My Moorish Pouch 



greater part of one of them, which I found very pungent 

 and astringent, but of a fine aromatic flavour, acting as an 

 agreeable stimulant to my exhausted vitals. But I had not 

 eaten this trash above two minutes, when I was seized with 

 qualms, and began to vomit violently. 



As I had but little wherewithal, I seemed in a fair way to 

 throw up all my inwards, and remain on the roadside com- 

 pletely turned inside out, with an Andalusian suit lining 

 my intestinal canal, and the mucous membrane by way of 

 costume. Several peasant women passed by while I was 

 retching in a terrible manner ; but they said nothing and 

 went on, with a look of suspicious horror, as if I were some 

 plague-stricken wretch, whom it would be unsafe to help. 



I lay down in a ditch (with my head pillowed on a grassy 

 bank), but I had the good fortune not to die in it, though 

 the occasion seemed apposite ; and feeling better after a 

 quarter of an hour or so, rode into Ernani. Harry, who was 

 riding a hundred yards in advance at the time, had gone on, 

 unaware of my sudden seizure ; for though he was not out 

 of sight when my indisposition seized me, I felt so faint that 

 I could not cry out. 



I was not in the least the worse, and ate a very hearty 

 dinner at the posada^ where there was a great feast going on ; 

 it being Ascension-day, and the house full of carousing 

 people, and overflowing with good cheer of all kinds. 



I discovered here that I had lost my Moorish pouch, 

 which I should grieve for in itself, but it contained other 

 valuables, including two sets of studs, four of my vestal 

 virgin buttons, the drum-shaped silver seal I made at Cailly, 

 my mermaid ring, and all my collection of coins; except my 

 luck-money, which I carry strung round my neck. I think 

 I must have left it at Villa Franca ; so good bye to them. 



Some of them, I do not doubt, will circulate in Europe as 



