In the cabin of the swineherd mistress, Quixote was given a cup of wine and a crust of bread as he stood before the hearth. While it was not cold, the warmth of the fire dried his bones and he could not but admit that this was indeed a most pleasant experience, but one that he might chose not record in his daily journal. The fair lady, as this is what he perceived her to be, was most pleasant and bid him sit so that they might talk. This surprised Don Quixote as he little expected to find such an intellectual challenge in these surrounds. But talk they did and the following is a part of the conversation as remembered by the knight.
Shirlee, for that was her given name, spoke of how she had come to this village some ten years ago from Seville with her husband who had purchased a number of fine Poland China hogs from a traveling circus. At the time the hogs were used in circus acts but her husband had other plans and taking receipt of them, both she and he gave up their home in the village near Sevilla and driving the hogs before them, entered the wood. Now it is know that hogs can fend for themselves and it is only necessary to keep them in the presence of humans so that they do not go wild, and they on their increase, will provide wealth to the owners. This was the intent of Shirlee and her husband.
They entered the wood, and on traveling some three days or about 25 leagues or 75 miles, found themselves in this village. The workers of the village all spent their time in the mines and had little time for agriculture. While the womenfolk planted gardens and maintained their houses, all food had to be bought with the proceeds from the guano. Meat was a rarity with the exception of mutton which was tough, of foul smell and of which they grew tired. Rabbits while plentiful in the countryside could not be had as all the men and boys worked in the mine. Fish which was either salted or near spoilt by the time it was delivered to the village was not of much appeal as well. Thus it appeared a good place to settle as they could on the produce of their swine could provide a variety of swine meats. For the part of the villagers, they welcomed the newcomers as the presence of swine was a good omen. It was well known that they had a particular affinity for snakes, could catch them and eat them with the venom not a danger provided that they were struck in a fatty tissue of which they abound. Thus adders and other species greatly diminished in the area to which the villagers were grateful.
This very house was built by her husband and each day the mistress would take her charge of swine into the forest for their daily findings of acorns and such. Now one can imagine the consequence of leaving a man alone with little to do among so many fair maidens. One day the mistress returned with her swine and found her husband and the wife of another did depart from the village. On consideration, it was a fair trade, the swine for a husband.
For this sad tale, Don Quixote expressed much sympathy but it was unnecessary for the mistress was quite happy. As the conversation grew thin, he asked about the husbandry of swine a subject of which he knew little, although he was a farmer by birth. Before she began her tale, she offered the Don a sampling of the side meat which hung by the hearth. Taking a sharp knife, he sliced away a sliver of the smoked meat and found it good. And so begins the story.
"It seems in a poor village in China, an old man and his grandson lived in a small bamboo hut under which lived the swine which were their only possession. The man worked in the fields and the son being absent when brains were awarded, stayed home and performed the task which were usually accorded a wife.
One day, having little to do, the boy toyed with a rice straw, first lighting it, then blowing on the glowing ember to make a trail of smoke with which he wrote in the air. This was fine until the straw burned short causing him to drop it and as the floor of their home had many cracks, it fell to the bedding below in which lay the sow's charge of pigs. It was fortunate that the sow had been driven to the field by the old man so that she could feed upon the weeds that grew in abundance.
At first the dim one did not realize that a fire had been set, but quickly it spread as the dry straw and bamboo burst into flame. Fortunate was the young one that he was able to escape and in so doing salvaged a few of their meager possessions. Within less time than it takes the sun to sink below the horizon in the evening, the hut was gone.
With a stick, the grandson began to probe the ashes seeking any metal, porcelain or other valuables that might have survived the fire. Suddenly, his nose was assaulted by a most pleasant smell. The aroma was heavenly, one that had never been described before. The simple one began to drool as he inhaled the smell. But from whence it came? He continued to stir the ashes and when reaching the bed in which the piglets had lay he discover the charred bodies of the young. Poking one with his stick, he was greeted with a burst of aroma that almost over came him.
Dropping his stick he poked one of the piglets with his finger, and as it was still hot from the fire, burned it smartly. To cool his finger, he placed it into his mouth and was greeted with the most pleasant sensation known to man. The piglet taste was without description. Disregarding the hurt of his finger, he greedily drug forth the body of the pig and laying it on a stone let it cool only a little, before with greed, he stuffed great handfuls of the meat into his mouth.
The grandfather working in the field was aware that there had been a great fire in the village but as he had much work to do continued with his chores until evening and then driving the sow before him returned home. There in the place where his humble hut had stood now was only a heap of ashes. And, standing amidst the ruin was his grandson. He knew not whether to be glad or sad. Had his charge burned down their only home, and where were the sows pigs? In the dialect of the area, he questioned his grandson who could not answer but only pointed to the remaining bodies of the piglets. Oh how great was the woe of the farmer. But as he wailed, his grandson placed under his nose a piece of the charred meat. At once, the farmer responded as had the boy. What was that divine smell? A bit was thrust into his mouth and nowhere is it recorded that anyone found such a morsel so pleasant to the taste. He in turn ate great quantities of the meat until there was little left.
Neighbors who had assembled were in great sympathy for the poor man and his deficient grandson and offered to build them a new hut that would accommodate them well. Now this could be the end of the story but it seems that when all the flesh of the pigs had been consumed, the new hut build, the sow became heavy with new pigs and they were delivered, an idea arose in the mind of the old man.
One day when the village was asleep, he drove the sow from underneath the house, and taking his grandson by the hand, left the hut and took the sow to the field. Leaving his grandson in charge of the sow, he returned to the hut, set it ablaze and then rejoined them. How fearful was the village people to see the house in blaze but they were grateful to see the old man and boy returning from the field. Little did they suspect the pleasures that were intended by the farmer, who as soon as the villagers had departed did dig deep into the ashes for the feast which was there to be gained.
Again this could be the end of the story but in some six months the same event was repeated and again in some six months later. The village elders called forth a meeting while the ashes were still hot following the fourth fire and demanded to be made aware of what was the cause. On fear for his life, the old man disclosed the bodied of the piglets and offered a bite to all that had been assembled. They all found it to be good.
It was decided that instead of burning a hut in preparation of such a feast that there must be a better way and it was after careful study found that the hut was unnecessary. Such is the story of how barbecue came to be."
Don Quixote was amazed at the story telling powers of this simple woman, but doubted her word and said as much.
Now some women will take such a challenge as an affront and leave in a huff or others, those notably with red hair as had this village wench, may strike out and woe be to the man who finds himself in her way, but the swine herder mistress simply went to the fireside, withdrew a piglet rib and offered it to the knight. As the orientals of old, his nose was assaulted by the pleasant aroma and the taste was without description. In a most uncharacteristic move, Don Quixote, embarrassed the good woman with a kiss, and surely would have made her his wife on the moment had not he been pledged to the beautiful la Senora del Toboso.
Feasting on the ribs as he did, he thought not of Sancho who without doubt found pleasure of his own making. Scrubbed clean on the outside, filled to the brim on the inside, and before a warming fire, the Don was overcome with the feelings of good cheer. He was offered a couch in the corner to rest his bones and upon accepting it, without making his customary long-winded speech, took a position on the coverlet and was instantly out of this world. He neither dreamt of missions of other knights, of his future glory or of other topics such was the pleasure brought about by such an intoxicating adventure as described. Morrow, we will recover the knight's armour, his wayward squire, Rozinante and Amadis the grey and send them on their way but tonight all must rest in peace having succumbed to pleasure.
* A similar tale appears in a more recent writing by Charles Lamb in the book bearing the name of his sister, Elia.
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