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to　hold　Portuguese　　in　great　contempt；　their　magnificent　Spanish　tones　were　heard　to　　great　advantage　amidst　the　shrill　chirping　dialect　of　Portugal。　　I　　was　soon　in　deep　conversation　with　them；　and　was　much　pleased　to　　find　that　all　of　them　could　read。　　I　presented　the　eldest　of　them；　　a　man　of　about　fifty　years　of　age；　with　a　tract　in　Spanish。　　He　　examined　it　for　some　time　with　great　attention；　he　then　rose　from　　his　seat；　and　going　into　the　middle　of　the　apartment；　began　reading　　it　aloud；　slowly　and　emphatically；　his　companions　gathered　round　　him；　and　every　now　and　then　expressed　their　satisfaction　at　what　　they　heard。　　The　reader　occasionally　called　upon　me　to　explain　　particular　passages　which；　as　they　referred　to　Scripture；　he　did　　not　exactly　understand；　for　not　one　of　the　party　had　ever　seen　　either　the　Old　or　New　Testament。　　He　continued　reading　for　nearly　　an　hour　until　he　had　finished　the　tract；　and　at　its　conclusion　the　　whole　party　were　clamorous　for　similar　ones；　with　which　I　was　happy　　to　be　able　to　supply　them。　　Most　of　them　spoke　of　priestcraft　and　　the　monks　with　the　utmost　abhorrence；　and　said　that　they　should　　prefer　death　to　again　submitting　to　the　yoke　which　had　formerly　　galled　their　necks。　　I　questioned　them　very　particularly　respecting　　the　opinion　of　their　neighbours　and　acquaintances　on　this　point；　　and　they　assured　me　that　in　their　part　of　the　Spanish　frontier　all　　were　of　the　same　mind；　and　that　they　cared　as　little　for　the　Pope　　and　his　monks　as　they　did　for　Don　Carlos；　for　the　latter　was　a　　dwarf　（CHICOTITO）　and　a　tyrant；　and　the　others　were　plunderers　and　　robbers。　　I　told　them　that　they　must　beware　of　confounding　religion　　with　priestcraft；　and　that　in　their　abhorrence　of　the　latter　they　　must　not　forget　that　there　is　a　God　and　a　Christ；　to　whom　they　must　　look　for　salvation；　and　whose　word　it　was　incumbent　upon　them　to　　study　on　every　occasion；　whereupon　they　all　expressed　a　devout　　belief　in　Christ　and　the　Virgin。

These　men；　though　in　many　respects　far　more　enlightened　than　the　　surrounding　peasantry；　were　in　others　quite　as　much　in　the　dark；　　they　believed　in　witchcraft　and　in　the　efficacy　of　particular　　charms。　　The　night　was　very　stormy；　and　about　nine　we　heard　a　　galloping　towards　the　door；　and　then　a　loud　knocking；　it　was　　opened；　and　in　rushed　a　wild…looking　man　mounted　upon　a　donkey。　　He　　wore　a　jerkin　of　sheepskin；　called　in　Spanish　ZAMARRAS；　with　　breeches　of　the　same　as　far　down　as　his　knee；　his　legs　were　bare。　　　Around　his　SOMBRERO；　or　shadowy　hat；　was　tied　a　large　quantity　of　　the　herb　called　in　English　rosemary；　in　Spanish　ROMERO；　and　in　the　　rustic　language　of　Portugal　ELLECRIN；　which　last　is　a　word　of　　Scandinavian　origin；　and　properly　signifies　the　elfin　plant。　　＇It　　was　probably＇　carried　into　the　south　by　the　Vandals　or　the　Alani。　　　The　＇man　seemed＇　frantic　with　terror；　and　said　that　the　witches　had　　been　pursuing　him；　and　hovering　over　his　head；　for　the　last　two　　leagues。　　He　came　from　the　Spanish　frontier　with　meal　and　other　　articles；　he　informed　us　that　his　wife　was　following　him　and　would　　soon　arrive；　and　within　a　quarter　of　an　hour　she　made　her　　appearance；　dripping　with　rain；　and　also　mounted　upon　a　donkey。　　I　　asked　my　friends　the　CONTRABANDISTAS　why　he　wore　the　rosemary　in　　his　hat；　and　they　told　me　that　it　was　good　against　witches　and　the　　mischances　of　the　road。　　I　had　no　time　to　argue　against　this　　superstition；　for　as　the　chaise　was　to　be　ready　at　five　o'clock　　next　morning　I　wished　to　make　the　most　of　the　few　hours　which　I　　could　devote　to　rest。



