ABSTRACT
Saint Sebastiân Friday 2 October Saw the Duke de Montpensier start from Bayonne this morning at */2 past 7. A crowd but no cheers – we started at 8 by the diligence passed by I run where a bridge crosses the Bidassoa which separates Spain from France – on the bridge a triumphal arch was erected under which took place the ceremony of receiving the young duke on his entrance into Spain. At Iriin our luggage was examined. At Astagarraga we left the diligence & took seats in a public boat down a creek to St Sebastian with a company of musicians who had been to greet the young prince on his passage. One of them told me that the popular feeling at Saint Sebastian was strongly against the marriage with the French prince. The country very pretty nothing but Indian corn (in grains) growing — some turnips – apples; this is cider country — still the same cattle, ‘cafe-aulait’ color – women seen spinning – the distaff & spindle in every woman’s hands, young & old throughout the Pyrénées country here & in France. Strange scene in the team of the diligence – ten mules two a breast — a postilion riding the first – two drivers sitting in front — the reins only attached to the whalers – these were shouting incessantly & calling their mules all sorts of names – sometimes they descended & ran alongside the team in order to beat the middle mules. For one stage we had 13 mules -arrived at St Sebastian at 7 in the evening – our luggage again examined. Ever since we crossed the frontier we find the wheels of the country carts made of solid wood about a yard in diameter no spokes – two bullocks always attached to carry as much as would be drawn in England by a pony or a donkey.
