90 ‘VISIT TO THE OLD 
lity. Pleasure and confidence again reigned 
over the revels, till the sun stood high in the 
heavens; and like every other earthly enjoy- 
ment, even our ball drew to a close, though it 
bade fair to linger long in the recollection as 
well of our returning guests as of some of the 
young entertainers. 
The delightful weather tempted us, soon after 
this, to make an excursion to the opposite shores 
of the bay, and visit the ruins of the old tewn 
of Conception. Mendiburu was of the party, 
as were all of our scientific brethren, and as 
many of the officers as duty permitted to be 
absent. Very early, on a beautiful morning, 
we distributed our party in three large boats, 
and rowed, in two hours, to the destined point. 
We landed at the village of Pencu, which, like 
Portici upon Herculaneum, is built upon the 
ruins of the former town of Conception, and 
whose inhabitants live quietly and cheerfully 
over the graves of their unfortunate predeces- 
sors, and disturb themselves little with the 
thought, that the same fate may bury them one 
day in a living tomb. 
About fifteen houses, surrounded by gardens, 
