152 JOURNAL. 
often entreated me to go and take matee with her; but my dread of 
using the bombilla, or tube which passes round to every body for the 
purpose of sucking it up, had hitherto deterred me. However, I 
resolved to get over my prejudice, and accordingly walked to her 
house this evening. It is built, I should think, something on the plan 
of the semi-Moorish houses which the Spaniards introduced into this 
country. Passing under a gateway, on each side of which are shops, 
occupied by various owners, looking towards the streets, I entered a 
spacious court-yard ; one side of which is occupied by the gate, and 
into which the windows of the house look out. A second side of the 
quadrangle appeared to be store-houses ; the other two, by their ja- 
lousied windows, showed that the dwelling apartments were situated 
there. In the entrance-hall the servants were sitting, or standing 
loitering, for the working time of day was over; and they were look- 
ing into the family apartment, where the women were lolling on the 
estrada, or raised platform covered with carpet (alfombra), supported 
by cushions, on one side of the room ; and the men, with their hats 
on, were sitting on high chairs, smoking and spitting, on the other. 
Along the wall by the estrada, a covered bench runs the whole 
length of the room; and there I was invited to sit, and the matee 
was called for. 
A relation of the lady then went to the lower end of the estrada, 
and sat on the edge of it, before a large chafingdish of lighted 
charcoal, on which was a copper-pot full of boiling water. The 
matee cups were then handed to the matee maker, who, after putting 
in the proper ingredients, poured the boiling water over them, ap- 
plied the bombilla to her lips, and then handed it to me; but it was 
long ere | could venture to taste the boiling liquor, which is harsher 
than tea, but still very pleasant. As soon as I had finished my cup, 
it was instantly replenished and handed to another person, and so 
on till all were served; two cups and tubes having gone round the 
whole circle. Soon after the matee, sugar-biscuits were handed 
round, and then cold water, which concluded the visit. The people 
I went to see were of the better class of shopkeepers, dignified by 
