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27 The ditch is large - and is kept dry except in terms of danger. Immediately beyond the walls - is the Opera House and Theatre - two large and fine appearing buildings. There alas is a beautiful Plaza - intersected with winding roads - and it is the favourite resort of the ladies in the afternoon. The ladies here never walk - this being considered indelicate - but they have a peculiar looking vehicle called the Volante - in which they do their shopping - visiting - and take their airings. It is drawn by a mule or horse - which is ridden by a negro. No phills an about 16 foot long - this with the spring which sustains the seat makes it one of the easiest of carriages. The negroes manage their volantes very adsoitly - such a long tail behind would comprise a Yankee driver - as it is by no means certain that places and corners - which are accessable to the jackass - and so to the carriage. Another thing which makes calculation in turning neccessary is the exceeding narrowness of the streets. These volantes can only pass by an inch or two - and the least varying would cause them to come in contact - as for turning round that is impossible. I suppose the final cause of making the streets so narrow is - to give the inhabitants always a go ahead habit. The ladies never leave their carriage to shop. The merchant brings his goods to the door - neither is this inconvenient for there is little or no sidewalk at least in the city proper - and thereupon the volante drives almost into the shop. Most of the city and by far the most respectable part of it tis without the walls. There are situated the residences of the wealthy - and here are some many splendid gardens. The gardens of the North though fine in the extreme must yield the palm of beauty to these of a tropical clime. There are thou gorgeous flowers - then beautiful trees and here all those rich varieties of colour and form - for which the tropics are famous. The growing of those flowers and fruits - wild and common - which