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102 



THE FANDANGOS. 



dren, whilst their masters were amusing them- 

 selves, took fright and broke loose, adding not a 

 little to the noise and bustle. All the affairs in 

 and about the church ended at so late an hour, 

 that the fandangos were deferred until the fol- 

 lowing evening. The band had been playing 

 close to the door of the vicar's residence, which 

 was much crowded with several of the first 

 families of the island ; and in the front of the 

 house a great concourse of people was assembled. 

 At the moment that the music ceased, an im- 

 provisatori or glozador, as these perons are there 

 called, set up his voice, and delivered a few- 

 verses in praise of the vicar ; he then praised 

 Our Lady in a strange style, giving her every 

 fine epithet, whether appropriate or not, which 

 came to his recollection. Then he rung changes 

 upon every body he could think of, and I heard 

 the name of Henrique da Costa, to which mine 

 was metamorphosed, thrown in every now and 

 then among the rest. I was praised for my 

 superior piety, in giving so splendid a night in 

 honour of Our Lady. On the following morn- 

 ing every arrangement was made for the fan- 

 dangos. A spacious platform was erected, in 

 the middle of the area of the town, and in front 

 of the vicar's dwelling, raised about three feet 

 from the ground. In the evening four bonfires 

 were lighted, two being on each side of the 

 stage, and soon afterwards the performers made 



