Pernales 175 



merciless retribution should the least shade of treachery befall 

 — or rather what to the brigand -crew represented treachery. 

 Human life was otherwise safe. Two points in this connection 

 demand mention. Besides direct robberies, the brigands battened 

 upon a tribute exacted from landowners and paid as a ransom to 

 shield themselves and their tenants from molestation. Secondly, 

 their safety and continued immunity from capture was largely 

 due to that secret influence — quite undefinable, yet potent to this 

 day — known as " Caciquismo." That influence was exerted on 

 behalf of the outlaws as part of the ransom arrangement aforesaid. 



Neither for robber-chieftains of the first water, such as these, 

 nor for brigandage as a scientific business, is there any longer 

 opportunity in modern Spain, any 

 more than for a Robin Hood at 

 home. Lesser lights of the road, 

 footpads and casual sequestra- 

 dores, will survive for a further 

 space in the wilder region ; but 

 the real romance of the industry 

 ceased with the new century. 



Its first decade has neverthe- 

 less produced a brace of first-rate 

 ruflians who, though in no sense 

 to be compared with the old-time 



r. ^ r 1 PERNALES 



aristocracy oi the crait, at least 



succeeded in setting at naught the civil power, and in pillaging 



and harassing rural Andalucia during more than two years. 



The original pair were known as Pernjlles and El Vivillo, the 

 latter a man of superior instincts and education, who, under 

 former conditions, would doubtless have developed into the noble 

 bandit. Vivillo on principle avoided bloodshed ; not a single 

 assassination is laid to his charge durins^ a lonix career of crime. 

 Pernales, on the contrary, revelled in revolting cruelties, and 

 rated human life no higher than that of a rabbit. At first this 

 repulsive ruftian, as hateful of aspect as of character,^ acted as 



^ Females was born at Estepa, province of Sevilla, September 3, 1878, a ne'er-do-weel 

 son of honest, rural jiarents. By 1906 he had become notorious as a determined criminal. 

 His appearance and Machiavellian instincts were interpreted as indicating great personal 

 courage, and, united with his physique, combined to present a repulsive and menacing 

 figure. A huge head set on broad chest and shoulders, witli red hair and deep-set blue eyes, 

 a livid freckled complexion, thin eyebrows, and one long tusk always visible, protruding 

 from a horrid mouth, made up a sufficiently characteristic ensemble. 



