PROGRESSIVE CIVILIZATION. 219 



tators, who pronounce their opinions very volu 

 bly at the close of every game. The parties 

 themselves are extremely animated, and the 

 affair seldom terminates without a quarrel. 

 Many other games are also in favour; and 

 through the prevalence of a custom which can 

 not be observed without regret, this once indus 

 trious and flourishing people are rapidly ac 

 quiring confirmed habits of idleness and dissi 

 pation. A great part of the well cultivated 

 tarro-fields, which formerly surrounded Hana- 

 ruro, now lie waste. On the great market 

 place, horse and foot races are proceeding all 

 day long, and give occasion to extensive gam 

 bling. The Wahuaners have as great a pas 

 sion for horse-racing, as the Malays for cock- 

 fighting, and without hesitation venture their 

 whole stock of wealth on a race. The pur 

 chase of a horse is, indeed, the great object of 

 their ambition ; and little attention having hi 

 therto been directed to the breeding of these 

 animals, they are imported from California, at 

 an expense of from two to three, or even five 

 hundred piastres ; so that many a Wahuaner is 

 obliged to hoard his whole earnings for years 

 L 2 



