TO LA MAGDALENA. 
429 
inclosure, covered with the boughs of trees, beneath 
which some hundreds were assembled, and engaged in 
dancing. An enormous bass drum, which was heard 
above all other sounds, a couple of violins, and a cla- 
rionet, ground out waltzes and polkas, while the beaux 
were swinging round the senoritas in a manner that 
would astonish our dancing community. Notwith- 
standing the crowd here assembled, most of whom 
were strangers to each other, the most perfect order 
was kept. The Mexican people are ardently devoted 
to dancing ; and when they once enter into it, they 
do not cease until the sun appears the following day. 
Some of our party who were given to this amusement 
thought they would like to take a few turns. So, 
casting a glance along the line of dark-eyed damsels 
who occupied the benches, and selecting the most 
attractive, they advanced without any introduction, 
led them into the arena, and at once joined in the 
merry whirl. A perpetual fandango was thus kept up 
day and night ; where people of all sorts, sizes, and 
conditions, might be seen twirling to the slow measure 
of the Spanish reel, or the more active waltz and 
polka. But gambling, after all, seemed to predomi- 
nate. Whole ranges of booths were devoted to this 
exciting amusement; and crowds of every age, sex, 
and class were assembled about them. Boys and girls 
of six and eight years of age laid down their coppers, 
and men their reals and dollars ; while at other tables 
the more wealthy and aristocratic ventured their 
ounces. Some of the tables were attended by women, 
selected, not on account of their personal beauty, but 
for their expertness in shuffling the cards. 
