I have been betrayed unconsciously into a longer disquisition than I
intended on the general features of Spanish travelling; but there is a
romance about all the recollections of the Peninsula dear to the
imagination.
As our proposed route to Granada lay through mountainous regions,
where the roads are little better than mule paths, and said to be
frequently beset by robbers, we took due travelling precautions.
Forwarding the most valuable part of our luggage a day or two in
advance by the arrieros, we retained merely clothing and necessaries
for the journey and money for the expenses of the road, with a
little surplus of hard dollars by way of robber purse, to satisfy
the gentlemen of the road should we be assailed. Unlucky is the too
wary traveller who, having grudged this precaution, falls into their
clutches empty handed: they are apt to give him a sound ribroasting
for cheating them out of their dues. "Caballeros like them cannot
afford to scour the roads and risk the gallows for nothing."
A couple of stout steeds were provided for our own mounting, and a
third for our scanty luggage and the conveyance of a sturdy Biscayan
lad, about twenty years of age, who was to be our guide, our groom,
our valet, and at all times our guard. For the latter office he was
provided with a formidable trabuco or carbine, with which he
promised to defend us against rateros or solitary footpads; but as
to powerful bands, like that of the "sons of Ecija," he confessed they
were quite beyond his prowess.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25