The mineral wealth of the department comprises silver, copper, iron, lead, coal, salt, cobalt, and sulphur ; elate, marble of all colours, granite, alabaster, rotten-stone, and marl Of the numerous mineral springs the moat famous are those of Eaux-Bonnes and Eaux-Chaudes, in the upper part of the Valszl'Oasnu. Game abounds in the highlands, and includes roebucks, bears, chamois, ortolans, &c.
The height of the Pyrenees, and the snow that lies on them several months in the year, the proximity of the ocean, and the great number of springs, streams, marshes, and rivers, which, presenting a consider able surface, absorb a large quantity of beat, modify the temperature of tho department very considerably, and render it much leas genial and snore cold than one would expect from the latitude. From the end of February to the end of April the south wind blows regularly, changing winter into spring ; west winds succeed for the next two months ; and during the summer and autumn the north and north west winds prevaiL In some valleys men and women, the latter especially, are very subject to goitre, the diseased gland in some ex ceeding the size of the head.
The mauufactures include linen, calico, coloured handkerchiefs, flannel, drugget, hosiery, Bearnese caps, carpets, chocolate, liqueur and common brandy, paper, leather, pottery, and iron. Ships are built on the Adour and on the coast. The commerce is composed of the various products already named, and of wine, liquorice, rosin, prepared skins, wool, hides, deal planks, colonial produce, salt, &c. Highway accommodation is afforded by 5 national and 20 depart mental roads: two of the former lead across the Pyrenees from Bayonne to Spain, one through St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port by the 'ports' or puma of Orisson and Roncevaux ; the other to Pamplona by the pass of Maya. A railway, opened in 1854 from Bordeaux to Bayonne, gives the department rapid means of intercourse with Paris, and connects it with the general railway system of France.
The department was comprised in the Roman Novempopulana. It is inhabited chiefly by two distinct races, the Bearnese and the Basques, who differ from each other iu character and language. There aro also several of that once degraded race, the Cagots, who it is believed are descended from the Saracens.
The surface measures 1,883,713 acres. Of this area, 386,049 acres are under tillage; 163,723 acres are natural pasture ; 57,269 acres are laid ont in vineyards; 323,183 acres are covered with woods and forests; 15,385 acres are occupied with orchards, nurseries, and gardens; 841,997 acres consist of unproductive mountain and barren moor ; 37,106 acres are covered with streets, roads,and buildings; and 21,820 acres with rivers, waters, and lakes.
The department is divided into five arrondissements, which, with their sub-divisions and population, are as follows :— Aspe and tho Ossnu, which hero unite to form the Gaveszl'Oloron, is an ancient town, with 6272 inhabitants in the commune. The town, which occupies the site of the ancient Iluro, or Elorensiton Civitas, has a tribunal of first instance, manufactures of cloth, woollen caps, hosiery, woollen-yarn, horn and boxwood combs, leather, and paper. There is a good trade with Navarre and Aragon iu wool, sheep-skins, hams, and cattle. A high bridge over the Aspe, under which there are several mills, joins the town to Sainte-Marie-X Otoron, a well-built little town of 3029 inhabitants. In this town, there is a etreot called Rue-des Cagots from its having been the residence of that unfortunate race; in the ancient parish church there is still to be seen the separate door and holy water basin of the Cagots. Arudy, prettily situated in a fertile territory watered by the Ossau, is 10 miles S. from Oloron, and has about 2000 inhabitants, several of whom are Cagots. The church of Arudy, like that of Sainte-Marie, gives evidence of the loathing with which this race was formerly looked upon. Arudy is a place of considerable trade in wool, cattle, sheep, corn and agricultural produce, as the shepherds and graziers on the slopes of the Pyrenees dispose of their stock and buy provisions in the town. Reruns, a small place of 1814 inhabitants, 8 miles S. from Arudy, is a depbt for the mast and ship-timber from the Pyrenees for the French marine. It has also iron-forges. Not far from this town is the valley, village, and baths of Eaux-Chaudes, and a little further south is the Pic-du-Midi-de-Pau, a granite mountain, the summit of which is 9700 feet high, being the highest point within the department. Lasseube, a large village with a population of 3040, stands on the Buze, 8 miles N.E. from Oloron. Monein, a well-built town, consisting of several good streets abutting on a central square, is situated 8 miles N. from Oloron, on the left bank of the Balsa, in a country productive of excellent wine, and has 5373 inhabitants. There are iron-, copper-, and lead-mines in the neighbourhood. The chief trade is in wine and ship-timber.