376 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



figiiracion; El Senor de Misericordia ; San Antonio, 

 the patron of souls, and El Santo Cristo del Amor. 

 Each of these saints, while acting as patron in gen- 

 eral, is also under the special care of a patron in 

 particular. 



The process of putting a saint under patronage is 

 peculiar. Among the images distributed around the 

 walls of the church, whenever one is observed to 

 attract particular attention, as, for instance, if In- 

 dians are found frequently kneeling before it, and 

 making offerings, the padre requires of the cacique 

 twelve Indians to serve and take care of the saint, 

 who are called mayoles. These are furnished ac- 

 cording to the requisition, and they elect a head, 

 but not from their own number, who is called the 

 patron, and to them is intrusted the guardianship 

 of the saint. The padre, in his robes of office, ad- 

 ministers an oath, which is sanctified by sprinkling 

 them with holy water. The patron is sworn to 

 watch over the interests of the saint, to take care 

 of all the candles and other offerings presented to 

 him, and to see that his fete is properly observed ; 

 and the mayoles are sworn to obey the orders of the 

 patron in all things touching the custody and ser- 

 vice of the saint. One of these saints, to whom 

 a patron had been assigned, was called El Santo 

 Cristo del Amor, the addition having reference to 

 the love of the Saviour in laying down his life for 

 man. The circumstance of the Saviour being rev- 

 erenced as a saint was as new to us as that of a saint 



