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, Canela 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 I 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- 
