thither they would of themselves discover it, nor would it be easy for their leaders to guide them to more remote districts. At night they are placed within inclosures, formed by stakes driven into the ground with ropes of esparto passing round them, which prevent the sheep from wandering, while the dogs watch around to keep the wolves from molesting them. The shepherds construct temporary huts with sods and branches of trees, and for this purpose, as well as to afford them fuel, they are permitted to cut one branch from each tree as they pass along. In consequence of this permission, almost all the trees near the pastures on which the Merinos feed are rotten and hollow.

these the

Soon after the sheep reach their winter quarters, the ewes bring forth their young, and at that time require the greatest attention: those which are barren are driven to the worst pasture; better food is selected for those which have lambs; but the greatest attention is paid to those which bring the male lambs late in the season; for thrive very best pasture is allotted, in order that they may quickly, and be equally strong with the more early ones for their approaching migration to their northern pastures. In the month of March several operations require the attention of the shepherds; the young rams have their tails cut about five inches from the root, that they may retain less dirt; they are then marked on the nose with a hot iron their horns are cut that they may not injure each other, and those intended for leaders of the flock are castrated.

In the month of April, they begin their route towards the north. The sheep become restless as the time approaches, and must be narrowly watched, lest they should escape the shepherds and enter

on their march alone, for instances have frequently occurred of flocks wandering from their guides, and proceeding several leagues towards the north, early in the morning, before the shepherds were awake. The shearing begins in the middle of May, if the weather be fine; for, as the fleeces are piled in heaps, they are subject to ferment and become rotten if shorn in humid weather: as a partial remedy for this, the sheep are previously placed in covered buildings, sufficiently capacious to contain twenty thousand. The skin of these animals is so delicate, that if they become damp or cold after shearing it usually kills them. Shearing eight ewes or five rams is considered a day's labour for each man employed in the operation. The difference arises as much from the greater quantity of wool on the rams, as from their fierceness and the difficulty of making them submit to the operation.

The sheep, to be shorn in the course of one day, are inclosed in a large court, whence they are driven to the sweating-place, a narrow lane between two hedges, where they are crowded as close as possible, that they may perspire profusely, and thus by softening the wool, make it more readily yield to the shears, a precaution most necessary with the rams, because their wool is stronger and more matted together than that of the ewes. As soon as they are shorn they are driven to another inclosure, where they are marked; and those which from age have lost their teeth, are separated to be sold for slaughter. The healthy ones are turned out to feed if the weather be favourable; but if not they are kept under cover a short time, that they may be gradually accustomed to the external air.

These sheep prefer fine grass to the aromatic plants which abound in Arragon, and disliking the wild thyme, turn it carefully aside, with

their noses, that it may not mix with the grass. The shepherds are remarkably observant of every approaching change of weather; and, when it begins to rain drive them quickly to covered buildings; in which case the sheep, having no time to select their food as they pass along, feed on herbs generally esteemed deleterious, such as hemlock, wild poppy, and other noxious plants.

The shepherds do not permit the Merinos to leave the folds till the sun has exhaled the dews of night; nor do they allow them to drink from a brook or pond after it has hailed; for they have found, from experience, that feeding on dewy grass, or drinking dissolved hail, would risk the loss of the whole flock. It is contended, that the wool of the Andalusian sheep is inferior to the Merinos, solely because they do not migrate, and that the wool of the Merinos would become equally coarse if they were to remain stationary for a few generations. If this opinion be well founded, there can be little hope of success in the attempt lately made to introduce this breed in England we have, however, a sufficient number to try the experiment, and ascertain the truth, or falsehood of the general opinion of Spaniards on this subject.

LETTER XXIV.

TRADE-LEATHER MANUFACTORY-SWORDS-BAYONETS-MUSKET-BALLSSILK LOOMS-SHOPS-BOOKSELLERS-TAX OF ALCAVALA— ESCRIVANOS.

SEVILLE, NOV. 1809.

THE commerce of this city was formerly very considerable; but owing to the little attention paid to the navigation of the river, and the admission of Cadiz to a participation in the trade with the Spanish settlements in America, it has considerably diminished. The Guadalquivir is not navigable, so high as Seville, for vessels drawing more than ten feet water, and even these so frequently ground, that it is necessary they should be constructed in a manner to prevent their receiving injury from such an event. Vessels of more than one hundred and fifty tons burden, load and unload about eight miles below the city, and those of greater capacity remain at St. Lucar, near the mouth of the river.

The principal articles exported direct from this place are wool, goat and kid skins, liquorice, and a small quantity of oil. Wool is merely an accidental article, which has taken this channel in consequence of the war, so that usually there can be but little foreign trade from this port, the other subjects of export being too trifling to deserve notice.

This part of Andalusia contains every raw material necessary for

their domestic manufactures, excepting iron, which is brought from Bilboa in bars, or from England in hoops; the import trade is consequently limited to those luxuries which are wanted only by the few. There has always been a considerable consumption of British manufactures, which were usually supplied by the contraband traders from Portugal; but since the intercourse has been opened, and British cottons allowed to be legally entered, that consumption has very much increased; but the superior advantages of the port of Cadiz, and the larger supply usually in store at that place, makes the retail traders resort thither, and consequently little is imported to Seville, notwithstanding there are, as I have been informed, expedients for evading or lessening the duties in this custom-house, which are not permitted at Cadiz.

There are few manufactories of consequence at Seville, excepting one, on a very extensive scale, for preparing leather. It is conducted by Mr. Wetherell, an Englishman who has been many years settled in this city, under the patronage of the Spanish court; and as he possesses perseverance and integrity in a very high degree, he has carried the establishment to a very considerable extent, and the convent of St. Diego was granted him by the government for the purpose of his manufactory. Mr. Wetherell unites the various trades of tanner, currier, feltmonger, saddler, boot-maker, glover, cartouche-box and belt-maker, in which branches he constantly employs about four hundred men. As he works for the army, he is allowed to protect forty men, under forty-five years of age, from the conscription; the remainder is composed either of men above