224 
VOYAGE TO THE 
to complete the picturesque in all the various groups that 
we formed. 
A few days after the review at Talcahuana, we went a 
second time to La Concepcion, where we remained two 
days; and now w^e had an opportunity of seeing the women 
of Penco, of whose beauty we had heard great commenda¬ 
tions ; but we were disappointed in them, probably because 
they were very ill dressed. Having lost the simplicity of 
the Indian dress, which, by the by, can only be becoming 
in very early youth, and not having acquired the elegance 
of European art, they were certainly not seen to advantage. 
However they are good-humoured and affable, have fine 
eyes and good teeth. The anteroom w r as filled with Tapa- 
das # , as is usual at Spanish South American balls. The 
grave minuets that still begin every ball here soon gave 
way to the Spanish country-dances, which are graceful and 
spirited ; and our evening went off very well. 
The next day Peneleo took us to visit the Indian quarters 
in the suburbs of the town. We called on Venancio, but 
found him asleep, and Peneleo did not think it advisable to 
w r ake him, but led us on to his own house, where we were 
introduced to his family, about fifteen in number, mostly 
women and children. Two of the young women were ex- 
* See Captain Hall. 
