THE BALL. 



379 



a row of large wooden arm-chairs, two of which 

 were occupied by the padrecito's mother and sister. 

 Very soon all the seats were occupied by whites and 

 Mestiza women, and the whole enclosure, with the 

 exception of a small space for dancing, was filled up 

 with Indian servants and children sitting on the 

 ground. 



Preparations were immediately made for dancing, 

 and the ball was opened by the patron of the saint. 

 This patron was not very saintly in his appearance, 

 but really a most respectable man in his deportment 

 and character, and in his youth had been the best 

 bull-fighter the village had ever produced. 



He began with the dance called the toros. The 

 brother of the padrecito acted as master of the cer- 

 emonies, and with a pocket-handkerchief called out 

 the ladies one after the other, until every dancing 

 lady present had had her turn. 



He then took the patron's place, the patron act- 

 ing as Bastonero in his stead, and called out again 

 every lady who chose to dance. It was a bat chant- 

 petre, in which no costume was required, and the 

 brother of the padrecito, who had opened upon us, 

 as alcalde elect, with a black dress- coat, white pan- 

 taloons, and fur hat, danced in shirt, drawers, straw 

 hat, and sandals, pieces of leather on the soles of 

 his feet, with cords wound round nearly up to the 

 calf of the leg. 



When he had finished we were solicited to take 



