CARD PLAYING. 



329 



paper cigars. The grains of corn were valued at a me- 

 dio. I declined joining in the game, whereupon one of 

 the reverend fathers kept aloof to entertain me, and the 

 other three sat down to Monte, still taking part in the 

 conversation. Very soon they became abstracted, and 

 I left them playing as earnestly as if the souls of uncon- 

 verted Indians were at stake. I had often heard the 

 ill-natured remark of foreigners, that two padres cannot 

 meet in that country without playing cards, but it was 

 the first time I had seen its verification ; perhaps (I feel 

 guilty in saying so) because, except on public occasions, 

 it was the first time I had ever seen two padres togeth- 

 er. Before I left them the padres invited me to dine 

 with them the next day, and on returning to my own 

 quarters I found that Don Santiago, the gentleman who 

 gave them the dinner, and, next to the prefect, the prin- 

 cipal inhabitant, had called upon me with a like invita- 

 tion, which I need not say I accepted. 



The next day was Sunday ; the storm of the night 

 had rolled away, the air was soft and balmy, the grass 

 was green, and, not being obliged to travel, I felt what 

 the natives aver, that the mornings of the rainy season 

 were the finest in the year. It was a great day for the 

 little church at Palenque. The four padres were there, 

 all in their gowns and surplices, all assisted in the cer- 

 emonies, and the Indians from every hut in the village 

 went to mass. This over, all retired, and in a few min- 

 utes the village was as quiet as ever. 



At twelve o'clock I went to the house of Don Santiago 

 to dine. The three stranger padres were there, and most 

 of the guests were assembled. Don Santiago, the richest 

 man in Palenque, and the most extensive merchant, re- 

 ceived us in his tienda or store, which was merely a few 

 shelves with a counter before them in one corner, and his 



Vol. II.— T t 



