L E T T E R XV.
i f he face of the country defcribed between Carthagena and Alicant.
T N going from Carthagena to Alicant, you crofs the
A rich vale of Murcia, covered with mulberry trees,
and pafs through a delightful country to Orihuela and
Elche («), remarkable for its numerous groves o f palm
trees, the branches of which are a lucrative article of
trade. The fertility of this country, particularly round
Orihuela, exceeds all defcription, their harvefts of wheat
are very great, and they are reckoned to have the beft
bread in Spain. At Orihuela they make thofe curious
fnuff-boxes with the roots of the terebinthus, called corni-
cabra in Spanilh, which are fo much admired on account
o f their beautiful fhades, reprefenting landfcapes, &c.
they are chiefly ufeful for Spanilh fnuff, as they preferve
it moift and cool, and for this purpofe are in great eftima-
tion at Rome.. As a further proof o f the great abundance
and plenty at Orihuela, it is faid that the tythes
M The antiquities o f Elche have been lately.illuftrated by Don Antonio Mayans, canoaof
Valencia, brother to Don Gregorio Mayans y Sifcar, the celebrated writer. See “ llici hoi
la villa de Elche aiuftrada con varios difcurfos, por Don Juan Antonio Mayans y Sifcar.”
Valencia, 1 7 7 X .
o f
of Pimenton and Tomates\ ‘ ‘ guinea pepper and love apple,”
paid to the bifhop of Orihuela, amount to £1600. iter-
ling per annum.
The caftle o f Alicant Hands on a limy rock above a:
thoufand feet high, having ihells half petrified on its.
fummit. The plants of the vallies grow alfo on its top,
the feeds of which were probably dropped by birds, or
brought by the winds. The eaftern fide o f the hill contains
red wavy flint, with pieces of agate fixed in the
rock, and on the weft fide there is plume alum in the
crevices o f the rock, and lower down beds o f tripoli,
which is ufed by the filverfmiths in thefe parts. Going
from the city towards the north-weft about half a league
diftance, the fields are full o f thofe ftones called numu-
lari<e, and by the people of the country moneda de las
lruxasy “ witches coin.” Likewife lenticulares, forme o f
which;, are as fmall as a pin s head. This country alfo
produces the fcinus melle, or Peru pepper, whofe fruit
grows in bunches o f a handfome rofe colour [a).
The huerta de Alicante is a beautiful plantation, about one-
league long and two broad, full of vineyards, which they
(a) In Gerard’s herbal mcnlion is made o f a .trce c a lled ,™ * or- balfam, tree. “ This
tree, fays a learned phyfician, Johan Eragofas, grows in.the king, of SpainVgarden-at. Madrid,
which was'the firfthe had ever fce%; f.nee which time Juan Ferdinando,.fecretary to the
king did Otew unto the faid Fragofas in his own garden, a tree fo large and o f fuch beauty
that he was never fatisfied with looking at it,.and meditating on .the.virtues thereof.” Se e
Gerard s herba],.and Lobe’s defcription.of.it.
are;