210 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



who entered threw a handful of roses, and near it stood 

 an Indian to receive money. Opposite, behind an iron 

 grating, was the figure of Christ bearing the cross, the 

 eyes bandaged, and large silver chains attached to the 

 arms and other parts of the body, and fastened to the 

 iron bars. Here, too, stood an Indian to receive con- 

 tributions. The altar was beautiful in design and dec- 

 orations, consisting of two rows of Ionic columns, one 

 above another, gilded, surmounted by a golden glory, 

 and lighted by candles ten feet high. Under the pulpit 

 was a piano. After a stroll around the church, the 

 cura led us to seats under the pulpit. He asked us to 

 give them some of the airs of our country, and then 

 himself sat down at the piano. On Mr. C.'s suggesting 

 that the tune was from one of Rossini's operas, he said 

 that this was hardly proper for the occasion, and chan- 

 ged it. 



At about ten o'clock the crowd in the church formed 

 into a procession, and Mr. C. and I went out and took 

 a position at the corner of a street to see it pass. It was 

 headed by Indians, two abreast, each carrying in his 

 hand a long lighted wax candle ; and then, borne aloft 

 on the shoulders of four men, came the figure of Judith, 

 with a bloody sword in one hand, and in the other the 

 gory head of Holofernes. Next, also on the shoulders 

 of four men, the archangel Gabriel, dressed in red silk, 

 with large wings puffed out. The next were men in 

 grotesque armour, made of black and silver paper, to 

 resemble Moors, with shield and spear like ancient cav- 

 aliers ; and then four little girls, dressed in white silk and 

 gauze, and looking like little spiritualities, with men on 

 each side bearing lighted candles. Then came a large 

 figure of Christ bearing the cross, supported by four In- 

 dians ; on each side were young Indian lads, carrying 



