270 AVOYAGETO Book V. 



their origin. But fuch brutality may be confidered 

 as the natural confequence of the rum and chicha, 

 ■which on thefe occafions are drunk in enormous 

 quantities. It muft however be remembered, that no 

 perfon of any rank or character is ever feen at thefe 

 meetings, their feftivity being condudted with the 

 ftrifteft decency and decorum. 



Rum is commonly drunk here by perfons of all 

 ranks, though very moderately by thofe of fafhion j 

 particularly at entertainments, when it is made into a 

 kind of cordial. They prefer it to wine, which they 

 fay difagrees with them. The Chapitones alfoaccuf- 

 tom themfelves to this liquor ; wine, which is brought 

 from Lima, being very fcarce and dear. Their favou- 

 rite liquor is brandy, brought alfo from Lima, and is 

 lefs inflammative than rum. The diforders arifing 

 from the excefiive ufe of fpirituous liquors are <:hiefly 

 feen among the Meftizos, who are continually drink- 

 ing while they are mafters of any money. The lower 

 clafs of women, among the Creoles and Meftizos, are 

 alfo addided to the fame fpecies of debauchery, and 

 drink excefilvely. 



Another common liquor in this country is the 

 mate, vA\ich anfwers to tea in the Eaft Indies, though 

 the method of preparing and drinking it is fomething 

 different. It is made from an herb, which, in all thefe 

 parts of America is known by the name of Paraguay, 

 as being the produce of that country. Some of it is 

 put into a calebafh tipped with filver, called here 

 mate or totumo, with a fufficieiit quantity of fugar, 

 and feme cold water, to macerate it. After it has 

 continued in this manner fome time, the calebafli is 

 filled with boiling water, and the herb being reduced 

 to a powder, they drink the liquor through a pipe 

 fixed in the calebafh, and having a ilrainer before the 

 end of it. In this manner the calebafh is filled fe- 

 veral times with water and freOi fupplies of fugar, till 

 the herb fubfides to the bottom, a fufficjlent indica- 

 tion 



