Ch. VI. SOUTH AMERICA. 407 



own sister, daughter, or a more distant relation ; so 

 shocking are the excesses to which they give them- 

 selves up on these solemnities, which are sometimes 

 continued three or fourdays, till the priests find them- 

 selves obliged to go in person, throw away all the 

 chicha, and disperse the Indiana, lest they should 

 buy more. 



The daj^ after the festival is called concho, which 

 signifies the day for drinking off the remains of the 

 precejding : with these they begin ; and if not suffi- 

 cient to complete their revel, every one of the guests 

 runs home to his house, and fetches a jug, or they 

 club for more.' This occasions a new concho for the 

 next day : und thus, if left to themselves, from day 

 to day, till either no more chicha is to be had, or 

 they left without money or credit. 



Their burials arc likewise solemnized with exces- 

 sive drinking. The house of mourning is filled with 

 jugs of chicha; and notforthe solace of the mourners 

 and their visitors alone; the latter go out into the 

 streets, and invite all of their nation who happen to 

 pass by, whether married or single of both sexes, to 

 come in and chink to th^ honour of the deceased ; 

 and to this invitation the}' will take no denial. The 

 ceremony lasts four or five days, and sometimes more, 

 strong liquor being their supreme wish, and the 

 great object of all their labours. 



If the Indians are thus excessively addicted to in- 

 temperance, gaming is a fault with which they can- 

 Slot be charged ; though these two vices are generally 

 seen together. They seem to have no manner of in- 

 clination for play ; nor have they above one kind, and 

 that of great antiquity among them ; tliis they call 

 pasa, i. e a hundred, as he wins who first gets that 

 number. They play at it with two instruments ; one 

 a spread eagle of wood with ten holes on each side, 

 being tens ; and are marked with pegs, to denote 

 ..every man's gettings: the other is a bone in the man- 



D d 4 ner- 



