| Citation |
SCAGG.768.041
26 Aug-2 Sep 1768:23, 24 (11/512)
Account of the Inhabitants of Chili in South America, their
Amusements, Customs, &c. By the Honourable Commodore Byron
[This is a description of the above-mentioned items lasting
nearly 1 full column, spread out over 2 columns. The
sections on music and dance are given below.]. . . and in
the hottest time of the year it is from six in the evening
till two or three in the morning that the people of this
country seek to divert themselves with musick and other
entertainments. . . Their fandangoes are very agreeable;
the women dance inimitatively well, and gracefully. They
are born with an ear for musick and most of them have
delightful voices, and all play upon the guittar or harp.
The latter at first appears a very awkward instrument for a
woman, yet that prejudice is soon got over, and they far
excel any other nation upon it. They are extremely
complaisant and polite and when asked either to play, dance,
or sing they do it without a moment's hesitation, and that
with an exceeding good grace. They have many figure dances,
but what they take most delight in are more like our
hornpipes than anything else I can compare them to, and upon
these occasions they shew surprising activity. . . . [The
rest of the article is taken up with a description of
clothing, personal grooming, and diet.]
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