SWABEY DIARY. 303 
of water at this time of the year, when scarcely a brook is to be found 
between the Guadiana and the Mediterranean. Upon enquiring of the 
inhabitants, an immense stone dam was pointed out to me, built across 
the bottom of the valley and confining the water, which was let off by 
flood gates to different mills, which, | was informed, grind the whole 
corn of this part of the province, and I thus had a riddle explained which 
I never before could understand, for I had often wondered how the wheat 
was ground in a country where there was no water, or wind to turn a 
mill, or other machinery to supply the defect. They were now hard at 
work to get all the corn ground before the water evaporated as they 
could not even spare what was daily sucked up by the sun. It is need- 
less to add that the water is thus collected in the rainy season. 
15th August.—To my great joy this, which was the returning day of 
my fever, passed without its making its appearance. 
16th August.—Continuing to amend, I ventured to write to Catherine 
an account of my illness. 
17th August.—General Hill reviewed the troops here this evening. 
Intelligence was received of Lord Wellington’s entering Madrid, 
amidst the acclamations of the people. The Retiro and the Plaza de 
Toros had been fortified, but capitulated and two thousand prisoners 
were taken. 
Sth August.—Intelligence was received of Colonel Skerrett’s brigade 
consisting of three British regiments and some Spaniards and Port- 
uguese having landed at Ayamonte. 
An expedition was fitted out consisting of 3500 Spanish troops 
under General Crux, and 1590 British and Portuguese under 
Colonel Skerrett wlth a view to attack Niebla. The troops 
landed at Huelva, on the coast not far from Ayamonte, at 
the mouth of the Guadiana, on 14th and 15th of August, but 
the French evacuated and destroyed the castle on the 12th. 
Wellington Despatches, Vol. [X., page 380. 
19th August.—It appears undoubted that General Maitland! is in 
Murcia or Valencia with 10,000 British and Spanish troops, his object 
is Barcelona which is very strong. 
Lord Wellington has established an extensive magazine at Cartha- 
gena. 
20th August.—No extraordinary occurrence happened to record; 
this day like many others. 
21st August.—Feeling myself sufficiently recovered I rode over this 
evening to Fuente Cantos, whither part of the troop had removed. 
The French made a strong recognisance of our outposts from Ribera 
to Almendralejo. Two deserters came in and three Jwramentado 
officers ; these rascals are Spaniards that have sworn to fight for King 
Joseph. Their oaths do not seem to be very burdensome when they 
find their cause diminishing in popularity. 
1 Landed at Alicante on the 3rd August. 
