Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 39 



ladies and other white women fmoak in their houfes, 

 a decency not obferved either by the women of the 

 other Calls, nor by the men in general, who regard 

 neither time nor place. The manner of ufmg it is, 

 by flender rolls compofed of the leaves of that plant ; 

 and the women have a particular manner of inhaling 

 the fmoak. They put the lighted part of the roll into 

 their mouths, and there continue it a long time 

 without its being quenched, or the fire incommoding 

 them. A compliment paid to thofe for whom they 

 profefs an intimacy and efleem, is, to light their to- 

 bacco for them, and to hand them round to thofe 

 who vifit them. To refufe the offer w^ould be a mark 

 of rudenefs not eafily digefted ; and accordingly they 

 are very cautious of paying this compliment to any 

 but thofe whom they previoufly knov/ to be ufed to 

 tobacco. This cuftom the ladies learn in their child- 

 hood from their nurfes, who are Negro flaves; it is 

 fo common among perfons of rank, that thofe who 

 come from Europe eafily join in it, if they intend 

 to make any confiderable ilay in the country. 



One of the moft favourite amufements of the na- 

 tives here, is a bail, or Fandango. Thefe are the 

 diftinguifhed rejoicings on feftivals and remarkable 

 days. But while the galleons, guarda coftas, or 

 other Spanifh il:iips are here, they are m.oft common^ 

 and at the fame time condu^led with the leaft order; 

 the crews of the fliips forcing themfelves into their 

 ball rooms, Thefe diverfions, in houfes of diftinc- 

 tion, are conduced in a very regular manner ; they 

 open with SpaniOi dances, and are fucceeded by thofe 

 of the country, which are not without fpirit and 

 gracefulnefs. Thefe are accompanied with finging, 

 and the parties rarely break up before day light. 



The Fandangos, or balls, of the populace, confifl: 

 principally in drinking brandy and wine, intermixed 

 with indecent and fcandalous motions and geftures ; 

 and thefe continual rounds of drinking foon give rife 



D 4 to 



