CASTILE (NEw), the largest province of Spain, extending (independent of La Mancha) 56 leagues from north to south, and 49 freim east to west. It compre hends the Celtiberia, the land of the °retain, and the Carpetania, &c. of the Romans ; and has 01(1 Castile on the north and north west ; Arragon, Valencia, and Murcia, on the east and south-east ; the Sierra Morena on the south, which separates it from Andalusia; and Estremadura and I,eon on the west, from which it is divided by a ridge or hills, called Gaudaloupe, and La Sarena. This province contains about 22,000 square miles, and presents a diversified aspect, consisting of immense plains, intersected by numerous rivers, and divided and surrounded by lofty mountains. The prin cipal range is, that which was called by the Romans ontes Orospedani, and which originates in the Sierra I)'Occa. From it the other mountains arc merely ramifications, of which the Sierra de Cuenca is the chief, and is supposed to be the most elevated land in Spain. It is of considerable extent, reaching eastward to Arra gon and Valencia, and is diversified with many fertile valleys. The Sierra de Molina occupies the north-east point of the province ; and the Sierra D'Albarazin, which runs a little north of it, stretches towards the south.east, when it forms a junction with the Sierra de Cuenza. The Sierra de Guadarama, which constitutes the north ern boundary or the province, is derived from the Pyrenees.
All of these mountains contain treasures of intel ligence, Nri hich would amply reward the researches of the mineralogist and botanist. Their recesses are as yet unexplored ; and the traveller tramples at every su p upon tribes of plants, which, however beautiful and use ful, are scarcely known to the natives of Spain. On the mountain of Barbaxeda are a copper mine and a bed of coal ; and on a lofty part of the same mountain are the lakes of Tobar and 13eteta, which are both above four hundred fathoms in depth. They abound with tench, and are frequented by flocks of teals, wild ducks, and other aquatic birds. I lyaeinthine stones are found in 061 vicinity ; and near Maranchon are fragments of pisolites, belemnites, and other bivalved fossil shells, resting on a bed of calcareous earth. At Bonaco de Sierra, about two leagues north of Cuenza, are several kinds of variegated marble, among which arc a yellow marble veined with violet, a yellow marble striped with pink, and a marble of a variety of colours ; and at the foot of the Guadartuna mountains was found a large emerald, which is now employed in polishing mirrors in the glass-house of St Ildefonso. The mountain of Las
Contreras contains a salt mine, which is said to hate been wrought from the time of the Romans. It is call ed the salt pit of Minglanilla, and consists of a series of deep caverns, into which the descent is by 200 steps cut in the rock. It gives employment to thirty men, and its produce belongs exclusively to the king.
In the mountains of this province are several curious caves, some of which arc evidently the remains of mines long ago forsaken. Those most worthy of notice are in the Sierra de Cuenza, viz. the cave of the Greeks, the iron cave, and the cave of Peter Cotillas. 44 This last," says Laborde, " is remarkable lot' the variety and beauty of its congelations, which compose stalactites or every description ; to the eye they present striking similitudes of the human figure, of clogs, adders, pyramids, and columns ; by the light of .torches they are resplendent ; some of them, by their transparence, resemble crystal ; water is dripping from every part of this cavern, which, in all probability, is the relic of an ancient mine." Among the abundance of mineral waters in New Castile, the principal cold springs are those of Alameda Saga, Vacia-Madrid, Cevica, and Anover, which are all saline, and the two first arc highly cathartic. The thermal waters are urns(' of Sacedon, Corcoles, Trillo, and Iluendia. Of the principal rivers which run through this province, three are navigable, the Tagus, the taco, and the Guadiana ; and the smaller ones arc, the Henarez, the Gaya, the Cabriel, the Oliana, the Guecaro, the Cauda, the Zuia, the 13edija, the Xiqueta, the Lozoya, the Guadarrama, the Albcrcho, the Xarania, the AIolina, the Manzarana, the Cabrillo, the Tian, the Tacuna, the Tortoles, the Guazaon, the Gundiera, and the Mos eas. This last, whica rises in the mountains of Cuenza, and flows front thence to Valera, has its waters impreg nated with salt.