ESTREMADURA, Extrema Durii, is a province of Portugal, which is bounded by Beira on the north, by Alentejo and Beira on the south, and by the sea on the west. It extends about 140 miles from north to south, and about 70 in breadth, and contains 5440 square miles. It is cut in the direction of east and west by the Tagus, which throws itself into the sea at Lisbon. This pro vince forms a long and narrow stripe of land, extending along the sea shore from the embouchure of the Mon dego to below the town of Setuval. On account of its proximity to the Atlantic, the climate is remarkably mild, and is very salutary and pleasant to those accus tomed to it. During the period between the end of July and the beginning of September, every thing is parched. Not a blade of grass is to be seen, and the evergreens are shrivelled up. The heat continues incessantly, with a sky almost always serene. The north wind prevails in summer ; but its direction being changed by the mountains of Cintra, it becomes a north-west, and cools the air considerably. The greatest heat always accom panies the east wind ; and in the summer of 1798, the heat was 104° of Fahrenheit : a heat of 96° is not un common. The soil round Lisbon consists of limestone and basalt. In some places, the limestone is very close and excellent for building. The basalt begins at the bank not far from the sea, and then proceeds through Quelus towards Bellas ; meanwhile a branch of the ba salt mountains stretches beyond Lisbon by the Aqueduct, and unites with the abovementioned chain towards Bel las. Hence the basalt country extends as far as Cabeca de Montachique. It properly forms only one mass of ba salt, which is occasionally covered with limestone.
The mildness of the climate is peculiarly favourable to agriculture, and the soil is productive or unproductive, according to the quantity of rain which falls. Wheat is commonly sown in the neighbourhood of Lisbon ; barley is also sown ; but rye is only grown for cattle, and oats are never seen. The fallows are ploughed in autumn, a
second time in May, and then at seed time, when the au tumnal rains have softened the earth. Light soils are dug, but those which are heavy are ploughed with oxen of extraordinary size, strength, and beauty. The harvest is in May. The corn is generally thrashed, but some times trodden out by oxen and horses. Putrefied plants are the only manure which is employed. Rye is often in ear in February and March, and is commonly cut down for fodder before it is ripe. Spanish potatoes are occa sionally grown ; but this root is generally imported from England and Ireland.
The mountains of Cintra consist of granite, composed of clear white quartz, a reddish felspar, and black mica, against which leans a white or foliaceous limestone, or a proper stinkstone. The south side of these mountains is arid, naked, and parched up, and consists of bare heap ed up rocks, affording a wild and a dreary prospect. The north side of the range is to a certain height cover ed with country houses, and charming quintas, forming a shady wood of the finest trees, such as oaks, pines, le mon trees, &c. From the top, there is a fine prospect of the well cultivated valley of Colanos.
The principal fruits of Portuguese Estremadura, are citrons, lemons, oranges, grenades, figs, dates, and al monds. Great quantities of Lisbon wine arc made in the province. Salt forms one of the chief articles of its commerce. The principal towns of the province are Lisbon, Leiria, Abrantes, Pombal, Alcobaca, Schiral, Thomar, Santarem, Alanquer, Torres Vedras, Cintra, and Cascaes. The province contains 8 jurisdictions, 400 parishes, and 250,760 inhabitants. (j)