SWABEY DIARY. 49 
24th August.—I was employed in getting the guns conveyed from 
the barracks to the Arsenal, a work of no small difficulty on account of 
' the scarcity of horses, a brigade having been just fitted out and sent up . 
the country. Horses of middling value, worth £50 in England, are 
sold here for £150, mules frequently for £80. 
25th August.—Was to have dined at Mr. Stewart’s, the Ambassador’s, 
but was taken by Captain Macdonald to the Arsenal, from whence we 
get camp equipage, two store carts of a new construction, leaving 
our own behind, and a new forge cart of a different pattern, having a 
gun-limber and lighter perch. The splinter-bars of the guns and car- 
riages aro to be shortened for defiles, a box is to be put on every 
carriage for stores, and the rear left box of each ammunition wagon is 
to be fitted to carry 10 additional rounds of case shot. I dined in the 
evening, in company with Captain M., with young Maxwell,! who is left 
behind sick at Lisbon, and for the first time saw the ceremony of a 
procession of the Host, which is carried amid a long train of priests to 
the residence of anyone who is not supposed likely to live. It is of 
course meant to represent the omnipresence of the blessed Trinity, 
but I cannot separate an image as a symbol of that sort from my ideas 
ofidolatry. From another point of view, as the ceremony is not per- 
formed at the request of the sufferer, it appearsa good invention for an 
heir to frighten a rich testator to death. 
Abe Ser a : 
26th August—Gunners Hollowell and Dean and two drivers, all 
with dysentery, and Gunner Thomson with the ague, came in this day 
from Sacavem sick, and were ordered to the Ordnance hospital. The 
Portuguese are such thieves that some of them employed in the Arsenal 
took off the claw hammers from several of our guns. 
I dined at the Mess, and went to the Ruade-Condés theatre, the 
performances here consisted of a short farce, of the merit of which, not 
understanding the language, I regretted that I could form no opinion, 
the rest of the entertainment was similar to that at the Salitre. I had 
a better opportunity of criticising the dancing, being admitted behind 
the scenes. Its merit consisted in a forced agility without grace, the 
effort of mere strength, one man, indeed, who is an Italian, had some 
idea. I have scarcely a right to judge, as the Opera company having 
lately followed the fortunes of their Prince to Brazil, their theatres are 
only the Astley’s of Lisbon. The Fandango was danced, which I think 
highly disgusting. . . .. . 5 ACV ys 
2th August.—Captain Macdonald found me employment in the 
morning at 4 o’clock. On my way to the Mess-room, which, by-the- 
bye, is in the house of the Marquis de Lalle, who has been proscribed 
as a traitor and his goods confiscated, I walked into the church of Santa 
Mariska, where was being performed some grand festival, at which a 
Roman Cardinal officiated. The music, a full band with the organ, 
was the greatest treat of that sort I ever enjoyed—so much so, that I 
preferred it to my dinner; the vocal part convinced me, without further 
enquiry, of the inferiority of our Opera, as they had many assistants 
1 Lieutenant John Maxwell, R.A. 
