The latter
all congregate in villages and strong-holds among the hills, as if
these fertile plains were still subject to the ravages of the Moor.
At noon we came to where there was a group of trees, beside a
brook in a rich meadow. Here we alighted to make our midday meal. It
was really a luxurious spot, among wild flowers and aromatic herbs,
with birds singing around us. Knowing the scanty larders of Spanish
inns, and the houseless tracts we might have to traverse, we had taken
care to have the alforjas of our squire well stocked with cold
provisions, and his bota, or leathern bottle, which might hold a
gallon, filled to the neck with choice Valdepenas wine.* As we
depended more upon these for our well-being than even his trabuco,
we exhorted him to be more attentive in keeping them well charged; and
I must do him the justice to say that his namesake, the
trencher-loving Sancho Panza, was never a more provident purveyor.
Though the alforjas and the bota were frequently and vigorously
assailed throughout the journey, they had a wonderful power of
repletion, our vigilant squire sacking every thing that remained
from our repasts at the inns, to supply these junketings by the
road-side, which were his delight.
* It may be as well to note here, that the alforjas are square
pockets at each end of a long cloth about a foot and a half wide,
formed by turning up its extremities.
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