CURIOUS ENCAMPMENT. 149 



gourd, with the liquor, which was then in- 

 trusted to the patron, to whom the men 

 advanced one by one, each taking the to- 

 tuma in his hands and supping the liquor, 

 which they appeared to divide in this man- 

 ner pretty fairly, and with much jocose- 

 ness and good humour. This being con- 

 cluded, they assembled on the toldos of 

 the champans, and commenced singing. 

 Their songs were extempore compositions, 

 and consisted chiefly of satirical verses, 

 levelled at each other ; some of them not 

 destitute of humour, as appeared by the 

 violent bursts of laughter they excited. 

 The effect of all this was increased at 

 night, previously to the moon's rising, by 

 the blazing of two or three large fires 

 which were lighted. 



6th. Previously to casting off from the 

 bank, one boga in each set, assuming the 

 clerical function, recited a prayer for the 



