The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-05-24

hopeless laZiness, the added curse of
the mesta, or migratory system of
Merino sheep, which are the true
fiocks of the nomad Bedouin. The
mesta began in this way: When the
Spaniards of the thirteenth century
expelled the industrious Moors from
Estramadura, they razed the cities
and ravaged the country, massacred
most of the inhabitants and droYe the
rest away to die in slavery. The con-
querors called this qualifications" but
it made barren solitude of the once
happy Arabian Felix. Nature is ex-
tremely prolific of weed and cacti
here, and soon obliterated every
trace of furrow from vast tracts which
had previously been under highest
cultivation. Only very small por-
tion of it was ever recultivated by the
lazy soldierconquerors; and the new
population, scanty and inefficient as
it was, perished, almost to man, by
the great plague of 134S, after which
whole districts were left unclaimed
These were termed validos (unculti-
vated), whence the Spanish law term
de valde.
At length these unclaimed pastures
attracted the attention of highland
shepherds from Leon and CASTLE,
who drove their flocks down to them,
as to milder winter quarters, return
ing to their cool hills on the approach
of scorching summer. Hence, by
degrees, prescriptive right of agist-
ment was claimed over these com
MONS" and the districts were set
apart and apportioned accordingly.
Both climate and country suggested
the system, which is really of re-
motest antiquity and not unlike that
of the trattari in the Abruzzi, of Ro-
man times. Naturally, no end of dis
putes arose between the wandering
shepherds and fixed cultivators, until
in 1916 a compromise was effected
whereby the privileges of a few of the
wealthiest sheep-proprietors prevail
ed under the peculiar jurisdiction
known as Consijo de la mesto, which
was suppressed about sixty years
ago.
The privilege of the feudal union of
mobiles and rich landed proprietors,
whose origin is lost in antiquity,
were abominably unjust and oppres-
sive. All agricultural pursuits were
made impossible by the regulation
which required highways and farms
to remain unfenced near the paths of
the sheep. Even those peasants
whose lands lay at considerable dis
tance from the usual track, were not
secure, but were in constant danger
of having their crops swept away in
a moment. If there was resistance or
remonstrance it was punished as bar
barously as treason, and the conse-
quence was that the farmers, growing
desperate, became outlaws and in
turn preyed upon the society whose
inquitous laws had driven them from
home.
The term Merino is derived from
Marino QUASI ultra-marine), because
the original breed of sheep was i'm
ported from England, under Henry
IL; while others derive the name from
Imri, the famous tiocks of Palestine
The sheep called trashumantes-from
the ground they went over and des-
troyed, were devided into detach-
ments of about 10000 each. Their
highland summer quarters were
quilted late in October for winter
ones on the warm plains, each de-
tachment managed by mayoral, or
conductor, who had under him so
shepherds and as many dogs. Some
of the flocks travelled more than $50
leagues, occupying 40 days in the
journey, every night penned in with
rope nettings of esparti. By the laws
of the mesta, a free sheep-walk, 80
PAGES wide, was left on each side of
the highway, which entirely prevent
ed enclosure, or anything like good
husbandry.
To this day the nomadic habits of
the shepherds who conduct the Meri-
nos on their periodical transmigra-
tions, constitute the most striking
popularity of Iberia peasant life, and
are responsible for the desolation of
Estramadura. The sheep are driven
with crooks as in Bible times, and
shepherds still watch their flocks by
night, as when the Star in the East
announced the birth of Christ. When
stream is reached it is crossed by
means of pontoon bridges, kept in ap-
pointed places for the purpose. The
course of the focks is marked by
complete devastation-not a green
shrub nor sprig OF grass being left
behind. Their approach is heralded
from afar by clouds of dust and the
shrill notes of the shepherds horns.