THE SHEEP. 
41 
THE MERINO BREED. 
it was found that the continued heat of the southern parts of Spain was less favourable to the fineness of the fleece, or whether 
convenience or necessity led to a change of pasture during the summer months, a practice was early established of driving the 
flocks of sheep to the cooler countries of the north in summer, and back to the southern pastures on the approach of winter. 
These migratory flocks are by some termed Transhumantes; while the sheep that remain in the same district during the year are 
termed Estantes, or stationary. 
The stationary Sheep consist partly of the larger sheep of the lower country, partly of mixed races, and partly of pure 
Merinos, which do not differ in any respect from the migratory Sheep of that name, except in the method of treatment. The 
stationary Merinos are reared where the district or farm, affords them sufficient food during the whole season. They are most 
numerous in the central countries, where the pastures are less apt to be scorched by the heats of summer, as in Segovia, and the 
mountain ranges to the north of Madrid. 
The migratory Sheep have been reckoned to amount to ten millions, which is probably equal to half the whole number 
of the sheep of Spain. They may be divided into two great bodies; those which are to pass chiefly into the kingdom of 
Leon, and those which are to pass farther to the eastward, to Soria, or even beyond the Ebro. These vast hordes of sheep 
break up from their winter cantonments, south of the Guadiana, about the 15th of April, and proceed slowly northward. 
The rams having been admitted to the ewes in the month of July, the lambs are born in November. In the course of their 
journey northward they are shorn in large buildings erected for that purpose. The western, or Leonese division, crosses the 
Tagus at Almaraz. The easterly, or Sorian division, crosses the same river further to the eastward at Talavera, and in its 
course approaches the city of Madrid. Having reached their destination they are pastured until the end of September, when they 
recommence their journey southward. Each of these journeys, of several hundred miles in length, occupies about six weeks, so 
that a fourth part of the year is consumed in travelling. The older sheep, it is said, when April arrives, know the time of 
setting off, and are impatient to be gone. In the ten or twelve latter days increased vigilance is required on the part of the shep¬ 
herds, lest the sheep should break away. Some of them do so, and pursue their accustomed route, often reaching their former 
year’s pastures, where they are found when the main body arrives. But, for the most part, these stragglers are carried off by 
wolves, which abound along the course which the migratory flocks pursue. 
These migratory sheep are divided into flocks of a thousand or more, each under the charge of its own Mayoral or chief 
shepherd, who has a sufficient number of assistants under his command. It is his province to direct all the details of the journey. 
He goes in advance of the flock; the others follow with their dogs to collect the stragglers, and keep off the wolves which prowl in 
the distance, migrating with the flock. A few mules or asses accompany the cavalcade, carrying the simple necessaries of the 
shepherds, and the materials for forming the nightly folds. In these folds the sheep are penned throughout the night, surrounded 
by the faithful dogs, which give notice of the approach of danger. 
When the Sheep arrive at the Esquileos, or shearing-houses, which is in the early part of their journey northward, a sufficient 
number of shearers are in attendance to shear a thousand or more in a day. The esquileos consist of two large rude rooms, 
with a low narrow hut adjoining, termed the sweating-house. The Sheep are driven into one of the large rooms, and such of them 
as are to be shorn on the following day are forced into the long narrow hut as close as they can be packed, where they are kept all 
night. They undergo in this state a great perspiration, the effect of which is to soften the hardened unctuous matter which has 
collected on the fleece. They are then shorn without any previous washing, and the wool is left in the esquileo, where it is sorted, 
and made ready for sale. By this arrangement 1000 Sheep or more are shorn, with the delay of only a single day. 
The shepherds employed in tending these Sheep are calculated to amount to 50,000, which, supposing there to be ten millions 
of Sheep, is at the rate of 200 to each shepherd. The number of dogs is calculated at 30,000. These shepherds form a peculiar 
class of men, strongly attached to their pursuit, and living in a state of great simplicity. Their food is chiefly dark bread, oil, and 
garlick. They eat the mutton of their Sheep when they die, or meet with accidents. In travelling they sleep on the ground, 
wrapping themselves in their cloaks; and in winter they construct rude huts to afford shelter. They seldom, it is said, marry, or 
change their calling. 
The whole of this extraordinary system is regulated by a set of laws; and an especial tribunal, termed the Mesta, exists for 
the protection of the privileges of the parties having the right of way and pasturage. These parties claim the right of pasturage 
on all the open and common land that lies in their way, a path of ninety paces wide through the enclosed and cultivated country, 
and various rights and immunities connected with the pasturage of the flocks. The system is opposed to the true interests of 
Spain. A change of pasture may be required for the flocks in the drier countries at certain seasons, but the periodical migration 
of so vast a body of Sheep cannot be necessary to the extent to which it takes place. Enormous abuses are committed on 
the cultivated country as they pass along. A fourth part of the year consumed in travelling must be prejudicial to the 
