our Saviour. Some of the frescoes in the chapels are good. This pilgrimage was originally founded in the time of Pope Innocent VIII., but pilgrims were not numerous until after

the visits of Cardinal Borromeo in 1578 and 1584, from which period most of the chapels date. From VARALLO to ARONA is a drive of five hours.

PAIN is bounded on the north by the Bay of Biscay and the mountain chain of the Pyrenees; on the east and south by the Mediterranean and Atlantic, and on the west by Portugal and the waters of the Atlantic.

Its greatest length is 560 miles, its greatest breadth about 650 miles. Its area, including the Canary and Balearic Islands, is 182,758 square miles.

The interior of the country presents great physical diversity, more so than that of any other country in Europe of equal ex

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tent. The central regions consist of an immense plateau, which rises to the height of from 2000 to 3000 feet, and occupies upwards of 90,000 square miles. This plateau, or table land, is bounded on two sides by mountainous tracts-on the north-east by the valley of the Ebro, and on the south by the valley of the Guadalquivir. The Pyrenean peninsula is divided by geographers into seven mountain ranges, of which the chief are: 1. The Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees, forming the most northern range; 2. The Sierra de Guadarrama; 3. The Montes de Toledo; 4. The Sierra Morena

between the upper waters of the Guadiana and Guadalquivir; 5. The Sierra Nevada running parallel with the shores of the Mediterranean, through Southern Murcia and Andalusia.

The several mountain ridges, or, as they are called, Cordilleras of Spain, have a general east and west direction, and between them run, in the same direction, the nearly parallel valleys or basins of the great rivers of the country, the Douro, Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir. The valleys enclosed among the mountain ranges, as well as the plains, or vegas, that spread out from their bases, are in general distinguished by extreme beauty. The former are almost uniformly clothed with a luxuriant vegetation, and the latter form rich pasture grounds.

The climate, owing to the physical configuration of the surface, varies much in different localities. On the elevated tableland it is both colder in winter and hotter in summer than is usual under the same latitude.

In Madrid the mean temperature of winter is about 47 degrees and of summer 86 degrees. In the north-west, in severe and rainy winters, the cold is occasionally extreme, and in Gallicia, a piercing wind, which the Castilians call gallego, often blows. In the south-east districts a kind of perpetual spring prevails; on the contrary, in the south-west, in Granada, and other parts of Andalusia, the climate is almost African, and a wind called solano, which withers up vegetation, enfeebles the animal frame, and spreads epidemic diseases, often blows for two weeks in succession.

In the west the climate is mild but variable; the summer, however, is often very hot, and in Estramadura in particular wither

ing droughts are not unfrequent. In the east the climate resembles that of Asia Minor and Syria.

The principal rivers, in addition to those above named, are the Ebro, Xucar, and Minho. The rivers on the northern coast of Spain are numerous, but of short courses: they serve to irrigate the land, but are not sufficiently deep for navigation. Spain has no lakes of any magnitude. Some of small size occur in the high valleys of the Pyrenees.

The mineral productions are rich and varied, though, owing to the general decay into which almost all the industrial interests of the kingdom have fallen, they are less extensively worked than they formerly were. They include gold, silver, quicksilver (the mines of which at Almaden, are among the richest in the world), copper, iron, zinc, in limited quantities, and coal. The total value of the minerals, ores, and metals raised in 1863, amounted to £4,428,389.

The kingdom of Spain, inclusive of the adjacent islands, is divided into 49 provinces. The total population is 17,300,851.

It has been calculated that, about the time of Julius Cæsar, Spain must have contained 78,000,000 inhabitants, and yet, in 1688, it did not possess more than 8,000,000. In 1768 the population had risen to 9,307,800; in 1820, to 11,000,000; and, in 1842, to 12,054,000 souls. The population of Spain in 1876 was estimated at 16,516,949, giving a density of population, at this period, of 90 per English square mile, or considerably less than half that of Italy.

MONEY.-By a decree made in October 1868, a new currency was established on the basis of the franc, viz., 100 centimes peseta 10d. English, or 20

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for the antiquary, but its chief attraction is its justly celebrated CATHEDRAL, the spires of which will be seen rising above a mass of dull yellow houses. This building dates from the 13th century; but the grand altar was constructed some three hundred years later. At the west end are two spires of open-work, about 300 feet high. Behind these rises up an octagonal tower, built by the son of the Duke of Alva, and behind this again a lower tower, in itself a good-sized church. The cathedral is of so vast an extent, that services may be performed in eight chapels at once without occasioning confusion. Many of the chapels are well worth seeing. The choir is enriched with numerous bas-reliefs, finely executed in carved wood; and the small sacristy is also richly adorned with similar work, the ceiling representing the crowning of the Blessed Virgin, in alto-relievo. The towers afford fine views of the town and surrounding country.

The Convent of Miraflores, about two miles out of thetown, possesses a church, erected by Isabella of Castile, as a monument to her parents. It has been mutilated by the French. In it is the magnificent monument of Don Juan II. and his queen. On the top are the recumbent effigies of the king and queen-he in his armour, she in her robes, ornamented with lace marvellously chiselled while all round the monument are carved figures of martyrs and apostles.

There are several churches in Burgos worth visiting: St Nicholas (1500); San Esteban, formerly a convent (1290-1380); and San Gil (of the 14th century). In the Town Hall are preserved the bones of the Cid, removed here in 1842, from San Pedro de Cardena, and placed in a glazed

case. The Castle was built by Belchides about 895.

TORQUEMADA (207 miles), population, 3,000. The houses in this part of the country are built, like those of Egyptian villages and the ancient cities of Mesopotamia, with sun-dried bricks. The church of Torquemada affords a striking contrast to the poverty of the private dwellings, being erected in a handsome style of Gothic architecture.

VALLADOLID (243 miles), (Hotels: Universal, de Paris, del Siglo), population, 50,000. This is a place of some commercial activity. It was formerly the capital of Spain, until Philip II. transferred the court to Madrid. It possesses a University, a Museum, containing some excellent specimens of Spanish carving in wood, a fine Cathedral, and several interesting churches and convents; the latter now applied to secular uses. Passing several other places, we reach

AVILA (323 miles), (Hotel: San Jose), population, 6,250. This is a fortified town. Its walls are of considerable height and thickness, and are protected by numerous towers. The Cathedral is a fine building, and is adorned with choice stained-glass windows, and curious paintings on the retablo of the high altar. The choir contains some fine carvings, and there are some well executed reliefs in the transepts. Of the other churches, the most striking is that of San Vicente.

Leaving Avila, we proceed through a mountainous district, passing several tunnels. The country is bleak and unproductive. Near La Canada, we obtain a magnificent view, extending to the mountains of the Sierra de Toledo.

EL ESCORIAL (361 miles). The celebrated PALACE OF THE ESCORIAL is situated at Escorial de