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APPENDIX.
A dinner had been prepared for us at the hacienda, by the wife of the capitaz, or overseer, who, with her husband, seemed to be well pleased with this visit from Don Juan, and to be confident of receiving a pleasant answer from the good-humored old gentleman whenever they addressed Mm.
T h e dinner was served up about two o'clock, and was a most agree
able meal.
T h e fruits and wines were from the estate, and were excel
lent ; the rest of the provisions were from Moguer, for the adjacent village of Palos is too poor to furnish any thing.
A gentle breeze from the sea
played through the hall, and tempered the summer heat.
Indeed I do not
know when I have seen a more enviable spot than this country retreat of the Pinzons.
Its situation on a breezy bill, at no great distance from the
sea, and in a southern climate, produces a happy temperature, neither hot in summer nor cold in winter. surrounded by natural luxuries.
It commands a beautiful prospect, and is T h e country abounds with game, the ad
jacent river affords abundant sport in fishing, both by day and night, and delightful excursions for those fond of sailing.
During the busy seasons
of rural life, and especially at the joyous period of vintage, the family pass some time here, accompanied by numerous guests, at which times, Don Juan assured me, there was no lack of amusements, both by land and water. W h e n we had dined, and taken the siesta, or afternoon nap, according to the Spanish custom in summer time, we set out on our return to M o guer, visiting the village of Palos in the way.
Don Gabriel had been sent
in advance to procure the keys of the village church, and to apprise the curate of our wish to inspect the archives.
T h e village consists princi
pally of two streets of low whitewashed houses.
Many of the inhab
itants have very dark complexions, betraying a mixture of African blood. O n entering the village, we repaired to the lowly mansion of the curate. I had hoped to find him some such personage as the curate in Don Quix ote, possessed of shrewdness and information in his limited sphere, and that I might gain some anecdotes from him concerning his parish, its worthies, its antiquities, and its historical events.
Perhaps I might have
done so at any other time, but, unfortunately, the curate was something of a sportsman, and had heard of some game among the neighboring hills. We
met him just sallying forth from his house, and, I must confess, his
appearance was picturesque.
H e was a short, broad, sturdy little man,
and had doffed his cassock and broad clerical beaver, for a short jacket and a little round Andalusian hat ; he had his gun in hand, and was on the point of mounting a donkey which had been led forth by an ancient witi