BBIGANDAGE IN SPAIN. 117 



Though nowadays the traveller may, and probably would, 

 traverse Iberia in every direction without personal molesta- 

 tion, yet the race of Jose Maria, the Jack Sheppard of the 

 Peninsula, whose safe-conduct was more effective than 

 that of his king, is not extinct, though, like other rapacious 

 animals, his home is now confined to mountain-fastnesses, 

 whence he only emerges to seize by a sudden coup some 

 opportunity for plunder, of which his satellites have sent 

 him notice — for, by profuse generosity and terrorism, the 

 ladron. en grande holds the sparse hill-peasantry in a bond 

 of allegiance. 



Putting on one side the conventional and highly-coloured 

 notions that pass current, the condition of bandolerismo, 

 or brigandage, at the present day may be thus defined : — 

 There is first the noble outlaw, or "professional" robber- 

 king, a rare and meteoric personage, of whom anon ; and 

 there are the sneaking petty pilferers who rob as oppor- 

 tunity serves, or as their wild environment almost suggests. 

 These voltigeurs of the road are normally peasants, goat- 

 herds, or mere good-for-nothings ; content to confine 

 their energies to minor larcenies, and whose poor am- 

 bitions soar no higher than relieving solitary wayfarers 

 of their watches, loose cash, &c, as happened to a friend 

 of ours while traversing the sierras between Paterna and 

 Alcala. Though a fight is no part of these footpads' 

 tactics, yet in favourable situations a single hidden 

 scoundrel may command the way, and dominate a dozen 

 travellers who know not whether that sudden summons to 

 halt and lay down their loose goods and chattels proceeds 

 from one or from a score of assailants, concealed amid the 

 tumbled rocks and dense underwood of a narrow pass. 

 And, after all-, it is probably wiser, if caught in such a trap, 

 to lose a few dollars than to risk life. 



Very different is the character of the noble robber-chief, 

 or ladron en grande. In this man who leads the lawless, 

 and, by force of predominant will, controls and commands 

 a cut-throat gang, but ill-disposed either to subjection or 

 discipline, there are qualities that, rightly directed, might 

 attain any object sought — qualities of moral force, courage, 



