SWABHY DIARY. 945 
not even those with whom I laid out my money for bread and what. 
few eatables I could purchase. 
24th April.—Determining not to go by the vile towns of Arronches, 
St. Olaia, etc., I went to-day to Altar de Chio where I found the sick. 
and wounded from Badajos filling the town. At this place the face of 
the country begins to alter, and the Portuguese here havea word for 
cleanliness, sweetness, etc., but of this there are different degrees of 
comparison. 
25th April—From Altar de Chio with the view of seeing a new 
place, I bent my steps to Monforte, which is another good town. 
There was not a single Englishman besides myself and Sutton in the 
place so that I could not look big. I was obliged to purchase forage 
as a favour. 
26th April.—Went to Hlvas in the rain, and after some difficulty 
from the Corregedor,' this being the capital of a Corregedoria, I got a 
billet, when I presented it at the house, the landlord or patron, with 
very great politeness told me he could allow me no wood for my fire, so 
I with equal good breeding informed him that I thanked him for his 
extreme civility, in such terms that it even reached his dark Portuguese 
heart, and he blushed for his want of gratitude and generosity. 
I was obliged to buy forage for my horses at a great price as none is 
allowed to be cut here near the town. 
I dined with Fitzpatrick? and passed the evening with Major Macleod 
of the Engineers and his brother. 
27th April.Remained at Hivas, which is well fortified and rendered 
strong by having above it La Lippe, a fortress supposed to be impreg- 
nable. ‘he possession of Hlvas is highly advantageous, and was the 
only useful article gained by the Convention of Cintra, by which, in 
common with all Portugal, it was evacuated, having been previously. 
given up by the treachery or undetermined policy of the governor. It 
has the best market I have seen, all kinds of vegetables, which are 
rare articles in Portugal, fowls and game. There are many good 
drapers’ shops and many articles of British manufacture to be pur- 
chased. The town, like all garrison ones, is close, hot and disagreeable, 
though the interior of the houses is tolerably good. 
2th April.—Set out with a view of getting to Albuera, relying on 
my knowledge of the country. At the Guadiana I attempted the same 
ford we had lately passed with the guns, but found it very deep and 
dangerous from the rapidity of the stream. It was with difficulty the 
mule and baggage got over; but a donkey that I had bought at Altar 
de Chao to carry my corn being tied to my mule was dragged through 
the river, and either drowned or strangled. I missed Albuera and did 
not get to Almendral until it was dark, and was obliged to bribe some 
Spaniards to bring me forage, having no corn. At the house where I 
stopped and where I was well-known and well received by the people, 
was a Spanish sergeant, a very intelligent fellow, who had been in 18 
1 Mayor or Justice of the Peace. Corregedoria, his office. 
? Assistant Surgeon Nicholas Fitzpatrick, R.A, (Kanc’s List No, 64). 
