212 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



had embraced a new faith ; and, with the enthusiasm 

 of a youthful convert, no lady in Guatimala was more 

 devout, more regular at mass, or more strict in all the 

 discipline of the Catholic Church than the Sister Su- 

 sannah. 



After the fireworks there was a long ceremony at the 

 altar, and then a general rush toward the other ex- 

 tremity of the church. The convent was directly ad- 

 joining, and in the partition wall, about six feet from 

 the floor, was a high iron grating, and about four feet 

 beyond it another, at which the nuns attended the ser- 

 vices of the church. Above the iron grating was a 

 wooden one, and from this in a few minutes issued a 

 low strain of wild Indian music, and presently a figure 

 in white, with a long white veil and a candle in her 

 right hand, and both arms extended, walked slowly to 

 within a few feet of the grating, and then as slowly re- 

 tired. Presently the same low note issued from the 

 grating below, and we saw advancing a procession of 

 white nuns, with long white veils, each holding in her 

 hand a long lighted candle. The music ceased, and a 

 chant arose, so low that it required intent listening to 

 catch the sound. Advancing two and two with this 

 low chant to within a few feet of the grating, the sis- 

 ters turned off different ways. At the end of the pro- 

 cession were two black nuns, leading between them the 

 prob^-tioner, dressed in white, with a white veil and a 

 wreath of roses round her head. The white nuns ar- 

 ranged themselves on each side, their chant ceased, and 

 the voice of the probationer was heard alone, but so 

 faint that it seemed the breathing of a spirit of air. 

 The white nuns strewed flowers before her, and she 

 advanced between the two black ones. Three times 

 she stopped and kneeled, continuing the same low 



