SALUTATIONS. 223 



street, another tip of the hat, and another in- 

 clination of the head, will be expected by 

 the attentive host, who gently waves, with 

 his hand, a final ' d dios^ from a window. In 

 epistolary correspondence, the ratio of re- 

 spect is generally indicated by the width of 

 the left margin. If the letter is addressed to 

 an equal, about one-fourth of the pa^e is oc- 

 cupied for that purpose ; but when extraordi- 

 nary respect is intended to be shown to a 

 superior, nearly one-half of the page is left a 

 blank. There are other marks of civihty and 

 respect peculiar to the country, which among 

 us would be accounted absolute servihty. 



In their salutations, the ancient custom of 

 close embrace, not only between indi^dduals 

 of the same sex, but between those of differ- 

 ent sexes, is almost universal. It is quite a 

 luxury to meet a pretty sefiorita after some 

 absence. The parties approach, shake hands 

 in a cordial manner, and without loosening 

 the grasp, the left arm of each is brought 

 about the other's waist ; and wliile a gentle 

 embrace brings their pei-sons closer to each 

 other, the contact of the cheeks becomes in- 

 evitable — ^\qthout admittmg a kiss, however, 

 which would be held as decidedly indelicate. 

 In short, it is worth while absenting oneself 

 for the gratification of a first meeting with 

 the prettier of one's female friends upon the 

 feturn. 



Among the least unpleasant customs of this 

 country is that of the siesta or afternoon nap ; 



a species of indulgence in which all classes 



