the most easterly of the four Basque provinces of Spain, bounded on the W. by Biscay, S. by Alava, E. and N.E. by Navarre, N.E. by the Bidassoa, the mutual boundary between it and France. Its form is nearly that of a right-angled triangle, having the hypotenuse towards the S.E., and its area is nearly 600 square miles. Its coast is so much indented, that it contains no fewer than nine harbours—none of which, however, are very important. From the immense variety of surface in mountain, hill, and valley, the scenery of this small province is highly... picturesque and romantic. Lofty mountains—partly clothed with evergreen forests, and partly barren—shoot out from the Pyrenees, and spread over the whole surface. In this province commences the Cantabrian ridge, to which belongs the Alzanja, over which the great road of the Romans was conducted. To the coast belong the Cabo San Antonio, and the Cabo de Higueria; and numerous small bays, forming good harbours—Orio, Zarauz, Guetaria, Zumaya, Deva, Motrico, Fontarabia, Le Passage, and San Sebastian. The streams are all short, rapid, unnavigable, and fall into the Bay of Biscay; the principal of these are the Deva, Urola, Oria, Urumea, Lezo, and Bidassoa. The soil—especially in the lower valleys—is very fertile, and is cultivated very carefully; but, from the nature of the surface, agricultural labours are prosecuted with considerable difficulty. The climate, though moist, is mild, pleasant, and healthful; and the inhabitants often attain to a great age. The frequency of rain preserves the freshness of the verdure throughout most of the year; but thunder-storms often occur during December and January. The chief wealth of the province arises from its mineral stores and excellent fisheries, which supply the neighbouring provinces of Alava, Navarre, part of Castile, and Aragon, with excellent sea-fish. The grain raised falls considerably short of what is necessary for home consumption. The minerals chiefly wrought are iron, of excellent quality, being smelted with wood; argentiferous lead, copper, marble, and gypsum. The people are remarkable for their fine physical form, and bold, manly spirit; and, notwithstanding the simplicity of their manners, the prominent features of their character are industry, honesty, benevolence, gallantry. They are fond of games requiring bodily strength and exertion, in which even their women join. But they especially delight in dancing; and their great favourite amusements are their national dance, the zoreico, and a kind of bullfight called novillos. Tolosa is the capital. San Sebastian as a seaport has a good trade, and gives name to the province of San Sebastian since the administrative division of 1822. The other principal towns are Fuenterrabia or Fontarabia, a small fortress on the Bidassoa, close to the French frontier; Mondragon, where are rich iron mines; Salinas, on the Deva, has a salt-work (whence its name) which produces about 1000 tons per annum. La Isla de los Faisanes, an island in the Bidassoa, is celebrated as the place where the “Peace of the Pyrenees” was concluded in 1659 between France and Spain. Though the Spaniards name this island “Isle of Pheasants,” yet these birds are now quite unknown there. The population of Guipuzcoa in 1849 was 141,752.