Rambles in sunny Spain . ount of his peculiar peccadilloes, to take up hisabode in Gibraltar. The industry of this middle-man consists inremoving the obstacles which conscientiously-disposed customs offi-cers might set up. A few pesetas here, and a few pesetas there,silently dropped into the hands of certain ornaments of justice andguardians of revenue, renders them unable to discover the contentsof the alforjas, or the nature of the articles concealed beneath theaparcjo of the mules. It sometimes happens that the corrcdor under-takes operations on a much larger scale, on account of importantm
Rambles in sunny Spain . ount of his peculiar peccadilloes, to take up hisabode in Gibraltar. The industry of this middle-man consists inremoving the obstacles which conscientiously-disposed customs offi-cers might set up. A few pesetas here, and a few pesetas there,silently dropped into the hands of certain ornaments of justice andguardians of revenue, renders them unable to discover the contentsof the alforjas, or the nature of the articles concealed beneath theaparcjo of the mules. It sometimes happens that the corrcdor under-takes operations on a much larger scale, on account of importantmercantile firms. Our more modest contrabandista contents himself by taking a fewloads of silk handkerchiefs or tobacco, and as soon as he has crossedthe frontier he joins his comrades, and the caravan sets off on themarch, taking care to travel only at night, halting during daylight inthe cortijadas (or isolated farms), or in villages where they have trustyfriends. These hardy smugglers know all the most difficult passes. SMUGGLERS. SOUTH THROUGH LEON AND CASTILE. 55 of the sierras, which they some of them cross with burdens on theirbacks and carbines slung over their shoulders, clinging with theirhands to the projecting ledges on the perpendicular rocks. Strangeto relate, these traders are often on the best of terms with the authori-ties of the villages through which they pass, never neglecting to offera packet of fragrant cigars to the alcalde, tobacco to his scribe, andan attractive silk handkerchief to la sehora alcaldesa. They almostalways reach their destination without let or hindrance. Nevertheless,they are at times surprised by a band of carabincros, when they wakethe echoes of the sierras with the reports of their relacos. This, how-ever, is a very rare occurrence, as it pays better to settle amicably withtheir easily-pacified foes, who are always open to the magic influenceof a few duros. Arrived at the termination of his journey, the traderdelivers up his wares to h
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Keywords: ., bookauthoroberfred, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookyear1889
