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But they often deviate from this simple mode 

 of living at the p^ublic entertainments, which 

 they give each other on occasion of funerals, 

 marriages^ or any other important event. At 

 such times no expense is spare'd, and they are 

 profuse of every thing that can promote festivity. 

 In one of these banquets, at which it is common 

 for three hundred persons to be present, more 

 meat, grain, and liquor, is consumed, than would 

 be sufficient to support a whole family for two 

 years. It is usual for one of these feasts to con- 

 tinue two or three days ; they are called cahuin, 

 or circles, from the company seating themselves 

 in a circle around a large branch of cinnamon. 



Such entertainments are made gratuitously, 

 and any person whatever is permitted to partici- 

 pate in them without the least expense or requi- 

 sition. But this is not the case with the 7niu- 

 gacos, or those dinners which they are accus- 

 tomed to make on occasion of cultivating their 

 land, threshing their grain, building a house, or 

 any other worl^ 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 

 finished, 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, 



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