V 



232 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



kets, old pistols, fowling-pieces, some with locks and 

 some without ; sticks formed into the shape of muskets, 

 with tin-plate locks; clubs, machetes, and knives tied 

 to the ends of long poles ; and swelling the multitude 

 were two or three thousand women, with sacks and al- 

 forgas for carrying away the plunder. Many, who had 

 never left their villages before, looked wild at the sight 

 of the houses and churches, and the magnificence of 

 the city. They entered the plaza, vociferating Viva 

 la religion, y muerte a los etrangeros !" Carrera him- 

 self, amazed at the immense ball he had set in motion, 

 was so embarrassed that he could not guide his horse. 

 He afterward said that he was frightened at the diffi- 

 culty of controlling this huge and disorderly mass. 

 The traitor Barundia, the leader of the opposition, the 

 Catiline of this rebellion, rode by his side on his entry 

 into the plaza. 



At sundown the whole multitude set up the Salve, or 

 Hymn to the Virgin. The swell of human voices filled 

 the air, and made the hearts of the inhabitants quake 

 with fear. Carrera entered the Cathedral ; the Indians, 

 in mute astonishment at its magnificence, thronged in 

 after him, and set up around the beautiful altar the un- 

 couth images of their village saints. Monreal broke 

 into the house of General Prem, and seized a uniform 

 coat, richly embroidered with gold, into which Carrera 

 slipped his arms, still wearing his straw hat with its 

 green bush. A watch was brought him, but he did not 

 know the use of it. Probably, since the invasion of 

 Rome by Alaric and the Goths, no civilized city was 

 ever visited by such an inundation of barbarians. 



And Carrera alone had power to control the wild ele- 

 ments around him. As soon as possible some of the 

 authorities sought him out, and in the most abject terms 



