172 CHILL 



large unfinished storehouses, a space of one hundred and fifty feet long 

 by ninety wide, over which temporary arches were built, the whole 

 covered with an awning lined with blue, and studded with stars, from 

 which were suspended some twenty very handsome chandeliers. The 

 whole was carpeted, and the various pillars which supported the roof 

 were decorated with emblems of the victory and nation. At the end 

 opposite to the entrance was a transparency of General Bulnes, the 

 hero of Yungai, surrounded with scrolls of his deeds. Along the 

 corridors which the piazzas formed, ranges of sofas and seats were 

 placed; on the walls were hung rich mirrors and paintings: the former 

 rested on massive pier-tables, in which hundreds of lights were seen 

 reflected, whilst the graceful festoons of the national flags and pennants 

 formed into draperies, intermixed with wreaths of flowers and ever- 

 greens in endless variety, encircling emblematic designs of the nation's 

 glory, produced an effect not easily surpassed. The reception-room 

 of the President was hung with scarlet tapestry, decorated with 

 paintings, mirrors, and pier-tables, and brilliantly lighted with chande- 

 liers, &c. 



There were likewise card-rooms, smoking-rooms, supper-rooms, 

 and a dressing-room for the ladies, in which were a number of hair- 

 dressers and mantua-makers constantly in attendance. The whole 

 was well got up, unique, and truly splendid ; all Valparaiso had sent 

 furniture of every kind, and even the churches had contributed to assist 

 in the great gala fete in commemoration of the national victory. 



The company consisted of about five hundred, one-third of whom 

 were females. Many costly uniforms, of various patterns, and not a 

 little fanciful, added to the brilliancy of the scene. 



About ten o'clock, the ball was opened by the President, Don Joaquim 

 Prieto, in person, a novel sight to us. He was dressed in a richly em- 

 broidered coat, gold epaulettes, and field-marshal's sash. He danced 

 a minuet with a lady of Valparaiso, whom he had especially selected, 

 after which the dancing became general, consisting of quadrilles, 

 country-dances, and waltzes, besides which they had the lascivious 

 dances of samacueca, cachuca, and lordean. These partake somewhat 

 of the bolero and fandango, or Spanish and African dance. 



By way of interlude, marches and national airs were played and 

 sung. The ball did not break up until eight, o'clock next morning, at 

 which hour the President and his daughter were escorted home by a 

 procession of the dancers, with the music playing national airs, forming 

 rather a grotesque show to the bystanders, from the interchange of 

 hats and outer garments that had taken place. 



On reaching General Prieto's quarters, they sang a national hymn, 



