Gh.iv. south America; gt 



The principal end of the univerfiiy in this ceremony 

 being to ingratiate itfelf with the vice-roy and his family, 

 the re(5lor contrives that the poetical pieces which gain 

 the prizes, be made in the name of the principal per- 

 fons of his family, and accordingly the moft diilin- 

 guiflied prizes areprefented to them and there being 

 12 fubjeds in the conteft, there are three prizes for each, 

 of which the two inferior fall to thofe members, whofe 

 compofitions are moft approved of. Thefe prizes are 

 pieces of plate, valuable both for their weight and 

 workmanfhip. 



The univerfity is followed by the colleges of St. Phi- 

 lip and Sr. Martin, with the fame ceremonies, except 

 the poetical conteft. 



Next follow the religious orders, according to the 

 antiquity of their foundation in the Indies. Thefe pre- 

 fent to tha vice-roy the beft thefes maintained by ftu- 

 dents at the public a6ts* 



. The vice-roy is prefent at them all, and each difpu- 

 tant pays him fome elegant compliment, before he en* 

 ters on his fubjedb. 



The fuperiors of the nunneries fend him their con- 

 gratulatory compliment?, and when he is pleafed in re- 

 turn to vifit them, they entertain him with a very fine 

 concert of mufick, of which the vocal parts are truly 

 charming: and at his retiring they prefent him with 

 feme of the chief curiofities which their refpedive in- 

 ftitutes allow to be made by them. 



Besides thefe feftivities and ceremonies, which are 

 indeed the moft remarkable ; there are alfo others, foms 

 of which are annual, in which the riche;^ and liberality 

 of the inliabitants are no lefs confpicuous. Particularly 

 on New Year's Day, at the ele6lion of Alcaldes, who be- 

 ing afterwards confirmed by the vice-roy, appear pub* 

 lickly on horfe-back the fame evening, and ride on each 

 fide of him, in very magnificent habits ornamented with 

 jewels and the furniture of their horfes perfectly anfwer- 

 able. This cavalcade is very pompowSj being preceded 



E 2 " ^ by 



