Cervantes

OF HOW THE GREAT SANCHO TOOK POS-
SESSION OF HIS ISLAND AND OF THE
WAY IN WHICH HE BEGAN TO GOVERN

Sancho with all his train arrived at a village of around a thousand in-
habitants, one of the best in the duke's domains. They informed him
that it was called Barataria Island, either because the real name of the
village was Baratario, or by reason of the barato which had led to the
government being bestowed upon him. As they reached the town, which
had a wall around it, the officers of the municipality came out to meet
them, the bells rang, and all the townspeople evidenced their satisfac-
tion. With much pomp they conducted him to the cathedral to give
thanks to God, and then, with a few mock ceremonies, they handed over
to him the keys of the city, acknowledging him to be the island's per-
petual governor.

The new governor's apparel, his beard, and his little fat figure aston-
ished all those who were not in on the joke, and even those who were,
and they were many. Finally, upon leaving the church, they took him to
the judge's chair and seated him in it, and the duke's major-domo then
addressed him.

"Sir Governor," he said, "it is an ancient and obligatory custom in
this famous island for the one who comes to take possession of it to an-
swer a question that is put to him, one that shall be somewhat difficult

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