ABSTRACT
From there we rode over a river [the Douro] which divides Spain. As soon as one crosses the water one reaches the kingdom of Portugal. 1 It is at first a very poor and undeveloped country and so are the people. One finds nothing to eat or drink for man or beast. This is because no roads are built there. It happens often that no traveller is seen there for four or five years. The people build in hollows in the mountains or under the earth. They go out very seldom, especially not at noon on account of the great heat, but work and do their business mostly by night. They live mostly on fruit and drink no wine. We suffered much from hunger and hardship until we reached a town called Prega (Braga). This is a large town and belongs to the kingdom of Portugal. In it is a mighty Bishop who is the King of Portugal’s friend. 2 He showed my lord great honour and sent to his inn everything we needed and sent him to a gentleman who conducted him to St James and lent him two mules.
