A SPRING TOUR 



IN 



PORTUGAL. 



CHAPTEK I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The morning was as cold and chilly, the east wind as 

 keen and cutting, the sharp icy sleet which beat against 

 our faces as unpleasant as misanthrope could desire, as we 

 made our way across the Southampton docks to the little 

 steam tender which was to convey us some three miles 

 down the river ; for the huge Brazilian steamer Shannon 

 (which already, at that distance, looked a very Leviathan 

 amidst the many crafts of all sizes which thronged the 

 Southampton water) had dropped down the river with the 

 tide at early morning, there to await the arrival of her 

 passengers, and the mail bags which were to come on 

 board at 2 o'clock. 



Miserable indeed were our feelings, blue and pale were 

 our faces, and thoroughly depressed our spirits, as the 

 pitiless sleet and rain and the searching cold wind pene- 

 trated to our very bones ; and, as we bade adieu to the in- 

 hospitable climate of old England, our only consolation, 

 wherewith we hugged ourselves beneath our wrappers and 

 cloaks, was that we were on the wing for the balmy air 

 and brilliant skies of the sunny south ; a feeling of exui- 



B 



