The attention of foreigners who travelled in Cataluña towards the eighteenth century was constantly attracted by the lace-makers. Swinburne mentions "Martorell, a large town, where much black lace is manufactured," and "Espalungera (Esparraguera?), a long village, full of cloth and lace manufacturers," and wrote of Sarriá and its surroundings, close to Barcelona: "The women in the little hamlets were busy with their bobbins making black lace, some of which, of the coarser kind, is spun out of the leaf of the aloe. It is curious, but of little use, for it grows mucilaginous with washing." [Illustration: XXXI CURTAIN OF SPANISH LACE (_Point and Pillow Work. Modern_)] "Martorell," wrote Townsend in 1786, "is one long, narrow street, in which poverty, industry, and filth, although seldom seen together, have agreed to take up their abode. The inhabitants make lace, and even the little children of three and four years old are engaged in this employment." Laborde wrote that at the beginning of the eighteenth century seventeen manufactories of blondes were established at Mataró, and adds of Barcelona province generally at that time: "Laces and blondes constitute the employment of women and children. The work is principally done at Pineda, Malgrat, San Celoni, Tosa, Canet, Arenys, Callela, San-Pol, Mataró, Esparraguera, Martorell, and Barcelona.... The laces are almost all shipped for the New World." The most observant and most entertaining of all these tourists was Arthur Young, who wrote, in 1787, of the towns upon the coast of Cataluña: "The appearance of industry is as great as it can be: great numbers of fishing-boats and nets, with rows of good white houses on the sea-side; and while the men are active in their fisheries, the women are equally busy making lace." Of Mataró he says: "It appears exceedingly industrious; some stocking-frames; lace-makers at every door.... I am sorry to add that here also the industry of catching lice in each other's heads is well understood. "Pass Arrengs (Arenys), a large town ... making thread lace universal here. They have thread from France; women earn ten to sixteen _sous_ at it. Great industry, and in consequence a flourishing appearance. Canet, another large town, employed also in ship-building, fishing, and making lace.... Pass Malgrat, which is not so well built as the other towns, but much lace made in it.... Reach Figueras, whose inhabitants seem industrious and active. They make lace, cordage, and mats, and have many potteries of a common sort."[58] [58] Tour in Catalonia in 1787; Vol. I., p. 644, etc.