Travels through Portugal and Spain, during the Peninsular War / by William Graham, Esq. ; with engravings.

  • Graham, William, active 1812-1814
Date:
1820
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels through Portugal and Spain, during the Peninsular War / by William Graham, Esq. ; with engravings. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Celtrico—^Fdaeiis. must be a charming country. Fhcre are a few villages scattered about, thinly, just enough to give some idea of habitations, and the haunts of morn Dec. '29th.—'I'o C-elcrieo, nine miles, the roads still the same, perfectly even, and along the Sierra. On our arrival at Celcrico, wc found it an hospital for our sick, among whom the mortality was dreadful, sixteen or seventeen d\ing in a day : there were six hundred sick here at this time. 'I'his place stands on a hill, separate from any other—it had been formerly a handsome town, and now lias many good houses in it. 'I'lie highest })art is surmounted by the remaiits of one of those ancient Moorish castles, still visible, hut of this there is little left. It stood on a pile of rocks hanging over the town, and was originally built in an hexagonal form, liut only three sides now remain. In the centre of it is a very huge tower, which probably was the citadel; it is very high, and commands the town, 'fhe whole is in ruins, except the shell; the walls are about ten feet thick, but without embrazures. The top of the wall is perfectly fiat, with steps up to it, tiie same as what I have often observed in our modern fortifications. When on the top, you may walk entirely round on the wall. At present, we cannot exactly say what its former strength might have been, hut it was evidently situated on an almost inaccessible poitit of rocks. Not being accommodated at Celerico, we moved forward to a small village, 12spanhaiia, two miles further on, among the cliffs and rocks. In our march to this place, we had to cross a bridge which had been very much battered bv our cannon, as w’e were informed. January lat.—To Faaens, about eight miles, over the Sierra de Estrella, hut away from the main road. This day’s route would be only passable for infantry ; it is on tlu* top of a moun¬ tain full of rocks, and, on the left hand, a tremendous ])rccij)ice frightful even to look down. The mountains, this day, were beginning to he stored with different sweet herbs, wild thyme, rosemary, lemontine, and the wild rose, all which diffused a fragrant odour. The day was foggy, or we should have had some delightful views. ddie man on whom I was billeted was surly, and the people of this town seemed to have a dislike to us all : I will not pretend to account for this. The town was tolerably clean and neat. January 2d.---To Morcira, eight miles, a very fair road. We here begin to leave the Sierra de Estrella, and lose sight of snowy cliffs. The road to this place passes over a very high mountain, from which the prospect is unbounded over the whole country. Here we appeared so cleCated above the world below, that we were, in a manner, lost to it. Here and there some hold moun¬ tains would penetrate the mass of clouds at our feet, and raise