Antequera is situated near the foot of the mountain, but in a hollow formed by a swelling hill, which, detached from the chain of sierra, shelters it to the north. It is a large, well-built, and populous city, contains twenty religious houses, numerous manufactories of linen and woollen cloths, silks, serges, &c., and 40,000 souls.
An old castle, situated on a conical knoll, overlooks the city to the east. It formerly contained a valuable collection of ancient armour, but the greater part has been removed.
The city of Anticaria is mentioned in the Itinerary of Antoninus; but, as no notice is taken of it by Pliny, it probably was known in his day by some other name. Some antiquaries have imagined Antequera to be Singilia; but this is very improbable, as it is nearly four leagues distant from the Singilis (Genil).
Even the Guadaljorce does not approach within a mile of the city, which depends upon its fountains for water; for though a fine rivulet flows down from the mountains at the back of the city, washing the eastern base of the castle hill, and sweeping round to the westward, where it unites with the Guadaljorce, yet it merely serves to render the valley fruitful, and to turn the wheels of the mills which supply the city with flour and oil.
At a league north-east from Antequera a lofty conical mountain, distinguished by the romantic name of El Peñon de los Enamorados (Rock of the Lovers), rises from the plain; and a league beyond it is the town of Archidona, on the great road from Granada to Seville.
CHAPTER XIV.
MALAGA—EXCURSION TO MARBELLA AND MONDA—CHURRIANA—BENALMAINA—FUENGIROLA—DISCREPANCY OF OPINION RESPECTING THE SITE OF SUEL—SCALE TO BE ADOPTED, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MEASUREMENTS GIVEN IN THE ITINERARY OF ANTONINUS AGREE WITH THE ACTUAL DISTANCE FROM MALAGA TO CARTEIA—ERRORS OF CARTER—CASTLE OF FUENGIROLA—ROAD TO MARBELLA—TOWERS AND CASA FUERTES—DISPUTED SITE OF SALDUBA—DESCRIPTION OF MARBELLA—ABANDONED MINES—DISTANCE TO GIBRALTAR.
WE found Malaga a deserted city, for the dread of cholera had carried off half its inhabitants; not, however, to their last home, but to Alhaurin, Coin, Churriara, and other towns in the vicinity, in the hope of postponing their visit to a final resting-place by a temporary change to a more salubrious atmosphere than that of the fetid seaport.
Our zealous and indefatigable consul, Mr. Mark, still, however, remained at his post, and his hospitality and kindness rendered our short stay as agreeable as, under existing circumstances, it well could be.
Understanding that a vessel was about to proceed to Ceuta in the course of a few days, we resolved to take advantage of this favourable opportunity of visiting that fortress—the Port Jackson of Spain; and having already seen every thing worthy of observation in Malaga (of which due notice has been taken in a former chapter), we agreed to devote the intervening days to a short excursion to Marbella, Monda, and other interesting towns in the vicinity.