jib rawl'tur, a town and strongly fortified rocky peninsula near the southern extremity of Spain, belonging to Great Britain. It is connected with the mainland by a low sandy isthmus, 1 1/2 miles long and 3/4 of a mile broad, known as the "neutral ground," and it has Gibraltar Bay on the west and the open sea on the east and south. The highest point of the rock, which is of gray marble, is about 1400 feet above sea level; its north face is almost perpendicular, while its east side exhibits tremendous precipices. On its south side it is almost inaccessible, making approach from seaward impossible; the west side, although very rugged and precipitous, slopes toward the sea; and here the rock is protected by powerful batteries, rendering it apparently impregnable. Numerous caverns and galleries, extending 2 to 3 miles in length and of sufficient width for carriages, have been cut in the solid rock, with portholes at intervals of every 12 yards, bearing upon the neutral ground and the bay and mounted with more than 1000 guns of the largest size and finest pattern. The garrison numbers about 5000. The town of Gibraltar is situated on the west side of the peninsula, terminating in Europa Point, and thus it fronts the bay. It consists chiefly of one spacious street, about a mile in length. The principal buildings are the governor's and lieutenant governor's houses, the admiralty building, a naval hospital, a victualing station, the barracks and a handsome theater. Gibraltar is a free port and has a considerable shipping trade, being an entrepot for the distribution of British manufactures. The chief export is wine. The administration is vested in the governor, who is also commander in chief of the troops. The civil population amounts to about 22,500. Gibraltar, known to the Greeks as Calpe, was one of the famous "pillars of Hercules" (See HERCULES, PILLARS OF). It was first fortified as a strategic point by the Saracen leader, Tarik ibn Ziyad, in 711, from whom it was thenceforward called the "Rock of Tarik." It was ultimately captured by the Spaniards from the Moors in 1462, fortified in the European style and much strengthened. It was taken, however, in 1704 by a combined English and Dutch force, and was secured to Britain by the Peace of Utrecht in 1713. In 1779 a siege was begun by Spanish and French forces; it lasted till 1783, but failed.