134 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



From its offering; a barrier to the waters of the river during: 

 freshets, it is termed the ''Tajamar," or breakwater ; and is a 

 fashionable promenade of a Sunday afternoon, for ladies and 

 gentlemen, rich and poor. The whole world walk on the top 

 of the wall, or rest on the parapet, gazing at the pomp and 

 grandeur of the scenery, or at the passing multitude. The 

 river is seen, split into several channels by beds of gravel, 

 brawling in its course from the lofty Cordilleras, and disap- 

 pearing under a stone bridge of several arches, which leads 

 from the city to a suburb called La Canadilla. When the 

 glow of sunset tinges the eternal snows of the mountains, 

 and the hills on the opposite side of the river begin to grow 

 dark in approaching twilight, the scene is grand beyond de- 

 scription. The plain upon which the city stands is so high 

 that the atmosphere refracts the light in such a manner as to 

 deceive the eye in estimating distance. One feels tempted to 

 stretch out the hand from the street, and place it against the 

 side of the mountains ; yet they are twenty miles distant ! 



In the neighborhood of the Tajamar, are the cockpit and 

 ball alley, where gentlemen play at the game of fives." Both 

 places are crowded on Sundays and festivals, by the young 

 gentlemen of the city. 



Monday being a military day, I visited the military acade- 

 my, lately established in this city. It contains at present eighty 

 cadets, who are taught every thing pertaining to the profession 

 of arms, by professors, who are either Frenchmen or English- 

 men. The pupils are designed for officers of the army and mi- 

 litia, which is established on a plan well adapted to instruct 

 the whole male population of the country in the use of arms. 

 ^ The men are armed and exercised every Monday afternoon, 

 /in companies and regiments, in the Alameda de la Canada. 

 As the shopkeepers are prohibited from opening their shops on 

 that afternoon, till after the parade be over, the day is face- 

 tiously termed «'San Ldnes,'' or Saint Monday. The same 

 plan is established in every town and village throughout the 

 country. The review draws crowds of ladies to witness the 

 evolutions, and some to see the young beaux in gay uniforms, 

 strutting before their men, whose dark Indian visages contrast 



