GIBRALTAR, a rocky promontory, 3 m. in length and m. in average breadth, forms the southern extremity of Spain. It is situated at the extremity of a low peninsula, which connects it on the n. with Andalusia; its most southern headland, point Europa, is in lat. 36° 2' 30" n., and long. 5° 15' 12" west. Five and a half miles distant across the sea is the Spanish town of Algesiras, between which and Gibraltar lies the bay of Gibraltar, called also the bay of Algesiras.. On the e. side of this bay is the town of Gibraltar, inhabited by a motley agglomeration of English, Spaniards, Jews, and Moors. Pop. '71, 16,454, exclusive of the garrison.
The strip of peninsula connecting Gibraltar with the Spanish territory is called the "neutral ground." It is so low, that, seen from the sea but a few miles off, Gibraltar has the appearance of a detached rock. The approaches both from this neutral ground and front the sea are guarded by a great number of very powerful batteries, and by fortifications so strong in themselves and in their relative bearing on each other, that the rock may fairly be regarded as impregnable so long as a sufficient garrison remains for its defense, and sufficient provision for the maintenance of the troops and any civil inhabitants suffered to reside there during hostilities. The rock is composed of gray primary marble, deposited in strata from 20 to 40 ft. thick. The surface, near the sea, is sandy and red in appearance; higher up, the rock is covered only with short and scanty grass or moss. Seen from the sea, its aspect is uninviting, the whole appearing denuded of trees and verdure: nevertheless, there are grassy, wooded glens in the nooks of the P...;•ff r11,0:4:•,.....A IA.. • mountain. In the crevices of the rock grow asparagus, capers, palmitas, aloes, and cacti, while the fauna disporting on the wild, rarely-trodden upper portions, comprises rabbits, partridges, pigeons, woodcocks, and fawu-colored Barbary apes. For various military reasons, shooting is discouraged, and these animals therefore enjoy the utmost impunity. The rock, at its highest point, the Sugar Loaf, attains an elevation of 1439 ft. above the sea. It is perforated by numerous caverns, the largest of which, called the " Halls of St. Michael," have an entrance about 1000 ft. above the sea. Thence there is a descent
through a succession of caves—some ample chambers, others mere passages, through which it is barely possible to creep—to a depth of 500 ft. below the entrance; at this point foul air has barred further ingress; but the roaring of the sea has been distinctly heard, which leads to the inference that these gloomy hollows have communication with the waves beneath. Large stalactites arc found in most of the caverns, and interesting fossils abound throughout the peninsula.
The climate of Gibraltar is, as a rule, healthy, although the period from July to "Nov., when the greatest heat prevails, is attended with some risk to Englishmen; there is, however, a remarkable exception in the case of infants at the period of teeth-cutting, to whom the atmosphere of the place is peculiarly fatal. Of late years, the energetic measures adopted by the engineer officers to improve the drainage of the town have, coupled with stringent police regulations, greatly diminished the death rate; and Gib raltar is as remarkable now for its cleanly appearance as, up to 1814, it was celebrated for being one of the dirtiest towns in Europe. The place is, however, subject to a periodical visitation, once iu twelve years, or thereabout, called the Gibraltar fever, an epidemic which works sad havoc among the troops.
There are no springs of fresh water on the rock, and the inhabitants are therefore compelled to depend on the rain-fall. In consequence of this, every precaution is adopted to preserve as much of the water as possible; tanks are fed systematically by the drops collected from private roofs, and conduits are made to guide the drainage from the rock surface into great public reservoirs. Among the latter, the navy tank, for the supply of ships coming to the port, is conspicuous, its capacity being from 9,000 to 11,000 tons of water. Large stores of grain are maintained. in case of siege; but the peninsula does not produce sufficient food to furnish current sustenance for its popula tion. Provisions in plenty can, however, be procured at a cheap rate from the opposite African shore.