There may be said to be three different temperatures in the different districts of the province ; that of the coast, which is generally mild and gentle ; that of the mountains towards the nor th-east, which is cold, damp, and rainy; and that of the valleys towards the south-west, which is warm, dry, and pleasant. It is indeed of all parts in Spain the most subject to frequent rains and a cloudy atmosphere ; but it is every where salubrious, and generally productive. There are vast quantities of lofty trees, especially oak, walnut, Chesnut, and hazel ; and in many places are seen mulberry, orange, and lemon trees, vines, apples, and a great variety of other excellent fruits. Though in some parts the soil is not very fertile by nature, the industry of the inhabitants has done much for its improvement. The lands frequently bear wheat, barley, rye and oats ; and great quantities of maize, millet, flax, hemp, pulse, and excellent vegetables. The farmer's fatten great numbers of cattle, besides raising some good horses, mules, and a fine breed of asses and hogs. Numerous flocks of sheep and goats are seen upon the ridges of the mountains ; and in many places abundance of excellent poultry is reared.
There are fewer manufactures in Galicia than in the other provinces of Spain ; and, though the inhabitants are re markably industrious, they seem to have little inclination for the more mechanical arts, or the occupations of com merce. There are at Corunna and Ferrol rope-works and manufactories of sail-cloth, chiefly for the use of the Span ish navy. In the province of Lugo, woollen stuffs, hosiery, and coarse cloths, are made. In the territory of Monforte, in the county of Lemos, there are manufactories of silk, which produce a considerable revenue. There are also made in the province, leather, tapes, soap, some printed ca licoes, tolerably good table linen, a considerable number of hats, and great quantities of knit stockings, of which last ar ticle it is calculated that 25,000 pairs are annually sent to the neighbouring provinces, and double that number to America. Its principal articles of commerce are cattle, mules, horses, fish, cloth, wool, and wine, which are sent :at° the other provinces; salt provisions, particularly salted fish, which goes to foreign countries ; leather, skins, hides, hats, soap, table-cloths, napkins, stockings, to America. Its exportations are made from the port of Corunna, and its imports, excepting those from America, are received by Vigo.
Galicia contains seven cities, 74 towns, 3434 villages, and 3683 parishes. The principal inland towns are San Jago de Compostella, the capital of the province, and residence of the archbishop, Lugo, Orense, Mondoncdo, and Tuy, each the seat of a bishop, Porto-Marin, Portvelezar, Tor beo, Vclezar, Salvatierra, Monforte de Lemos, Viana, Monterey, Ponte vedra, &c. On the coast are lorty sea ports, but the greater part are very small, and tire most worthy of notice are Corunna, Finisterra, Bayona, Gondo mar, Muroz, Rivaldeo, Ferrol, Betanzos, Vigo, &c. The population of the province, in proportion to its extent, greater than that of any other in Spain ; and is estimated at nearly one million and a half. The people are chiefly em ployed in agriculture and fishing ; and are distinguished by their simplicity of manners, hospitality of disposition, and general disregard of the arts of luxury. They are large
and robust in their persons, commonly barefooted-, and ca pable of supporting every kind of fatigue. The women are fair and tolerably handsome, with fine teeth, and very regular, but not very expressive features. The Galicians are naturally of a martial spirit, and great numbers of thr young men enter the army even at fifteen years of age. They pique themselves upon their descent from the old Christians, who have never intermarried with converter! Jews or Moors ; and they are equally noted for their regard to religion, and their loyalty to the king. They are serious, grave, sober, rather solitary and retired in their habits, but uniformly distinguished by probity and courage. Their language is a mixture of the ancient Castilian and of the Portuguese, with several expressions of the Latin. They are said to have been the first poets in Spain ; and a few of their ancient verses are still retained by tradition. But the chief characteristic of the Galicians is their inclination to emigrate to other provinces in quest of employment, though they can neither be said to be very poor or in want of sub sistence at home. It is supposed that not less than 100,000 annually leave the province in this view, many of whom never return. They arc uniformly employed as labourers in the time of vintage and harvest, in the two Castiles, and Portugal ; and, when they do not appear to assist in these countries, much of their valuable produce, from the sloven ly manner in which it is gathered, is actually trodden under foot. The great proportion of servants in all the principal towns of Spain are either Galicians or Asturians, who are generally preferred on account of their fidelity and obedi ence. They are ready to perform any kind of occupation, however servile, sweeping chimneys, or cleaning shoes ; and the porter's and water carriers in Madrid, Cadiz, and even at Lisbon, are commonly Galicians ; at the same time it must be observed, that the name Gallego, which properly signifies a Galician, is now applied to the occupation as well as to the country ; and is given to a person from any other province exercising the employment of a porter. These Galicians are every where remarkable for their sub missive disposition, and are too often treated like slaves ; but their patient endurance is said to proceed from a fear of displeasing rather than from any meanness of spirit ; and, in their native country, their character is found to be sufficient ly decided. As a proofof the general honesty of the Galici ans, it is worthy of notice, that in many parts of the province, but particularly in the vicinity of Orense, where much excellent wine is made, every proprietor deposits the pro duce of his vintage in vaults, at a little distance from the villages ; and, though these cellars are neither guarded by any watchmen, nor even in many cases secured by shut doors, there is no instance of a theft being commitcd upon the property thus in a manner delivered over to the public faith. See Laborde's View o/' Spain, vol. ii. (q)