Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/218

 206 SPAIN PROVINCES. Am,q.m. Population. CATALONIA. 87 Barcelona 2,985 2,461 4,775 2,272 762,555
 * r,o.;ir>

880,843 825,110 Ij68,408~ 401,894 274,628 252,201 89 Lerida 40. Gerona Total l'J,KJ 6,607 ro7.i 5,494 ARAGON. 41 Sarapossa , 4-' 11 in-sea 48 Teruel Total 17,979 4,040 849 728 1,205 928,718 818,687 187.926 180.748 103,820 NAVARRE. BASQUE PEOVINCES. 45. Biscay 47. Alava Total 2,782 1,860 2,808 471,989 2S9,225 283,859 48. Balearic Islands 49. Canary Islands Total of Spain In Europe and Canaries 195,774 16,835,506 The area and population of the foreign colo- nies of Spain according to the latest data are as follows : COLONIES. Area, q. m. Population. AFRICA. Cuba 45,888 8,596 1,400.000 625,000 Porto Kico Total. 49,479 65,908 916 417 2,025,000 6,000,000 28,000 5,610 ASIA AXD OCEANICA. Philippines (exclusive of Independent parts). Carolines and Palaos Ladrones or Marianas. Total 67,241 489 6,088,610 85,000 AFRICA. The Guinea islands Total Spanish colonies 117,209 8,098,610 The Canary islands, which geographically be- long to Africa, are included by the Spaniards in their European possessions. Besides them, the town of Cetita, on the coast of Morocco, is included in the European province of Cadiz, and the Presidios, likewise on the N. coast of Africa, are included in the European province of Granada. In population Spain ranks sev- enth among the powers of Europe, being sur- passed by Russia, Germany, France, Austria, Great Britain, and Italy. The increase since 1700 is shown in the following table: vt UB, Populate YEARS. Population. 1700.... 17W 8,000,008 9,100,000 1849.... 1857 14,216.219 15,454,514 16,885,506 1884. : 1870 The increase since 1834 has been about equal- ly divided; only one province, Ciudad Real, shows a small decrease, from 277,788 to 264,- 649. The largest ratio of increase is in the eastern provinces, where L6rida has advanced from 151,322 to 330,348, Valencia from 388,- 759 to 665,141, and Barcelona from 442,273 to 762,555. The thinnest population is found in the interior provinces of Leon, the two Cas- tiles, and Estremadura ; and the densest in the north, Galicia, Asturias, the Basque provinces, Navarre, Aragon, and Catalonia. The entire population is distributed among 169 ciudades (cities), 4,707 villas (towns), 30,386 lugares (villages), and 10,788 aldeas (hamlets). The principal cities are Madrid, the capital, Barce- lona, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, Granada, Ca- diz, and Saragossa. Spain is believed to have been in former times much more densely in- habited than during the last two centuries. Under the dominion of the Komans, the popu- lation, according to some calculations, was up- ward of 30,000,000 ; and in the 14th century it is believed to have amounted to 24,000,000. Most of the inhabitants belong to the Spanish race, a mixture of the descendants of the old Iberians and Celts with the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Suevi, Goths, and Moors, with a general predominance of the Roman element, although the several provinces show in some respects marked differences in the national character. National amusements are music, singing, and dancing, the last named often assuming, especially in the favorite fan- dango and bolero, a passionate and sensuous character. From the Romans the Spaniards have inherited a fondness for bull fights, which are still the greatest popular festivities, and equally delight all classes. The men are gen- erally well built, and have a dark but clear complexion, black hair, eyes full of fire, sharp features, and gestures measured and solemn. The women are well formed and distinguished for noble carriage. Besides the Spaniards proper, there are three other races, the Basques, the Modejars, and the gypsies. The Basques, probably the descendants of the ancient Ibe- rians, numbering (besides those in France) about 650,000, and forming the majority of the population in the Basque provinces and in Navarre, have retained their ancient lan- guage, manners, and customs. (See BASQUES.) The Modejars, about 60,000 in number, are the descendants of the Moors ; they are chief- them still preserve the customs of their fore- fathers. The gypsies or Gitanos, numbering about 50,000, and scattered throughout Spain, speak a peculiar dialect current only among themselves. Spain has a very numerous no- bility ; according to some they form the 21st, according to others even the 15th part of the population. The higher nobility (tittilndvs, grandes) own immense possessions, while the lower class (hidalgos) are in many instances poor. Agriculture, although still very imper- fect, has made of late considerable progress. Wheat, which at the beginning of the century
 * ly found in Granada and Castile, and many of