Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 edition. Excerpt: ...of Brazil, but more entirely white; and a flycatcher, with two very long feathers in his tail, called the "scissor-tail," which is very pretty. I was invited this evening to meet a certain Dr. Molina, a man in much consideration here, who had just arrived, having been sent from Entre Bios by Urquiza on some political mission, with respect to which there are many on-dita afloat. Thus much however is certain, that Urquiza has retired peaceably to Entre Rios, and that Buenos Ayres is quite quiet. When any great person of the place returns here, it is customary for his friends to send word to him to expect them in the evening to pay their respects. They get up a party to go, and in the evening march, with a military band playing and rockets flying, to his house, where he stands at the door, shakes hands with each, and walks them into-the A VISIT OF CEREMONY. 247 sala; there they sit formally round the room, while the band occasionally strikes up in the court. Generally the health of the hero is proposed, drunk in beer (always), a speech or two made, and then they either dance, if there are ladies, or disperse. We arrived too late for the first entrance of the guests, and were walked in separately, presented to the hero, and then took our scats on chairs with their backs against the wall, forming thus part of the stupid row which sat all round the room; the ladies of the family sat on the sofa, at one end thereof. Beer and cigars were handed round, --they smoke anywhere and everywhere here, whether in the presence ofadies or not. The latter do not themselves smoke in publie, though I am told they often do when by themselves, but the poorer women do so continually. There were no toasts or speeches on this occasion, --nothing stupider...
