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PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
hostess on the other ; and their principal business appears to be 
to cram him with a part of every thing before him. This duty 
they are apt to perform most effectually, if he happens, like me, 
to be a stranger, and not aware of the variety of changes that are 
to be brought on, each one more and more inviting in their ap¬ 
pearance and taste. 
There is another practice at their balls or evening parties, 
which at first gave me some embarrassment. A very large sib 
ver dish, filled with sweet jelly, was presented to me by a servant, 
as well as a silver plate and fork ; believing that the whole dish 
could not be intended for me, I attempted to take the plate ; this the 
servant objected to; I then attempted to take the dish, but to this 
she also objected ; I felt, however, certain that it was intended 
for me to eat in some way or other, and was determined to do it 
in that way which appeared the most natural and convenient; I 
therefore took from her the plate and fork, and helped myself to 
as much as I thought I should want. The eyes of all the com¬ 
pany, however, were on me, and I perceived that I had made 
some mistake, which I was soon convinced of, for the servant 
brought another plate with a fork, which was handed with the 
sweetmeats around to the company, and each one made use of 
the same fork to take a mouthful, holding their heads carefully 
over the dish in order that nothing might fall from their mouths 
to the floor ; the fork was then laid on the plate, and passed to the 
next. The matti is taken with as little regard to delicacy or 
cleanliness. When the cup containing it is brought in, one of 
the company blows into it, through the silver tube, until a high 
froth is produced; it is then considered properly prepared. The 
same matti and tube is then passed around the room, and each 
one takes in turn a suck of it, with much apparent relish and de¬ 
light ; but, considering the rotten teeth and unsavoury breaths of 
the Chilians, there could not be a dose offered more repulsive to 
a delicate stomach, than this same frothy matti , served up in 
their style. It is also a practice for one glass of water, one 
spoon, or one segar, to be served to the whole company, and one 
would almost be led to believe that they had a particular relish 
for the taste of each others dirty mouths. A Chilian lady would 
