_Tienda_, in Spanish, means a tent or booth.

The first shops were tents or booths at fairs or in market-places; and thence "tienda" came to mean a shop in general; a derivation which corresponds with that of the word "shop" itself.

Such of the population as had money seemed to drop in at regular intervals for a dram, which consisted of a small wine-glassful of white-corn-brandy, called _chinguerito_.

We tasted some, while the people at the shop were frying eggs and boiling beans for our breakfast; and found it so strong that a small sip brought tears into our eyes, to the amusement of the bystanders.

It seemed that everybody was drinking who could afford it; from the old men and women to the babies in their mothers' arms; everybody had a share, except those who were hard up, and they stood about the door looking stolidly at the drinkers.