Travels in the equatorial regions of South America, in 1832 / by Adrian R. Terry.

  • Terry, Adrian R. (Adrian Russell), 1808-1864.
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels in the equatorial regions of South America, in 1832 / by Adrian R. Terry. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    ence, and that it was strong, and regarded by the gov ernment with a watchful and jealous eye. Subsequent events led to an explosion, which took place before I left the Ecuador, and which I shall endeavour to de- scribe in its proper place. The manner of celebrating a wedding among the low« er classes, will perhaps give as good an idea of the character of the populace, as any thing I can olfer. For two days and two nights in succession, we had heard sounds of drumming, playing on different instruments, and singing, mingled with bacchanalian shouts and laughter, proceeding from a house opposite to us, the door of which was kept constantly closed. We enquired the cause of this protracted festivity, and were informed that they were celebrating the nuptials of a pulpero, or keeper of a grog shop. We asked if we could be per-, mitted to witness it for a short time, and were answered,, that they would be very glad to have us come in, but that if we entered, we should be obliged to comply with the custom, and remain until the whole was over, for no one was allowed to pass out the gate until the end of the festivity, which never continued less than four days and often six or eight. As we had no inclination to undergo such a penance, we were obliged to content ourselves with a description. After the knot is tied, which is done in the morning, all the guests proceed to the house of the bridegroom, and the day is past in dan- cing, and drinking chicha* and spirit. At night the bride and groom are allowed to absent themselves, and * Chicha is a fermented liquor made from malted maize; it very much resembles poor cider.