232 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



streets of a town, unless you are prepared to be wet 

 to the skin and covered with powder. From all the 

 overhanging balconies dozens of globos are discharged ; 

 even entire buckets of water and bags of flour are 

 fired at you, as well as explosive squibs and coils 

 of paper and confetti. When these matters give out 

 less agreeable ammunition is sometimes employed. 



As I generally felt little desire to take part in these 

 boisterous affairs, I usually lay low in my habitation ; 

 but one evening it was in Lima, the capital, although 

 similar things happened in the interior cities feeling 

 very ennuied, I thought I would venture out ,to the 

 post-office for my letters, hoping by taking a round- 

 about route through side streets to escape the storm 

 of water and powder I knew was raging in the main 

 street. It was useless. No sooner had I sallied forth 

 covered with a cloak and an old hat than a well- 

 directed globo from a balcony partly soaked me. The 

 street was lined with balconies, and every balcony had 

 its full complement of pretty girls, all armed with 

 ample ammunition of globos. It must be explained 

 that these missiles are heavy, burst when they strike 

 you, and cover you with water. They are capable of 

 being hurled with unerring aim. 



Yells of delight arose from the balconies as I 

 appeared. What fortunate chance had brought a nice- 

 looking Englishman along that unfrequented street? 

 The opportunity could not be lost. A veritable hail 

 of globos whizzed around me ; but I seemed to bear 

 a charmed life, and they only burst upon the pavement 

 at my feet. Seeing that I was in for it, I pulled 

 my collar up and hatbrim down, and walked calmly 

 along the middle of the street. Dozens of globos 



