POPULAR FERMENT. 



291 



toms, as marks of civility and good-will. — They 

 hoped, they said, that, in time, we would see our 

 error, and yield to the true faith. 



An amusing instance occurred one day, that 

 gave us a practical lesson, which we did not fail 

 to turn to account, on the necessity of attending 

 to the prejudices of the populace. An American 

 merchant ship arrived at San Bias with a cargo 

 for sale. Some difficulties at the custom-house 

 prevented her unloading for a few days : in the 

 meanwhile, a few small articles found their way 

 on shore, and, amongst others, several pairs of 

 shoes which were exposed in the market. These 

 shoes, like many other kinds of American goods, 

 bore the stamp of an eagle on the sole. As the 

 .Mexicans, about a month before, had established 

 themselves into an independent Imperial state, 

 of which the Eagle was the emblem; the San 

 Blasanians sapiently conceived, that the North 

 Americans, in placing an eagle on the ^ole of their 

 shoes, meant to imply their contempt of the coun- 

 try, by trampling its national insignia under foot ! 

 A vast commotion was raised in the course of a 

 few minutes, — all business was put a stop to, — 

 the shops and houses were shut up, and a riot 



