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city； and formed his evening party of tresillo or ombre。 Thus he
held a kind of domestic court； where each one paid him deference；
and sought to contribute to his amusement； without； however； any
appearance of servility； or any sacrifice of self…respect。 In fact；
nothing of the kind was exacted by the demeanor of the count； for
whatever may be said of Spanish pride； it rarely chills or
constrains the intercourse of social or domestic life。 Among no people
are the relations between kindred more unreserved and cordial； or
between superior and dependent more free from haughtiness on the one
side； and obsequiousness on the other。 In these respects there still
remains in Spanish life； especially in the provinces； much of the
vaunted simplicity of the olden time。
The most interesting member of this family group； in my eyes； was
the daughter of the count； the lovely little Carmen； she was but about
sixteen years of age； and appeared to be considered a mere child；
though the idol of the family； going generally by the child…like；
but endearing appellation of la Nina。 Her form had not yet attained
full maturity and development； but possessed already the exquisite
symmetry and pliant grace so prevalent in this country。 Her blue eyes；
fair complexion； and light hair； were unusual in Andalusia； and gave a
mildness and gentleness to her demeanor in contrast to the usual
fire of Spanish beauty； but in unison with the guileless and confiding
innocence of her manners。 She had at the same time the innate
aptness and versatility of her fascinating countrywomen。 Whatever
she undertook to do she did well and apparently without effort。 She
sang； played the guitar and other instruments； and danced the
picturesque dances of her country to admiration； but never seemed to
seek admiration。 Every thing was spontaneous； prompted by her own
gay spirits and happy temper。
The presence of this fascinating little being spread a new charm
about the Alhambra； and seemed to be in unison with the place。 While
the count and countess； with the chaplain or secretary； were playing
their game of tresillo under the vestibule of the Court of Lions； she；
attended by Dolores； who acted as her maid of honor； would sit by
one of the fountains； and accompanying herself on the guitar； would
sing some of those popular romances which abound in Spain； or； what
was still more to my taste； some traditional ballad about the Moors。
Never shall I think of the Alhambra without remembering this
lovely little being； sporting in happy and innocent girlhood in its
marble halls； dancing to the sound of the Moorish castanets； or
mingling the silver warbling of her voice with the music of its
fountains。
Relics and Genealogies。
IF I HAD been pleased and interested by the count and his family； as
furnishing a picture of a Spanish domestic life； I was still more so
when apprised of historical circumstances which linked them with the
heroic times of Granada。 In fact； in this worthy old cavalier； so
totally unwarlike； or whose deeds in arms extended； at most； to a
war on swallows and martlets； I discovered a lineal descendant and
actual representative of Gonsalvo of Cordova； 〃the Grand Captain；〃 who
won some of his brightest laurels before the walls of Granada； and was
one of the cavaliers commissioned by Ferdinand and Isabella to
negotiate the terms of surrender； nay； more； the count was entitled；
did he choose it； to claim remote affinity with some of the ancient
Moorish princes； through a scion of his house； Don Pedro Venegas；
surnamed the Tornadizo； and by the same token； his daughter； the
fascinating little Carmen； might claim to be rightful representative
of the princess Cetimerien or the beautiful Lindaraxa。*
* Lest this should be deemed a mere stretch of fancy； the reader
is referred to the following genealogy； derived by the historian
Alcantara； from an Arabian manuscript； on parchment； in the archives
of the marquis of Corvera。 It is a specimen of the curious
affinities between Christians and Moslems； produced by capture and
intermarriages； during the Moorish wars。 From Aben Hud； the Moorish
king； the conqueror of the Almohades； was descended in right line
Cid Yahia Abraham Alnagar； prince of Almeria； who married a daughter
of King Bermejo。 They had three children； commonly called the
Cetimerian Princes。 1st。 Yusef ben Alhamar； who for a time usurped the
throne of Granada。 2d。 The Prince Nasar； who married the celebrated
Lindaraxa。 3d。 The Princess Cetimerien； who married Don Pedro Venegas；
captured by the Moors in his boyhood； a younger son of the House of
Luque； of which house the old count was the present head。
Understanding from the count that he had some curious relics of
the Conquest； preserved in his family archives； I accompanied him
early one morning down to his palace in Granada to examine them。 The
most important of these relics was the sword of the Grand Captain； a
weapon destitute of all ostentatious ornament； as the weapons of great
generals are apt to be； with a plain hilt of ivory and a broad thin
blade。 It might furnish a comment on hereditary honors； to see the
sword of the grand captain legitimately declined into such feeble
hands。
The other relics of the Conquest were a number of espingardas or
muskets of unwieldy size and ponderous weight； worthy to rank with
those enormous two…edged swords preserved in old armories； which
look like relics from the days of the giants。
Besides other hereditary honors； I found the old count was Alferez
mayor； or grand standard…bearer； in which capacity he was entitled
to bear the ancient standard of Ferdinand and Isabella； on certain
high and solemn occasions； and to wave it over their tombs。 I was
shown also the caparisons of velvet； sumptuously embroidered with gold
and silver； for six horses； with which he appeared in state when a new
sovereign was to be proclaimed in Granada and Seville； the count
mounting one of the horses； and the other five being led by lackeys in
rich liveries。
I had hoped to find among the relics and antiquities of the
count's palace； some specimens of the armor and weapons of the Moors
of Granada； such as I had heard were preserved as trophies by the
descendants of the Conquerors； but in this I was disappointed。 I was
the more curious in this particular； because an erroneous idea has
been entertained by many； as to the costumes of the Moors of Spain；
supposing them to be of the usual oriental type。 On the contrary； we
have it on the authority of their own writers； that they adopted in
many respects the fashions of the Christians。 The turban；
especially； so identified in idea with the Moslem； was generally
abandoned； except in the western provinces； where it continued in
use among people of rank and wealth； and those holding places under
government。 A woollen cap； red or green； was commonly worn as a
substitute； probably the same kind originating in