NOTICES OF CHILE. 103 



"Dulces" or sweetmeats of various kinds are served during 

 the evening, in a manner that is peculiar (so far as I know) to 

 the south-west coast of this continent. A large shallow dish 

 of dulces/' placed on a silver salver with a number of small 

 forks of the same metal, is offered round to the company, each 

 lady conveying a morsel of the sweet to her mouth from the 

 iish, by aid of a iork. The ^^dulce" is sometimes very little 

 more consistent than thick syrup ; then, it is very adroitly 

 twisted round the fork, and dexterously deposited in the 

 mouth. Immediately after the salver of "dulces," follows 

 one with goblets of water, which the Chilians invariably drink 

 after eating sweets. On these occasions, a beau hands the glass 

 to a belle in a gallant manner, holding his neat cambric hand- 

 kerchief beneath it, that a drop may not fall upon the lady's 

 dress. 



A few dances and a few songs, more <^dulces," (and ices 

 occasionally) bring the evening near its close. Then, if the 

 party has been a merry one, the **Cuando," a dance peculiar 

 to Chile, is performed. It is always accompanied by a song. 

 It commences like the minuet, all the gestures being very 

 graceful, and in time with the verses, which run thus ; 



" Anda ingrata que alg-un dia 

 Con las mudanzas del tiempo, 

 iJoraras como yo lloro — 

 Sentiras como yo siento— 



Caando ! cuando ! 



Cuando, mi vida, cuando !" 



With these lines ends the minuet ; the allegro follows, and the 

 step changes to a shuffle or quick beating of the feet, called 

 "zapateando" or shoeing it, to the following lines, while one 

 or two persons beat time with their palms upon the top of the 

 piano ; — 



" Cuando serd esa dia 

 De aquella feliz maiiana 

 Que nos Ueven a los dos 

 El chocolate a la cama. 



Cuando ! cuando ! 



Cuando, mi vida, cuando !" 



