Without Saying A Word, He Laid Hold Of The Halter Of The Mule, And Began To Lead It Through The Gate Up A Dirty Street, Crowded With Long-Cloaked People Like Himself.

I asked him what he meant, but he deigned not to return an answer, the boy, however, who waited upon me said that it was one of the gate- keepers, and that he was conducting us to the Custom House or Alfandega, where the baggage would be examined.

Having arrived there, the fellow, who still maintained a dogged silence, began to pull the trunks off the sumpter mule, and commenced uncording them. I was about to give him a severe reproof for his brutality, but before I could open my mouth a stout elderly personage appeared at the door, who I soon found was the principal officer. He looked at me for a moment and then asked me, in the English language, if I was an Englishman. On my replying in the affirmative, he demanded of the fellow how he dared to have the insolence to touch the baggage, without orders, and sternly bade him cord up the trunks again and place them on the mule, which he performed without uttering a word. The gentleman then asked what the trunks contained: I answered clothes and linen; when he begged pardon for the insolence of the subordinate, and informed him that I was at liberty to proceed where I thought proper. I thanked him for his exceeding politeness, and, under guidance of the boy, made the best of my way to the Inn of the Three Nations, to which I had been recommended at Elvas.

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