I find that the ordiriario, 

 or carrier, with whom I was recommended to travel to 

 Malaga, is not now here, and is not expected for several 

 days. I am told on all hands, that it would be madness 

 to attempt travelling in any other way, as the roads are 

 so much infested with robbers, that every person who 

 attempts to travel, unless under the protection of the 

 ordinario, is sure to be stripped. The latter personage 

 purchases immunity for himself and his passengers, by 

 paying a sort of blackmail every journey. During the 

 week which I remained at Seville, waiting for the carrier, 

 I made two short excursions to the country. I had 

 understood at Xeres, that the neighbourhood of Seville 

 was famous for its plantations of olives, and I was 

 anxious, during my stay here, to learn as much as pos- 

 sible on that subject. My first expedition was to the 

 ruins of an ancient Roman city, named Italica, which 

 stood on the opposite side of the river, about two leagues 



