ACROSS THE PYRENEES.

In the steep, narrow, and gloomy streets of Saragossa there are some fine specimens of ancient domestic architecture. The spiral pillars, delicately carved open work, and noble staircase of the inner courts of the Casa de la Infanta are greatly to be admired. The Torre Nueva is an interesting specimen of a leaning tower. Its deviation from the perpendicular however is due, not to a whim of the architect, but to faulty foundations.

Tourists who keep closely to the beaten tracks of travel must return from Saragossa to Barcelona. Train and diligence will convey them thence

across the eastern Pyrenees by way of Gerona and Perpignan into the great French system of railways. The route is one of much interest and beauty, though the hotel accommodation on the Spanish side is rough and poor.

More adventurous travellers may make their way nearly due north from Saragossa. As far as Huesca a railway is available. From thence the tourist must be contented with rustic vehicles till he reaches the slopes of the mountains, and must cross the Pyrenees on foot or horseback. If he have a few days to spare he will be able, by this route, to visit Gavarnie, the baths of Luchon, Bagnerres de Bigorre, Eaux Chaudes, and other points of great interest, and

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much defaced by modern improvements (?) in the worst possible taste. Pilar is dedicated to the Virgin, and takes its name from the absurd legend attached to it. St. James, so it is said, applied to the Virgin for permission to preach the Gospel in Spain. She gave her consent, and having "kissed her hand" he set out on his journey. In due time he reached Saragossa, and forthwith converted eight pagans before he slept. Greatly desiring to see the Mother of his Lord once again, a company of angels brought her to him on a pillar of jasper. She commanded him to build a chapel to her

honour on the spot where the pillar rested, and then returned to Palestine. The Church of Our Lady of the Pillar was one of the most popular shrine throughout Spain. Fifty thousand persons have been known to visit it the day set apart for the commemoration of the pretended miracle. The ed became one of the richest in Europe. Costly marbles, gold, silver, pr stones, and embroidered garments were lavished upon it. It sti indignation that the tender, simple, and beautiful narrative of t should be encumbered by legends like these, at once wicked and

ACROSS THE THE

In the steep, narrow, and icomy street
fine specimens of ancient domestic archite
carved open work, and noble staircase of the
Infanta are greatly to be admiri
The
specimen of a leaning tower. Is deviatur m
is due, not to a whim of the aritet but a

Tourists who keep closely the beater
from Saragossa to Barcelona Train and

across the eastern Pyrenees by way of Gerona and Peppa in p French system of railways. The route is one of mes a though the hotel accommodation on the Spises More adventurous travellers may make fr

Saragossa. As far as Huesca a railway is a must be contented with rustic vehides fille and must cross the Pyrenees on fo spare he will be able, by this route, s Bagnerres de Bigorre, Eaux Chave de

at last find himself at Pau, the capital of the Pyrenees. After some weeks spent in the cities and plains of the peninsula, the fresh mountain air and the grand mountain scenery will be doubly delightful.

In our rambles through Spain we have been traversing a country of which, we may say, in the words of Scripture, it is "a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey

.

a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.' Under its former occupants, from the Phoenicians to the Moors, it was one of the granaries and gardens of Europe. Its commanding position on the great highway of the world's commerce, the exuberant fertility of its soil, its exhaustless mineral treasures, and the industry and energy of its people, seemed to secure for it a high position amongst the nations. Only three centuries ago it held unquestionably the first place in Europe. Under the paralysing influence of political tyranny and papal bigotry its cities have fallen into decay; its fields have been smitten with barrenness; its commerce and manufactures have perished. It retains but the ruins of its former greatness. A few years the decadence seemed to have been arrested, and a measure of improvement might be traced. The yoke of Rome had been broken. The government of, perhaps, the most corrupt court in Europe had come to an end. The Gospel was faithfully preached to crowds of eager listeners, and millions of books and tracts enforcing the principles of morality and godliness were circulated amongst the people. But who can now forecast the future of Spain? No settled government has yet been established, and there is a danger, increasing day by day, of anarchy succeeding to the despotism of former years. The people are rapidly passing from superstition into infidelity: great multitudes of them have already done so. The writer cannot conclude without again avowing his conviction that its only hope lies in the spread of true religion. Of Spain, as of every other country, it is true that, "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

711. Landing of the Moors: Battle of Xeres de la Frontera : Fall of the Gothic monarchy.

Almansor lays waste Galicia and Asturias. Battle of Calat Onosor, A.D. 1002. Defeat of the Moslems.
Close of the period of absolute Mohammedan supremacy.

* See Psa. lxxii. 10; Jonah, i. 3; Isaiah lx. 9; lxvi. 19. The name Tarshish first appears as that of a grandson of Japheth, Gen. x. 4.