168 JOURNAL. 



politics. The exile of the bishop ; the probable effect of the expect- 

 ed assembly on church affairs ; and some murmuring at the choice 

 of the provincial of the church of San Domingo, Don Celidon Mar- 

 ques, as deputy for Valparaiso, while the worthier brethren of the 

 Merced had been neglected, were their principal themes. Our en- 

 trance interrupted them for an instant ; when, after a few minutes 

 whispering, in which I now and then heard the words Viuda Inglez, 

 they resumed their politics ; and then, having finished their segars, 

 walked out. Meantime I had observed several elderly fat women 

 running about, and mixing various liquors, and carrying them into 

 several inner apartments ; some of these liquors I tasted. Little 

 spirits or wine was called for ; but several kinds of sherbet, the best 

 of which is Luca, were in great request. The Luca, is an infusion 

 of Culen, Can ela wild cinnamon, with a little syrup, and is said to 

 be as wholesome as it is pleasant. The house shortly began to fill. 

 Company after company of young men arrived, and were shown into 

 different rooms, and I then found out where I was. Some parties 

 called for dinners of so many dishes, others for wine ; some for 

 sweet drinks and cakes, and music ; and all for segars. Some good- 

 looking girls now made their appearance, and with guitars entered 

 the rooms where music had been ordered. Soon we heard the sound 

 of singing and dancing, and I was quite satisfied that every body was 

 happy and merry, and left the place, persuaded that the evening 

 would be still gayer, and that the dances I had often seen among the 

 very common people in the smallest public-houses, as 1 rode through 

 the Almendral at night, are practised, though more privately, by the 

 decenter sort, in these more quiet houses. Gambling is very com- 

 mon here among the lower orders as well as among the gentry. 

 Every rude nation gambles ; every very refined people does the 

 same. The savage has in the intervals of hunting and making war 

 too much leisure ; life stagnates, he must have a stimulus — he gam- 

 bles. The gentleman of civilised society needs not hunt for his sub- 

 sistence ; and, if he does not do it for exercise, he also, to procure 

 that stimulus which seems necessary to existence, gambles. Com- 



