644 



PORTUGAL 



aqueduct, which leads the water into an enormous subterranean cistern under the rampart? ol 

 the town. 



Evora, to the east of Setubal, has many Roman remains, among which is a temple of Di- 

 ana, now converted into public shambles. Population, 9,050. 



Leiria, a little to the north of Lisbon, is beautifully situated in the midst of a narrow valley, 

 and has a famous annual fair. Population, 7,000. The convent of Batalha, 6 miles from this 

 place, is one of the most remarkable Gothic structures in Europe. Alcobaga, 12 miles from 

 this place, was the richest monastic establishment in the world ; the kitchen is 100 feet in 

 length, and is sup'^ lied with water by 8 fountains. • Its domains comprised a tract of country 20 

 miles by 1 5, containing 1 3 market towns and large villages, with 2 seaports, and as many fortresses. 



3. Agriculture. Portugal, though rich in natural productions, wants the cultivation of in- 

 dustrious hands. The wealth of the colonies and commerce withdrew the attention of the in- 

 habitants from agriculture, which has been for several centuries in a low state. Excellent fruit 

 is raised and exported in considerable quantities, and several sorts of wines of excellent quality 

 are produced ; the red Port wine is much drank in England and the United States. Although 

 the country affords excellent pastures, grazing is litde attended to. Corn is raised in so small 

 quantities, that it is necessary to import it. 



4. Commerce. The want of roads discourages internal commerce ; there are no canals, and 

 the navigable rivers are few, and often too low for boats. The foreign commerce, once ex- 

 tensive and profitable, is now insignificant ; the troubles, revolutions, and civil wars that hpve 

 distracted the country since 1820, have depressed every sort of industry. Manufaci'^ied 

 goods are imported from Great Britain, and salted and dried fish from the United Statss. The 

 exports are wine and fruit. The commerce is mostly carried on by British and American ves- 

 sels. The annual exports amount to about 10,000,000 dollars. 



5. Manufactures. There are a few manufactories oi woolen cloth at Covilham, Portalegre, 

 and Azeitao, and of bats and paper at Lisbon ; but they are not suffici&nt for the supply of the 

 country. Salt is made in the marshes upon the coast to the amount of 140,000 hogsheads annually. 



6. Fisheries. The rivers and coasts abound in fish similar to those of Spain. The fishe- 

 ries employ 18,000 men, and are heavily taxed by the government. They are much less pro- 

 ductive as a source of wealth, than formerly. 



7. Inhabitants. These have not for centuries been mixed ; they are well formed and slen- 

 der, and dark in complexion. The females are distinguished for gracefulness. The privi- 

 leged classes are the nobility and clergy ; after which, rank the traders and peasantry. The 

 nobility seldom live on their estates ; but reside at court, where they hold all the offices. 

 There are five orders of knighthood, with many commanderies, viz. the Order of Christ, of 

 St. James, of Avis, of St. John, and of the Tower and Sword. 



8. Dress. The common mode of dress is similar to that of Spain, though among the higher 

 classes the English or European dress is common. The ladies wear a black garment over a 

 black petticoat, and at Lisbon cover the head and breast with a manto. The common class 

 of females wear cloaks and petticoats of woolen, edged with ribands or gold lace ; women 

 of all ranks wear many trinkets and jewels. Many of the common people still wear the an- 

 cient habit, the petticoat and jacket. The fashion of dress is subject to little change, and mil- 

 liners or mantau-makers do not thrive at Lisbon. 



9. Language. The language is somewhat similar to the Castilian, and has a few French 

 and Arabic words. It is devoid of the guttural sounds so common in the Spanish ; yet its 

 nasal terminations somewhat detract from its harmony. 



10. Manner of Building. There are few monuments of architecture, and the general man- 

 ner of building is similar, though inferior, to that of Spain. 



11. Food and Drink. The Portuguese are temperate; the men do not generally drink 

 wine, and the females never do ; little tobacco is used in any way. Bread, called 6roa, made 

 of Indian corn, forms the principal food of the common people, and vegetables are much used. 

 The wines of Portugal are sold under the direction of a company who mix them ; for which 

 reason, those of the best quality can never be had pure. The port wines and the white wines 

 are thus mixed. The wines of Setubal are of a good quality, both dry and sweet. Bucellas, 

 near Lisbon, produces a delicate white wine resembling Barsac. 



12. Diseases. Fevers are not uncommon in many parts of Portugal. Rheumatism and pleu- 

 risy are somewhat frequent in the north. The salt marshes of the coast produce dropsy and 

 obstructions. The working classes, in some parts, are subject to a sort of leprosy. In the 

 south, an inflammatory disease is occasioned by eating unripe figs 



