The Bible in Spain

The Bible in Spain

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bible in Spain, by George
Borrow (#1 in our series by George Borrow)
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Title: The Bible in Spain
Author: George Borrow
Release Date: January, 1996 [EBook #415] [Yes, we are more than one

year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on December 15,
1995] [Most recently updated: April 25, 2002]
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BIBLE
IN SPAIN ***

Transcribed from the 1908 Cassell and Company edition by David
Price, email [email protected].

THE BIBLE IN SPAIN--GEORGE BORROW

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

It is very seldom that the preface of a work is read; indeed, of late years,
most books have been sent into the world without any. I deem it,
however, advisable to write a preface, and to this I humbly call the
attention of the courteous reader, as its perusal will not a little tend to
the proper understanding and appreciation of these volumes.
The work now offered to the public, and which is styled The Bible in
Spain, consists of a narrative of what occurred to me during a residence
in that country, to which I was sent by the Bible Society, as its agent
for the purpose of printing and circulating the Scriptures. It
comprehends, however, certain journeys and adventures in Portugal,
and leaves me at last in "the land of the Corahai," to which region, after
having undergone considerable buffeting in Spain, I found it expedient
to retire for a season.

It is very probable that had I visited Spain from mere curiosity, or with
a view of passing a year or two agreeably, I should never have
attempted to give any detailed account of my proceedings, or of what I
heard and saw. I am no tourist, no writer of books of travels; but I went
there on a somewhat remarkable errand, which necessarily led me into
strange situations and positions, involved me in difficulties and
perplexities, and brought me into contact with people of all descriptions
and grades; so that, upon the whole, I flatter myself that a narrative of
such a pilgrimage may not be wholly uninteresting to the public, more
especially as the subject is not trite; for though various books have been
published about Spain, I believe that the present is the only one in
existence which treats of missionary labour in that country.
Many things, it is true, will be found in the following volume which
have little connexion with religion or religious enterprise; I offer,
however, no apology for introducing them. I was, as I may say, from
first to last adrift in Spain, the land of old renown, the land of wonder
and mystery, with better opportunities of becoming acquainted with its
strange secrets and peculiarities than perhaps ever yet were afforded to
any individual, certainly to a foreigner; and if in many instances I have
introduced scenes and characters perhaps unprecedented in a work of
this description, I have only to observe, that, during my sojourn in
Spain, I was so unavoidably mixed up with such, that I could scarcely
have given a faithful narrative of what befell me had I not brought them
forward in the manner which I have done.
It is worthy of remark that, called suddenly and unexpectedly "to
undertake the adventure of Spain," I was not altogether unprepared for
such an enterprise. In the daydreams of my boyhood, Spain always bore
a considerable share, and I took a particular interest in her, without any
presentiment that I should at a future time be called upon to take a part,
however humble, in her strange dramas; which interest, at a very early
period, led me to acquire her noble language, and to make myself
acquainted with her literature (scarcely worthy of the language), her
history and traditions; so that when I entered Spain for the first