302 REJOICINGS. 



superseded bj the townspeople, who had now 

 the honour to draw the car amidst the inces- 

 sant cry of " Viva el Rey Fernando f The 

 cannon thundered from the ramparts ; the mili- 

 tary bands played airs of triumph ; and the 

 troops, which were ranged in two files from 

 the gate of the town to the church, presented 

 arms, and joined their '' Vivas'' to those of the 

 populace. The procession halted at the church ; 

 and the picture being carried in, the bishop 

 performed the service ; after w^hich, the King 

 was replaced on his car, and conducted to the 

 residence of the Governor, where, at length, he 

 was installed in peace. 



Three days longer the rejoicings continued : 

 bells were rung, guns were fired, and each even- 

 ing the town and suburbs were magnificently 

 illuminated: many houses exhibiting allegori- 

 cal transparencies which occupied their whole 

 front. But the illumination of the Chinese 

 triumphal arches in tlie suburbs surpassed all 

 the show : the dragons which ornamented 

 them spat fire ; flames of various colours play- 

 ed around them ; and large fire-balls dis- 

 charsred from them emulated the moon in the 



