634 



SPAIN. 



unfortunately, less control over passion than appetite. They are irascible and vindictive, both 

 from temperament and climate ; it is said, that during the prevalence of a certain wind, which is 

 peculiarly disagreeable, the number of murders is increased. Where the laws do not secure justice 

 to every individual, men become both their own protectors and avengers It is not uncommon 

 in Spain to see men armed with guns, to protect their property and persons ; and long clasped 

 knives are almost universal. It is with these, that so many murders are committed. In 1826, 

 there were 1,233 convictions for murder, 1,775 for attempts to murder, and 1,620 for robbery, 

 while the actual crimes were perhaps many more than the convictions. At Seville, is a hos- 

 pital for the relief of such as are wounded in sudden frays, or by assassins ; the seat on which 

 the patient is placed is called the " bully's chair." A traveller relates, that in one week of 

 his residence, 21 were carried to this hospital, exclusive, probably, of those who were killed 

 outright, or who had homes of their own. The murders are the most frequent in the south of 

 Spain. 



It is needful to remark, that the foregoing description of the Spanish character is very gen- 

 eral, and that, in the various provinces, there is as much difference as among different nations. 

 The Andalusians are cheerful, yet boastful and irascible. The Valencians are light, cheerful, 

 and vindictive ; and the hired ruffians and assassins, that were formerly common, came prin- 

 cipally from Valencia. The Catalans are independent and laborious ; the Murcians, indolent 

 and superstitious ; the Castilians grave, just, and honorable ; and the people of Biscay, Na- 

 varre, and Arragon, are independent, frugal, and attached to liberty. 



The aspect of social life is widely different in France and Spain ; the principal of the social 

 meetings in Spain are the evening terlulias, where the lady of the house receives a few regular 

 visiters. It is to the lady, that all visits are paid, and the visiter may go many times without 

 making the acquaintance of the husband. There is little of country life, like that of the gentry 

 in England. The few grandees, however, who live in the country, are upon terms of great 

 familiarity with the peasantry. The Spaniards have few of the observances of hospitality, that 

 are general in the north of Europe ; they seldom invite a stranger even to dine. They, how- 

 ever, say to him, that their houses, and everything they contain, are his ; and having been thus 

 introduced, he may always call widiout ceremony, and enter without sending in his name. 

 When a person knocks at a door, it is demanded from within, " who is there " to which the 

 established reply is ge?!<e c?e poz, or " peaceful people." Peasants and beggars call at the 

 doors, Jive 31aria, to which the reply from within is sin pecado concebido. This is a general 

 formula in several parts of Spain. 



15. Amusements. The Spanish amusements are peculiar. The Spaniards are the gravest 

 people in Europe, except the Turks, and public dancing is, in Spain as in Turkey, a favorite 

 amusement. The Spaniards, however, dance with much grace and animation in their social 

 circle, which the Turks consider disgraceful. But it is the bolero or fanda7igo, which is the 

 great national dance ; and the influence of it over a Spaniard is marvelous. It has been 

 supposed, that, should the bolero be struck up in courts or churches, the very judges and clergy 

 could not refrain from joining in the general tarantula excitement. The bolero is, in fact, a 

 new edition of the fandango, in which the exceptionable parts are omitted, but all the graceful- 

 ness is retained. It is danced with castanets, and the Spaniards are indebted to the Moors for 

 it. It is performed by two persons, who stand opposite each other ; and advance, retreat, 

 and pursue. The female flies, like Galatea, to the willows, that she may be pursued. There 



is a ruinous degree of gaming in Spain, and the 

 government furnishes the aliment by its lotteries. 

 The tickets are hawked about the streets by the 

 blind, who are supposed to attract to them the 

 favor of fortune. 



The bull-fights are derived from the Romans ; 

 and there are several ancient amphitheatres extant, 

 of great magnificence. This barbarous amuse- 

 ment has a deeper hold upon the Spaniard than 

 the bolero or gaming. The arrival of a " bull- 

 day " convulses the whole city ; and dense 

 crowds collect around the arena, too poor to 

 pay for admission, but too zealous altogeth- 

 er to relinquish the amusement. They learn 

 the events within, and echo the cheers of the 



