24-3 LETTERS FROM SPAIN LETTER XXXVII. COUNTRY AROUND VENUELA ALHAMA ITS AGRICULTURE CORN FIELDS—• THRESHING FLOORS SALT SPRINGS AT ALMAHA VIEW OF GRANADA AND ITS ENVIRONS. GRANADA, JAN. l8l0. We left Velez at day-break, and continued our journey, for the first hour, through the richest, and most delightful country in the world : the purest streams descended from the mountains, and were conducted through beautiful gardens, with great skill and judgement. The whole road was a gradual, but not steep ascent, and we frequently crossed the river. Our ascent became steeper after the first hour, till we reached La Vehuela, and then, for five hours, we continued climbing preci pices, which only mules, or Spanish horses, such as we rode, could have surmounted. By noon we had reached the summit of the first range of mountains, whence we could discern only a still higher range, sprinkled on the top with snow. At this spot we found a lonely venta, which afforded no refreshment, except some straw for the cattle, and water from a mountain torrent. The earth was barren; and the rocks of red marble above and around were quite naked.