FEAST OF SANTA CRUZ. 



195 



and Buenos Ayres. After a long discussion, I 

 agreed to remain till a certain day, to give time 

 for communications to be held with Guadalaxara, 

 and with Mexico, it being necessary to obtain 

 permission from the Supreme Government, be- 

 fore any treasure could be exported. Meanwhile, 

 the merchants of Tepic, that no time might be 

 lost, undertook to collect their funds, and to send 

 off expresses to Mexico and other towns from 

 which money was likely to be transmitted. 



In the afternoon we had an opportunity of see- 

 ing the gay world of Tepic, especially the female 

 part, to great advantage. At about an hour be- 

 fore sunset, apparently the whole population re- 

 paired in large femily groups to the church of La 

 Santa Cruz, by a broad public walk, shaded by 

 four or five rows of chesnut trees, extending near- 

 ly half a mile out of the town. The evening was 

 exceedingly pleasant, for the sun was low, and 

 no longer scorched us, as it had done during the 

 morning. The church stands in a little hollow, 

 behind a small grassy knoll, in the brow of which 

 the road leading to the court had been cut. 

 Through this opening the town and the hills be- 



