The wave of the arm that accompanied this exclamatory “Fuera!” clearly implied, be off; and the sportsmen, full of the exploits of the dread bandit, translating the words “Jesus, Maria José,” “By the Lord, here’s José Maria;” naturally concluded that the remainder of the sentence, (pronounced with much gesticulation) could mean nothing but save yourselves, or you’ll be hanged, drawn, and quartered. Not waiting, therefore, to lose time in questions, they set spurs to their horses, and rode ventre à terre into the English garrison.
Now the wonderful echo of Killarney is a joke compared to the reverberation that a story is sent back with, from the “four corners” in the High Street of Gibraltar. Accordingly, a report was soon spread, that José Maria had come down close to the Spanish lines, and made a capture of the “whole field,”—hounds, huntsmen, and whipper-in inclusive!
A statement of the case was instantly forwarded by an express boat to the Spanish General commanding at Algeciras; who, rejoicing at the opportunity of capturing the miscreant band which had so long eluded his vigilance, forthwith despatched “horse, foot, and dragoons,” to scour the country in all directions.
Of course their search was fruitless; but the laughable mistake that had occurred, from simply making José and Maria change places, was discovered only on the return of the other sportsmen, who, after “a capital run,” had secured Master Renard’s services for another occasion.
CHAPTER V.
THE BASIN OF RONDA—SOURCES OF THE RIVER GUADIARO—REMARKABLE CHASM THROUGH WHICH IT FLOWS—CITY OF RONDA—DATE OF ITS FOUNDATION—FORMER NAMES—GENERAL DESCRIPTION—CASTLE—BRIDGES—SPLENDID SCENERY—PUBLIC BUILDINGS—AMPHITHEATRE—POPULATION—TRADE—SMUGGLING—WRETCHED STATE OF THE COMMERCE, MANUFACTURES, AND INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS OF SPAIN, AND EVILS AND INCONVENIENCE RESULTING THEREFROM—RARE PRODUCTIONS OF THE BASIN OF RONDA—AMENITY OF ITS CLIMATE—AGREMENS OF THE CITY—EXCELLENT SOCIETY—CHARACTER OF ITS INHABITANTS.
THE basin of Ronda is situated in the very heart of a labyrinth of rough and arid sierras, which, distinguished, par excellence, by the name of the Serranía de Ronda, may be described as the gnarled and wide-spreading roots of the great mountain ridge, that, traversing Spain diagonally, divides the affluents to the Mediterranean from those to the Atlantic, and finally unites with, and becomes a branch of, the Pyrenean chain.
This singularly secluded and romantic valley is about eight miles in length and five wide, and, though sunk deep below the mountain ridges that girt it in on every side, is at least 1500 feet above the level of the Mediterranean. Its soil is rich, and is rendered peculiarly fertile by the numerous sources of the Guadiaro, which traverse it in all directions. The name of this river—composed of the Arabic words, Guada al diar—signifies, water of the houses; an appellation it probably obtained, from the number of habitations that are said to have lined its productive banks in former days.
The principal branch of this mountain stream takes its rise to the eastward of Ronda, amongst some curiously jagged and fantastic peaks, on which have most appropriately been bestowed the name of the “Old Woman’s Teeth,” (Dientes de la Vieja.) Escaped from their fangs, the gurgling rivulet, increased by numerous tributary streams, directs its course more leisurely through the vale, winding its way amongst luxuriant vineyards, orchards, olive grounds, and corn-fields, until it reaches the foot of the crag, on which, as has before been stated, stands the city of Ronda. Here it would appear that nature had, in early ages, presented a barrier to the further progress of the stream; as a rocky ledge stretches quite across the bed of this portion of the valley, and, most probably, by damming up the waters poured down from the mountain ravines, formed a lake on its eastern side. But, gathering strength from resistance, the little mountain torrent eventually worked itself an outlet, and now rushes foaming through a deep, narrow chasm, leaping from precipice to precipice, until, the rocky barrier forced, it once more reaches a level country.
On either side of the fearful chasm—or Tajo, as it is called in the language of the country—which the persevering torrent has thus worked in the rocky ledge, stands the city of Ronda; one portion of which, encircled by an old embattled wall, that overhangs the southern cliff of the fissure, is distinguished as the Old Town, and as the site of a Roman city; whilst the more widely spread buildings on the opposite bank bear the name of El Mercadillo,[70] or New Town.