294 JOURNAL. 
moonlight is still more so, — the defects are less seen, the beauties 
more observed. At night the shadows cast by the far-projecting 
roofs prevent our noticing the lowness of the houses; but the wide 
streets, and handsome public buildings, and, above all, the lofty 
mountains, which tower above every thing, and which, although at 
least twenty miles hence, seem actually to touch the city, appear to 
the greatest advantage. ° 
Sunday, Sept. 1st, 1822. — I went this evening with my friends to 
the house of the ladies Godoy, where we found M. Prevost, and about 
a dozen other persons, apparently waiting for us to take a walk into 
the country. Accordingly we set off, the elder ladies in caleches, 
the rest of us on foot, to the plain where the Chinganas usually are. 
But, alas! no Chinganas were there. The city is making a nine- 
days’ rogation to St. Isidore for rain; and the amusements of the 
common people are hushed by way of assistance. However, though 
the musicians’ waggons are banished from the plain, there is the 
usual quantity of frying, roasting, and codling, going on at the fruit- 
stalls, and at least as much drinking; and the people gaping about, 
seemingly wondering what St. Isidore and the rogation have to do 
with the singing-women, who must to-day lose their accustomed reals 
and medios. However they take it quietly, and say, “ To be sure the 
gardens want rain, and the padres know best how to pray.” When 
all our party had reached the plain, we walked towards one of the 
prettiest parts of it, and there we found that the servants of the house 
of Godoy had laid carpets, and set chairs and cushions for the party ; 
and, at little tables adjoining, they were making tea and matee with 
milk, and had fruits and cakes for the party. As soon as we were 
seated, Dofia Carmen Godoy presented us each with a flower; she 
is remarkably lively, and had some pleasant thing to say to each. 
The cavaliers began to serve the ladies, and we passed an hour very 
pleasantly, and then walked about among the people, observing their 
different dresses and games. The young ladies are not allowed by 
custom to take the arm of a cavalier, although they waltz and dance 
with them. Some few fair Chilenos are beginning to break through 
this rule ; but our young ladies continue to be exceedingly punctil- 
