SINGULAR RELIGIOUS CUSTOM. 335 



nued until the horns were consumed. — I then 

 visited Don Luis, brother to Senor Caycedo, 

 who informed me that a guide and horses 

 had been sent for my use. I immediately 

 returned home, and retired to rest, being 

 determined to start by three in the morning 

 on my journey. 



At midnight a curious custom of the Ro- 

 man Catholic church was performed, called 

 the Cock Mass, in commemoration of the 

 crowing of the cock which took place on 

 Peter's denial of Christ. When the curate 

 commences the service, the people imitate 

 and mock his gesture, tone of voice, and 

 manner of reading ; make all kinds of noise 

 — shouting, bawling, hooting, and imitating 

 the crowing of the cock, with every possible 

 exertion of lungs ; the whole forming an 

 exhibition most deafening to the ear, and 

 perfectly ridiculous to the eye. There is 

 another church service, quite as ludicrous 



