Chap. IV - Gibraltar and Granada

Summary

The first piece of intelligence we learned on our return from Seville was the death of Sir George Smith; and Mr Arbuthnot called to request, as a mark of respect, that we would, with Major Browne and himself, accompany the body round to Gibraltar in the “Viper,” gun brig, for interment—and to this we readily assented, as did also Mr Mackinnon. Sir William Ingilby and Captain Pickering set off next day to Gibraltar by land; and we waited until the ioth for a good wind—when, on going to embark, we found that two Englishmen (Messrs Bailey and Knutzen) had hired three horses to go by land to Gibraltar, and could not proceed as one of them was just attacked with an intermittent fever. The Spaniards were determined to make them pay an exorbitant price for these horses; and on that account I agreed to take the bargain off their hands, and was, after some persuasion, followed in example by Galton and Mr Mackinnon. Mr Arbuthnot had the care of our trunks, and embarked; and we proceeded on horseback through Isola and Chiclana, and arrived at night at Veger—a small town amongst the mountains, and situated on the summit of one commanding an extensive prospect.