24 



CHILI. 



thought the height of rudeness. A gentleman of 

 my acquaintance, becoming very fond of this be- 

 verage, bought a tube for himself, and carried it 

 constantly in his pocket ; but this gave so much 

 offence, that he was eventually obliged to throw 

 away his private bombilla, as it is called, and fol- 

 low the customs of the country. 



The people in general, and particularly the 

 peasantry, and the lower orders in the outskirts of 

 the town, appeared to us much better bred than the 

 corresponding ranks in other countries. In their 

 domestic circle, they were at all times remarkably 

 polite to one another ; the children being respect- 

 ful and attentive, and the parents considerate and 

 indulgent. But this was conspicuous only at 

 home ; for, when abroad, the men were very negli- 

 gent of good manners ; and, although actual rude- 

 ness was contrary to their nature, they were, in ge- 

 neral, careless of the wishes of the women, and never 

 sought opportunities of obliging them, nor seem- 

 ed to take any pleasure in being useful on trivial 

 occasions. This habitual inattention on the part 

 of the young men rendered the women, in some de- 

 gree, distrustful of the civility with which stran- 



