The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-11-16
MANNERS AND CUsTo1My.
BuENoS AYES.
From Capt. Heads Journey across the Pampas.

If0Hi Cdpt 1IcHU y 0OuTHty uCTOSS HIc fUinUUS
Buenos Ayres is far from being an agree
able residence for those who are accustom-
ed to English comforts. The water is ex-
tremely impure, scarce aud consequently ex-
pensive. The town is badly paved and dir
ty, and the houses are the most comfortlcss
abodes ever entered. The walls, from the
climate, are damp mouldy, and discooured.
The floors are badly paved with bricks,
which are generally cracked and often in
holes. The roofs have no ceiling, and the
families have no idea of warming themselves
except by hudling round fire CT charcoal,
which is put outside the door until the CAR
bonc acid gas has rolled away.
Some Of the principal families at Buenos
Ayres furnish their rooms in very expens-
i've but comfortless manner; they put down
upon their brick hoor brilliant Brussels
carpet, hang lustre from the rafters, and
place against the damp wall. which they
white wash, n number tawdry North. Amer
ican chairs. They get an English piano forte,
and some marble vases; but they have no
idea of grouping their furniture into a com.
Portable form. The ladies sit with their
books against the wall. without any apparent
means of employing themselves; and when
stranger calls upon them, he is much sur
tom of never rising from their chairs.
had no time to enter into any society at
Buenos Avres, and the rooms looked so COM
fortress, that, to tell the truth, had little
inclination The society at Buenos Ayres is
composed of English and French merchants,
with German or two The foreign mer-
chants are generally agents of European
houses; and as the customs of the Spanish
South Americans, their food, and the hours
at which they eat it, are different from those
of the Englsh and French, there does not
appear to be much communication between
them.
At Buenos Ayres the men and women
are rarely seen walking together; at the the
atre they are completely separated; and it
is cherries to see all the ladies sitting to-
gether in the boxes, while the men are in the
pit-slaves, common sailors, soldies, and
merchants, all members of the same Repub-
lie.
The town is furnished with provisions bv
the Gauchos, in a manner that shows great
want of attention to those arrangements
which are generally met with in civilized
communities. Milk, eggs, fruit. vegetables
and beef, are brought into the town bv in
dividuals at gallop, and they are only to
be had when they choose to bring them. The
articles of life are brought together without
due arrangement, and the consequence is,
that (excepting beef they are dearer than
in London, and sometimes are not to be had
at ALL happened to leave Buenos Ayres
just as the fig season was over, and though
it was the middle of summer, no fruit was
to be had, the towns people seemed to be
quite satisfied with this reason, and | could
not persuade them that some one should
arrange a constant supply and succession
of fruits and not leave it entirely to the
Gaucho. But the same want of arrange
ment exists in all instances. If one has
been taken out to dinner in carriage,
and in the evening ventures to inquire why
it has not arrived, the answer is, that it is
raining, and that those who let carriages
will not allow them TO go out If it rains,