Annotations to Blood Meridian: Chapter II

[16] “sacristy”—a room containing liturgical garments and sacred implements where a priest prepares for mass.

[16] “swale”—a low place in terrain, sometimes containing a marsh or swamp (rather unlikely here).

[16] “sprent”—an archaic word meaning “sprinkled.”

[16] “the king’s road”—a literal translation of El Camino Real (also called “The Royal Road” or “King’s Highway”), a trail blazed by the Spanish in the 17th & 18th centuries, running from Nacogdoches in east Texas to Laredo in southwest Texas.