fellow-sufferers; and the lady's report of the adventures of the female
dormitory of our Diligence afforded us sufficient amusement to enliven
the breakfast on the other side of the mountain. It appeared, that,
during the hustling of the males into their enclosure, a fond mother,
moved by Heaven knows what anxious apprehensions, had succeeded in
abstracting from the herd her son, a tender youth of fourteen. Whether
or not she expected to smuggle, without detection, this contraband
article into the female pen we could not determine. If she did, she
reckoned somewhat independently of her host; for on a fellow-traveller
entering in the dark, and groping about for a considerable time in
search of an unoccupied nest, a sudden exclamation aroused the fatigued
sleepers, followed by loud complaints against those who had admitted an
interloper to this holy of holies of feminine promiscuousness, to the
exclusion of one of its lawful occupants. The dispute ran high; but it
must be added to the already numerous proofs of the superior energy
proceeding from aroused maternal feelings, that the intruder was
maintained in his usurped resting-place by his determined parent,
notwithstanding the discontent naturally caused by such a proceeding.

We have now reached the centre of these provinces, the destinies of
which have offered to Europe so singular an example of political
vicissitude. It is an attractive occupation, in studying the history of
this country, to watch the progress of the state, the ancient capital of
which we have just visited,--a province which, from being probably the
rudest and poorest of the whole Peninsula, became the most influential,
the wealthiest, the focus of power, as it is geographically the centre
of Spain,--and to witness its constantly progressive advance, as it
gradually drew within the range of its influence all the surrounding
states; exemplifying the dogged perseverance of the Spanish character,
which, notwithstanding repeated defeat, undermined the Arab power by
imperceptible advances, and eventually ridded the Peninsula of its
long-established lords. It is interesting to thread the intricate
narrative of intermarriages, treaties, wars, alliances, and successions,
interspersed with deeds of heroic chivalry and of blackest treachery,
composing the annals of the different northern states of Spain; until at
length, the Christian domination having been borne onward by successive
advantages nearly to the e