, 218 



PUBLIC DIVERSIONS. 



shrubs and flowers the sandy plains that terminate the valley, 

 and the hills by which it is encompassed. These diversions, 

 insomuch as they are rural, delight, and are not attended 

 by any bad consequences, unless when there is an excess in the 

 repasts, and when the whole of the company come to a deter- 

 mination to sleep in the open air, or in a wretched hut de- 

 serted by the Indians. 



The PROMENADE which is not only the most considerable, 

 but which it is in a manner indispensably necessary to attend, 

 is that of the Alameda^ or public walk, on Sundays, and more 

 especially on new year's day, and twelfth day, on account of 

 the ele6lion of the alcaldes, or judges ; and, on the second 

 of August, on occasion of the jubilee in the church in the vi- 

 cinity, belonging to the Franciscan Recolle6ls. The multi- 

 tude of coaches and calashes ; the diversity of their colours and 

 stru6lure ; the neatness of the dresses ; the illustrious persons 

 who are present ; and the superb attire of the ladies who em- 

 bellish the scene ; — all these objefts concur to render this de- 

 scription of public spectacle very agreeable. Caprice has, not- 

 withstanding, thrown some little perplexity in the way. A 

 certain precision in the demeanour of those who are seated in 

 the calashes, and who are obliged to regard each other sted- 

 fastly, without turning the head aside, together with the im- 

 possibility of appearing on foot without sinning against the 

 received usage, are insufferable violences, more particularly 

 to those who do not keep carriages. The public, however, 

 begin to be sensible of these prejudices, and to shake them 

 off. 



The WALK of la F'ledra Lisa is solitary, and on that account 

 destined for philosophers prone to meditation. The thick 



foliage 



