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CHILI. 



which speedily became as outrageous as their dis- 

 pleasure had been at first. Seizing a favourable op- 

 portunity, we stated our wish to have an interview 

 with their chief, upon which a message was sent 

 to him ; but he did not think fit to show himself 

 for a considerable time, during which we remain- 

 ed with the party round the tub, who continued 

 swilling their wine like so many hogs. Their 

 heads soon became affected, and their obstreperous 

 mirth increasing every minute, we felt our situa- 

 tion by no means agreeable. 



At length Peneleo's door opened, and the chief 

 made his appearance; he did not condescend, 

 however, to cross the threshold, but leaned against 

 the door-post to prevent falling, being, by some 

 degrees, more drunk than any of his people. A 

 more finished picture of a savage cannot be con- 

 ceived. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man ; 

 with a prodigiously large head, and a square-shap- 

 ed bloated face ; from which peeped out two very 

 small eyes, partly hid by an immense superfluity 

 of black, coarse, oily, straight hair, covering his 

 cheeks, and hanging over his shoulders, rendering 

 his head somewhat of the size and shape of a bee- 



