Juez, procured a bullock-cart, we fastened the broken vehicle to it, and set off.

Between Atalaya and Val de Prazeras, we had a charming view of the romantic little village of Alpedrinha, placed about half-way up the side of a mountain, and embodied amidst a large forest of oaks, now glowing in all the fading tints of autumn. Having galloped on to Val de Prazeras, I learnt that the only carpenter in the village was gone to Fundaon, a market town, about two leagues over the mountains.

At length, after many enquiries, I found that there was still another carpenter, who, in the wane of life, lived retired in the village. Him I now looked for, and with much difficulty prevailed on him to assist my friend in his dilemma. I then rode back to D***, where we impatiently waited for the arrival of the old carpenter, who soon after made his appearance. An ass, led by a little boy, carried the old man, who was lame in one of his feet. Before the ass marched a little ragged elf, playing on an daten reed, and around were a troop of children from the village, each bearing a mallet, a saw, or a hatchet, while one of the urchins, with a thick rope's end, urged the poor donkey to move on. I could not help I could not help laughing most heartily at this extraordinary cavalcade, which, I believe,

even excited a faint smile from my poor friend D** as I reminded him of one of Jordaen's pictures of the triumph of Silenus.

After examining the cart very attentively, the old man informed us, that it would require a new shaft, and at least three hours to finish the job; and we were now obliged to bring it up to the village. Here we were conducted to the principal house, over the door of which was carved in stone the armorial bearings of the proprietress, an old lady, who begged us to walk in. Some fruit and refreshments were presented to us, of which we partook.

The lady of the mansion, we soon after discovered, 'claimed the rank of Countess; and we were not a little surprized to find, from our servants, that she had been tampering with the workmen, who declared that it would take at least twelve hours to repair the damage the cart had sustained. Upon this declaration being made, the Countess expressed a wish to purchase the concern, as the beauty of the two English chaise-wheels had particularly struck her fancy. After some pro's and con's, it was at length agreed between D *** and her Ladyship, that the cart should be her property for twelve dollars.

Having procured an ass and a mule to carry the baggage,

we were preparing to set off, when two padres, or priests, with the Donna's two daughters, arrived. To them she announced the bargain she had just concluded. The priests, on examin ing the vehicle, gave so unfavourable a report, that the Countess declared her determination to rescind her agreement. We now ordered out the unfortunate machine, and were preparing to make a bonfire of it before the old lady's door, when she begged to renew the negotiation, upon the basis of the status quo. The definitive treaty was soon concluded; she handed over the crusadoes to my friend D***, who pocketing them, made her a low bow, and mounting his horse, galloped out of sight before the Countess had an opportunity of wavering any more on the subject. I then paid my compliments, and taking rather a more tardy leave of her Ladyship, soon joined my friend, and enjoyed a hearty laugh at the expence of the antiquated Countess, whose avarice had been so manifest.

We arrived in this town last night. Soon after breakfast yesterday morning, we left the village of Campinha, situated in a small cul de sac, amid lofty granitic mountains, on which are spread some natural woods of oak. The morning was fine, and as the sun dispersed the mists of the valleys,' they hung in mid-air beneath the surrounding, precipices...

You must often have observed this beautiful effect in the romantic environs of your native village, about the commencement of autumn, when the clouds, streaming along the vales, are attracted by the woody thickets, and, like the web of a gigantic gossamer, seem to cling to the boughs of the weeping birch, and red-berried mountain

ash. Such was the aspect under which we viewed the sequestered village of Campinha.

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In the course of two miles we arrived near the banks of a mountain torrent, foaming amid mossy rocks. This stream, judging by my map, I suppose to be a branch of the Rio Sizera; but I must caution that Jeffries appears to be inaccurate in this part of Portugal. Leaving this river to the left, we ascended and descended several times, till we arrived in a fine mountain plain, bounded on the left by a lofty range, over which towered the snowclad summit of the Serra d'Estrella, the highest mountain in Portugal.

The road from Campinha was excellent, composed of firm granitic sand, amid which we often found large masses of talc. The country was covered with short herbage; and on approaching Castanheira, we entered groves of fine chesnuts. This village (Castanheira), is finely placed on a knoll in the centre of the plain, betwixt two branches of the river Sizera, over which there are two bridges. After resting a few minutes here, we passed along the valley to a hamlet called Belmonte, the old castle of which we had descried at a great distance.

Belmonte is situated, as its name indicates, on a beautiful little eminence. Like the generality of villages here

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