A PROCESSION. 301 



with scarlet velvet, which contained the picture 

 of Ferdinand. Not content with the mantle 

 the painter had given him, they had hung round 

 him a real mantle of purple velvet embroi 

 dered with gold. By his side, and seated on a 

 globe, was a tall female form dressed in white, 

 with an open book in one hand, and in the 

 other a wand, pointing towards the portrait. 

 This figure was to represent the Muse of His 

 tory ; may she one day cast a glance of friendly 

 retrospection on the prototype of her pictured 

 companion ! A body of cavalry followed the 

 car, and the carriages of the most distinguished 

 inhabitants of the place closed the procession. 

 Several Chinese triumphal arches crossed the 

 streets, through which the retinue passed ; they 

 were temporary erections of wood, occupying 

 the whole breadth of the street, and were deco 

 rated in the gayest and most showy manner by 

 the Chinese, who, on this occasion, seemed to 

 have spared no expense in order to flatter the 

 vanity of the Spaniards. 



When the royal effigy entered the town, it 

 was received by the Governor and the whole 

 clergy of Manilla, and the young girls were 



