and the Spanish antiquaries have taken considerable pains to ascertain their names, from the descriptions of ancient authors, as well as from numerous inscriptions and coins which have been found in various places on the coast.

At the distance of one league, we passed Rio verde, or the green river, which comes down, in a chasm or fissure, between the high chain of mountains called Sierra vermeja, and the one called Sierra de Arboto. On passing this river, I could have easily supposed that I was in Jamaica; for a considerable distance on both sides of the

road, fields of sugar canes, nine or ten feet in height, were intermixed with others of rice; and several mills for grinding the canes, turned by the streams which descend from the mountains, still farther favoured the deception. The contrast which this last league formed to the nine we had previously travelled, created both surprise and pleasure; the plain, between the mountains and the sea, became dually broader, and more enriched with every tropical production; whereas the country we had hitherto passed was sandy and barren, with no shrubs but the palmito.

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A considerable quantity of cotton is cultivated in this plain, and with great success; sugar is an increasing production, and some coffee is grown; but as the quantity of each of these articles is more considerable near Malaga and Velez, I shall make my observations upon these productions when I have seen those places, and gained more information.

The mountains under which we have this day passed, are the highest I have ever seen, though not equal to those I expect to view before I arrive at Granada; the composition of the former is various,

but they all rest on a bed of granite; the upper strata, which commence near the surface of the plain, are in some parts entirely marble, in others, quartz. The marble is of various kinds, but is mostly of a reddish colour, from which one of the mountains takes its name.

Our day's journey terminated with our arrival in this city, which contains about eight thousand inhabitants. The Plaza, or square, is very beautiful, and has in the centre a fine fountain, which is constantly supplied with pure water from the prodigious mountains behind it. The streets are narrow, but at night well lighted. The town house is a handsome building, as well as the parish church. There are three convents of monks, which, as we have heard nothing remarkable concerning them, we do not think worth visiting. The inn where we have taken up our abode, affords eggs, Sardinias, and wine made in the neighbouring mountains. Our servants are now busily employed in preparing our beds in the room where we eat: these beds require very little trouble, for they consist merely of sacks filled with broken straw, spread on the brick floor. As the mules, probably, will eat to-morrow the straw which we sleep on to-night, the expence to the host is trifling.

Our arrival was soon known in the city, and we have had a visit from the corregidor, attended by the alcalde. When they found, by our uniforms, that we were Englishmen, they refused to look at our passports, lavished most profuse compliments upon us and our country, assured us that they, their houses, and their city, were at our disposal, and prayed most fervently that our journey might be fortunate. There is only one commercial house in this city; the vine

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yards, sugar plantations, and cotton and coffee gardens, belong to merchants of Malaga, whose agents superintend them. There is a considerable tannery carried on by the Messrs. Bernards, who likewise complete the subsequent processes of currying and finishing the leather.

WE left Marvella about six o'clock, and reached the shore of the Mediterranean just as the sun rose. The beach was firm,

and the road excellent. The Sierra on our left hand had a most

magnificent appearance. About half-way towards the top, on what the Spaniards call the falda, or lap, stands the town of Mija, overlooking the plain. This town is situated about half a mile perpendicular height above the level of the sea, and the mountain rises behind to an equal height above it. Fluates of lime, resembling those of Derbyshire, and the finest marble in prodigious blocks, are found in its neighbourhood. The late king, Charles the Fourth, had a road constructed, at an enormous expence, to get a single block conveyed to the sea. This road was used only once, for, as there are no wheel carriages, by nearer paths, it has been suffered to decay, and is now nearly washed away by the torrents which, during the rains, descend from the mountains.

and mules and asses climb up

At certain intervals along the whole of this coast, and especially wherever there is good anchoring ground near the shore, signal towers, or forts, are erected, which, during the war with England, were of the greatest use, to convey intelligence of the appearance of any hostile squadron. By these means small fleets were enabled to coast from port to port, and to take shelter, when occasion required, under the cannon of the batteries. These forts, though not now garrisoned, are well contrived for the purpose for which they were constructed; they have circular fronts towards, the sea, with low parapets to work the guns en barbet : in the rear they have a curtain, and two flanking bastions, and the only entrance to them is by a small door, about half way from the top, through which the garrison drag the rope ladder by which they ascend. My military companion, Mr. Michel, admired extremely both the plan and the execution.

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After three hours riding we left the beach, and began to ascend a small mountain, on the edge of which stands a castle of Roman foundation and Moorish superstructure, which, from its situation above the plain, and its fine glacis, must formerly have been impreg nable. When we had nearly reached the summit, we were suddenly presented, through a chasm, with the finest prospect I ever beheld. The descent before us was a rugged road, through verdant shrubs mingled with cork trees: below this was seen a beautiful plain, about four or five miles in extent, with a meandering river passing through the middle of it; beyond were mountains, gradually rising above each other, covered with vines, olives, and fig trees; and in the back ground ranges of still higher mountains, with light clouds slightly hanging on the skirts of them, the highest points of which were either hid in