EDUCATION AND MANNERS. 



26 



gers, as a matter of course, treated them ; and, at 

 first, we often observed a look of embarrassment 

 and doubt when we paid them the most ordinary 

 attention. 



The state of education at Valparaiso was very- 

 low, and in this respect the men had the advan- 

 tage. The refinement, however, was all with the 

 other sex ; in knowledge of the world, in sound 

 judgment, and in every thing relative to man- 

 ners, they were clearly superior to the men. 



For some time after arriving at Valparaiso, our 

 attention was much engrossed by the scenes at 

 the bull-fights, and we became well acquainted 

 with the habits and opinions of the lower classes. 

 There seemed, indeed, little probability of such 

 an opportunity occurring again, and, therefore, 

 all of us who took an interest in such inquiries 

 mixed with the natives every evening. This was 

 the more agreeable, as there was nothing coarse 

 or vulgar in their manners ; on the contrary, a 

 bold and rather graceful address characterised all 

 their deportment. To us they were uniformly re- 

 spectful, and always willing to communicate or 

 receive information. 



