66 INCIDENTS OFTRAVEL. 



the crowd separated into groups and couples, and many 

 fell into what in English would be called flirtations. A 

 mat was spread for our party against the side of the hut, 

 and we all lighted cigars and sat down upon it. Cups 

 made of small gourds, and filled from the caldrons with 

 a preparation of boiled Indian corn sweetened with va- 

 rious dolceSy were passed from mouth to mouth, each 

 one sipping and passing it on to the next ; and this con- 

 tinued, without any interruption, for more than an hour. 

 We remained on the ground till after midnight, and then 

 were among the first to leave. On the Avhole, we con- 

 cluded that praying to the Santa Lucia must lead to 

 matrimony ; and I could not but remark that, in the 

 way of getting husbands and wives, most seemed dis- 

 posed to do something for themselves, and not leave 

 all to the grace of the saint. 



The next day it was excessively hot, and we remain- 

 ed within doors. In the evening we visited the padre, 

 who had just returned from a neighbouring village. He 

 was a short, fat man, and had on a white nightcap, a 

 blue striped jacket, and white pantaloons, and we found 

 him swinging in a hammock and smoking a cigar. He 

 had a large household of women and children ; but as 

 to the relation in which they stood to him, people difier- 

 ed. He gave us more information in regard to the 

 country than we had yet been able to obtain, and par- 

 ticularly in regard to Copan, a ruined city which we 

 wished to visit. He was familiar with the history of the 

 Indians, and understood thoroughly the character of the 

 present race ; and, in answer to our question if they 

 were all Christians, said that they were devout and re- 

 ligious, and had a great respect for the priests and 

 saints. With this he hitched up his bursting pantaloons, 

 and lighted another cigar. We might have smiled at 



