The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-06-19
A NIGHT WITH THE SARDINES.

" SARDINIA, sardina-Ssrdi-i.i-na fres
cua-a'a-Sl" -.. .--... ......
Sardines, ssrdines-fresh ssrdines .
Such was the shrill cry that reused
me at dawn on the first morning of my
presence in Lequeitio. .....-. ..-.
Lequeitio is an ancient and not much
frequented seaport on the coast of Biz
caya, almost impracticable to the stran-
ger even in fine westher, owing to It's
numerous outlying rocks, Just awssh,
and utterly unspproachable in half s
gale. 1t is chsrniingly situated on the
inner bend OF small gulf, and is pro-
tected from the full force of the Bis.
csyan waves by an island which stands
in the center of the curve, forming the
miniature bay of golden sand. -
The BASQUE seamen retain their repu-
tation as being the best in Spain, and /
can vouch that the fishermen OF Lequei-
ito are sc fine and hardy set Of fellows
as skipper need choose from. In their
long, unlocked, light-built gslleys,
manned by patron and fourteen oars
men, rowing doublesbanked, when not
under sail, they put to SEES, sometimes
never to return. at.4 .s
1 must tell you that | sin now writ
ing of May, 1875, period when the
Carlist war was desolstiBg the north OF
Spain. / had been following, as corre-
spondent, the movements of the Legit-
imist forces, and being weary and worn,
had made for Lequeitio in search of
renovating sea-breezes, and q few days
of peace and quiet. a[ -ff st1i9o 30
As luck would have it, when / wss
wondering how / could make trip in
one of the galleys, the comandsnte de
srmas, or town msjor, to whom l had
delivered 8 strong letter of introduction
on the previous evening, sauutered down
the mole, followed by his orderly carry
ing basket. The old gentleman was
evidently intent on levying contribu-
tion in kind, and when the patron of a
galley caught sight OF him he stepped
ashore, shook hands with the veteran OF
previous Carlist struggles, and himself
chose at least couple OF hundred of the
choicest fish. The commandante then
passed the compliments of the day with
me, accepted 8 cigarette, and suggested
that l should buy q dozen or two of
sardines, and have them cooked for
break asst at the seamen's tavern close
by. To this / assented, but on condi-
ton that something beyond sardines
should form the fare, and that he and
the patron of the galley should be my
guests. I. l.f. .E u...
"Hola, Clement Orue v' shouted the
comsndante "here is friend OF mine,
8 senior Inglese, who asks US TO breakfast
with him. What say you? l am will
ing and l should think that an appetite
is not what you'll be wanting"
Where, and at what hour p IS
20 An the tavern OF the widow Mar
tinez st eight" ..
81 accept, and will send the Gsh.
l Locked upon the advent o. 9be cons
andsnte, just at the moment very
fortunate. was very DESTROYS OF max
ing night trip in one OF the gslleys,
but hardly seeing how to wsrk the pro-
iect. Now matters appeared more promis-
ing, and felt pretty certain to pull
before Clement Orue and l
parted. ....
We found Clement Orue awaiting US
at the tavern, and if ssvory meant any
thing, but little appetite would be
needed TO relish the meal. 1t is true,
there was but one common, bsTe-walled,
raftered room, with sea-
men eating, drinking and smoaking-a
bearty, frank set of fellows, VINO held
a = ~ 90 ii
A side table had been prepared for our
party; and, certainly, not even in the
best of fondas, would be found whittier
cloth or napkins brighten knives, forks,
and spoons, or cleaner plates.
"Take you on q trip-well, l don't
know what to say. There is no room in
q galley for idlers, and if IL came on
breeze Of wind, or the net got fouled, or
a dozen other things, you would be in
eyerybody's way. Besides, the men
might not like it, and you might get
lick and, after all, there isn't much to
see and know, so far SIS l am con-
cerned, if / was not forced to do it, l
would sooner be tucked up comfortably
in bed thar getting wet"
Well, but look here, senior patron,
this kind of thing is not altogether new
to me, though / have never been sfter
the ssrdine. The fact ia, was brought
up in a fishing village, and could steer
and row when only eight years old. In
addition, l have knocked about at sea
have crossed the Atlantic
four times, have run through blockades
an the American coast, and might, per-
haps, be able to besr hsndlif you were
pushed" ,u-.i lA,G ... '' orr a.iiHb
"Hols, caballero," exclaimed the pa
trou with beaming face "hols, so you
are a bit of q salt yourself; touch
there" holding out his hand. " You
shsIl make q trip, never fear, and it
inst happens that am one short OF my
complement"
Having noticed half q dozen of the
crew at the center table, / suggested to
CLEMENT Orue that he should call them
over to drink the health of the new
hand. This was done, and ! saw the
arrangement met with their entire ap-
provaI. more especially that part in
which was mentioned keg of agusrdi-
ente and two or three bundles of cigars.
Then it was agreed that the patron
should take his evening meal with me
in the same place, and that, wind and
weather permitting, the galley would
cast off at nightfall.
Well, at the appointed time, / found
Clement 0rue awaiting me, and on a