60 



NARRATIVE OP A 



it in all its purity. A manta, or blanket, was now spread 

 upon the grass, and our stock of provisions was pro- 

 duced. This department had been particularly attended 

 to by Don Jose. A good-sized ham, two cold fowls, some 

 hard-boiled eggs, and a little jar of olives, were the com- 

 ponent materials of this rustic repast, which, I am sure, 

 every one thought a feast. There were also a few bot- 

 tles of tolerable Catalonia wine ; and our English com- 

 rade, Mr. M., treated us to a taste of good Cognac from 

 a flask which he wore suspended from his shoulder. We 

 took our seats upon the ground, each armed with his 

 dagger, or some formidable weapon very much like one, 

 but without forks or spoons, and, I think, only two 

 glasses for the whole of us. The mirth and gayety of 

 the party, the pleasantness of the spot, and the wild- 

 ness and beauty of the natural scenery around us, gave a 

 zest to this repast that made it one of the most delightful 

 I ever partook of. The group we formed, as we sat, or 

 lay, on the grass, with our mules grazing round us, the 

 variety and singularity of the dresses, and the display of 

 weapons of various kinds, gave us very much the appear- 

 ance of a party of facciosos, or brigands, or a band of the 

 gens non sancta of the insurgent Carrera. 



Our meal was soon ended, and the fragments of the 

 feast were quickly disposed of by the arrieros, or muleteer. 

 The loads and baggage were now replaced on the mules ; 

 we mounted again, forded the stream, and continued our 

 journey. Our path lay, as before, through a mountainous 

 and woody country, and we pursued our way over rocky 

 heights and down verdant glens, now clambering up a 

 steep acclivity, now descending by an abrupt slope into a 

 valley, crossing ravines, and threading denies, till about 

 five o'clock in the afternoon. By this time we had reached 

 an open space in the mountains, in the middle of which 

 was a group of huts, with good pasture around, and plenty 

 of water. This spot was called the Rancheria de los 

 Pozos. A rancheria is any place where a traveller may 



