THE FANDANGO. 129 



for home in the evening, with the excep- 

 tion of the dinner hour, is sacrificed to this 

 inveterate and pernicious habit of gambling ; 

 instead of diverting their minds, and ex- 

 panding their intellect by rational conversa^ 

 tion, or remarks on surrounding objects or 

 scenery. The ladies are left to their own 

 resources, whilst the men forget all else but 

 the shuffling and playing cards, or the cast of 

 a die, which have more charms for them than 

 society, conversation, or prospect. On the 

 right hand was a room entirely filled with 

 the visitors of all classes, who were amusing 

 themselves with dancing to the music of a 

 guitar and tabor. With some difficulty I 

 effected my entrance, being desirous of satis- 

 fying my curiosity, and observing all the cus- 

 toms and habits of the natives. An officer 

 of the republic was dancing the national 

 fandango with a young female. This dance 

 is intended as a dumb representation of 

 courtship. The music begins at first slow 



VOL. II. K 



