PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
115 
sooner be caught in bed with a gentleman than be seen walking 
arm and arm with him ; and their refinement is so great, that it 
is thought indelicate even to accept his hand in any way, except in 
dancing, when, to be sure, every thing like delicacy is laid aside. 
They are, however, extremely hospitable and attentive to stran¬ 
gers; arid if they have their peculiar customs, which seem strange 
to us, we no doubt have our own equally deserving their animad¬ 
version. 
The whole power and force of the kingdom of Chili is now 
concentrated in one family, who have taken advantage of the 
state of anarchy into which it fell for want of rulers, and placed 
themselves at the head of government. This family is the Car¬ 
reras. The eldest brother has created himself commander of 
the infantry ; the second brother is president of the junta, and 
commander of the cavalry; and the third, don Lewis, is com¬ 
mander of the artillery; and they are altogether capable of 
bringing into the field 15,000 men, but they have not arms for 
more than 6,000. They are in alliance with the Buenos Ayre- 
ans, and have furnished them with 500 men, properly equipped, 
to assist them in carrying on their war against the Montivideans, 
The rest of their force, except a few men on the frontiers of 
Peru, remain unemployed; and indeed they all appear too 
much engaged in the pursuit of pleasures, and the gratification 
of their sensual appetites, to be capable of making any great mi¬ 
litary exertions. 
There is a strong and secret party opposed to the present 
administration, and favourable to the cause of Ferdinand VII.: 
they are styled saracens; the party in power are denominated 
patriots ; the former are dangerous, and are not a little dreaded, 
from the concealed manner in which they carry on their hostili¬ 
ties ; several of their emissaries have already been convicted of 
attempts to assassinate the officers of the present government; 
some have been sentenced to be hung, others to be banished to 
the island of Juan Fernandez . The patriots are known by a tri- 
coloured cockade, blue, yellow, and white ; and the ladies of that 
party are distinguished by wearing their hair gracefully brushed 
v over on the left side of the face : they seem to have entered into 
