116 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



opinion of my own upon this matter, but I may re- 

 mark that with the people of the country it is no im- 

 peachment of a padre's character, and does not im- 

 pair his usefulness. Some look upon this arrange- 

 ment as a Httle irregular, but in general it is regard- 

 ed only as an amiable weakness, and I am safe in 

 saying that it is considered a recommendation to 

 a village padre, as it is supposed to give him set- 

 tled habits, as marriage does with laymen, and, to 

 give my own honest opinion, which I did not 

 intend to do, it is less injurious to good morals 

 than the by no means uncommon consequences 

 of celibacy which are found in some other Catho- 

 lic countries. The padre in Yucatan stands in the 

 position of a married man, and performs all the du- 

 ties pertaining to the head of a family. Persons of 

 what is considered respectable standing in a village 

 do not shun left-hand marriage with a padre. Still 

 it was to us always a matter of regret to meet with 

 individuals of worth, and whom we could not help 

 esteeming, standing in what could not but be con- 

 sidered a false position. To return to the case with 

 which I set out : the padre in question was univer- 

 sally spoken of as a man of good conduct, a sort of 

 pattern padre for correct, steady habits ; sedate, grave, 

 and middle-aged, and apparently the last man to 

 have had an eye for such a pretty compagnera. 

 The only comment I ever heard made was upon his 

 good fortune, and on that point he knows my opinion. 

 The next day Mr. Catherwood and Doctor Ca- 



