THE NATIONAL HOLIDAYS. 489 



volving arrow of iron fitted over the centre. After being whirled by hand, if the arrow rests 

 over a number on which a bet has been made, the owner of the table pays eight-fold ; if the 

 stake be on a colored spot, and the index comes to a stand over one of the four of that tint, an 

 . | ni \alftit only is gained. A little farther and monte (a game with cards) has it* votaries; 

 whilst no small number are engaged at a sort of "thimble-rig," in which the victim feels sure he 

 is alilc to follow the rapid changes of one of three cards from hand to hand. Tee-totum, how- 

 ever, was by long odds the favorite, and there were dozens of them on various parts of the field. 



With the music from countless chinganaa ; amid clusters of carts whose curtains and pennons 

 fluttered in the breeze ; venders of every imaginable edible crying their comestibles with such 

 voices as only Santiaguinos can use ; cavalcades of gaily dressed guasas on prancing horses ; 

 groups of peasants or laborers with conical straw hats, slouching ponchos, and flowing white 

 trousers ; elegaut carriages filled with the elite of the province ; and the omnipresent mounted 

 police, with sabres and escopettes for the preservation of order, it is a scene of rare excitement, 

 heightened no little by the grandeur of the surrounding landscape : such a one as only Chile 

 can exhibit. 



Though they were continued two days longer, this closed what I saw of the amusements. 

 Horse and foot racing, kite-flying, and a repetition of a part of the games of the preceding day, 

 were indulged in ; in short, the government offered every opportunity to divert the minds of 

 the populace, whilst, for more general entertainment, military bands tempted promenaders to 

 the cafiada night after night. 



62 



