letters-第20章
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ingly steep； with a precipice on the left side； the horse on which I was mounted； and which was by no means suited for such climbing； in his violent struggles to accomplish the ascent burst the girth of the saddle； so that I was cast violently off； with the saddle beneath me。 Fortunately； I fell on the right side； or I should have rolled down the hill and probably have been killed； as it was； I remained stunned and senseless for two or three minutes； when I revived； and with the assistance of the guide and the man who waits on me； walked up the remaining part of the hill； when； the saddle being readjusted； I mounted again。 I was very drowsy and stupid for two or three days； from the influence of the fall； but I am happy to say at present； thanks to the Almighty； I have long ceased to feel any inconvenience from it。
On my return to Lisbon I saw Mr。 Wilby； who received me with great kindness； the next ten days were exceedingly rainy and prevented me from making any excursions into the country； and during this time I saw him frequently and had a good deal of conversation with him； concerning the best means of causing God's glorious Gospel to be read in Portugal。 He informed me that four hundred copies of the Bible and New Testament were arrived； and he thought that we could do no better than put them into the hands of the booksellers； but I strongly advised that at least half of them should be entrusted to colporteurs； to hawk about； upon receiving a certain profit on every copy they sold。 He thought the idea a good one； as far as regards Lisbon； but said that no colporteur would venture to carry them about the country； as the fanatical priests would probably cause him to be assassinated。 He was kind enough to promise to look out for people suited to make the essay in the streets of Lisbon； and as the lower orders are very poor I wrote to Mr。 Whiteley at Oporto； requesting to be informed whether he had any objection to our selling the books to the populace at Lisbon at a lower price than a CRUZADO NOVO； which he had determined to sell them at。 I thought it but right to consult him on the subject； as the Society are under great obligations to him； and I was unwilling to do anything at which he could possibly take umbrage。 During one of my conversations with Mr。 Wilby I enquired which was the province of Portugal； the population of which he considered to be the most ignorant and benighted： he replied； 'The Alemtejo。' The Alemtejo means 'the other side of the Tagus。' This province is not beautiful and picturesque like the other portions of Portugal； it has few hills or mountains； the greatest part of it consists of heaths； broken by knolls and gloomy dingles； swamps； and forests of stunted pine。 These places are infested with banditti； and not a week passes by without horrible murders and desperate robberies occurring。 The principal town is Evora； one of the most ancient cities in Portugal； and formerly the seat of an Inquisition far more cruel and baneful than the terrible one of Lisbon。 Evora lies about sixty miles from the farther bank of the Tagus； which is at Lisbon three leagues broad； and to Evora I determined on going with a small cargo of Testaments and Bibles。 My reasons I need not state； as they must be manifest to every Christian； but I cannot help thinking that it was the Lord who inspired me with the idea of going thither； as by so doing I have introduced the Scriptures into the worst part of the Peninsula； and have acquired lights and formed connections （some of the latter most singular ones； I admit） which if turned to proper account will wonderfully assist us in our object of making the heathen of Portugal and Spain acquainted with God's holy word。 My journey to Evora and my success there shall be detailed in my next letter。
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 8th January； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Feb。 15； 1836） Badajoz； JANRY。 8； 1836。
JOURNEY TO EVORA
AN EXTRACT FROM MY JOURNAL
ON the afternoon of the sixth of December I set out for this place； accompanied by my servant Anthonio。 I had been informed that the tide would serve for the FELOUKS； or passage…boats； employed in crossing the Tagus； at about four o'clock； but on reaching the river's side opposite Aldea Gallega； between which place and Lisbon they ply； I found that the tide would not permit them to start before eight o'clock。 Had I waited for them I should probably have landed at Aldea Gallega at midnight； and I felt little inclination to make my ENTREE in the Alemtejo at that hour； therefore as I saw small boats which can push off at any time lying near in abundance； I determined upon hiring one of them for the passage； though the expense would be thus considerably increased。 I soon agreed with a wild…looking lad to take us over； who told me that he was in part owner of one of the boats。 I was not aware of the danger in crossing the Tagus at any time in these small boats at its broadest part； which is between Lisbon and Aldea Gallega； but especially at close of day in the winter season； or I should certainly not have ventured。 The lad and his comrade； a miserable object； whose only clothing； notwithstanding the severity of the weather； was a battered jerkin and trousers； rowed until we had advanced about half a mile from the land； they then hoisted a large sail； and the lad； who seemed to be the principal and to direct everything； took the helm and steered。 The evening was now setting in； the sun was not far from its bourne in the horizon； the air was very cold； the wind was rising； and the waves of the noble Tagus began to be crested with foam。 I told the boy that it was scarcely possible for the boat to carry so much sail without upsetting； upon which he laughed； and began to gabble in a most incoherent manner。 He had the most harsh and rapid articulation that has ever come under my observation； it was the scream of the hyena blended with the bark of the terrier； but it was by no means an index of his disposition； which I soon found to be light； merry； and anything but malevolent； for when I； in order to show him that I cared little about him； began to hum： 'EU QUE SOU CONTRABANDISTA' （'I； who am a smuggler'）； he laughed heartily； and clapping me on the shoulder said that he would not drown us if he could help it。 The other poor fellow seemed by no means averse to go to the bottom； he sat at the forepart of the boat looking the image of famine； and only smiled when the waters broke over the side and drenched his scanty clothing。 In a little time I had made up my mind that our last hour was come； the wind was becoming higher； the short dangerous waves were more foamy； the boat was frequently on its beam…ends； and the water came over the lee side in torrents； but still the wild lad at the helm held on； laughing and chattering； and occasionally yelling out parts of the Miguelite air 'QUANDO EL REY CHEGOU' ＇'When the King arrived'＇； the singing of which in Lisbon is punished with imprisonment。 The stream was against us； but the wind was in our favour； and we sprang along at a wonderful rate。 I saw that our only chance of escape was in speedily getting under the shelter of that part of the farther bank of the Tagus； where the bight or bay commences at the extremity of which stands Aldea Gallega； as we should not then have to battle with the waves of the adverse stream； which the wind lashed into fury。 It was the will of the Almighty to permit us speedily to gain this shelter； but not before the boat was nearly filled with water； and we were all wet to the skin。 At about seven o'clock in the evening we reached Aldea Gallega； shivering with cold and in a most deplorable plight。
Aldea Gallega； or the Galician Village； for the two words have that signification； is a place containing； I should think； about four thousand inhabitants。 It was pitchy dark when we landed； but rockets soon began to fly about in all directions； illumining the air far and wide。 As we passed along the dirty unpaved street which leads to the LARGO or square in which the town is situated； a horrible uproar of drums
