Among other Parks about Aranjuez there is one intirely preserved for Dromedaries; an useful Creature for Fatigue, Burden, and Dispatch; but the nearest of kin to Deformity of any I ever saw.  There are several other enclosures for several sorts of strange and wild Beasts, which are sometimes baited in a very large Pond, that was shown me about half a League from hence.  This is no ordinary Diversion:  but when the Court is disposed that way, the Beast, or Beasts, whether Bear, Lyon, or Tyger, are convey’d into a House prepar’d for that purpose; whence he can no other way issue than by a Door over the Water, through, or over, which forcing or flinging himself, he gradually finds himself descend into the very depth of the Pond by a wooden Declivity.  The Dogs stand ready on the Banks, and so soon as ever they spye their Enemy, rush all at once into the Water, and engage him.  A Diversion less to be complain’d of than their Tauridores; because attended with less Cruelty to the Beast, as well as Danger to the Spectators.

When we arrived at Madrid, a Town much spoken of by Natives, as well as Strangers, tho’ I had seen it before, I could hardly restrain my self from being surprized to find it only environ’d with Mud Walls.  It may very easily be imagin’d, they were never intended for Defence, and yet it was a long time before I could find any other use, or rather any use at all in ’em.  And yet I was at last convinc’d of my Error by a sensible Increase of Expence.  Without the Gates, to half a League without the Town, you have Wine for two Pence the Quart; but within the Place, you drink it little cheaper than you may in London.  The Mud Walls therefore well enough answer their Intent of forcing People to reside there, under pretence of Security; but in reality to be tax’d, for other Things are taxable, as well as Wine, tho’ not in like Proportion.

All Embassadors have a Claim or Privilege, of bringing in what Wine they please Tax-free; and the King, to wave it, will at any Time purchase that Exemption of Duty at the price of five hundred Pistoles per Annum.  The Convents and Nunneries are allowed a like Licence of free Importation; and it is one of the first Advantages they can boast of; for, under that Licence having a liberty of setting up a Tavern near them, they make a prodigious Advantage of it.  The Wine drank and sold in this Place, is for the most part a sort of white Wine.

But if the Mud Walls gave me at first but a faint Idea of the Place; I was pleasingly disappointed, as soon as I enter’d the Gates.  The Town then show’d itself well built, and of Brick, and the Streets wide, long, and spacious.  Those of Atocha, and Alcala, are as fine as any I ever saw; yet is it situated but very indifferently:  For tho’ they have what they call a River, to which they give the very fair Name of la Mansuera, and over which they have built a curious, long, and large Stone Bridge; yet is the Course of it, in Summer