LETTER：　Undated



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED。　recd。　Feb。　15；　1836）

The　following　Translations　into　the　Romanee；　or　language　of　the　　Spanish　Tchai；　Tchabos；　Gitanos；　Callos；　or　Gypsies；　were　made　by　　me　at　Badajoz　during　the　first　two　weeks　of　January　1836。

THE　15TH　CHAP。　OF　THE　BLESSED　GOSPEL　OF　SAINT　LUKE。

＇Here　follow　thirty…two　verses　of　the　translation；　followed　by　a　　version　of　the　Lord's　Prayer。＇

SPECIMENS　OF　THE　HORRID　CURSES　IN　USE　AMONGST　THE　SPANISH　GYPSIES。

＇Here　follow　sixteen　of　these　'curses；'　to　each　of　which　is　added　a　　rendering　in　English。＇



LETTER：　13th　February；　1836



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED。　recd。　Feb。　29th；　1836）　MADRID；　CALLE　DE　LA　ZARZA；　FEBY。　13TH；　1836。

THE　game　is　now　in　our　own　hands；　and　it　is　our　fault　if　we　do　not　　win　it；　for　a　little　patience　and　a　little　prudence　is　all　that　is　　required。　　I　came　to　Madrid　without　a　single　letter　of　　introduction；　and　without　knowing　an　individual　there。　　I　have　now　　some　powerful　friends；　and　through　the　kindness　of　Sir　Geo。　　Villiers；　the　British　Ambassador　at　the　Spanish　Court；　I　have　had　　an　interview　with　that　most　singular　man；　Mendizabal；　whom　it　is　as　　difficult　to　get　nigh　as　it　is　to　approach　the　North　Pole。　　I　have　　obtained　his　promise　that　when　matters　are　in　some　degree　settled　　in　this　country；　he　will　allow　us　to　commence　our　operations；　but　　the　preposterous　idea；　which　by　some　means　or　other　he　has　　embraced；　that　we　have　been　endeavouring　to　foment　disturbances　　amongst　the　slaves　of　Cuba；　prevents　his　looking　upon　us　with　　favourable　eyes。

I　now　write　for　orders；　if　you　have　received　my　letters　and　　journals　（copious　extracts　from　which　you　had　better　print）；　you　　will　see　how　successful　I　have　been　in　the　Alemtejo；　as　our　books　　are　now　for　sale　at　Evora　and　Elvas；　the　two　principal　towns；　and　　the　Gospel　of　Christ　has　been　preached　to　many　who　were　ignorant　of　　it　even　by　name；　you　will　see　what　I　have　been　doing　at　Badajoz；　　especially　amongst　the　Spanish　Gypsies；　whose　dialect　of　the　　Rommany　I　have　so　far　mastered　as　to　be　able　to　translate　into　it　　with　tolerable　ease。　　Now；　until　my　friends　here　and　myself　can　　claim　the　fulfilment　of　Mr。　Mendizabal's　promise；　do　you　wish　me　to　　go　to　Granada；　or　back　to　Badajoz；　and　finish　my　translation　of　St。　　Luke　into　Rommany；　with　the　assistance　of　the　Gypsies　of　those　　places；　who　are　far　more　conversant　with　their　native　language　than　　their　brethren　in　other　parts　of　Spain；　or　shall　I　return　to　Lisbon　　and　exert　all　my　interest　towards　the　execution　of　the　plan　which　I　　communicated　first　to　Mr。　Wilby；　and　then　to　yourself；　namely；　　attempting　to　induce　the　Government　to　adopt　the　Scriptures　in　the　　schools　which　they　are　about　to　establish？　　Since　I　have　been　at　　Madrid　I　have　obtained　letters　to　individuals　of　great　importance　　at　Lisbon；　and　I　know　that　Don　Jose　d'Azveto　will　do　anything　to　　serve　me　within　the　limits　of　reason。　　Therefore　let　the　Committee　　be　summoned；　and　a　resolution　forthwith　adopted　as　to　my　next　　course。　　I　think　all　our　negotiations　in　the　Peninsula　may　be　　brought　to　a　successful　termination　in　a　few　months；　then　you　must　　send　over　an　agent；　a　plain　man　of　business；　to　engage　colporteurs　　and　to　come　to　arrangements　with　booksellers；　both　in　Spain　and　in　　the　provincial　towns　of　Portugal；　but　let　him　not　be　a　hesitater　　and　starter　of　needless　doubts　and　difficulties；　anything　may　be　　accomplished　with　a　little　shrewdness；　a　little　boldness；　and　a　　great　trust　in　God。　　I　hope　that　my　exertions　have　afforded　　satisfaction　at　home；　but　if　not；　let　me　be　allowed　to　state　that　　it　was　not　in　my　power　to　accomplish　more　than　I　have。　　I　have　　borne　hunger　and　thirst；　cold　and　fatigue；　I　have　exposed　myself　to　　danger　from　robbers；　and　was　near　losing　my　life　from　the　ruffian　　soldiery　at　Arrayolos；　whose　bullets　so　narrowly　missed　me。　　I　have　　been　as　economical　as　possible；　though　the　charges　in　Portugal　for　　everything　are　enormous；　and　a　stranger　there　is　like　a　ship　on　　shore；　a　mark　for　plunder。　　In　Spain　the　people　are　far　more　　honest；　and　the　charges；　though　high；　reasonable　in　comparison。　　　Before　leaving　Lisbon　I　drew　on　excellent　Mr。　Wilby　for　75　pounds；　　of　this　sum　12　pounds　was　remitted　to　Malaja；　through　which　place　I　　shall　probably　pass　on　my　return　to　Lisbon。　　I　have　still　remaining　　by　me　money　sufficient　for　two　months；　I　therefore　need　not　enter　　into　a　detail　of　my　expenses。　　I　now　wait　for　a　letter　from　you；　　and　when　you　write；　please　to　remit　to　me　a　small　letter　of　credit　　on　some　one　at　Madrid；　or　request　Mr。　Wilby　to　do　so；　as　he　has　　correspondents　here；　and　in　that　case　communicate　my　address　to　　him。　　I　give　you　below　an　abridgment　of　my　interview　with　Mr。　　Mendizabal。　　I　think　it　will　make　you　laugh。　　I　have　the　honour　to　　remain；　Revd。　and　dear　Sir；　etc。；

