The Vierzo extends about 10 leagues east and west by 8 north and south. This amphitheatre is shut out from the world by lofty snow-capped mountains, raised, as it were, by the hand of some genii to enclose a simple valley of Rasselas. The great Asturian chain slopes from Leitariegos to the south-west, parting into two offshoots; that of El Puerto de Rabanal, and Fuencebadon (_Fons Sabatonis_) constitute the east barrier, and the other, running by the Puertos de Cebrero and Aguiar, forms the frontier; while to the south the chains of the Sierras de Segundera, Sanabria, and Cabrera complete the base of the triangle. Thus hemmed in by a natural circumvallation, the concavity must be descended into from whatever side it be approached; this crater, no doubt, was once a large lake, the waters of which have burst a way out, passing through the narrow gorge of the Sil by Val de Orras, just as the Elbe forms the only spout or outlet to hill-walled-in Bohemia, the _kettle-land_ of Germany (_Ibid._, p. 597). {337a} Rendered by Borrow _rabble_; the French _canaille_; Ital. _canaglia_, a pack of dogs—_canes_. {337b} Known as Villafranca del Vierzo; said to have been one of the principal halting-places of the French pilgrims to Santiago, hence _Villa Francorum_; in any case, the abode of an important colony of monks from the French abbey of Cluny. See Burke’s _History of Spain_, vol. ii. p. 69, and App. II. {340} Query _Guerrilleros_ (see Glossary). These _Miguelets_ were originally the partisans or followers of the Infante Don Miguel, the absolutist leader in the dreary civil war which ravaged Portugal from 1823–1834. It was their custom to escape into Spain when attacked by the Constitutional forces in Portugal, and nothing but Mr. Canning’s bold action in sending an English army to Lisbon in December, 1826, prevented their being utilized by both Spain and France for the overthrow of Queen Maria in Portugal (see Alison, _History of Europe_, vol. iv. ch. xxi. s. 50). But as “Miguelets,” part refugees, part rebels, part brigands, these bands of military ruffians were the terror of the frontier districts of Spain and Portugal for many years after the conclusion of the civil war in Portugal. {341} _Don Quixote_, part ii. chap. ix. {347} _Senhor_ is the Portuguese or Galician form. Borrow has now crossed the frontier.