106 MONPOX. 



this a remove of fruit and sweetmeats ap- 

 pears ; and the company having taken a few 

 glasses of wine with this dessert, usually 

 rise, and adjourning to the outside of the 

 house, loll on chairs, leaning against the 

 wall, and conversing with such passengers 

 as they are acquainted with. The dinner 

 takes place at three o'clock ; and at about 

 eight in the evening, a supper, consisting of 

 the remains of the dinner, with the addition 

 of some preserves, and a cup of chocolate, is 

 served up ; after which water is invariably 

 handed round in a large silver tankard. We 

 were amused by observing the exertions of 

 the natives, who go up the river a short 

 distance from the town, and return swim- 

 ming down the stream, notwithstanding the 

 numbers of alligators which infest it, and 

 which they scare away by kicking, striking, 

 and splashing as much as possible, and 

 hallooing loudly to increase the noise. 



