PARTY TO MIXCO. 



251 



CHAPTER XIL 



Party to Mixco.— A Scene of Pleasure —Procession in Honour of the Patron 

 Saint of Mixco.— Fireworks.— A Bombardment.— Smoking Cigars.— A Night- 

 brawl. — Suffering and Sorrow. — A Cockfight. — A Walk in the Suburbs. — Sun- 

 day Amusements.— Return to the City. 



In consequence of the convulsions and danger of the 

 times, the city was dull, and there was no gayety in 

 private circles ; but an effort had been made by some 

 enterprising ladies to break the monotony, and a party, 

 to which I was invited, was formed for that afternoon 

 to Mixco, an Indian village about three leagues distant, 

 at which the festival of its patron saint was to be cele- 

 brated the next day with Indian rites. 



At four o'clock in the afternoon I left my door on 

 horseback, to call on Don Manuel Pavon. His house 

 was next to that of the proscribed deputy, and a line of 

 soldiers was drawn around the whole block, with the 

 purpose of preventing an escape, while every house 

 was searched. I always gave these gentlemen a wide 

 berth when I could, but it was necessary to ride along 

 the whole line ; and as I passed the house of the dep- 

 uty, with the door closed and sentinels before it, I could 

 but think of his distressed family, in agony lest his hi- 

 ding-place should be discovered. 



Don Manuel was waiting for me, and we rode to the 

 house of one of the ladies of the party, a young widow 

 whom I had not seen before, and who, in her riding- 

 dress, made a fine appearance. Her horse was ready, 

 and when she had kissed the old people good-by we 

 carried her off. The women-servants, with familiarity 



