MANNERS OF GUAYAQUIL. 



Ill 



in slippers and various coloured night-gowns of 

 the lightest materials. 



On first entering the room^ we were astounded 

 by the amazing clatter of tongues speaking in tones 

 so loud and shrilly and accompanied by such ani- 

 mated stampings and violent gesticulations, that 

 we imagined there must be a battle royal amongst 

 the ladies. This, however, we were glad to find 

 was a mistake ; it being the fashion of the coun- 

 try to scream or bawl, rather than to speak in fa- 

 miliar conversation. 



Not long after we were seated, and just as the 

 w'ar of words and attitudes was recommencing, 

 after the pause occasioned by the ceremony of 

 presenting us ; another daughter, a young mar* 

 ried lady, came tripping into the room, and with 

 a pretty and mirthful expression of countenance, 

 and much elegance of manner, went round the 

 company, and begged to be allowed to let fall a 

 few drops of lavender water on their handker- 

 chiefs. To each person she addressed something 

 appropriate in a neat graceful way, beginning 

 with the strangers, to whom she gave a kind wel- 

 come, and hoped their stay would be long and 



