SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



49 



carving, gilding, and painting. The high 

 altar of the Cathedral is of silver, and the 

 walls are covered with gilt ornaments. There 

 are eleven other altars; and the service is 

 performed in an orderly and impressive 

 manner. I attended high mass on Sunday, 

 which was very splendid: all the females 

 above the very lowest class wear black, and 

 are dressed alike, with a handsome lace veil 

 thrown over the head, though it is seldom per- 

 mitted to cover the face ; in this respect re- 

 taining less of the manner of the mother 

 country than is still to be found in Antwerp 

 and in the Netherlands, although so long a 

 period has elapsed since those countries were 

 subjected to the dominion of Spain. A great 

 proportion of the congregation were Indians, 

 who had come to market, and it was really a 

 pleasing sight to observe with what attention 

 and devotion this simple and innocent people, 

 the descendants of cannibal ancestors, per- 

 vol. i. e 



