156 



CHILI. 



figure to the greatest advantage. It is danced to 

 waltz tunes, played in rather slow time ; and in- 

 stead of one or two couples dancing at once, the 

 whole of the set from end to end is constantly in 

 motion. No dance can be more beautiful to look 

 at, or more bewitching to be engaged in; yet 

 there is no denying, that admirable though it be 

 for those warm regions, it is of a character unsuit- 

 ed to the climate and habits of England. Dan- 

 cing and walking, for the last is equally looked 

 upon as an accomplishment, are taught with great 

 care, and I do not remember to have seen any la- 

 dy who did not do both well. Differences in the 

 figure and in the taste of the individual, will of 

 course make distinctions quite as remarkable as 

 are observable in other countries ; but still the 

 universality of good dancing, and more particu- 

 larly of graceful, or it may be called elegant walk- 

 ing, is a very remarkable feature, and well deserv-. 

 ing of notice. 



As the Chilian ladies have more or less a taste 

 for music, and all play on the piano-forte, there 

 seldom arises, on suich occasions as this, a diffi- 

 culty in finding a player. But I was surprised, 



