Departure from Cordova—The Contrabandista—Jewish Cunning—Arrival at
Madrid.
One fine morning, I departed from Cordova, in company with the
Contrabandista; the latter was mounted on a handsome animal, something
between a horse and a pony, which he called a jaca, of that breed for
which Cordova is celebrated. It was of a bright bay colour, with a star
in its forehead, with strong but elegant limbs, and a long black tail,
which swept the ground. The other animal, which was destined to carry me
to Madrid, was not quite so prepossessing in its appearance: in more than
one respect it closely resembled a hog, particularly in the curving of
its back, the shortness of its neck, and the manner in which it kept its
head nearly in contact with the ground: it had also the tail of a hog,
and meandered over the ground much like one. Its coat more resembled
coarse bristles than hair, and with respect to size, I have seen many a
Westphalian hog quite as tall. I was not altogether satisfied with the
idea of exhibiting myself on the back of this most extraordinary
quadruped, and looked wistfully on the respectable animal on which my
guide had thought proper to place himself; he interpreted my glances, and
gave me to understand that as he was destined to carry the baggage, he
was entitled to the best horse; a plea too well grounded on reason for me
to make any objection to it.
I found the Contrabandista by no means such pleasant company on the road
as I had been led to suppose he would prove from the representation of my
host of Cordova. Throughout the day he sat sullen and silent, and rarely
replied to my questions, save by a monosyllable; at night, however, after
having eaten well and drank proportionably at my expense, he would
occasionally become more sociable and communicative. “I have given up
smuggling,” said he, on one of these occasions, “owing to a trick which
was played upon me the last time that I was at Lisbon: a Jew whom I had
been long acquainted with palmed upon me a false brilliant for a real
stone. He effected it in the most extraordinary manner, for I am not
such a novice as not to know a true diamond when I see one; but the Jew
appears to have had two, with which he played most adroitly, keeping the
valuable one for which I bargained, and substituting therefor another
which, though an excellent imitation, was not worth four dollars. I did
not discover the trick until I was across the border, and upon my
hurrying back, the culprit was not to be found; his priest, however, told
me that he was just dead and buried, which was of course false, as I saw
him laughing in the corners of his eyes. I renounced the contraband
trade from that moment.”
It is not my intention to describe minutely the various incidents of this
journey. Leaving at our right the mountains of Jaen, we passed through
Andujar and Bailen, and on the third day reached Carolina, a small but
beautiful town on the skirts of the Sierra Morena, inhabited by the
descendants of German colonists. Two leagues from this place, we entered
the defile of Despeña Perros, which, even in quiet times, has an evil
name, on account of the robberies which are continually being perpetrated
within its recesses, but at the period of which I am speaking, it was
said to be swarming with banditti. We of course expected to be robbed,
perhaps stripped and otherwise ill-treated; but Providence here
manifested itself. It appeared that, the day before our arrival, the
banditti of the pass had committed a dreadful robbery and murder, by
which they gained forty thousand rials. This booty probably contented
them for a time; certain it is that we were not interrupted: we did not
even see a single individual in the pass, though we occasionally heard
whistles and loud cries. We entered La Mancha, where I expected to fall
into the hands of Palillos and Orejita. Providence again showed itself.
It had been delicious weather, suddenly the Lord breathed forth a frozen
blast, the severity of which was almost intolerable; no human beings but
ourselves ventured forth. We traversed snow-covered plains, and passed
through villages and towns to all appearance deserted. The robbers kept
close in their caves and hovels, but the cold nearly killed us. We
reached Aranjuez late on Christmas Day, and I got into the house of an
Englishman, where I swallowed nearly a pint of brandy; it affected me no
more than warm water.
On the following day we arrived at Madrid, where we had the good fortune
to find everything tranquil and quiet. The Contrabandista continued with
me for two days, at the end of which time he returned to Cordova upon the
uncouth animal on which I had ridden throughout the journey. I had
myself purchased the jaca, whose capabilities I had seen on the route,
and which I imagined might prove useful in future journeys. The
Contrabandista was so satisfied with the price which I gave him for his
beast, and the general treatment which he had experienced at my hands
during the time of his attendance upon me, that he would fain have
persuaded me to retain him as a servant, assuring me that, in the event
of my compliance, he would forget his wife and children and follow me
through the world. I declined, however, to accede to his request, though
I was in need of a domestic; I therefore sent him back to Cordova, where,
as I subsequently learned, he died suddenly, about a week after his
return.
The manner of his death was singular: one day he took out his purse, and,
after counting his money, said to his wife, “I have made ninety-five
dollars by this journey with the Englishman and by the sale of the jaca;
this I could easily double by one successful venture in the smuggling
lay. To-morrow I will depart for Lisbon to buy diamonds. I wonder if
the beast requires to be shod?” He then started up and made for the
door, with the intention of going to the stable; ere, however, his foot
had crossed the threshold, he fell dead on the floor. Such is the course
of the world. Well said the wise king: Let no one boast of the morrow.