PAIMING OF THE IMAGE. 251 



ture (a sort of mania de guangoclie) ; " paste 

 it upon canvass, and paint me thereon the 

 handsomest effigy of Niiestra Senora de Gua- 

 dalupe that your fancy can portray." A\Tien 

 this was done according to order, and the 

 tilnia separated from the canrass, the pictiire 

 appeared somewhat miraculous. Viewed 

 very closely, it showed exceedingly dim ; hut 

 upon receding to some distance, so that the 

 eye could embrace a larger field of the open 

 texture, it appeared quite distinct and beauti- 

 ful. This effect is often alluded io at the pre- 

 sent day, and easily as it might be accounted 

 for upon philosophical principles, I have heard 

 many an ignorant Mexican declare, that la 

 Santisima Virgen concealed herself from such 

 as profaned her shrine by a too near approach 

 and only shone forth in all her brilUancy to 

 those who kept at a respectful distance. But, 

 in conclusion, the story relates, tliat a suitable 

 damsel being selected and decked out to 



^^irgin, the affair was played off 



has been narrated. 



i regards the miracle of the fresh flowers 



» 



r5 



December the prufanos say, that there was 

 tiling very wonderful about it, as flowere 

 re known to bloom in the lowlands, and 

 iv a few leagues from the spot where the 



affair took place, at all seasons of the year ; 

 implying that these had been engrafted upon 

 the rock for tlie occasion. There are some 

 who go so far as to insinuate that the bishop 

 and other ecclesiastics were pri^y to the wliole 

 affair, and that ever\' precaution had been 



