ANN() SALVIAS NIDCCXLIX EoNt set IV.
It stands on the summit of the mountain, which is called the Puerto de Guadarrama, and from it the t ye can take in at once the whole extent of country included in the sister provinces. The difficulties of exportation, however, in this province, would be almost completely obviated by the completion of the canal of Campos. This work was begun in 1753 by the same prince, and was in tended to reach from Fontihre, two leagues from Reyno sa, to the river Pizuerga below Valladolid. and then pass ing by Segovia to join the Duero. But after it had been cut for several miles, it was suddenly stopt, and has ne ver since been resumed, though its accomplishment would require neither extraordinary labour nor ex pense.
Old Castile produces a considerable quantity of wine, but it is inferior both in strength and flavour to that of the southern provinces. Fruits are in general very scarce, except in the canton of Bur•la, which is indeed covered with luxuriant orchards, and well wooded with elms, poplars, and chesnuts. But this district is the on ly one in the province which can boast of such planta tions. In the other districts, the appearance of tree s is chiefly confined to the banks of the rivers. Many of the extensive plains are almost entirely bare of foliage ; and in sonic places, particularly between Cabezan and Ro drigo, they are not embellished with a single s! rub. :Madder has of late years become a favourite o')jt ct of cultivation in this pro% ince, and is produced in great quantities in the vicinity of Burgos, Segovia, and Valla dolid. It employs more than a hundred mills, a'al fur nishes annually about seven or eight thouswd quintals. Wool, however, is the staple commodity of Old Castile. and constitutes an important article of foreign exporta tion. Innumerable flecks of she( p. which wink!' in the plains, browze during summer on the mountains, where they find a rich and luxuriant pasture. Thu it wool is equal in quality to any in Spain. and t tic cloth of Sego via, into which it is sometimes wrought, is famous throughout Europe. numbers of cows also feed upon these mountains, but such is the ignorance or indo lence of the inhabitants, that their produce is turned to ve ry little account ; for though this province alone could al most supply- excellent salt hinter for the whole kingdom, yet it produces little more than what is requisite for its own consumption; and Spain is compelled to draw that necessary article from other countries.
While Old Castile continued to be the residence of its sovereigns, and was animated by their presence, it held the first rank among the provinces of Spain for opulence, as well as for the excellence and variety of its manufac tures. But since the removal of the court to Madrid, its prosperity has most rapidly declined. The manufactures
of woollen and linen cloths, for which it was formerly so distinguished, are now almost annihilated. The greatest part of its wool is carried to France, where it is fabricat ed into cloths and caps, many of which return to Spain for sale ; and the half of what is manufactured at Sego via is sent to Madrid and some other places in New Cas tile. Paper, hides, and leather, are also exported to the same province ; white glass to Arragon ; and a little wine to Biscay. Its imports, however, are more consi derable, and consist annually of about 400 quintals of al monds, and 15 quintals of dried figs ; 12,000 loads of rice, paper, needles, brass-nails, silks, and oil ; 700 quin tals of flax, and 12,000 of hemp ; 800 pieces of stuff ; 720 dozen pairs of worsted stockings ; besides saffron, cutlery, salted pilchards, linens, wire, nets, printed cali coes, shoes, and iron utensils.
The character of the inhabitants corresponds with the depressed state of their province ; and, according to a late writer, they bear in their swarthy complexion the expression of poverty and dejection.—They appear to have little relish for the pleasures of society, and are more remarkable than any of their countrymen for that gravity and hauteur of manner, which is the general characteristic of their nation. They have scarcely any intercourse with each other, and the few amusements in which they engage are always of a solemn and sombre cast. In their conduct, however, they are honest, tem perate, and sincere ; " their morals," says M. De La borde, " are incorrupt and ingenuous ; they are upright in conduct, strangers to artifice, and unpractised in cun ning or duplicity ; they are naturally obliging ; probity is their birth-right ; and they are so disinterested, and so perfectly free from all affectation, that they may be justly stiled, the honest people of Spain." From this general character there are some exceptions in particular dis tricts. The inhabitants of the valley of Mena, who boast of being descended from the ancient Cantabri, still retain a considerable share of their ancient courage and vivacity ; and the mountaineers of Burgos have a great resemblance to those of Biscay, both in habits and man ners. The dress of this description of inhabitants is indeed quite peculiar ; and that of the women in the villages bordering on the pi ovince of Biscay, still ex hibits the fashion of the 16th century. It consists com monly of a brown gown, with slashed sleeves, close at the collar and wrist, and bound round the waist with a large girdle and buckle ; the hair is braided in tresses, and hangs down buhind ; and the head is covered with a black silk hat, called a montera.