1S39.J PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 81 



great numbers of whom are constantly to be seen at Val- 

 paraiso. 



The other public buildings are a government house situate ! 

 on the plaza, a small triangular space in one of the quebrada 

 In the vicinity of the plaza, are the principal church, an 

 the Dominican and Franciscan chapels ; and between it an ! 

 the castle of San Antonio, is the arsenal, consisting of a 

 number of low buildings and sheds. About the middle of the 

 Almendral, are the ruins of the church and convent of La 

 Merced, destroyed by the great earthquake of 1822. There 

 are several monasteries in the city, but all wear a gloomy 

 and cheerless look. The churches are unusually plain and 

 simple ; they are neither distinguished for architectural 

 ornaments on the outside, nor for their decorations in the 

 .nterior. 



For places of amusement, the inhabitants of Valparaiso 

 have a theatre poorly fitted up, and a chingdno, both of 

 which are open, and generally crowded, on Sunday evening. 

 The chingdno is a large amphitheatre, surrounded by apart- 

 ments, or booths, where liquors and refreshments are sold ; 

 it is much frequented by both sexes, particularly of the lower 

 classes, and one of its most attractive entertainments is a 

 lascivious dance, termed the samacueca, which is performed 

 by a young man and woman, on a stage, under an open 

 shed. 



One of the most remarkable objects in the city, is the 

 moveable prison. This is a large covered wagon, resembling 

 those used for the conveyance of wild beasts. The door, at 

 which a guard is stationed, is at the back end ; inside, there 

 are plank bedsteads, like those in guard-houses, large enough 

 to accommodate eight or ten persons ; and in front is a small 

 apartment for cooking. A large number of these prisons may 

 be seen in the streets; they are drawn by the prisoners, who 

 are mostly employed in working on the roads and bridges. 



There is a great plenty of taverns in Valparaiso, though 

 not much can be said in their favor. The best are kept by 

 Frenchmen, but these are incommodious and expensive. 



