SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



89 



ducing the pulque. Night was approaching, 

 and I hastened my pace, to reach our 

 lodging, when the bell suddenly tolled in a 

 quick manner, and in an instant the church- 

 yard was brilliantly illuminated by the flame 

 of eight piles of the candle- wood, prepared for 

 the purpose, the effect of which was height- 

 ened by its being quite unexpected. On my 

 entering the churchyard, four men discharged 

 a flight of rockets, which was instantly an- 

 swered by a similar salute from every house 

 in the place : this was the commencement of 

 the fete for the following day. In a quarter 

 of an hour the bonfires were extinguished, 

 the church doors closed, and we retired 

 to our place of rest to take the homely 

 supper provided for us by our new friends, 

 which had been prepared in a house in the 

 village. Our meal was scarcely finished when 

 a messenger requested our speedy attendance 

 in the church : on entering we found it illu- 



