T RAV

72 TRAVELS IN EUROPE.mildness of disposition appear to harmonize iU with the route headoptsfor a livelihood, "malissimo y picaronissimo;" and the number of crossesereeted by the side of it inscribed, " aqui mataron a,-, aqui murio- ruegen a Dios por el," testifies to the authenticity of the statement!Smuggling is the school of aIl this villany.The Sierra next fises in more acute angles with the horizon, presentiogvery steep inclinations, and constit.uting a tract dîffieult but pervious,as the soil is, at the worst, hard, and the woods open, beneath.The ridges run parallel and longit~dinalto the direction of the Sierra,and abundant streams divide them.sehistose range~;These abrupt outlinesdesignateand the country, in a· military point of view, i8 ill-adaptedfor position or artillery, not parlaking suffieiently of the dcfinitionsof plateau or glacis, so essential in this view to render elevationof material use.If any thing could justify the eommanders in the Succession-war,indeed, it would be the inadequacy of Spain, the moreobviol1s the more her oudines' are consulted, to afford any, truc andsound basis of internaI defence.The Romans had, in their.day, a.ca\iusewaY,betweentheir two important stations gf Seville (Italiea) and l\!Ierida;and here, near Ronquillo, ~)lle of their bridges i8 crossed. Thisroad is now a great resort of muleteers, aH well-armed. Game of variouskinds abounds throughout this district~Descending the northern skirts of; the Sierra,. Santa 0lalla, a smaUtown with a castle on a commanding site, presents itself.Ensuingon the route are Monasterios, Almendralejos, AviUage most beautifullyembosomed in ahnond-trees, as the narneimports, and ,Fuentede Cantos; passing by the town and castle of lVlonte Molina, a]80Los Santos and Zafra.Villa Franea, neJ$;t on the route, i8 situatçdin plantations, woods they might be caIlèd,. of le triste oli'Oi~r ; andthus the route was pursued.until near t() Torre Maxia. (tu.'l'ris 'lI.(u1ima)