SPAIN: WINE, RAISINS, AND OLIVES. 131 



We continued our way slowly through the narrow, winding 

 streets until we came to the garden gates. In due time we ar- 

 rived at the Generalife. It was here that we perceived how finely 

 our guide had taken us in. In the first place, the walk through 

 the streets would have been much more agreeable than the hor- 

 rible shaking and jolting of our cart ; secondly, the distance was 

 very short; and, lastly, the walk would have been a most agree- 

 able one through all the beautiful and shady alleys. 



I will not attempt a description of this beautiful palace, which 

 is considered the finest the world ever had. For that I refer my 

 readers to Washington Irving. Only he has done justice to the 

 beautiful palace, magnificent view, gardens, and legends. Read 

 his "Legends of the Alhambra," and you will be here. 



When I had sufficiently admired the scenery and all the beau- 

 ties of the palace, I started down on foot, not caring to rub off the 

 small part of skin still remaining on my shins. My son, how- 

 ever, thought to make the most of a bad thing, and so went in the 

 carriage to the Cartuja, celebrated for its interior architectural 

 beauty, and the mad-house, which was an ancient convent, built 

 by Ferdinand and Isabella, in accordance with a vow which they 

 had made to that effect while reducing Granada. 



I inspected several manufactories, but none of them had any 

 thing worth mentioning to my readers. I returned home and 

 wrote up my journal. 



I found much difiiculty in reaching home on account of the 

 beggars, who were not only in great numbers, but also very im- 

 pertinent. They would cry out, " For God's sake, look at me, sir ; 

 I am old, sick, and in want." In looking at them I was often as- 

 tonished how they could use such terms when they looked so 

 well, and were neither old nor badly dressed. It seems to have 

 passed into a habit with Spanish people. I really think that one 

 third are beggars. Some Spanish gentlemen informed me that it 

 was not considered as derogating from one's dignity to beg. 



We left Granada in full speed at seven o'clock, and almost ran 

 down a dozen soldiers who were drilling. They were marching 

 in double file toward the road. The conductor thought that they 

 would halt, and the captain thought that the diligence would stop, 

 and so both continued, until the men, seeing their danger, broke 

 the ranks and fell back, no doubt thinking that they would be 

 safer farther off than under the wheels. What the captain thought 

 I don't know. The conductor did not stop to ask his opinion on 

 the subject. 



