teristic dances, games, and amusements as few strangers have the opportunity of doing. The dances of the children, whilst one old contrabandista played the tambourine, another the guitar, and an old woman marked the time with her castanets, was a most amusing sight.

The road from Murcia or Carthagena leads through Elche, whose forests of palms have been already referred to. Single palms or small clusters of them are common throughout the southern provinces of Spain. This is the only spot in Europe where they flourish in such numbers as to cover a large extent

of ground. Here they grow by thousands. The dates which they produce form an important article of export.

About a dozen miles from Elche is Alicante, a city grandly situated, and which, as approached from the sea, has a most imposing effect. But, like many other Spanish towns, it is disappointing on a nearer view. Denia and Gandia are small but interesting coast-towns. The old walls and fortifications are curious, and will well repay a visit. The former was a place of importance under the Romans, and was the naval station of Sertorius.

Valencia del Cid is so called from the Cid Campeador, whose chivalrous

encouraged them by the assurance of speedy victory. Though his whole force was three thousand nine hundred and seventy men, he charged fiercely upon the enemy, and defeated them.

The tower of Miguelete is pointed out by tradition as that to which the Cid led Ximena. The view from the summit is very fine. It extends over the bright and picturesque city, with its innumerable towers and domes, the rich fertile vega, the Lake of Albufera, and the blue waters of the Mediterranean.

At Valencia the steamer may advantageously be exchanged for the railroad. The coast loses much of the bold striking character it has had hitherto. A long stretch of shallows and sandbanks compel the vessels to keep well out to sea. And the district through which the railway passes is one of unusual interest. Some of the most important Roman settlements were along this coast. Shortly after leaving Valencia, Murviedro, the ancient Saguntum, is reached. Few towns out of Italy hold a more prominent place than this in the pages of Roman history. From the days of Hannibal to the fall of the empire it was constantly rising into notice. Tortosa, a little way farther up