mules stopped
to drink at a shallow pool, and on looking to the right I saw a ruined
wall. This, the guide informed me, was the remains of the Vendal Velhas,
or the old inn, formerly the haunt of the celebrated robber Sabocha.
This Sabocha, it seems, had, about sixteen years since, a band of forty
ruffians at his command, who infested these wilds, and supported
themselves by plunder. For a considerable time Sabocha pursued his
atrocious trade unsuspected, and many an unfortunate traveller was
murdered, in the dead of night, at the solitary inn by the wood's side,
which he kept; indeed a more fit situation for plunder and murder I never
saw. The gang were in the habit of watering their horses at the pool,
and perhaps of washing therein their hands stained with the blood of
their victims. The brother of Sabocha was the lieutenant of the troop, a
fellow of great strength and ferocity, particularly famous for the skill
he possessed in darting a long knife and transfixing his opponents.
Sabocha's connection with the gang at last became known, and he fled with
the greatest part of his associates across the Tagus, to the northern
provinces. He and his brother eventually lost their lives on the road to
Coimbra, in an engagement with the military. His house was razed by
order of the Government.

The ruins of this house are still frequently visited by banditti, who eat
and drink amongst the stones and look out for prey, as the place commands
a view of the road. The old man assured me that about two months
previous, on returning from Aldea Gallega with his mules from
accompanying some travellers, he had been knocked down, stript naked, and
had all his money taken from him, by a fellow who, he believed, came from
this murderers' nest. He said that he was an exceedingly powerful young
man with immense moustaches and whiskers, and was armed with an
_espingarda_ or musket. About ten days subsequently he saw the robber at
Vendas Novas, where we were to pass the night. The fellow on recognising
him took him aside and threatened, with horrid imprecations, that he
should never be permitted to return home if he attempted to discover him;
he therefore held his peace, as he said there was little to be gained and
everything to be lost by apprehending him, as he would have been speedily
set at liberty for want of evidence to criminate him, and then he would
not have failed to have his revenge, or would have been anticipated
therein b