Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 51 



el(\o'ant picco of furniture, wliose value is never less 

 than oii;'ht liundrcd or a thousand crowns. 



The princij)al end of the university in this ceremony 

 being- to ingratiate itself with the viceroy and his fa- 

 mily, the rector contrives that the poetical pieces 

 which g-ain the prizes, be made in the name of the 

 princi])al persons of his family, and accordingly the 

 most distinguished prizes are presented to them ; and 

 there being 12 subjects in the contest, tbere are three 

 prizes for each, of which the two inferior fall to those 

 members, whose compositions are most approved of. 

 These prizes are pieces of plate, valuable both for 

 their weight and workmanship. 



The uni^crsity is followed by the colleges of St. 

 Philip and St. Martin, w ith the same ceremonies, ex- 

 cept the poetical contest. 



Next follow the religious orders, according to 

 the antiquity of their foundation in the Indies. These 

 present to the viceroy the best theses maintained l»y 

 students at the public acts. 



The viceroy is present at them all, and each dis- 

 putant pays him some elegant compliment, before he 

 enters on his subject. 



The superiors of the nunneries send him their con- 

 gratulatory compliments, and when he is pleased in 

 return to visit them, they entertain him with a very fine 

 concert of musick, of which the vocal parts are tridy 

 charming: and at his retiring they present him with 

 some of the chief curiosities which their respective in- 

 stitutes allow to be made by them. 



Besides these festivities and ceremonies, which are 

 indeed the most remarkable ; there are also others, some 

 of which are annual, in which ihe riches and liberality 

 of tlie inhabitants are no less conspicuous. Particularly 

 on new-year's day, at the election of alcaldes, wlio 

 being afterwards confirmed by the viceroy, appear 

 publickly on horseback the same evening, and ride 

 on each side of him, in very magnificent habits orna- 

 mented w ith je>^ els, and the fuiDiiture of their horses 

 E 2 perfectly 



