When, at breakfast, we enjoyed as salt-sea voyagers
only could, the stores of fresh meat, fresh eggs, fresh butter, fresh
milk, juicy grapes, white and purple, with the morning's bloom still upon
them, the peaches, the apples, the pears, the tumas (prickly pear fruit),
the melons, musk and water, we acknowledged his reverence's judgment, and
gratefully thanked him for his services.
On landing to take a look at the town, I made my way through a throng of
boatmen, of picturesque native fruitsellers and loitering sailors, to the
chief business street, which ran along the shore. The stores, which were
mainly under the proprietorship of the foreign merchants, had a rich,
thriving look, being crammed full of miscellaneous goods, while the
sidewalks were heaped with bales and boxes. Odd-looking carts moved slowly
along with their drivers in picturesque costume lying in full length upon
their loads, smoking their cigarettes, and looking wondrously lazy and
happy. Stately Chilians from the interior, dressed in genuine Fra Diavolo
style, rode by on their prancing horses, all glistening and jingling with
silver. There were abundant loungers about, in the cool shade of every
corner and projecting roof.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165