File:En route; a descriptive automobile tour through nine countries and over nineteen great passes of Europe (1908) (14767296064).jpg

Identifier: enroutedescripti00trev (find matches)
Title: En route; a descriptive automobile tour through nine countries & over nineteen great passes of Europe
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Trevor, Roy
Subjects: Europe -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : E. Stanford
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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led blood of Chris-tians and Moslems. A thousand romances one couldweave in these fastnesses, for many a dread tale ofslaughter and pillage do they hold in their silentkeeping. As we were replacing a burst tyre two guardiacivile halted to watch the unusual sight: leaningupon their rifles they gravely accepted a cigaretteeach and entered into conversation. The guardiacivil of Spain is composed of a splendid body ofpicked men well fitted to their code of regulations,which sets honour as its main object. To themtravellers owe their safety, ever ready to shoot onsight or risk their lives fearlessly, they have madebrigandage a profession of the past. These cour-teous guardians of the road, dressed in blackuniforms picked out with white and gold, andweaiing Napoleon hats, are ever found in pairs :one an old experienced soldier, the other probablyhis pupil. Two travel by every train, and on everydiligence, while others on foot and on horsebackpatrol the lonely mountain passes. Always with226
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THEY CALL THEM ROYAL ROADS their rifles in their hands, and wilHng to use them,they are, as one wag remarked, the civiHsers ofSpain. Well do they deserve that distinction astheir history shows: many a cruel wrong havethey punished, following a murderer and huntinghim down in the mountain fastnesses. No falsesense of mercy do they exercise, only justice in itsstrictest sense ; under their rule crime dies a quickdeath, or its perpetrator dies a quicker. A new tyre fitted, they quietly saluted as wedrove away and resumed their lonely patrol. Theold Moorish capital of Jaen retains little of itsformer greatness, save a few crumbling walls andruined gateways. Its streets are precipitous andworthy of its character. The inn was crowded, sothe polite, but distant, lady-proprietor informed us.Only one bedroom was vacant, and this, and a smallboxroom next door she placed at our disposal, withall the ceremony of a princess laying a foundation-stone. The ladies naturally slept in state in thebedro

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