LA PUEBLA. 



207 



fined to their stable morning, noon, and night — such was 

 the tumult excited by their appearance and character. 

 At length the possessor was fairly driven to bow to popu- 

 lar opinion. 



There is a certain church in Mexico, of which I have 

 omitted to note down the patron saint, but I know that 

 you leave it a little to the left hand as you approach the 

 garita on the road to San Augustin. To this church, 

 from time immemorial, it has been the custom of the 

 country, for the inhabitants of the city and adjoining val- 

 ley to bring their domestic animals for baptism by the 

 hands of the priest ; the popular belief being, that till 

 this is done, they do not belong to the Catholic church, 

 and cannot possibly prosper. 



And here, at the proper time, in company with many 

 animals of less pretension, came the two English dray 

 horses. They were regularly sprinkled, the fee was paid 

 to the cura, and from that time, being considered as 

 Christianos, they were allowed to hold up their heads 

 and perform their labours without molestation ! 



Our stay at La Puebla was, as you may suppose, very 

 hurried, as we here found the report that the packet 

 really sailed on the first instant fully confirmed. My 

 sketch, therefore, like my survey, must be hasty and 

 brief. The city is large, and regularly and handsomely 

 built, with a population estimated at 60,000 souls; and 

 the traveller sees much to remind him of the capital. It 

 was founded three centuries ago, by the Spaniards. A 

 hill clothed with wood rises to the north ; and the plain 

 in its immediate vicinity is well cultivated, and produces 

 a vast quantity of wheat and maize. In adornment and 

 arrangement the houses resemble those of Mexico in 

 every particular. Sixty-nine churches, many of them 

 richly endowed, many monasteries, nunneries, and col- 

 leges, prove the sanctity of the city and the piety of the 

 inhabitants. 



The cathedral is the most splendid and richest struc- 

 ture in New Spain, superior to that of the capital in the 

 beauty of its architecture and for the mass of riches col- 

 lected within its walls. The high altar, throughout its 



