A RIDE TO MAGNESIA. 167 



ment in the styles he offered. Xo doubt it was but 

 a conventional phrase, and meant no more than the 

 speech of the Mexican does, who tells you to consider 

 his house and all lie possesses as your own : still it 

 was civiL A sign was made to one of the domestics, 

 and significant preparations were forthwith com- 

 menced. Each of us was furnished with a napkin, 

 which we spread out upon our knees. We further 

 followed lead so far as to tuck up our sleeves : then 

 came a pause. Presently arrived an attendant, bring- 

 ing an apparatus much like a camp-stool, which was 

 planted in the midst of us, and on the top of this 

 was anon deposited a large and bright brass tray. 

 On this, in a twinkling, appeared a basin filled with 

 a savoury composition of kind unknown. Into this 

 all hands began to dig. It was uncommonly good 

 indeed, and disposed one for another taste. But 

 almost before a second taste could be had, the dish 

 had vanished and was succeeded by another. And 

 so it was throughout the repast : the first momentary 

 pause in the attack was the signal for removal of the 

 reigning basin, and the production of another. There 

 could not have been less than eighteen or twenty 

 dishes in all most of them quite capital, and de- 

 serving of more serious attention than the bird-like 

 pecking for which alone space was allowed. On the 

 Avhole, it was a style of thing which would hardly 

 suit men seriously hungry; but it suits these fellows 

 well enough, who, as they never take more exercise 



