(Augusta Emerita), a town of Spain, in the province of Estremadura, and about 35 miles from the city of Badajoz, is situated on a small eminence on the right of the Guadiana. It is tolerably well built; contains two parish churches, two hospitals, four schools of primary instruction, three ex-convents, and two numeraries. Of the two churches, that of Sta. Maria is a clumsy quasi-Gothic edifice, partly built of the innumerable Roman remains; that of Sta. Olalla (Eulalia) is said to date from the fourth century, and is dedicated to one of the earliest martyrs of Spain. Her name is also borne by a convent on the Madrid road, and by a statue and chapel in the space called Campo de San Juan; the latter, called El Hornito (Ojo) de Sta. Olalla, now in ruins. Merida is remarkable for its Roman remains, in the number and magnitude of which it may be almost said to vie with Rome itself. The Guadiana is crossed by a bridge 2575 feet long, and consisting of 81 arches wholly of granite, erected by Trajan. Some of the arches were destroyed in 1812 to impede the advance of Marmont upon Badajoz. Of the colossal wall that formerly surrounded the town, there only remains the part defending the Roman castle called El Conventual. In the town are still some relics of the temples of Mars, Diana, Fortune, and others, and of a triumphal arch (De Santiago) 44 feet high, built by Trajan, and now stripped of its marble casing. Of an ancient aqueduct from Lake Albuera thirty-seven enormous pillars are still standing, and ten arches, in three tiers, built of brick and granite. To the east, and crossing the Madrid road, are three pillars of another aqueduct, the materials of which were employed in the construction of that which at present supplies the town with water. Farther east is the circus, 1356 feet by 335, well preserved, and capable of containing on its eighteen tiers of seats the whole present population of Estremadura. East of the circus is the amphitheatre, called the Siete Sillas, from its seven rows of seats, still almost entire, as are the veritories. Before the French invasion it was used as a Plaza de Toros. Near it is the Naumachia, vulgarly called the Roman Baths, of which the oval form, 400 feet in length, is barely traceable. Augusta Emerita was built in 25 B.C. by the emerit of the fifth and tenth legions, who had served in the Cantabrian war under Augustus. It rose to great splendour and importance as the capital of the province of Lusitania, was taken by Musa in 715, and reconquered by Alonso in 1228.

The population is mostly agricultural; the surrounding country producing wheat, oats, legumes, oil, and wine. Large herds of swine are reared, with sheep, goats, and horses. There are manufactures of white soap in the town. Pop. 3780.

a town of Venezuela, capital of a province of the same name, is situated on a plain 5518 feet above the level of the sea. The town is well and regularly built, with straight streets crossing each other at right angles, and having a clear stream of running water in the centre of each. It was formerly one of the largest towns of Venezuela, but having repeatedly suffered from earthquakes, especially in 1812, it has greatly declined. The town has a cathedral, nunnery, a college, several schools, and an hospital. Woollen and cotton stuffs are manufactured; and the surrounding country produces coffee of great excellence. The province occupies an area of 10,758 square miles. Pop. of the province (1854), 23,967; of the town, 6800.

a town of Mexico, capital of the state of Yucatan, is situated in a dry plain, 25 miles from the sea, and 90 N.E. of Campeachy. Lat. 20° 50', N.; Long. 89° 40', W. The town, which was founded by the Spaniards in 1542 on the site of an earlier native city, is built in the Moorish style. There are eight principal streets, wide and sloping towards the centre; and these are laid out with great regularity, meeting in a large square in the centre of the town, in which stand the cathedral, the bishop's palace, and the government house. The cathedral is ancient, and has a fine appearance, being adorned with domes and pinnacles. The town has also fourteen churches, and the ruins of an old Franciscan convent, which are curious and interesting. The climate is dry and not liable to sudden changes, but it is not very healthy. Merida has a considerable trade. Its port is Sizal, which is but an exposed roadstead with a fort and a sandbank 12 miles in length. Pop. (1851) 40,000.