42 Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



» 



usually seated himself on the tongue of the wagon, his time divl- 

 ded between belaboring his beasts and scratching his head. In 

 one of these a violin was being played, and the women who were 

 sitting- on their feet, made the most of the music by brandishing 

 their bare arms and moving their heads to the cadence. At night 

 there was a theatrical representation in the public square, the 

 piece dramatized was from the Old Testament. 



During the day I had been puzzled by seeing at regular intervals 

 on the w^all surrounding the capilla, and on the turrets of the ca- 

 pilla itself, (which be it remembered is of mud,) piles of dry woofl. 

 The mystery was now to be cleared up. At a given sig'tial all were 

 lighted, and simultaneously a flight of rockets took place from 

 every door and window of the chapel, fire- works of all kinds, from 

 'the blazing rocket to children's whirligigs, were now displayed 

 in succession. The pyrotechny was the handicraft of the priests. 

 I must say the whole affair did honor to the church, and display- 

 ed considerable chemical knowledge. Most of the spectators were 

 on mules, each with his woman in front, and it was considered a 

 great feat to explode a rocket under a mule's belly without previous 

 intimation to the rider. 



September 8.— Long shall I remember the fete of Tome, a scene 

 at once so novel and so striking. To-day, my duties called me off 

 early in the morning. 



I had to examine guides in reference to the route to California, 

 and engage such as I might think fit for the trip. 



,My last interview of this kind to-day was in a species of public 

 building, or guard-house, w^here a number of Mexicans had col- 

 lected with arms. Several written tablets hung round the walls, 

 but they were perfectly illegible. Our business was cut short by 

 the sound of passing music. A strange sight presented itself. Iii 



chair, borne by four men, was .-^eated a wax figure nearly 

 as large as life, extravagantly dressed; following immediately were 

 three or four priests, with long tallow candles, a full yard in lenc'th. 

 Some^ American officers followed, each holding a candle. Unfortu- 

 nately! emerged just as this group was passing; there was no es- 

 cape, and the moment I joined a grave Mexican (apparently a man 



a sedan* 



) 



I thought of my coat, 



my only coat, the coat which w-as on my back, and which must 

 take me to California, and back again into the interior of Mexico! 

 Suddenly there was a halt w-ithout any word of command, and in 

 the confusion we jostled against each other and distributed the 

 tallow in great profusion. * 



It was thought proper that the officers should show every respect 

 to the religious_ observances of the country, consequently they did 

 not decline participation in these ceremonies. 



The "*p;ocession- ended at the church. After the services there 

 were concluded we repaired to the house of the padre! w^here we 

 found a collation. 



We had proposed attending a theatrical representation gorc'^ on 

 in the open air, but a heavy squall of wind and a few drops of 

 rain put a stop to this amusement, and all retired to dre=s for the 



