SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



173 



tunity of displaying their fine figures and 

 beauties for admiration. 



From the account I had received of the 

 Passeo, I was a little disappointed; but the 

 sight of the Indians returning home from 

 their little Sunday excursions in their canoes, 

 on the canal of Chalco, which is close to 

 the ride, made ample amends. In the fine 

 evenings, during the dry season, the environs 

 of the city present a scene of bustle, gaiety, 

 and pleasure, scarcely to be paralleled ; hun- 

 dreds of canoes, of various sizes, mostly with 

 awnings, crowded with native Indians, neatly 

 dressed, their heads crowned with the most 

 gaudy flowers, are seen passing in every 

 direction : each boat, with its musician seated 

 at the stern, playing on the guitar, and some 

 of the party singing or dancing, and often 

 both united, presents such a picture of 

 harmless mirth as I fear is rarely to be met 

 with on similar occasions in our own country. 



