lquivir. Numerous smaller streams flow into the Guadiana, which
itself divides near Herencia into two branches,--the northern known as
the Giguela, the southern as the Zancara. The eastern division of Ciudad
Real forms part of the region known as La Mancha, a flat, thinly-peopled
plain, clothed with meagre vegetation which is often ravaged by locusts.
La Mancha (q.v.) is sometimes regarded as coextensive with the whole
province. Severe drought is common here, although some of the rivers,
such as the Jabalon and Azuer, issue fully formed from the chalky soil,
and from their very sources give an abundant supply of water to the
numerous mills. Towards the west, where the land is higher, there are
considerable tracts of forest.

The climate is oppressively hot in summer, and in winter the plains are
exposed to violent and bitterly cold winds; while the cultivation of
grain, the vine and the olive is further impeded by the want of proper
irrigation, and the general barrenness of the soil. Large flocks of
sheep and goats find pasture in the plains; and the swine which are kept
in the oak and beech forests furnish bacon and hams of excellent
quality. Coal is mined chiefly at Puertollano, lead in various
districts, mercury at Almaden. There are no great manufacturing towns.
The roads are insufficient and ill-kept, especially in the north-east
where they form the sole means of communication; and neither the
Guadiana nor its tributaries are navigable. The main railway from Madrid
to Lisbon passes through the capital, Ciudad Real, and through
Puertollano; farther east, the Madrid-Linares line passes through
Manzanares and Valdepenas. Branch railways also connect the capital with
Manzanares, and Valdepenas with the neighbouring town of La Calzada.

The principal towns, Alcazar de San Juan (11,499), Almaden (7375),
Almodovar del Campo (12,525), Ciudad Real (15,255), Manzanares (11,229)
and Valdepenas (21,015), are described in separate articles. Almagro
(7974) and Daimiel (11,825), in the district of La Mancha known as the
Campo de Calatrava, belonged in the later middle ages to the knightly
Order of Calatrava, which was founded in 1158 to keep the Moors in
check. Almagro was long almost exclusively inhabited by monks and
knights, and contains several interesting churches and monasteries,
besides the castle of the knights, now used as barracks. Almagro is
further celebrated for its lace, Daimiel for its medicinal salts.
Tomelloso (