The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-03-26

From Lieut. Gibbons Report of the Exploration of thc
Amazon.
The following is an account Of the daily
life Of Creole family in the town of Santa
Cruz. the capital Of the Bolivian department
OF that name. For lazy man, Santa de
Bolivia ust be a perfect paradise, to say
nothing Ola chance bachelor has of being
able to secure a partner in city where there
are five women 20 one man.
Very early IN the morning, the Creole get
ting out Of bed. throws himself into hamac;
his wife stretches herself upon bed near by,
while the children seat themselves with their
legs under them on the chairs, all in their
night dresses. The Indian servant girl en-.
tiers with cup Of chocolate for each men,
Der Of the family, after which, she brings
some Goals of FIRE in silver dish. The wife
I lights her husband cigar, and then one for
herself. Some time is spent reclining, chat.
! ting and RECALLING. The man slowly puts on
/ his cotton trowsers, wooden coat, leather
shoes and vicuma hat, with his neck exposed
to the fresh air-slk handkerchiefs are scarce
he walks to some near neighbors, with
whom he again drinks chocolate aud smokes
another cigar.
At midday small low table is set in the
middle Of the room, and the family go to
breakfast. The wife sits next to her hus-
band; the women ore very pretty, ard affec-
tionate to their husbands. He chooses her
from among five. there being bout that mum.
Der Of women to one man in the town. The
children seat themselves, and the dogs form
ring behind. The first dish is a chupe of
potatoes with large pieces of meat. The
man helps himself first. and throws his bones
straight across the table; child lodges it's
head to give it a free passage, and the dogs
rush after it as it falls upon the ground floor.
A child then throws its bone, the mother
lodges and the dogs rush behind her. The
second dish holds small pieces of beef with
out bones. Dogs are now fighting. Next
comes dish with fnely-chopped beef; then
beef soup, vegetable, and fruits; finally, coffee
or chocolate. After breakfast, the man pulls
off his troweers and coat, and lies down with
his drawers in the hamac. His wife lights
him cigar. She finds her way back to bed
with cigar. The dogs jump up and lie
down on the chairs--ihe Aeas bite them on
the ground! The Indian girl closes both
doors and windows, and takes the children
out to-Play while the res. of the family
sleep.
At 9 o'clock p NJ. the church bells ring
to let the people know the priest is saying
a prayer for them, which rouses them. The
man rises, stretches his hands above his head
and gaps; The drops get down and whiningly
stretches himself; while the wife sits up in
J the bed and loudly calls out for fire; the In
dian girl re-sppears with a "chunk" for her
mistress to light her master another cigar,
and she smokes again herself. The dinner
which takes between and 5, is nearly the
3 same as breakfast, except when the beef is
recently killed by the Indians, when they
have boil. The ribs and other long bones
Of the animal are trimmed of flesh. leaving
the bones only coated with meat; these are
I laid across fire and roasted; the members
of the family, while employed with them, look
as il thew all were practising music.
A horse is brought into the house by an In.
r dian man. who holds while the "patron" sad.
4 dies and brides him; he then puts on a large
pair Of silver spurs. which cost forty dollars,
/ and mounting, he rides out Of the front door
to the opposite house; hating, he takes off his
hat and calls out, Buenas trades, senoritas.' -
good evening ladies. The ladies' make
their appearance at the door, one lights him a
, cigar, another mixes him glass of lemonade
to refresh himself after the ride. He remains
in the saddle talking, while they lean grace.
, fully against the door posts, smiling with
> their bewitching eyes. After spending the
afternoon 10 this way, he rides into the house
again. The Indian holds the horse by the
4 bride, while the master dsmounts. Taking
\ off the saddle, he throws it into one chair.
! the bride in another, his spurs on third. and
, himself into the hamac; the Indian leads out
the horse, the dogs pull down the riding gear
I 10 the floor, and lay themselves on their
usual beadstead. Chocolate and cigars are
!. repeated.