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diligent little work, written in the twenties of last century, but still of value. According to Verdejo, the Cataláns are "robust, well-formed, and comely; reliable in their dealings, frugal, capable men of business, honourable, active, good soldiers, steadfast, enterprising, and hardworking to a degree. Of sober habits, and devoted to their usages and language, they have often struggled hard to win their independence. Though they have been taxed with violent temper and unamiable address, they are hospitable, kindhearted, and of an unaffected and ingenuous

nature."

All this chimes in precisely with my own experiences in Cataluña; and Cervantes, who read character as few are ever likely to read it again, proclaims the Cataláns "a courteous people, terrible when angered, yet naturally suave and peace-loving, though "—he qualifies admiringly-" prone to sacrifice their lives in defence of their honour."

The Aragonese are as worthy as any of the occupants of Spain. More given to agriculture than the Cataláns, they live by preference in the open, and are muscular, vigorous, and comely. Their look is frank and fearless, their temper cheerful without being frivolous, and kind and sympathetic to a degree.

In spite of these virtues, the Aragonese plebeian, or baturro as he is nicknamed, is regarded by the lighter-natured Spaniards as a capital fellow at bottom, but rather dull, and slow to realize the adelantos of this century. He figures often in the comic journals, and many a laugh is raised at his expense, but he is a general favourite, notwithstand

ing, and bueno como el pan-" as good as bread." The worthy Verdejo says:-" The distinctive qualities of the Aragonese are bravery, faithfulness, and sturdiness in maintaining an opinion, but they wax obstinate on occasions. Their soldiery has always figured high among the Spanish armies for its resolute bearing. They are a people usually taciturn, and their manners are so devoid of affectation as to appear at first sight brusque, and even offensively so, particularly among the peasantry. But the educated classes, by reason of their wit and frankness, rank high in society."

The Andalusians must not be taken like a pill, seriously, or they go to pieces. They live to be amused, these epicureans of Iberia. The sorry process we reluctantly term life and turn our noses up at, is for them a pageant set with fairs and rouses, balls and bullfights. Money they dispense with. He who in Andalusia has not the wherewithal to eat, lies stomach downwards on the highway, and the sky and sunshine nourish him with slumber :—

"Fast asleep? It is no matter:

Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber :

Thou hast no figures, nor no fantasies
Which busy care draws in the brains of men :
Therefore thou sleepst so sound."

His whole existence is a cycle of delicious emotions. Wine, women, and the guitar; women, the guitar, and wine; the guitar, wine, and womenwith sleep for entr'actes; so "slips his world away -and work, and wealth, and politics go hang. Yet jealousy and revenge are none the less agreeable

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