90 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



minated, and crowded by numbers of persons 

 of both sexes. Dancing, with singular Indian 

 ceremonies, had commenced in front of the 

 altar, which, to my astonishment, I im- 

 mediately recognised to be of the same nature 

 as those in use before the introduction of 

 Christianity. The actors consisted of five 

 men and three women, grotesquely but richly 

 dressed, in the fashion of the time of Mon- 

 tezuma. One young man, intending to per- 

 sonate that monarch, wore a high crown, 

 from which rose a plume of red feathers. 

 The first part of the drama consisted of the 

 representation of a warrior taking leave of his 

 family preparatory to going to battle;— a 

 man and woman danced in front of the altar, 

 arid clearly expressed the parting scene, then 

 kneeling down solemnly prayed for the success 

 of his undertaking. The next act commenced 

 with two warriors, superbly dressed ; the one, 

 a Mexican, was distinguished by the superior 



