ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 337 



fond of it, that during the whole day, they do nothing but hazer las onze. Perfons 

 of diftindion ufe Spanifh brandy, but the lower clafs and negroes very contentedly take 

 up with that of the country, e?:tra6led from the juice of the fugar-cane, and thence 

 called Agoa ardente de canna, or cane brandy, of which fort the confumption is much 

 the greatefl. * 



Chocolate, here known only by the name of cacao, is fo common, that there is 

 not a negro flave but conftantly allows himfelf a regale of it after breakfaft ; and the 

 negro women fell it ready made about the flreets, at the rate of a quarter of a real 

 (about five farthings fterling) for a dilh. This is however fo far from being all cacao, 

 that the principal ingredient is maize : but that ufed by the better fort is neat, and 

 worked as in Spain. This they conftantly repeat an hour after dinner, but never ufe 

 it fafting, or without eating fomething with it. 



They alfo make great ufe of fweet-meats and honey ; never fo much as drinking a 

 glafs of water without previoufly eating fome fweet-meats. Honey is often preferred as 

 the fweeter, to conferves or other fweet-meats either wet or dry. Their fweet-meats are 

 eaten with wheat bread, which they ufe only with thefe and chocolate ; the honey they 

 fpread on cafava cakes. 



1 he paffion for fmoking is no lefs univerfal, prevailing among perfons of all ranks 

 in both fexes. The ladies and other white women fmoke in their houfes, a decency 

 not obferved either by the women of the other cafts, nor by the men in general, 

 who regard neither time nor place. The manner of ufing it is, by flender rolls 

 compofed of the leaves of that plant ; and the women have a particular manner of 

 inhaling the fmoke. They put the lighted part of the roll into their mouths, and 

 there continue it a long time without its being quenched, or the fire incommoding 

 them. A compliment paid to thofe for whom they profefs an intimacy and efteem, 

 is, to light their tobacco for them, and to hand them round to thofe who vifit them. 

 To refufe the offer would be a mark of rudenefs not eafily digefted ; and accordingly 

 they are very cautious of paying this compliment to any but thofe whom they pre- 

 vioufly know to be ufed to tobacco. This cuftom the ladies learn in their childhood 

 from their nurfes, who are negro flaves ; it is fo common among perfons of rank, 

 that thofe who come from Europe eafily join in it, if they intend to make any confi- 

 derable ftay in the country. 



One of the moft ftrvourite amufements of the natives here, is a ball, or Fandango. 

 Thefe are the diftinguifhed rejoicings on feftivals and remarkable days. But while the 

 galleons,, guarda coftas, or other Spanifh fhips are here, they are moft common, and 

 at the fame time conducted with the leaft order ; the crews of the fhips forcing them- 

 felves into their ball-rooms. Thefe diverfions, in houfes of diftindtion, are condufted 

 in a very regular manner ; they open with Spanifh dances, and are fiicceeded by thofe 

 of the country, which are not without fpirit and gracefulnefs. Thefe are accompanied 

 with finging, and the parties rarely break up before day-light. 



The Fandangos or balls of the populace, confift principally in drinking brandy and 

 wine, intermixed with indecent and fcandalous motions and geftures ; and thofe con- 

 tinual rounds of drinking foon give rife to quarrels, which often bring on misfortunes. 

 When ftrangers of rank vifit the city, they are generally at the expenfe of thefe bails ; 

 as the entrance is free, and no want of liquor, they need give themfelves no concern 

 about the want of company. 



Their burials and mournings are fomething fingular ; as in this particular they en- 

 deavour to difplay their grandeur and dignity, too often at the expenfe of their trau- 

 quillity. If the deceafed be a perfon of condition, his body is placed on a pompons 



VOL. XIV, X X Catafalco, 



