16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
bales travelling up from the port or down to it
in ox – or mule-drawn wagons that brought
the Spain of his youth vividly to mind – the
same high-crested yokes, the same crimson,
brass-studded harness, the same ponderous
creaking wheels. Some few horsemen, some
people sitting on asses, more going by foot:
short, strong Indians with grave or expressionless
copper faces, sometimes bowed under
enormous burdens; some rare Spaniards;
many black Africans; and every possible combination
of the three, together with additions
from visiting ships. All these people called out
a greeting as they passed, or told him that 'it
was dry, dry, intolerably dry'; all except the Indians,
who went by mute, unsmiling.
It was Stephen's custom, particularly when he
was walking in a flat country, to turn his face
to the zenith every furlong or so, in order not
to miss birds soaring above the ordinary range