EL BRONCE DE PETORCA. 



201 



great earthquake of 1822 had converted it into a 

 heap of ruins. The scene in the village was a very 

 gay one. It was Christmas, and the usual festi- 

 vities were going on. There were two or three 

 rooms built of boughs, and filled with young women 

 and Gauchos, who were dancing to the music of a 

 guitar. On our arrival we had been led to the 

 hut of a man who was the richest in the vil- 

 lage; and as soon as we had taken our saddles 

 into his house, we went out to join the dance. 

 The sight of a few unexpected strangers added to 

 the cheerfulness of the scene ; the guitar instantly 

 sounded louder, and the people danced with greater 

 vigour. Hound the room were rough poles as 

 benches, on which sat the ladies who had danced; 

 their partners were seated on the ground at their 

 feet, and their earnest attentions cannot exactly 

 be described. We were received with great hos- 

 pitality, and in two minutes I saw my party 

 all happy, seated on the ground, and as com- 

 pletely enfans de families as if they had been born 

 there. 



After remaining with them a short time, I re- 

 turned to the hut, I found the master very sulky; 