G。　BORROW。


INTERVIEW　WITH　MR。　MENDIZABAL


At　about　8　o'clock　in　the　morning　of　the　7th　inst。　I　went　to　the　　palace；　where　Mr。　Mendizabal　resides。　　I　informed　the　usher　that　I　　came　from　the　British　Ambassador；　whereupon　I　was　shown　into　a　　room；　and　after　waiting　about　three　hours　I　was　admitted　to　the　　presence　of　the　Prime　Minister　of　Spain。　　He　was　dressed　in　a　　morning　gown　and　sat　behind　a　table　covered　with　papers。　　He　is　a　　man　of　about　five…and…forty；　somewhat　above　the　middle　height；　with　　very　handsome　features；　aquiline　nose　and　large　sparkling　eyes；　his　　hair　is　partly　grey。　　I　presented　him　the　letter　with　which　Sir　　Geo。　Villiers　had　furnished　me；　and　when　he　had　read　it；　I　said　　that　before　entering　upon　the　matter　which　more　immediately　brought　　me　to　him；　I　begged　leave　to　set　him　right　upon　a　point　relating　to　　which　he　was　labouring　under　considerable　error：　　Sir　Geo。　Villiers　　had　informed　me　that　Mr。　M。　entertained　an　opinion　that　the　Bible　　Society　had　been　endeavouring　to　exercise　an　undue　influence　over　　the　minds　of　the　slave　population　of　Cuba　by　means　of　their　agents；　　but　that　I　could　assure　him　with　truth；　that　neither　directly　nor　　indirectly　had　they　exerted　or　attempted　to　exert　any　influence　at　　all　over　any　part　of　the　inhabitants　of　that　island；　as　they　had　　neither　sent　agents　there；　nor　held　any　communication　with　the　　residents。　　While　I　was　saying　this；　he　interrupted　me　several　　times；　insisting　that　it　was　so；　and　that　he　had　documents　to　prove　　it。　　I　told　him　that　it　was　probable　he　confounded　the　Bible　　Society　with　some　other　institution　for　the　propagation　of　　religion；　perhaps　with　one　of　the　missionary　societies；　more　　especially　one　of　those　belonging　to　the　United　States；　which　might　　have　sent　individuals　to　the　island　in　question　for　the　purpose　of　　communicating