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ARRAGON

Volume 2 · 201 words · 1797 Edition

a province of Spain, bounded on the north by the Pyrenean mountains, which separate it from France; on the west by Navarre and the two Castiles; on the south, by Valencia; and on the east, by Catalonia. It is in length about 150 miles, and in breadth 149; but the land is mountainous, dry, sandy or stony, badly cultivated, and worse peopled. However it does not want rivers; for besides the Ebro, which crosses it in the middle, there are the Xalo, the Cinea, the Gallego, and the Arragon. The air is pure and wholesome; and there are mines of iron, and some fay of gold. The most fertile parts are about the rivers: for there the land produces corn, wine, oil, flax, hemp, various fruits, and a small quantity of saffron, besides large flocks of sheep, and plenty of game in the woods.

The Arragonefe have the character of being bold, courageous, and well bred; but positive in their opinions, and bigotted in their religion. There were the first of the Spaniards that threw off the Moorish yoke. Saragossa is the capital of this province; and the chief towns are Balbaliro, Jaca, Sarazona, Haeifa, Calatajud, Albarracin, Trevel, Daroca, and Boria.