A YOl'XG XATUXALIST. 331 



for mass, to say our prayers together," said Coyotepec to 

 me, ".and to thank God who covers the trees with fruit, 

 and preserves us in good health." 



" We are Christians the same as you," I answered gravely. 



Then every one knelt down, and the old man recited the 

 Litanies and a succession of Ave Marias. After this one 

 of the young girls chanted a canticle, assisted by the others, 

 who joined in. The singer had scarcely finished her hymn, 

 when 1'Encuerado, perfectly electrified, entreated the audi- 

 ence not to move, and at once struck up one of his favorite 

 chants. He kept us at least half an hour in the burning sun, 

 till,- being tired of kneeling, I made signs to him to leave off. 

 But it was lost labor, for my servant pretended not to per- 

 ceive me, and only multiplied his gestures and cries, repeat- 

 ing the same verse three times running. 



"Amen !" at last I cried, in a loud voice, getting up. 



Every one followed my example ; so, being at last set at 

 liberty, I went away, while the Indians surrounded FEncue- 

 rado to congratulate him. 



I had not yet paid a visit to the ravine, which, situated 

 as it was in the midst of the Terre-Froide, yielded the same 

 kind of productions as the Terre-Chaude. I called Sumi- 

 chrast and Lucien, and, under the guidance of Torribio, the 

 Indian who every year drove the donkeys to Puebla, we as- 

 cended the course of the stream. 



Our guide first led us to his hut, surrounded by Bourbon 

 palms. This beautiful tree, belonging to the palm family, 

 has a strange and yet an agreeable appearance. From its 

 very summit long stalks shoot out, at the end of which 

 hangs a wide leaf, which is first folded, and afterwards 

 spreads out like a fan ornamented with points. The In- 

 dians cut up these leaves to weave the mats, called petates, 

 which form an article of such extensive commerce in Mexi- 

 co. They are also used for making baskets, brooms, bel- 

 lows, and many other household utensils. 



