^4 Porter s Voyage 



sioned by the too liberal vise of the matti, they would, notwith- 

 standing the Chilian tinge, be thought handsome, particularly by 

 those who had been so long as we out of the way of seeing any 

 women. 



The matti is a decoction of the herb of Paraguay, sweetened 

 with sugar, and sucked hot through a long silver tube. • To the 

 use of this beverage the Chilians are perfect slaves. The taste is 

 agTceabie, but it occasions terrible havoc among the teeth. We 

 returned on board our ship pleased with the novelties of a Chilian 

 ball, and much gratified by the solicitude shown by every one to 

 make our stay amongst them agreeable. Invitations had been 

 given by them to visit at their houses ; but time was too precious 

 to us to be spent in amusements. All were busily engaged until 

 the 20th in getting on board our supplies, and on the meridian of 

 that day we had completed our water, and, with the exception of 

 a few small articles, had as much provisions on board as the day 

 we left the United States. Those we calculated on taking on 

 board while our accounts were in a train for settlement ; and as 

 the next day was Sunday, and we all required some relaxation 

 from our fatigues, I determined to devote it to pleasure, and in- 

 vited the ladies and gentlemen of Valparaiso to spend the after- 

 noon on board the ship, all, as well as ourselves, being previously 

 engaged for the evening at a ball, at the house of Mr. Blancjuo, 

 the vice-consul. The Spaniards, and particularly catholics, do 

 not, like the people of protestant countries, spend their Sabbath 

 in penance and prayer, but in feasting and dancing ; and although 

 a good catholic would consider himself lost if he neglected con- 

 fession, or tasted meat during Lent, yet he is above the vulgar 

 protestant prejudice of devoting one whole day in each week to 

 the worship of the Almighty, when he has it in his power to 

 spend it so much more agreeably in amusement. 



The consul-general had arrived from St. Jago, accompanied 

 by don Lewis Carrera, the brother of the president, by the con- 

 sul, a Mr. Heyv/ell, and another American gentleman. They all 

 dined on board my ship on Saturday, and were saluted with 

 eleven guns. On Sunday, about three o'clock^ myself and officers 

 were on shore with our boats to take the ladies on board the ship, 

 she having been previously prepared for their entertainment; 

 and we had all laid aside our national and religious prejudices, 

 and devoted ourselves entirely to the pleasures of the day, when, 

 at the moment we were on the point of embarking with them, an 

 officer came from the ship to inform me that a large frigate had 

 appeared in the offing, and on perceiving us had hauled in for 

 the harbour. We all immediately left our fair Chihans, and 

 without any ceremony jumped in our boats and repaired on 

 board, where I found every thing prepared for getting undei* 



