INDIAN TRIBUTE. 319 



pearl colour. Being convinced that any fur- 

 ther search was useless, I returned to the 

 ''Villa," and amused myself, during the after- 

 noon, by shooting wild ducks and snipes, 

 which abound in the neighbouring lagoons. 



20th. Weather very sultry ; thermometer 

 at noon, 87°. At home all day, expecting 

 Don Caycedo ; who, however, did not keep 

 his appointment. In the evening, visited the 

 church, which is neat and plain, — a good 

 building for the place, and free from the 

 usual adornments. On leaving the church, 

 I walked up and down the plaza, as being 

 the coolest spot for exercise. At half-past 

 six I observed approaching about eighty 

 boys, two and two, bearing, on the average, 

 each three candles, set in frames of various 

 construction, adorned with evergreens ; and 

 a large portion of the population attending. 

 They proceeded to the church, chaunting 

 the Rosario ; and on entering, ranged them- 



