144 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



to have, made an offer to the bishop to con- 

 struct a new rail of solid silver, of the same 

 weight, in exchange for it. 



Divine service is celebrated here with great 

 magnificence. Mass is regularly said every 

 half hour from daylight till one o'clock, ex- 

 clusive of the high mass, and other occasional 

 masses. In no place are religious ceremonies 

 observed with greater pomp or splendour. The 

 procession which I saw from this cathedral far 

 exceeded, in order and regularity, in the gran- 

 deur of the vestments, in the costliness and 

 value of the sacred ornaments, and in the pro- 

 fusion of gold and silver, any thing I ever wit- 

 nessed. Even the processions of Rome, and 

 other celebrated catholic cities of Europe, suffer 

 much in comparison with those of Mexico. 



In Mexican churches we do not meet with 

 that distinction of pews and seats so universal 

 with us. Here on the same floor the poorest In- 

 dians, and the highest personages in the land, 



