262 JOURNEY THROUGH SPAIN. 



contagious fevers with which the town is sometimes 

 scourged. Mr. Barrill here purchased two horses and a 

 pack-mule, which were equipped for a journey through 

 Spain, and on the second day after we had left the steamer 

 we started. 



My friend had previously travelled through both Spain 

 and France. He was well acquainted with the character 

 of the route we were to pursue, and could speak the lan- 

 guage of the people fluently. As we journeyed at our 

 leisure, he noted every incident from which we could ex- 

 tract the slightest pleasure, pointed out many interesting 

 spots that escaped my observation, elicited the national 

 characteristics by communicating with almost every person 

 we met, and proved himself altogether as lively a travelling 

 companion as one could desire. To me, who had enjoyed 

 but trifling educational advantages, his rambling, patch- 

 work conversation, afforded much useful information. 

 Spain teems with localities, made interesting by historical 

 association ; and as my friend was particularly well read 

 in the historical part of literature, he narrated many stories 

 of fact, which were nutritious food to my naturally hungry 

 mind. 



We travelled but twenty miles on the first day of our 

 journey. Yet those twenty miles had more variety and 

 interest than a hundred of our expedition along the sultry 

 coast of Guzerat. I was greatly alarmed at the appearance 



