TUB CHURCH AND ITS CEREMONIES. 169 



low their example in -u< .-h raipaot. The interest was kept up, for at a later period the Captains 

 General regularly asM.stnl in tin- ovation. 



iiain having fallen a day or two pr<-\ iuusly, the celebration (of 1850) was postponed by the 

 aivhl.ishop to tin- following Thursday; some of his own countrymen having the malice to say 

 that he was not willing to tramp through the mud with new slippers on. Toward* 5 P. M. a num- 

 l.rr of civilians, \\itli li-lit'-l torches, sallied from the doors of Ban Augustin in two lines, 

 .separated from each other about ten feet. Neither the president, the cahildo as a body, nor 

 any of the eminent members of the legal profession were among them ; the majority being 

 hangers-on of the notary offices and boys. Following them was a nearly life-size image of an 

 unknown saint (to me) mounted on a platform, borno on the shoulders of ten or twelve men. 

 The friars of La Merced, Santo Domingo, and San Augustin, two and two, came next, and 

 each of these also bore lighted candles. Immediately in the rear of the Franciscans came the 

 image of the " Christ of agony," mounted and borne like the preceding ; next were the clergy 

 of the cathedral and parish churches, chanting a hymn whose refrain was, Orapro nobis; and then 

 an image of the Virgin, dressed with all imaginary finery, and perched on a fancifully decorated 

 stand. Close to this platform came the archbishop, one priest carrying his train, and another 

 perfuming the air in front with clouds of incense. A military band followed his right reverence, 

 who were in turn defended by a battalion of the National Guard, and the rear of the procession 

 was brought up by the mounted grenadiers. At intervals along the line, boys scattered flowers 

 in the path of the devout crowd, from waiters piled high with these gems of nature. Nor must 

 I omit to mention that the vulgar and inquisitive crowd, with which the streets and plaza were 

 thronged, was thrust aside by stalwart pioneers with their huge battle-axes. Whether the 

 soldiers in their gay uniforms are humble volunteers, desirous to return thanks in this manner 

 for the great mercy shown to their ancestors, or are brought out to swell the parade and pomp 

 of the church, was not asked. The show was pretty, even brilliant ; but there was not an 

 enthusiastic word among the populace scarcely evidence of life, their countenances expressing 

 neither pleasure nor animation. 



CORPUS CHRISTI. This festival originated in the year 1230, from the vision of a Westphalian 

 nun, who alleges that while looking at the full moon she saw a broken place or gap in its limb, 

 of which Heaven miraculously revealed to her this explanation: That the moon symbolized the 

 Christian church, and the imperfect portion of its disk typified the want of a special festival, in 

 which the consecrated host should be adored as the actual body of Christ. On the strength of 

 this vision, such a festival was actually ordained by Pope Urban IV. Thursday of the week 

 after Pentecost was appointed for its celebration, and an absolution of from forty to one hundred 

 days was promised to the penitents who should participate in it. In 1850, it was due on the 31st 

 of May ; but as there had been rain at Santiago on the preceding day, the archbishop directed 

 that the parade should be postponed until the following Thursday. This is quite customary 

 with all festivals which occur during unpropitious weather. 



On the morning of the 6th of June, therefore, altars were erected at each corner of the main 

 plaza, with extravagantly dressed saints on top ; plenty of tinsel ornaments ; a dozen or two of 

 wax candles to each ; a missal on either side ; and a carpet in front, for the archbishop to kneel 

 upon when halting, during the perambulation of the clergy. On another occasion, priests in 

 their robes were substituted for two of the saints. Each had an open Bible in his hand, and a 

 foot on the breast of a prostrate image, one labelled "Luther" the other "Calvin." 



By 4 o'clock the regular troops and national guard had collected, and formed in double lines 

 round the plaza, with sufficient space between them for the procession to pass. A mass of 

 spectators crowded every other spot of ground, and each balcony and window overlooking the 

 scene of display had also its occupants. Next year, however, standing in balconies or win- 

 dows above the level of the street was prohibited. None were allowed to look dourn on the body 

 of Christ as it passed, and the crowd were peremptorily driven from these portions of their own 

 domicils. Elbowing my way into the cathedral with difficulty, it was found crowded, and a 

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