107 



sumed, than would be sufficient to support a whole 

 family for two years. It is usual for one of these 

 feasts to continue two or three days ; they are called 

 cahuin, or circles, from the company seating them- 

 selves in a circle around a large branch of cinna- 

 mon. 



Such entertainments are made gratuitously, and 

 any person whatever is permitted to participate in 

 them without the least expense or requisition. But 

 this is not the case with the mingacos^ or those din- 

 ners which they are accustomed to make on occasion 

 of cultivating their land, threshing their grain, build- 

 ing a house, or any other work which requires the 

 combined aid of several. At such times all those 

 who wish to partake in the feast must labour until 

 the work is completed. But as these people have 

 abundant leisure, the labourers convene in such 

 numbers, that in a very few hours the work is finish- 

 ed, and the rest of the day is devoted to feasting and 

 drinking. The Spaniards who live in the country 

 have also adopted a similar plan, availing themselves 

 of the same kind of industry to complete their rural 

 labours. 



Fermented liquors, in the opinion of the Arauca- 

 nians, form the principal requisites of an entertain- 

 ment ; for whenever they are not in plenty, what- 

 ever may be the quantity of provisions, they mani- 

 fest great dissatisfaction, exclaiming golingelai, it is 

 a wretched feast, there is no drink. These baccha- 

 nalian revels succeed each other almost without in- 

 terruption throughout the year, as every man of pro- 

 perty is ambitious of the honour of giving them, so 



