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lordfhip of the crown, almoft in the center of Spain ; 
the high hills of this little territory are covered with 
pine trees ; here I learned fome truths, which prove, 
that the following opinions ought to be ranked 
amongrt vulgar errors. 
Firli, that falt-fprings are not found in the high 
primitive mountains, but in the low hills and plains 
only. 
The elevated town of Molina, and the rocky 
country about it, is formed of red and grey fand-ftone, 
lime-ftone, white and grey granite. Thefe rocks 
contain either fait, or falt-petre; the houfes built of 
this done are covered with the faline efflorefcences, 
which are drawn out by the fun after rain. The 
whole territory of Molina is full of fait fprings ; but 
there is a copious falt-fpring, riling out of a land yet 
higher than thefource of the Tagus, and not far from 
it, which is one of the higheft territories in all the 
inland parts of Spain, for it divides the waters of the 
ocean and Mediterranean. This fpring furnilhes fait 
to the jurifdi&ion and bilhoprick of Albarrazen. 
There is befides another fait fpring, in another ele- 
vated ground, which fupplies the eighty two towns 
and villages of Molina-Aragon with fait: befides 
which, there is a fait fpring, bluing out of a fpot in the 
Montana, which is higher than the fountain of the 
Ebro, and about a quarter of a mile dirt-ant from it. 
Secondly, that metallic vapours dertroy vegetation ; 
the following inrtances evince the contrary. 
There are many iron, copper, lead, and pure pyritous 
ores, in thefe mountains •; and yet the fame plants, and 
the fame fweet grafs grow there as in other parts, of 
which 1 will give a more particular account. 
Vol. LVI. H h 
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