PORTUGUESE HOSPITALITY.

North Otago Times, 3 December 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

PORTUGUESE HOSPITALITY.

WELCOME THAT A TRAVELLER RECEIVED FROM A PARMER AND HIS. FAMILY.

All travellers know that the Portuguese are a courteous people. No better example of delicate and generous hospitality could be given than the experience of John Labouche, told in his "Travels in Portugal," The author was taking a horseback trip in that country, and riding toward Vianna the nightfall overtook him at quite a distance from the city. ,

I entered into a friendly conversation with a farmer who was riding my way, and asked him if he could tell me where I could get shelter for the night, He. good-humourodly laughed at the idea of my putting up at any place short of Vianna. I told him that I was not very particular, and that my guide's horse was too tired for further travelling. He looked hard at me, and then said :

There is a house about one mile' from here. You will get poor fare and poor shelter, but there is none better, I think, this side of Vianna. I will 6how you the way." So we trotted on, and' soon, turning aside from the main road, he guided us along a vile ox-cart path, the worst of all roads to ride on in a bad light. We went about a mile up the valley, Presently the narrow way opened into a square walled enclosure,- embowered with vines running over rafters of wood.supported by the walls and stone pillars. It was like a huge room, the celling of which was vines. It was the courtyard of a good-sized farm house. The farmer stopped. 1 "Why," said I, '''This is a private house,"

"It is the housa of your excellency," replied the farmer, standing uncovered, with the true courteous hospitality of an old-fashioned.Portu-guese. It was, in truth, this man's house, and he and his wife, children, and dog stood to welcome us, "Ceal Cca!" called out the farmer, cheerily, which, being interpreted, Is "Supper I" ■ "Here is one who ! has not eaten since 'he was in [ Spain