276 EXCURSION TO MONTSERRAT. 



ingly returned to the curate's house, where 

 we were very soon regaled with a most 

 excellent and substantial repast; indeed I 

 was surprised they could manage so well; 

 as on looking into the kitchen I found no^ 

 thing but a few stones placed triangularly, 

 beneath a wood fire in the centre of the floor, 

 by which they had cooked numerous made- 

 dishes. I fear an English cook would have 

 left us without our dinner, before she would 

 have attempted to prepare a repast with 

 such accommodation. 



Dinner being over, we sauntered about 

 for a short time, until the declining sun 

 warned us that it was time to commence 

 our descent. We therefore bade adieu to 

 the good clergyman, mounted our horses, 

 and began to descend the mountain. Mr. 

 English and myself took the lead of the 

 party, which was tolerably numerous; and 



