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118 



ANOTHER CHRISTENING. 



for the purpose of witnessing the christening of 

 the king of the Moors. On this day all the 

 jangadas and canoes were put in requisition ; 

 the owners of them and others of the inhabitants 

 of the neighbourhood were divided into two 

 parties, Christians and Moors. A stage was 

 erected at iow water-mark upon high poles, and 

 this was intended to represent a Moorish fort- 

 ress ; the affair was so timed that the tide should 

 be at the height at the commencement of the 

 sport, by which means the stage was surrounded 

 by the water. Upon the sea-shore were two 

 high thrones, with canopies made of counter- 

 panes, &c. these were at the distance of about 

 three hundred yards from each other, and were 

 placed immediately above high water-mark. 

 The Christian king sat upon one of them, and 

 the Moorish king upon the other, both of them 

 being habited in fine flowing robes. The affair 

 began by the former dispatching one of his of- 

 ficers on horseback to the latter, requiring him 

 to undergo the ceremony of baptism, which he 

 refused to do. Several other couriers passed 

 from each side, all of whom were on horseback, 

 and fantastically dressed in loose garments. 

 War being declared, the numerous jangadas and 

 canoes of each party were soon in motion, 

 making towards the fortress in the water ; some 

 were going to assist in protecting it, and others 

 to obtain possession of it* The persons who 



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