Page:Guatimala or the United Provinces of Central America in 1827-8.pdf/87

Rh purposes of a whip. To this is affixed an enormous bit, under which the poor beast writhes and is effectually subdued.

By about seven o'clock the last gleam of twilight has disappeared, and the servants enter with the lights, reciting most devoutly the “Bendito,” which may be thus translated, “Blessed and praised be the holy sacrament of the altar for ever and ever.” In another hour the sala has assumed its evening character. Cloaks and swords occupy the corner of the room—a small table at the further end is surrounded by a party busily employed at “monte,” (a game of cards,) amidst clouds of smoke,—and at the other end some lady, regardless of the noisy tongues of the gamblers, is playing a popular air upon a wretched marimba, or still worse piano, accompanying it with her voice. The miserable light yielded by two thin, long-wicked tallow candles, in massy silver candlesticks, throws a gloom over the apartment, strangely in contrast with the light-hearted gaiety of its occupants. Formal parties are rare; friends drop in towards the evening without ceremony, amuse themselves for an hour or two, and retire generally without taking any kind of refreshment.

In some respects a strong parallel might be drawn between the domestic manners of the old families here, and those of country towns in