CHILIxVN DANCE. 



155 



good authority. A number of armed boats were 

 sent to effect a landing at a certain point on the 

 coast, guarded solely by these horsemen. The 

 party in the boats, caring little for an enemy un- 

 provided with fire-arms, rowed confidently along 

 the shore. The guassos, meanwhile, were watch- 

 ing their opportunity, and the moment the boats 

 came sufficiently near, dashed into the water, and 

 throwing their lassos roimd the necks of the offi- 

 cers, fairly dragged every one of them out of their 

 boats. 



In the evening we were engaged in amusements 

 of a very different description. Our party repair- 

 ed to the house of a neighbour, an old lady, whose 

 greatest delight was to see her friends happy 

 about her. We were soon joined by several other 

 families, and there being a piano-forte in the 

 room, the inevitable consequence was a dance. If 

 it be difficult to describe the lasso, it is quite im- 

 possible to describe the Spanish country- dance, 

 which bears no resemblance to that known in Eng- 

 land. It consists of a great variety of complicat- 

 ed figures, affording infinite opportunities for the 

 display of grace, and for showing elegance of 



