224 



MEXICO. 



spected by their superiors — of the second, to 

 show they were not without friends of their own 

 class — and the dinner without, was intended as a 

 display of their liberality. 



When the party who succeeded us had nearly 

 dined, one of them, a poet by profession, rose 

 and addressed some extempore verses to the 

 bride ; which, though humorous enough to make 

 all the rest of the company laugh, were received 

 by her with the most correct indifference. The 

 poet, a sly old fellow, and half-tipsy, was a per- 

 son well known for making it a point of con- 

 science never to allow any wedding, or other 

 merry-making, to pass without a sufficient dose of 

 his verses. 



As we imagined our presence imposed some 

 restraint upon the party, we retired to another 

 cottage, when one of the young ladies, spying a 

 harp, carried it to the door, and played to the 

 people who were lounging about. They immedi- 

 ately began the dance of the country, consisting 

 of a short inelegant step, mixed with an occasion- 

 al rapid stamping of the foot, while in the act of 



describing various small circles round one an- 

 il 



