The Argosy — page 73: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

On Board the ‘ Batavia.” 63 the wonderful ride that takes you to Ronda and Malaga, and the matchless, far-famed Alhambra—a legacy from those Arabian Night magicians, the Moors. And yet beyond, the outer world ; and, after leaving the Alhambra, you will think it altogether another world. We entered a church where a service was going on. It was evidently not a fashionable service, for the small congregation was of the poorest. The altar was lighted up, and threw the surrounding building into greater gloom. There were no fair Andalusians here, to send one into the seventh heaven of admiration with their droop- ing figures and graceful outlines. We were not in Majorca, and H. C. was not with me to look languishing, and sigh away his best emotions in poetry. The fair Mallorquinas were quite too much for him. He raves about them to this hour. Mauleverer was not at all poetical, and if he was in any way stricken with the fever, to which we all more or less have to pay our tribute, he kept it to himself. But these were early days. We had much before us: experiences and vicissitudes probably of various kinds. The heat was intense. When we landed, the lowering sun seemed to throw its full force upon the rock: which sent back its rays re- morselegsly upon the town. The streets were suffocating. During the whole time we felt in a Turkish bath. The only sensible things we saw in the shop windows, the only things that tempted us, were the fans, on which Chinese ladies were making perpetual curtsies, and evidently offering very pronounced love to unresponsive Chinese gentlemen. Perhaps it is always leap-year in China, and the custom for ladies there to make the first advances. And if it were not occa- sionally also the custom in England (we whisper this under the rose) how many matrimonial partnerships now existing would have no place in future history? In the days of our first parents, the women took the initiative, and human nature is probably the same in its broad outlines, even after the lapse of six thousand years. Only these fair syrens have gained in tact, They lead, whilst all the time they pretend to be following. Now and then we came across some fellow-passengers, wandering about in the darkness like ghosts without an object in view: and no doubt thinking Gibraltar a very deadly-lively place. Many of them we could see in the shops as we passed them, standing out under the glare of the lamps. We felt a pity for them, that no doubt was wasted, as we noticed flushed faces endeavouring to choose from an embarrassment of riches. We had all gone through it six years ago, only that then we did not choose and discriminate: we bought up everything wholesale, rashly, recklessly. To-night we were six years older and wiser. Looming down upon us, we once caught sight of one of the lieutenants in close, very close, proximity to one of the fair and frail and fickle Goddesses of Flirting on board the Bafavia. As they passed us, she was looking coyly up into his eyes, he was looking GOnnGaoOo SS CO