128 EXCURSION TO FONTABON. 



risk, threaded our way through the troops of 

 horses and mules tied by their bridles to the 

 front of the entrance, and left without any 

 person to attend to them, or remove them, 

 so as to allow of convenient ingress or egress. 

 On the left hand on entering, was the room 

 appropriated to the ladies, containing re- 

 freshments, &c. ; and in a smaller apartment 

 on the same side, v^ere those gentlemen of 

 the party who preferred gambling to escort- 

 ing the ladies, and vv^ere playing cards with 

 much eagerness, a habit which unfortunately 

 is but too prevalent in the republic. 



It seemed to me surprising, and pitiable 

 to observe, how devoted the men (and par- 

 ticularly the more advanced in years) are to 

 gaming. On going for a day's excursion 

 from the capital, immediately on reaching 

 the place of destination, they hurry into a 

 room, cards and dice are instantly produced, 

 and the whole time, until their departure 



