398 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



us. It was long since we passed so pleasant an even- 

 ing ; we saw many persons who in appearance and 

 manner would do credit to any society, and left with a 

 strong disposition to make some stay in Merida. 



The plaza presented a gay scene. It was the eve of 

 the fete of El Corpus. Two sides of the plaza were 

 occupied by corridors, and the others were adorned 

 with arbours of evergreens, among which lights were 

 interspersed. Gay parties were promenading under 

 them, and along the corridors and in front of the houses 

 were placed chairs and benches for the use of the prom- 

 enaders, and all who chose to take them. 



The city of Merida contains about twenty thousand 

 inhabitants. It is founded on the site of an old Indian 

 village, and dates from a few years after the conquest. 

 In different parts of the city are the remains of Indian 

 buildings. As the capital of the powerful State of Yuca- 

 tan, it had always enjoyed a high degree of considera- 

 tion in the Mexican Confederacy, and throughout the 

 republic is famed for its sabios or learned men. The 

 State of Yucatan had declared its independence of Mex- 

 ico ; indeed, its independence was considered achieved. 

 News had been received of the capitulation of Cam- 

 peachy and the surrender of the Central garrison. The 

 last remnant of despotism was rooted out, and the cap- 

 ital was in the first flush of successful revolution, the 

 pride of independence. Removed by position, it was 

 manifest that it would be no easy matter for Mexico to 

 reconquer it ; and probably, like Texas, it is a limb for- 

 ever lopped from that great, but feeble and distracted 

 republic. It was pleasant to find that political animos- 

 ities were not cherished with the same ferocity; and 

 Centralists and Liberals met like men of opposite par- 

 ties at home. 



