letters-第19章
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f the country on the Lancastrian system … which since my return to Lisbon I have discovered to be a fact。 He told me that he had a copy of the New Testament in his possession； which I desired to see； but on examining it I discovered that it was only the Epistles （from Pereira's version） with long Popish notes。 I asked him whether he considered that there was any harm in reading the Scripture without notes； he said that there was certainly no harm in it； but that simple people without the assistance of notes could derive but little benefit therefrom； as the greatest part that they read would be unintelligible to them。 Whereupon I shook hands with him； and on departing said that there was no part of Scripture so difficult to understand as those very notes which were intended to elucidate it； and that the Almighty would never have inspired His saints with a desire to write what was unintelligible to the great mass of mankind。
For some days after this I traversed the country in all directions； riding into the fields where I saw the peasants at work； and entering into discourse with them； and notwithstanding many of my questions must have appeared to them very singular； I never experienced any incivility； though they frequently answered me with smiles and laughter。 （I have now communicated about half of what I have to say； the remainder next week。 G。 BORROW。）
LETTER： 15th December； 1835
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Jan。 10； 1836） EVORA IN THE ALEMTEJO； 15TH DEC。； 1835。
AT length I departed for Mafra； the principal part of the way lay over steep and savage hills； very dangerous for horses； and I had reason to repent； before I got back to Cintra； that I had not mounted one of the sure…footed mules of the country。 I reached Mafra in safety； it is a large village； which has by degrees sprung up in the vicinity of an immense building； originally intended to serve as a convent and palace； and which next to the Escurial is the most magnificent edifice in the Peninsula。 In this building is to be seen the finest library in Portugal； comprising books in all sciences and languages； and which； if not suited to the place in which the building stands； which is almost a desert； is yet well suited to the size and grandeur of the building which contains it。 But here are now no monks to take care of it； they have been driven forth； some of them to beg their bread； some of them to serve under the banners of Don Carlos in Spain； and many； as I have been informed； to prowl about as banditti。 The place is now abandoned to two or three menials； and exhibits an aspect of solitude and desolation which is truly appalling。 Whilst I was viewing the cloisters an exceedingly fine and intelligent…looking lad came up to me； and asked （I suppose in the hope of obtaining a trifle） if I would permit him to show me the village church； which he told me was well worth seeing。 I said 'No；' but that if he would show me the village school； I should be much obliged to him。 He looked at me with astonishment； and assured me that there was nothing to be seen in the school； at which not more than half a dozen boys were instructed； and that he himself was one of the number； but I told him that he should show me no other place； and he at last unwillingly attended me。 On the way he said that the schoolmaster was one of the brothers of the convent who had lately been expelled； and that he was a very learned man and spoke French and Greek。 We went past a stone cross； and the boy bent and crossed himself with much devotion： I mention this circumstance； as it was the first instance of devotion which I had observed amongst the Portuguese since my arrival。 When near the house where the schoolmaster resided； he pointed it out to me and then hid himself behind a wall； where he waited till I returned。
On stepping over the threshold I was confronted by a short stout man； between sixty and seventy years of age； dressed in a blue jerkin and grey trousers； without shirt or waistcoat。 He looked at me sternly； and enquired in the French language what was my pleasure。 I apologised for intruding upon him； and stated that； being informed that he occupied the situation of schoolmaster to the place； I had come to pay my respects to him； and to beg to be informed respecting the manner of instruction which he adopted。 He said that whosoever told me that he was a schoolmaster lied； for that he was a brother of the convent。 I replied that I had heard that all the friaries had been broken up and the brothers dismissed； whereupon he sighed； and said it was too true。 He was then silent for a minute； and his better nature overcoming his angry feelings he produced a snuff…box and offered it to me。 The snuff…box is the olive…branch of the Portuguese； and he who wishes to be on good terms with them； or to conciliate them； must never refuse to put his finger and thumb into it when preferred； I took therefore a large pinch； though I detest the dust； and we were soon friendly enough。 He was eager to obtain news； especially from Lisbon and Spain。 I told him that the officers of the regiments at Lisbon had the day before I left that place gone in a body to the Queen； and insisted upon her either receiving their swords or dismissing her Ministers； whereupon he rubbed his hands and said； 'I am sure that things will not remain tranquil at Lisbon。' Upon my saying that the affairs of Don Carlos were on the decline； he frowned； and said that it could not possibly be； for that God was too just to suffer it。 I felt for the poor man； who had been driven from his home in the noble convent close by； and from a state of comfort and affluence reduced in his old age to indigence and misery； for his dwelling seemed to contain scarcely an article of furniture。 I tried twice or thrice to induce him to converse on the school； but he always avoided the subject or said shortly that he knew nothing about it； the idea of being a schoolmaster was evidently humiliating to him。
On my leaving him； the boy came from his hiding…place and rejoined me； he said his reason for hiding himself was fear that his master might know that it was he who brought me to him； for that the old man was ashamed of appearing in the character of a schoolmaster。 I asked the boy whether he or his parents were acquainted with the Scripture and ever read it； but he did not understand me。 I must here observe that the boy was fifteen years of age； and that he was in many respects very intelligent and had some knowledge of the Latin language； nevertheless he knew not the Scripture even by name； and I have no doubt that at least one half of his countrymen are； in that respect； no wiser than himself。 I have questioned the children of Portugal at the doors of village inns； at the hearths of their cottages； in the fields where they labour； at the stone Mountains by the way…sides where they water their cattle； about the Scripture； the Bible； the Old and New Testament； and in scarcely one instance have they known what I was alluding to or could return me a rational answer； though in all other instances I had no reason to complain of their want of apprehension。 Indeed nothing has surprised me more than the free and unembarrassed manner with which the Portuguese peasantry sustain a conversation； and the purity of the language in which they express their thoughts； and yet very few of them can write or read； whereas the peasantry of our own country； whose education is in general much superior； are in their conversation coarse and dull almost to brutality； and absurdly ungrammatical in the language which they use； though the English tongue； upon the whole； is more simple in its grammar than the Portuguese。
On my way back from Mafra to Cintra I very nearly lost my life。 As the night was closing in fast； we left the regular road by the advice of the guide； and descending the hill on which Mafra stands reached the bottom of the valley； from which there is a narrow pathway winding round the next hill； exceedingly steep； with a precipice on the left side； the horse on which I was mounted； and which was by
