I was warmly received by a numerous gathering.

The Governor informed me they had driven across from Caceres the day before, to intercept me; that he had had a message from King Alphonso to see that I wanted for nothing.

He pleasantly remarked to me in French, that it was an old Spanish custom to say to a guest, 'my house is yours,' but he would change the saying to 'my country is yours.' "The place at which I landed was a ford or ferry.

The Governor and his party were sheltered under a large tent which had been erected for the occasion, and were attended by a troop of servants and cooks.

The latter had prepared a regular banquet and oh, how I wished I was so constituted that I could take enough food aboard to last me some days.
As it was, the bounteous feast deserted by the shepherds, had filled me to repletion and I could do but scant justice to the load of luxuries they spread before me.