ANDALUSIA, the Bcetica of the ancients, (from Vandalitia, the ancient name of Beetica, or Handabisia, which, in the Arabic, signifies the region of the even ing, or, according to others, from Vandalusia, the coun try of the Vandals,) is a large province of Spain, which was formerly divided into higher and lower Andalusia, the first comprehending the kingdom of Granada. Lower Andalusia, to which the name is now confined, is bounded on the north by Est•emadura and New Cas tile, from which it is divided by the chain of mountains called the Sierra Morena ; on the east by the kingdom of Murcia ; on the south-east by the kingdom of Granada, on the south by the straits of Gibraltar and the Mediter ranean; and on the west by the kingdom of Algarva, in Portugal. Its greatest length is about 320 miles, and its greatest breadth 150. This extensive province, which is traversed by the Guadalquivir, is reckoned the most fertile and delightful part of Spain. It abounds in corn, wine, fruits ul all kinds, but chiefly in oil, which, however, is badly manufactured. It produces also silk, Barilia, cochineal, and sugar. There is a tradition in the province, that the Moors introduced into Spain the sugar cane, which is here as large and productive as those of America. Several sugar-mills are erected on the coast between Malaga and Gibraltar. Though the soil of this province is remarkably rich, yet, from a va riety of causes, it is badly cultivated. This low state of agriculture arises, in some degree, from the short ness of the leases, which are generally granted for three years, and seldom for more than five. The land is divi ded into three portions. One of these is cultivated ; the other is in a state of fallow; and the third, reserved by the farmer for pasturing his cattle, is generally in creased, that he may derive every possible advantage during the short period of his lease. The horses of
Andalusia, are, according to Bufron, the best in Spain. Though their heads are generally considered as too long, they are superior to all other horses, even for show, and for common use. The coasts of Andalusia abound with fish of various kinds; and, according to Ulloa, there was a species of fish on the coast of the clutchy of Medina Sidonia, which would have produced 80,000 ducats annually ; but, owing to the torpor of the old government, these fisheries have been neglected, and the nation deprived of an inexhaustible source of wealth and prosperity. The wool of Andalusia is reck oned of a superior kind, though the sheep from which_ it is taken were originally from England. In the moun tains of Andalusia there are mines of quicksilver, and a great quantity of vermilion. There are likewise mines of gold, silver, copper, tin, and lead, and one of pre cious stones, which is mentioned by Pliny, Strabo, and Livy, but which is not now to be found. According to Ulloa, the air of Andalusia is so temperate, that the heat and cold are never excessive. The capital of Anda is Seville. The principal towns are Cadiz, Cordova, Ecija, Xeres de la Frontera, Taen, Baeza, &c. Popu lation, 1,270,000. See Keysler's Travels, vol. iii. p. 20. D'Herbelot's Biblioth. Orient. p. 114. D'Anville's Etats de L'Eurolte, p. 146. Buffon's Hist. Nat. vol. vii. p. 535. Townsend's Travels, vol. ii. (o)