text:  Dangers often appear greater at a distance than upon close examination; many a phantom of ghastly aspect proves upon inspection to be but a turnip-faced goblin after all: and we suspect that if some of the timorous would adventure themselves upon Spanish soil they might find their precious persons far safer than they had anticipated; and discover that they were in the hands neither of Caffres nor cannibals but amongst a courteous and generous people who if occasionally a little too disposed to slit each other's weasands on the other hand are very rarely forgetful of the laws of hospitality or of the kindness and protection to which travellers in a foreign land have a fair claim