The hilly region which extends over a great portion of the depart ment north of the Pic-du-ilitli-de-Bigorre, is furrowed by numerous streams flowing through lateral valleys of great beauty, and emptying themselves into the Adour or the Garonne. The fine plain of Bigorre, in the centre of which stands the town of Tarbes, inclines gradually towards the north. Thu ranges that Inclose it on the east and west are covered with wooda throughout their entire length ; the Adour and Its feeders drain It; good high roads, diverging from Tarbes, and several other branch roads, traverse its surface, which is strewed with towns, villages, and hamlets in all directions.
The principal rivers are the ADOUR, which runs through the depart ment from south to north : the GARONNE and its feeder the Neste, which drain the south-eastern districts; the Gave-de-Pau, which flows through the beautiful valleys of Cauteretz and Argeles in the south west, on its way to join the Adour ; the GERS and the liaise, feeders of the Garonne; and the Lams, a tributary of the Adour, which drain the north-east of the department. The Alarie Canal serves fa? the irrigation of the plain on the right bank of the Adour ; it is about 30 miles in length, and turns above 60 mills. It commences below Bagneres, passes a little east of Tarbes, through Rabastens, and enters the Adour below Maubourguet. This canal was opened in A.D. 507.
The climate is in general good and healthy, the temperatnre in the plains of Bigorre is mild; but, as may be expected from the nature of the surface of the department, different temperatures may be obtained by varying the elevation. All the atmospheric phenomena succeed each other in the highlands with remarkable rapidity and inconstancy. The prevailing wind blowe from the south-west, and it is attended very frequently with violent rains. The spring is mild, but sometimes late frosts are destructive to the young vegetation ; summer is dry and windy ; the autumn is invariably fine and clear; the winter foggy.
The common corn products of the department are insufficient for the consumption; buck-wheat, maize, potatoes, figs, mulberries, &c., are also grown. About 6,000,000 gallons of good white and red wines are made annually. Horned cattle and sheep are very numer ous; good butter and cheese are made; mules, asses, and horses are reared, and also pigs and large numbers of poultry, especially geese, the legs of which are salted for export. Bees are carefully tended, and honey and wax are abundant.
The loftiest parts of the Pyrenees in this department are composed of granitic rocks, which are also found in the upper part of the valley of Lavedan, between Gddre and Gavarnie, in the valley of Hdas, in the upper part of the valley of Aure, near the village of Plan, and in detached portions in one or two other places. The Pic-du-Itlidi-de Bigorre, and the surrounding district between Arreau in the valley of the Neste, and Cauterets, are occupied by mica-elate. The great mass of the Pyrenees however is composed of transition rocks, namely, clay-slate and grauwacke, in the neighbourhood of the primitive for mations, and limestone toward the foot of the chain and the plains at its base. The red-sandstone, or red-marl formation, is found in one or two places, chiefly on the east aide of the department. A narrow
district extending eastward from Bagueres-de-Bigorro to Haute Garonne, is occupied by Alpine limestone. The north of the depart ment is occupied by the tertiary formations. Iron, copper, zinc, lead, manganese, nickel, and cobalt, are found, but no mines are workod; marble of different colours, building-stone, slate, granite, warmth, kaolin, marl, fullers'-eartb, and potters'-clay are raised. Mineral and hot-springs abound.
The commerce of the department is limited to cattle, corn, mules and horses for Spain, timber, oak-staves, hoops, the agricultural pro ducts before named, some linen, cottou- and woollen-stuffs, cutlery, nails, bides, ite. About 80 fairs are held.
The department contains 1,118,933 acres. Of the whole area about 236,000 acres are under the plough; 110,000 acres consist of grass land; 38,000 acres are planted with vines; 256,000 acres are covered with woods and forests; 430,000 acres consist of heath, moor, or mountain pasture; and about 20,000 acres are occupied as orchards, gardens, nurseries, &c.
The department is divided into three arrondissements, which, with their subdivisions and population, are es follows: 1. Of the first arrondissement, and of the whole department, the chief town is Tarbes, which is prettily situated on the left bank of the Adour, in 43' 13' 59' N. lat., 0' 4' 41' E. long., 1022 feet above the level of the sea, at a distance of 24 miles E. by S. from Pau, aml has 12,663 inhabitants in the commune. The streets are wido, regular, and clean, the waters of the Adour being distributed by canals through all parts of the town ; the houses are low, built of marble, boulders, and bricks, and covered in with slates. There are throe handsome squares, and outside the town a beautiful walk called the Prado. Of the old ramparts there is no longer a trace; but the ancient castle of the counts of Bigorre still stands, and is now used as a prison. The other remarkable buildings are the prefect's residence, formerly the bishop's palace; the hospital ; the theological and communal colleges; the Ursuline barracks, once a convent; the normal school ; the baths; the bridge over tho Adour ; and the theatre. There are also a hand some cathedral and two churches In the town, which has manufactures of paper and leather, and a good trade In wine, iron, hides, cattle, agricultural produce, &a The view of the Pyrenees from this placo is much admired. Edward the Black Prince kept his court in Tarbes. Masi!wergild, N. of Tarbes, on the Adonr, has a remarkable ohurch, built by the Templens, and 2202 inhabitants. Osten, S.W. of Tarbes, has a population of 3016. On a hill near it there is an ancient Roman camp, which, local tradition says, was laid out by Cameo lieutenant, Cremes. Vic-as-Bigorre, a small town surrounded by larger suburb', is situated 12 miles N. from Tarbes, and has a college, brandy distil leries, tan-yards, and 4644 inhabitants. It W113 formerly defended by a strong castle, built in 1151, and of which there are still some remains. The places that give name to tho other cantons are mere villages.