But though the Portuguese do not smoke,
they have another bad habit, they take snuff
continually, — the poor as well as the rich, — the
young as well as the old. When a Portuguese
wishes to be friends with you, he offers you some
snuff, and he would be very much affronted if
you were not to take some.
The Portuguese are so proud that they will
not carry burthens : they say it is like a beast
to carry burthens : but they will draw wheel-
barrows. The Spaniards do' just the contrary ;
they will carry burthens, but will not draw a
wheelbarrow. The Portuguese language is not
as beautiful as the Spanish, it has more hissing
sounds, and is spoken in harsh and squeaking
tones.
No people in Europe are as clumsy and awk-
ward with their hands as the Portuguese. It
is curious to see how badly the carpenters make
boxes, and the smiths make keys. The carts
are very ill-made; they are drawn by two oxen,
and as they move slowly along the wheels make



188 PORTUGAL,

a loud creaking noise, which almost stuns people
of other countries : but the Portuguese do not
mind the sound, and say it is of use, for then
there will be no danger of two carts meeting in
the narrow roads.
Portugal, like Spain, is filled with robbers ;
the laws are not obeyed, and the wicked often
escape without being punished.
