2 



XERES DE LA FRONTERA. 



partially covered with gravel, excepting on the banks of 

 the river, which have the appearance of great fertility. 

 We stopped at a venta or public-house, to obtain a 

 glass of the wine called Manzinilla, the vin du pays of 

 the district, which Dr. Wilson assures me is preferred 

 to all other wines by people of all ranks in the country ; 

 it is not known in the cellars of the Enghsh merchants, 

 but is a light pleasant beverage, having at the same time 

 a mellowness and flavour, which I have no doubt would, 

 after a httle habit, procure for it the preference even 

 of those who would find it insipid at the first trial. 



The twilight was far advanced as we entered the wine 

 district — at one place we could distinguish a man with a 

 musket, who had been posted to watch the grapes, it 

 being now the very middle of the vintage. At half-past 

 seven, we entered the town of Xeres, which is reckoned 

 one of the richest, if not the very richest in Spain, in 

 proportion to its population, and which owes its wealth 

 entirely to the valuable wines produced in its vicinity. 



Friday^ SOth September. — A violent storm of wind 

 and rain made it impossible to quit the house yesterday, 

 and though the rain continued to fall at intervals to-day, 

 I managed to visit, in company with Dr. Wilson, the 

 cellars of the house of James Gordon and Company. 

 The extent of these cellars is quite immense — the 

 extreme length of the largest being 110 Spanish varas, 

 about S06 English feet, and the breadth 2^2 feet ; the 

 roof is supported by rows of massive square columns of 

 mason work, and although the whole cellar is not of the 

 above length or breadth, the principal division of the 

 building being only SOO by 150 feet, yet, with its various 

 adjuncts, the whole extent of the cellar is equal to the 

 dimensions first stated. Messrs. Gordon and Company 



