68 CIENEGA. 



of fresh meat, fried eggs, and beef that had 

 been dried in the sun, fried in lard, with the 

 addition of several vegetables, making an 

 excellent dish. Our wine was an inferior 

 Catalonian; after which we had chocolate 

 made so rich and thick that the spoon 

 would stand upright in it. The ladies ap- 

 peared to enjoy this substantial meal as 

 heartily as ever Queen Elizabeth's dames 

 of honour did their renowned breakfasts of 

 beefsteaks and strong beer. 



After this refection, I prevailed on the 

 daughter of our host to entertain us with 

 some national airs on her harp: which she 

 readily did, playing with great force and 

 animation, and occasionally introducing her 

 voice as an accompaniment to her instru- 

 ment. She had learnt entirely by ear, and 

 like many of her countrywomen evinced a 

 strong natural talent for music. Her harp 

 was, unfortunately, a very bad one ; and 



