The stream broadened majestically and the
tides from the Atlantic began to be felt. At Abrantes and Santarem,
the receptions accorded me took the wildest form of enthusiasm and I
there heard for the first time the peculiar name given me in Portugal
'Homen das Botas',--'the man with the boots'. This name grew out of an
ancient story connected with the Tagus. Many years ago the government
officials wished to pass a law which was obnoxious to the people, who
made a terrible clamor against it. A shrewd politician, to distract the
people's attention from the proposed law, circulated the report that a
man in boots was going to walk on the surface of the Tagus from
Santarem to Lisbon. This was such a wonderful thing that the people
lost sight of the political question, in watching the river and
discussing the performance. In the meantime the law was passed. For
years the people talked and at last joked about the 'man with the
boots,' and so when I came down, there was some reason for their
cries of 'here comes the veritable Homem das Botas.'"
As Paul approached Lisbon, he had to work tides. The river ran through a
very low country and stretched into so wide an expanse, as almost to
form a bay. He arrived in Lisbon just eighteen days from the time of
starting, which included nine night's paddling.
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