70 



NARRATIVE OP A 



called rebozo, thrown over one shoulder, and wound 

 round the waist. The other ladies were equipped in a 

 similar manner. The gentlemen were all mounted on 

 good horses, or mules, gaily caparisoned, and wore light 

 summer jackets of silk or cotton, and straw hats. Each 

 carried a dagger, stuck in a sash of some gay coloured 

 silk, and some had holsters and pistols. The curate rode 

 a splendid mule, almost the only part of his property that 

 had been left him by the insurgents. The beauty of this 

 animal attracted my notice, and I remarked to one of the 

 party nearest me, that I had never seen a curate, either in 

 old Spain or in that country, whose mule was not an ex- 

 cellent one. This remark, which was founded on expe- 

 rience, was seized upon by the rest of the party, who ral- 

 lied the curate on the attention which those of his cloth 

 invariably pay to their individual comforts and conve- 

 niences. 



We proceeded at a good rate, and I had reason to ad- 

 mire the graceful and fearless manner with which the 

 ladies managed their horses. Dona Chonita, who had a 

 spice of mischief in her character, seeing me mounted on 

 a pony, which I had taken in preference to my mule, 

 with my feet only a few inches from the ground, indulged 

 in a few witticisms at my expense ; and not satisfied with 

 that, seemed resolved to put my skill in horsemanship to 

 the proof. Bidding me keep by her side, she said, 

 " vamos corriendo" (let us run) ; and off she started, with 

 her horse at the top of his speed. I followed, and away 

 we went, up hill and down dale, over rough and smooth, 

 to the imminent risk of our necks. For my part, I ex- 

 pected every moment that my pony would stumble, and 

 that I should roll with him to the ground, and be run 

 over by those who came galloping behind. Happily, 

 nothing of the kind occurred, and we arrived in safety at 

 the hacienda, or estate. 



The first object that met our view on entering the 

 house, was the image of Saint Isidro. It was placed on 



