I shall add a little trait illustrative of Spanish manners. A friar
in high glee is commonly reminded of his profession, in a jeering
tone, by the wags of the company. Cries of, _Cáñamo, Padre_, (hemp,
my father!) are heard from all sides, alluding to the scourge used
for the discipline, which is made of that substance, and recommending
it as a proper cure for rebellious spirits. These two words will cut
a friar to the heart.
NOTE E.
“_On the Prevalence of Scepticism among the Catholic Clergy._” p. 100.
I once heard an English gentleman, who had resided a long time in
Italy, where he obtained lodgings in a convent, relate his surprise
at the termination of a friendly discussion which he had with the
most able individuals of the house, on the points of difference
between the Churches of England and Rome. The dispute had been
animated, and supported with great ability on the Catholic side
by one of the youngest monks. When, at length, all, except the
chief disputants, had retired, the young monk, turning to his
English guest, asked him whether he really believed what he had
been defending? Upon receiving a serious answer in the affirmative,
he could not help exclaiming, _Allor lei crede più che tutto il
convento_.
NOTE F.
“_The Child God._” p. 147.
The representation of the Deity in the form of a child is very common
in Spain. The number of little figures, about a foot high, called
Niño Dios, or Niño Jesus, is nearly equal to that of nuns in most
convents. The nuns dress them in all the variety of the national
costumes, such as clergymen, canons in their choral robes, doctors
of divinity in their hoods, physicians in their wigs and gold-headed
canes, &c. &c. The Niño Jesus is often found in private houses; and
in some parts of Spain, where contraband trade is the main occupation
of the people, is seen in the dress of a smuggler with a brace of
pistols at his girdle, and a blunderbuss leaning on his arm.
NOTE G.
“_On the Town of Olbera._” p. 170.
In De Rocca’s “_Memoires sur la Guerre des Français en Espagne_,”
there is a trait so perfectly in character with Don Leucadio’s
description of the people of Olbera, that I must beg leave to
transcribe it:--
“Nous formâmes un bivouac dans une prairie entourée de murs,
attenante à l’auberge qui est sur la route au bas du village.
Les habitans furent, pendant le reste du jour, assez tranquilles
en apparence, et ils nous fournirent des vivres; mais, au lieu
d’un jeune bœuf que j’avais demandé, ils nous apportèrent un âne
coupé en quartiers: les hussards trouvèrent que ce veau, comme
ils l’appellaient, avait le goût un peu fade; mais ce ne fut que
long-temps après que nous apprîmes cette bizarre tromperie, par les
montagnards eux-mêmes. Ils nous criaient souvent, dans la suite, en
tiraillant avec nous, ‘Vous avez mangé de l’âne à Olbera.’ C’était,
dans leur opinion, la plus sanglante des injures qu’on pût faire à
des chrétiens.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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