HOW TO GAIN A HUSBAND. 



65 



rection of the Indian master of ceremonies, drowned 

 the noise of voices. Donna Bartola, who was a widow, 

 and the other ladies of our party, fell on their knees ; and, 

 recommending myself to their prayers, I looked on with- 

 out doing anything for myself, but I studied attentive- 

 ly the faces of those around me. There were some of 

 both sexes who could not strictly be called young ; but 

 they did not, on that account, pray less earnestly. lu 

 some places people would repel the imputation of being 

 desirous to procure husband or wife ; not so in Gualan : 

 they prayed publicly for what they considered a bless- 

 ing. Some of the men were so much in earnest that 

 perspiration stood in large drops upon their faces ; and 

 none thought that praying for a husband need tinge the 

 cheek of a modest maiden. I watched the countenance 

 of a young Indian girl, beaming with enthusiasm and 

 hope ; and, while her eyes rested upon the image of the 

 saint and her lips moved in prayer, I could not but im-» 

 agine that her heart was full of some truant, and per. 

 haps unworthy lover. 



Outside the hut was an entirely different scene. Near 

 by were rows of kneeling men and women, but beyond 

 were wild groups of half-naked men and boys, setting 

 off rockets and fireworks. As I moved through, a 

 flash rose from under my feet, and a petard exploded 

 so near that the powder singed me ; and, turning round, 

 I saw hurrying away my rascally muleteer. Beyond 

 were parties of young men and women dancing by the 

 light of blazing pine sticks. In a hut at some little dis- 

 tance were two haggard old women, with large caldrons 

 over blazing fires, stirring up and serving out the con- 

 tents with long wooden ladles, and looking like witches 

 dealing out poison instead of love-potions. 



At ten o'clock the prayers to the saint died away, and 



Vol, L— I 



